The Historical Society of Western Virginia is taking a novel approach to fundraising with “Paint for Preservation,” on Saturday, November 7, wherein ten local artists will go to one of three endangered sites in Roanoke and create an image of their choosing. The sites include the Hotel Patrick Henry, the Virginian Railway Station (on Jefferson St.) and the Mountain View mansion (now owned by Roanoke City). The resulting works, which can be paintings, drawings, or photos, for example, will then be returned to Center in the Square after 4 p.m. and are scheduled to be auctioned off that night.
A celebration at 6 p.m. ($10 admission) accompanies the auction, with music, a cash bar, food, and special hours at the History Museum. Proceeds will go to the Historical Society of Western Virginia, which operates the History Museum of Western Virginia, the O. Winston Link Museum and other facilities.
Executive Director Jeanne Bollendorf, on the job for a year, says Paint for Preservation “is my baby. I’m very proud of being able to bring this to the Roanoke Valley.” She intends the “wet auction” to be an annual event and has held them elsewhere. Artists will paint outside in the “Plen Aire” style.
Bollendorf worked with the Preservation Foundation to identify three historic, endangered properties in need of repair for the first Paint for Preservation event. Artists won’t have much time to tweak whatever it is they create. That’s a different twist for some notes Bollendorf. “A lot of artists do not work in that tradition. It’s very challenging for them because they have to do something quickly. It may not be their best work.”
Many are lesser known: “we reached out very broadly into the artistic community,” says Bollendorf. Artists from local colleges and others not in school were solicited to take part, including Meg Feldman, Hunter Dickinson, and photographer Scott Craig.
“[We wanted] to shine a light on historic preservation and encourage that kind of activity,” says Bollendorf. She hopes it prompts people to think about other properties they would like to see preserved as well. “We all get used to seeing [deteriorating buildings] every day and discounting them. This is a way for us to say hey, don’t forget about these places.” Call the Historical Society for more information about Paint for Preservation at 342-5770 or see history-museum.org.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]
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