New Partnership with Hollins Art Program Creates Original Art For Full-Sized Bus Display
RIDE Solutions, the Roanoke Arts Commission, the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, and Hollins University are thrilled to present a new partnership in conjunction with the 5th Annual Art by Bus program. Art by Bus promotes the value of public transportation to our community by bringing visual arts, musical performances, and inspired writing onto the valley’s bus network.
For the fifth year in a row, selected works from the City’s public arts collection will be displayed on the exterior of two Valley Metro buses. Speaking on behalf of the City’s Arts Commission Sherman Lea said, “Art by Bus brings attention to the City’s public art collection by literally taking these works into all parts of the city. We hope our citizens will be encouraged to explore the City’s collection throughout our public buildings and public spaces.”
The Roanoke Arts Commission chose two works of art from its collection of 155 works, nearly 100 of which are by artists currently or previously living in the region. The works are: Lipes by Ann Glover and Path Through the Dunes by Peyton Cline. Artist Ann Glover was on hand for the unveiling of the installations.
New to Art by Bus this year was a partnership with Hollins University led by Associate Professor Jennifer Printz, who worked with her class to create a series of original works, one of which would be selected to be installed on an entire half of a Valley Metro bus. Student artist JM Lamb’s Wishes was chosen by representatives of Hollins University, the Arts Commission, and RIDE Solutions to be displayed this year.
Hollins President Pareena Lawrence praised the cooperative effort. ““This is an exciting opportunity for our students not only to be involved in promoting this vital public service, but also to see an example of how the arts can be used to draw attention and change perceptions about important issues in our community.”
Also returning is the Writer by Bus program. Hollins graduate student Lucy E. Marcus was selected through a competitive process by a panel of arts commission and community members. She will ride various buses throughout April and May to produce literary works about her experiences, the people she meets, and the neighborhoods she travels through. Her work can be followed at the Writer by Bus Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/writerbybus, with the final works appearing on the RIDE Solutions webpage in the fall.
Finally, RIDE Solutions will sponsor a series of short concerts on the Star Line Trolley throughout the duration of the Art by Bus program. Dubbed the Star Line Series, the musical performances will feature a variety of musical styles though the middle of May.
Kevin Price, General Manager of The Greater Roanoke Transit Company, emphasized the importance of the Art by Bus effort: “With Art by Bus, we hope to make the role of public transit more visible, and to make the experience of taking the bus more exciting.”
More information on Art by Bus and the participating artists can be found at ridesolutions.org/artbybus.
