"Spotlight on Marsh Fork" press release

Press release

For immediate release - August 29, 2006

Spotlight on Marsh Fork

A Traces installation in studio 124 at the Jacksonville Center, Floyd, Virginia USA.

From September 1 to 30, 2006, there will be an installation of artwork, photography, reading materials and found objects at studio 124 in Floyd, Virginia. This exhibit is designed to raise awareness about Marsh Fork Elementary and the “Pennies of Promise” campaign.

Marsh Fork is an elementary school near Sundial, West Virginia located directly in the flood-path of approximately 2 billion gallons of coal sludge. The “Pennies of Promise” campaign is focused on raising funds for a new school for the 230 children who attend Marsh Fork Elementary.

Exhibit items being displayed in studio 124 for this exhibit include:

- Coal samples from the old Hoge Mine in Montgomery County, Virginia

- Aerial photography of the Shumate sludge dam and Marsh Fork Elementary

- Work by area artists & activists, including Jeff Chapman Crane, Bo Webb, and Suzy Nees

- Reading materials related to the conservation of culture and resources

- Information on retired coal miner Ed Wiley’s walk to Washington, DC from Charleston, WV

This installation is being sponsored by the Traces Library for Creative Literacy, an ambient library and public art project focused on the ideals of democracy and compassionate, sustainable living. Web coverage for this exhibit is being provided by ideapark.org.

The Jacksonville Center is located on route 8 in Floyd, Virginia, just ½ a mile south of the stoplight. To learn more about this exhibit, please call 540.745.2784 or visit ideapark.org > news.

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tags for this post - marsh fork

photos from the Traces end-of-summer exhibit

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press release - Chris Shackelford at Over the Moon Gallery in Floyd

Chris Shackelford Show Opens

In its fifth show of the year, Over The Moon Gallery is featuring the sculpture of local artist Chris Shackelford from August 11^th through the 28^th. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday the 19^th.

Mrs. Shackelford is a well known figure in the Virginia arts scene in her role as Educational Programming Director at the Jacksonville Center and as an arts instructor in various forums on the East Coast. Due to her passion for promoting the arts, few in the local community are aware of her hard earned credentials as a sculptor and her exceptional talents in this medium.

Chris Shackelford has been a sculptor since 1987 and earned a BS in Philosophy from The University of Michigan and a BFA in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, Chris has studied at the prestigious Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC, Parsons School of Design in Paris, and Touchstone in Pennsylvania. She maintains an active exhibition schedule outside of Floyd and has taught at VCU, Corcoran and Touchstone. Chris has studied and taught with renowned sculptor Thad Moseley for over five years at Touchstone and serves as his recommended replacement to conduct the 2006 annual wood carving course. Like most sculptors, Chris is fully immersed in process and her teaching style reflects great reverence for her materials and equal respect for students’ personal and artistic goals. Chris and her family live in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an area which continuously inspire and inform her work in wood, stone and clay.

Chris will be demonstrating on Saturday, August 12^th from 12 noon-4pm. The reception on Saturday September 19^th is open to the public and will be open from 6:30 until 9:00PM. Additional information can be obtained at Over The Moon Gallery at 540-745-2782.

news for August 8

hi everyone

hope you are well
I just got word that Chris S. will be having an exhibit at Over the Moon, more details on this soon

also, there will be a reception for Floyd Artists exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery this coming weekend, I will post the invite for this as well as soon as I get the chance.

in studio 124 I am installing some things related to the "Pennies of Promise" campaign for the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary near Sundial, West Virginia

these items will be up until Labor Day weekend, possibly longer if I get some financial assistance with the gallery rent. If this happens the summer exhibit stuff will get cycled out and replaced with more "Pennies" exhibit items, which will be installed until October.

If not please look for the next installment of the Traces library in Blacksburg, where I have a group exhibit of music, art & culture in the works.

Bye, thanks for reading. Have a wonderful day! -Suzy