New Art Co-op Opens in Blacksburg

Our friends at the Blacksburg Regional Art Association (BRAA) are opening a new art co-op to help artists in the region find a place to work and display their art at the Art Space@The Artful Lawyer at 318 N. Main Street in downtown Blacksburg.

Beginning April 10 and 11, noon to 4 p.m., the 71-year-old BRAA will open The Art Space@The Artful Lawyer at 318 N. Main Street in downtown Blacksburg, uphill from The Cellar restaurant. Look for the big yellow and white house with the welcoming porch.

BRAA has been affiliated with The Artful Lawyer for a number of years and, like many businesses and associations, is experiencing challenges from the COVID19 pandemic. The wonderful art receptions formerly held in this space by the owner, James Creekmore, have been cancelled for months and the building closed to the public.

As spring and hopes for a better 2021 arise, a portion of this stately old house will offer a new weekend attraction: six spaces in the house will be rented by BRAA member artists, on a quarterly basis beginning April through June.

Sue Hossack, and Mary Ratliff, co-managers of this new venture for BRAA, have high hopes for the venue. Hossack describes the purpose of the shop as a way for BRAA artists to get their work seen by the public and for residents of Montgomery County and beyond to have a chance to buy direct from artists.

Located in the left wing of The Artful Place, the BRAA shop will offer patrons the chance to not only buy local art, but to meet and talk with the artists as well, with several artists present each weekend. Artists will be in residence in the space for a period of three months at a time, weekends only.  Each quarter, new artists will be featured.

For this first quarter, the artists will be Mary Ratliff, Sue Hossack, Diamond Gabriel, and Trenia Bell. They will offer a variety of works from original paintings in various media, to notecards, photography and jewelry beginning April 10-11. Not only can visitors to The Art Space buy original art they may also have the chance to watch art demonstrations.

The second quarter, July through September, will feature Ruth Lefko, Aileen Fletcher, Joy Rosenthal, Susan Lockwood. Lois Stephens and Joe Scarpaci, with paintings, photography and handmade oak coffee tables.

Customers will be able to purchase with credit card, cash, or check. For more information, visit www.blacksburgart.org.