Radford City Fine Arts Show opens at 214 Tyler Avenue museum

On Thursday June 21 at 5:00 p.m. a crowd of over 100 people filled the Radford University Art Museum on Tyler Avenue for the opening reception of the “Radford City Fine Arts Show.” Attendees enjoyed light refreshments while they mingled and perused the impressive display of art from artists across Southwest Virginia. Winning entries were announced to the audience, including a top prize of $500 for Best in Show, which went to Linda Atkinson for her original carved and painted mahogany work titled “Night Flight.” Other winning entries with cash prizes included Thomas Jensen (first place, “Good Dog,” ceramic), Ruth Cline (second place, “Finding our Way,” mixed media), and Eric Cowan (third place, “Reticulum,” ceramic).

Over 60 pieces of art were accepted for this year’s show. The juror for the exhibition was Jennifer Anderson Printz, an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Hollins University. “I was most impressed by both the quality and the wide variety of work, both in the wide range of media and the subject matter presented. There was not a dominant style or approach which was great. It made the process fun,” said Printz.

The Radford City Fine Arts Show began in 2016 as a collaboration between the City of Radford and Radford University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Dr. Steve Arbury, Director of the Radford University Art Museum, says that the show received more submissions from regional artists this year, allowing the juror more works to choose from and making admission to the show more competitive. “We’re excited to host this collaborative exhibition with the City of Radford. It showcases some of the best art in Southwest Virginia, and we have a brand-new gallery to display it. The exhibition offers the community an opportunity to see good art at a nearby location, and gives the City of Radford another vehicle for tourism promotion,” said Arbury.

The Radford University Art Museum on Tyler opened in spring of 2018, making it the newest gallery space within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. It is located at 214 Tyler Avenue in Radford, Virginia, conveniently located next to BT’s Restaurant and just across the street from the university campus.

Many of the exhibit’s works of art are for sale to the public. The exhibit will remain on display through July 28, 2018 and is free to the public.