TALK OF THE BAY
WALL-TO-WALL ART Montross is considered the mural capital of the Northern Neck, boasting 14 larger-than-life artworks.
A Different Kind of Trail story by Ann Eichenmuller / photos by Eric Eichenmuller
COURTESY OF THE NORTHERN NECK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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ummer is the season for trails. You can boat in the wake of John Smith on his Chesapeake National Historic Trail or sip and slurp your way across Virginia on the Wine and Oyster Trail. But if you what you crave is food for the soul, look to the Northern Neck Artisan Trail, where “water surrounds, and creativity abounds.” If you’ve never heard of the Northern Neck, you’re not alone. We sailed along its shores for years without even knowing this rural Virginia peninsula had a name. Cross the Potomac and head east, and you will find winding country roads, small towns, and a slower pace of life. But amidst all this quiet, unspoiled beauty,
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June 2021
you will also find something unexpected—a vibrant arts community, and an opportunity to experience the artists’ gifts in an unusual and intimate way. The Northern Neck Artisan Trail is a roadmap to more than two dozen personal studios and homes where, as painter Brenda Silva puts it, “You can see the artist in her natural habitat.” Here is just a taste of what you can find.
Immerse Yourself in Murals Our first stop, the little town of Montross, doesn’t just have art—it is art. The main thoroughfare is a gallery of larger-than-life murals, the work of
