7 Decades of Local Art and Creativity
Text by Gerri Young Photos courtesy of BRAA Small art associations come and go. Struggles to survive seem to be part of the fabric as times change over the years. I joined the Blacksburg Regional Art Association (BRAA) in 2010 soon after arriving in town when it was at a bit of a low point. Today, at the age of 70, it is better than ever. In recognition of that milestone, our newsletter editor, Lois Stephens, and I spent many hours searching old files to piece together the path from its beginning in 1950. We found no files from the ‘50s, but plenty of things after that. One old document provided a timeline up to 2000. 28
NRV MAGAZINE
The biggest surprise was how involved Virginia Tech was in the creation and life of the association. In 1949, a group of artists on staff, formed a small group for “critical discussion” of their own art. On Jan. 13, 1950, they formed a community art club for those “interested in increasing the opportunities for enjoyment of the arts in Blacksburg.” The association’s first exhibit was held in February, 1950, featuring works by Horace Day. After “formal organization,” they held a 2-day show in May the same year with sculptures by Dean Carter and paintings by May/June 2021
