ALONG COMES MARY

On my MATPRA adventure, I was so excited to see Virginia for the first time. I flew into Charlotte and hopped in my rental car to head towards Roanoke. My route enabled me to see some of the stunning Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s been a road trip on my “to-do” list and the stretch I drove resembled a painting coming alive at times. It was an ideal introduction as I discovered Roanoke is no stranger to art. 

As a MATPRA attendee, I participated in day media trips as part of the conference. My afternoon and morning selections were both arts and culture. Roanoke is a community that appreciates the arts and its preservation deeply. I’m fortunate to have world-class art institutions like the Getty and Huntington Library in my backyard. It’s important to me to not stay solely in that LA “bubble” and to learn as much as I can about the artistic expression of other cities. Roanoke has a diverse art scene ranging from modern and contemporary museums to classic movie theatres, transportation exhibits, and even beautiful salvage yards. If my last line sounds like an oxymoron, just trust me. Go with it. 

Virginia Museum of Transportation 

The evolution of planes, trains, and automobiles is expertly on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. After a flood destroyed the previous location in the 1980s, they moved to the former Norfolk and Western Railway Freight Station. The massive space consists of nearly any kind of transportation one can think of. The massive train collection includes steam, electric, and diesel-electric. We were also able to see modern trains whiz by on active main lines. 

I loved perusing on and off the train cars. One not to miss is a railway post office. The car has everything you need to see if you have what it takes to work as a mail clerk along the train route. I attempted to match numbers and slots to codes. Let’s just say it’s a good thing no one will be relying on me. Since this reminded me of Little House on the Prairie and I love old Westerns, I had another highlight during this tour. A horse-drawn covered wagon. This truly is the museum of transportation as nothing is left out to showcase. 

Taubman Museum of Art

Taubman Museum of Art wastes no time introducing their visitors to art. As soon as I arrived at the museum, its exterior had me in awe. World-renowned architect, Randall Stout, went to great lengths to capture the naturalistic beauty of Roanoke and its surroundings. As I walked in, the 77-foot glass peak to the atrium was captivating. This is a nod to the local Roanoke Star while the undulating roof line reflects the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The impressive exhibits feature a blend of temporary and permanent. A favorite always on display is a tongue-in-cheek painting by Norman Rockwell. I grew up always knowing Rockwell’s famous portrayals of everyday American life. In this painting, Framed, Rockwell shows that he is capable of depicting more than men reading the newspaper. Framed is a painting within a painting and proves how multi-faceted he was which is what he was trying to prove to peers.

The O. Winston Link Museum 

The O. Winston Link Museum was an ideal follow-up to the Museum of Transportation. Link was a prolific photographer based in New York. Certainly a renaissance man, Link helped inaugurate night and rail photography.  He began shooting in the mid-Atlantic in 1955 and took advantage of the area’s then-unique blend of mountainous terrain, sparsely arranged populations, and steam rail framework to capture the end of the country’s once-thriving industrial era. He also is known for his sound recordings of the Norfolk and Western Railway in its final days. How amazing is that? 

Now, Link’s work constitutes hands down the most important photographic series taken of the Virginia region. Although his work was ignored for over 20 years following production, Link’s work had numerous international exhibitions, recordings, and two published books starting in the 1980s. Now, Link’s work is known around the world. Wanting his legacy to be preserved and available to the communities he frequented, Link began negotiations with Roanoke’s Historical Society of Western Virginia in 2000. He selected the former Norfolk and Western Passenger Station as the museum site. 

The Grandin Theatre 

In a time when AMC rules the silver screen, thank goodness for cinemas like the Grandin Theatre. Established in 1932, the Grandin is the Roanoke region’s only independent theatre. And it has survived it all; the evolution of film, the move into digital, recessions, pandemics. It’s an extraordinary example of what a dedicated community can do to keep a beloved institution alive. 

The lobby was right out of the 1930s. I thought of my grandma and her stories of going on dates to the movies. The gorgeous theatre brought to mind the Landmark here in Los Angeles’ Westwood. Make sure to look up to the right in the balcony seats. You might just notice some familiar grumpy old men at the show! 

Black Dog Salvage

Now, back to that beautiful salvage yard. Who remembers the DIY Channel? Salvage Dawgs was a successful show that launched on it in 2012. It ran for 11 seasons and continues to have a strong following worldwide. Full disclosure: I had never heard of this TV show. I’m not a big TV person and when I am, it’s all about retro or Law and Order. After exploring this intriguing campus of history and baubles of all sizes, I certainly have added it to my list. Lucky for me, it’s easy to access on several platforms including Amazon and YouTube TV. 

Black Dog Salvage is their 44,000-square-foot showroom that has everything you can imagine, big and small, for your home. My colleagues and I were particularly impressed at the work of art the team has conceived from, well, salvage. A great example was a wall of toilet tops and seats in the yard. We also explored the workshop and got to see furniture coming to life to be sent to its new home. 

Next door, Black Dog Salvage has the Stone House, a 1911 event space that’s been completely renovated into a house for modern guests. It’s also the filming location of the TV show. How cool is that? Get all of your shopping done, then just head next door to take a break. 

Explore Roanoke’s Vibrant Art Scene

I’m so thankful I got to discover such a special artistic part of the USA. All of these places are within walking distance of more to discover like boutiques, restaurants, and parks. Not to mention, the surroundings are the Blue Ridge mountains. Learn more HERE to start planning a visit.