ROANOKE, Va. (July 26, 2021) – From paintings to sculptures and from photography to jewelry, the Taubman Museum of Art is pleased to announce that the streets of downtown Roanoke will once again come alive with energy, creativity and inspiration during the 63rd Annual Sidewalk Art Show Aug. 21-22.
The show was completely virtual in 2020, then postponed this year from June to August due to COVID-19. With gathering and social distancing restrictions now lifted, the Museum is excited to invite art aficionados from across southwest Virginia and beyond to enjoy one of the Commonwealth’s premier fine arts shopping events. Following guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, attendees who are fully vaccinated may choose not to wear a mask during the event.
More than 100 artists representing a wide array of media will display and sell their original artwork and fine craft during the show. The event will run 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day and is free and open to the public.
Specialty ice cream from Blue Cow will be available for purchase during the event so guests can enjoy a treat while they browse the artists’ booths, and a Beer Garden will be set up in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden for guests to enjoy. Morning Brew Coffee Company, located on the ground floor of the Museum, will be open for lunch and refreshments as well.
“We’re thrilled that the Sidewalk Art Show is back in-person on the streets of Roanoke once again,” said Cindy Petersen, executive director of the Taubman Museum of Art. “What makes this event so special is the opportunity to meet and talk with the exhibiting artists. And with a wide range of price points, everyone is sure to find a beloved new treasure to take home to enjoy.”
As a juried fine art show, awards will be given in categories including the highly coveted Grand Home Furnishings Best in Show Award along with 2nd and 3rd Place; Merit Awards, which are sponsored by LinDor Arts; and a number of memorial awards given by regional families honoring the legacies of Mickie Kagey, Paul Ostaseski, Allen Ingles Palmer and the newly established J. Gail Geer Sculpture Award.
Seth Feman, deputy director for art and interpretation and curator of photography at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, will serve as the guest juror.
Inside the Museum, guests are invited to visit the galleries to enjoy the works on view, including Vantage Points: Contemporary Photography from the Whitney Museum of American Art, featuring work by such illustrious photographers as Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sally Mann and Andy Warhol.
In advance of the event, a number of participating artists are selling their work through the Sidewalk Art Show Online Art Sale through August 31. A portion of all proceeds benefit both the artists and Museum. Sponsorship support for the 63rd Annual Sidewalk Art Show is provided by Blue Ridge Beverage, Grand Home Furnishings and LinDor Arts.
