All Around Town

My love of what I call 'regional' collage, collage anchored in photographs of buildings and place,  certainly thrives in my town, Waynesboro, Virginia. 

The WayneTheatre was the focus of a fantastic renovation, which turned this vintage theatre into a place for live theatre, music,  film, art and more.

The 'TimeLine' on their website tells the story. The Wayne opened on January 18, 1926, with plans to be a vaudeville/movie house. It advertised itself as the 'finest theatre in the Shenandoah Valley.' It had an orchestra pit with organ, and a small 'Wayne Orchestra' entertained the audience before the program. In 1929, the Wayne installed a 'talking machine' by RCA which allowed the Wayne to show talkies.

In 1999, the owners closed the theatre and deeded the structure to the city of Waynesboro. In 2000, to prevent the demolishing of the Wayne, a group of citizens incorporated the Wayne Theatre Alliance with the goal of renovating the theatre. On March 1, 2016, the Wayne Theatre, historically restored, artistically updated and technologically current, opened to the public as a performing arts center.

Some of the elements in this collage echo the Wayne's journey - from Theda Bara to Johnny Ray. Others are just for fun or caught my eye.

Welcome to the Wayne Theatre collage

                            

 

Wayne Theatre circa 1940

                                    

Waynesboro has also become know for it's plethora of murals. Many are the work of  Nils Westergard and are a major inspiration for me.  This mural on the wall of the Waynesboro Family Y always gives me great pleasure. It is so filled with love in the eyes of the father with his daughter at the Pool.  The Y is near an entrance to the Waynesboro Greenway walk path, where my husband and I walk most days; so it is an almost daily delight.

 

Father and Daughter Love At the Y collage

       

                                                        

Till next time!

You're Invited! Please join me at the opening to my Wayne Theatre Gallery space show! Next Monday, 8/26/24

My exciting opportunity is almost here!  I had a preview of the show and Liz Moss and her partner did a fabulous and creative job - naturally! - of designing the show.  

If you are in our area, please do drop by and celebrate with me on Monday, August 26th, 5-7 PM at the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro, VA.

        Here's the link to the Gallery announcement at  the Wayne Theatre Website. 

        Here's the link to the Waynesboro Theatre Events Page on Facebook.  Say you'll be there!! 

The show is focusing on my 'Regional' collages, anchored in photos of the area, landscapes,  mostly in Waynesboro, but also Staunton and Charlottesville.  As well a group of my 'Inner Region' collages; landscapes of  'inner and other'.

I especially like the 'mural' collage series.  Waynesboro has quite a few fantastic murals and more continue to appear.  Inspiring!  

The mural for this collage, Flowered, is on Main Street, near the Wayne Theatre. Apropos!

Flowered collage
mural by Nils Westergard

From the Wayne Theatre website...in the Exhibit Gallery

From the website...Wayne Theatre, Waynesboro VA

The show will be available through November 18.  So lovely.

Upcoming!!! My show at the Wayne Theatre Gallery space - August 26th thru November 17th, 2024. Fortunate me!!

I'm so excited to share about my upcoming show, here in Waynesboro, Virginia at the Wayne Theatre's Gallery space.  I've written about the Wayne theatre and it's wonderful restoration in a previous post.

I've been working with  Elizabeth 'Liz' Moss of  Rising Star Consulting and Art Services in pulling the show together.  Her insights, clarity and supportiveness are so appreciated.

Screen Shot - Wayne Theatre Gallery @ Wayne Theatre.org

Here's  the link to the Gallery  announcement at Wayne Theatre Website.  

                 The current show appears first, so  scroll down to read my entry.

It would be lovely to see and meet you at the Opening Reception on August 26th, 5-7 pm.  

                Here is a link to the Waynesboro Theatre Events Page on Facebook.  Say you'll be there!!

             

Till next time!!

A Most Lovely Opening to the Show! Wayne Theatre Gallery August 26, 2024

The Opening gathering was indeed a most lovely time.  Friends, family, supporters of the Wayne Theatre and those just looking to see the art,  all gathered and celebrated with me.  It was such an incredibly supportive feeling evening.

As most people were local, one fun thing was the exclaimed recognition factor of the locations or the 'Where is that??'  

Many people commented on these two collages. The one below has a contemporary photo of Main Street.    

On Main Street - Waynesboro, VA

This one is a retro photo and many people had fun pointing out the shops that are no longer there.

Retro Main Street

A truly lovely couple shared with me that they had recently gotten married right there in the gallery space.  They purchased the Wayne Theatre collage as a remembrance!  A delight!!

Welcome to the Wayne Theatre

I also had interesting chats about the Crow motif in my 'Inner Region' collages.  Apparently, many people are drawn to Crow, so much so,  that a couple of Crow works will be going to new homes.

Urban Woods

As I said in my last post, Liz Moss and her team did a fabulous job of designing the show; one of the first things people commented on.  Everything wonderfully highlighted the pieces.

Here are a pre-show panorama photo.

The Gallery, opening night!   Lovely!!

Delighted Thank Yous to Liz Moss and the Waynesboro Theatre. Thanks to my supporters who came out this Monday - Deb - who always shows up in my life and her Dad, Bruce, Piper, Rose, Kerry, Susan & Kenneth, Bill & Nancy and Perry.  Thank you to all those I got to meet for the first time and chat with that evening.  And always, to my husband Dennis, who is the one that makes all the things behind the scenes happen.  Thank you as well to all my blog friends who sent me congratulations and good vibes.

Most Happy Indeed!

The show is up through November 17th.  Come Visit!  Stop by SVAC, the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, where I am a member. Make it a two-fer!

Or join us in October for the The Waynesboro Fall Foliage Art Show, sponsored by SVAC.  This is an annual juried art and fine craft show.   October 12 & 13th

Till next time!