"Bearwallow Picnic" by Ellen Elmes
Ellen Elmes, who has painted murals throughout the greater Tri-Cities region, gives a lecture on her life in art, “Finding Community Through 50 Years of Making Art,” Thursday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m., at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia.
The lecture is in conjunction with the recent publication of her book, “Appalachian Labyrinth: Painting to the Center.”
The Appalachian Mountains have inspired poets, musicians, storytellers and painters of the region since the first Native Americans split white oak for a basket, the first African slave picked up a banjo and the first white settler told a Jack tale.
As a young college volunteer, artist Elmes was initially drawn to this region in the late 1960s by a fascination with the people and the landscape of McDowell County, West Virginia.
The new book chronicles her stories and paintings since her move here as evidence of why she and her husband have made the mountains of Southwest Virginia their home for close to 50 years.
In the lecture and slide presentation of her work, Elmes discusses how the development and content of her murals and watercolors have been profoundly impacted by where she lives.
One focus of her talk is the Abingdon mural and her process from start to finish of researching, designing and painting “Celebration! A Social History of Abingdon.”
Elmes is available following the presentation for book sales and signings.
For a complete listing of local history programs and all festival events pick up the festival program guide at locations throughout the region or visit www.VaHighlandsFestival.org.
