Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310200359
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Josephine Blankenship, originator and keeper of the collection, said the exhibit will be expanded to include the main hall on the first floor of City Hall and the council chambers.
The collection consists of 45 paintings by 38 Salem artists and is in the main hall on the ground floor of the municipal building at 114 N. Broad St. Those paintings will remain there, and the new space will be taken up with artists not represented in the current collection, Blankenship said.
"I believe there are many other artists out there, and we want to find them," she said.
So far the project has cost about $2,000, most of which has been used to frame paintings. The money is from the general maintenance fund.
"We've gotten an impressive amount of art for that price," said Blankenship, Salem's treasurer.
She has appealed to artists represented in the current collection to recommend other artists, and she would like to hear from artists who have not been contacted. She may be contacted at the Salem treasurer's office, 375-3024.
Exhibitors must live in Salem or be employed by the city, and must donate their paintings to the collection. Paintings must be in good taste and not offensive to any group.
The idea for the art collection was born last spring, when Blankenship decided the hall outside her office lacked something.
"It was so dismal," she said.
Even after lights were modernized, the walls painted and new carpet installed, something just wasn't right.
She decided there was too great an expanse of bare wall. After getting clearance from the assistant city manager, Blankenship began thinking of ways to dress up the walls - with designs, logos or something similar.
"And then it occurred to me that local artists might donate paintings," she said.
She contacted artists she knew and asked them to contact others.
The paintings began coming in.
At a September reception to honor current artists, Blankenship gave special recognition to Chrys and Don Meador for their help in selecting paintings and getting them hung.
Blankenship said she sought suggestions and recommendations from the Meadors after she had the idea, and they offered assistance.
They helped spread the word to artists. When the pictures began coming in, Don Meador arranged them and supervised the hanging, which was done by members of Salem's maintenance department.
"Don and Chrys have been extremely helpful," Blankenship said.
"When we started, we had no idea this would be as much of a success as it has turned out to be," she said. "It has been an impressive success."
All but one of the paintings in the present collection were done by adults - the exception being a work by Jena Stokes, a teen-ager.
But the works to be placed on the upper floor may include some by children, Blankenship said.
"I think that would be a good mix," she said.
She said she hopes Salem's young artists will consider submitting their works.
The collection has been accepted well by the public. "It gives me a nice feeling" when visitors to City Hall linger to study the paintings, Blankenship said.
by CNB