ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
Columbia Pulaski Community Hospital will donate $5,000 to sponsor a visit to Pulaski of the touring five-car Artrain museum which will visit the town during its Depot Days June 21-23.
The town already is reaping publicity dividends by having Pulaski as one of the Artrain's stops this year. Its only other stop in Virginia will be in Norfolk.
Barry Matherly, the town's economic development director, said his office has been getting telephone inquiries about the visit because the Smithsonian Institution, which will have works displayed on the train, is publicizing where it will stop. Norfolk Southern Corp., which will provide the engine to haul the five cars to Pulaski, also is publicizing it.
"The Artrain is nationally recognized. We have not spent one penny on advertising yet," he said.
A private viewing for special Depot Day sponsors and guests will be held aboard the Artrain June 20. Public admission during the next three days will be free.
The Artrain borrows from museums, galleries and private collections to create thematic exhibits. The more than 30 works will be augmented by photos of the artists, artists' correspondence and interactive displays.
An Artrain tour starts with an audiovisual introduction to the exhibit, and ends in a studio where local artists are brought in to demonstrate their work.
The exhibits will be on three galley cars - originally passenger cars dating from 1924, 1930 and 1950 - along with a 1946 studio car and caboose. Members of the Pulaski Kiwanis Club will act as hosts for the Artrain staff, and the Dublin Comfort Inn is providing the town a discount for their stay.
More than 2.5 million people from 500 localities in 33 states have visited the Artrain since its tours began in 1971. Its stop in Pulaski is expected to increase the number of out-of-town visitors attending Depot Day.
Other Depot Day sponsors so far include $3,000 from Downtown Exxon toward the car show, $1,000 from NationsBank for the antique show and sale, and other contributions from Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corp., The Flower Shoppe and Stevens Funeral Home. Matherly said private sponsorships total almost $10,000 so far.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB