Sidewalk Art Show 2023 | Roanoke, VA
Wearing my “Blue Ridge Mountains Crop Top” and “Blue Ridge Mountains Skirt” set with my pup, Zorro, by my side at the Sidewalk Art Show. This year, my booth had the perfect view of the gorgeous, striking Taubman Museum of Art
I didn’t think there was any way for this year’s Sidewalk Art Show to top last year’s, but I’m absolutely delighted to be wrong. This year’s 65th Annual Sidewalk Art Show was my first ever returning show, meaning that I’ve officially been exhibiting at art fairs for over a year!
I had never before experienced how wonderful it is to reconnect with collectors from years previous and to hear how much they still love their fine art. Seeing collectors’ installation images, hearing about how much the work has continued to mean to them, and even seeing a few art reactions videos made this year’s Sidewalk Art Show even more heartwarming for me.
Plus, after being honored last year with the Paul Ostaseski Memorial Award and getting to know the Taubman Museum of Art team and staff through that experience, returning to the Sidewalk Art Show felt like reunited with old friends. After last year’s award, I had the additional honor of being asked to give a presentation on my work for the Taubman Museum of Art’s “Curated Cribs” series. This live presentation, given last September, will soon be available on Taubman Museum of Art’s website. I cannot wait to share this special presentation with you all soon.
Connecting one of my brand new “Feelin’ Blue - Limited Edition Prints” with a local Roanoke collector. Photo by Leopoldo Palis for the Taubman Museum of Art
As for this year, reuniting with all of the warm, kind people behind the Taubman Museum of Art and the Sidewalk Art Show and all of my Roanoke, VA collectors made this weekend worthwhile in and of itself. I couldn’t have expected how many new wonderful collectors and beautiful connections I would gain this weekend. Five original works found their dream homes and countless open and limited edition prints connected with people who will cherish them.
After the incredible first day of the Sidewalk Art Show, the parade of awards began to make their way down the street, giving out awards to this year’s artists. My friend, the Taubman Museum of Art’s photographer, had already stopped by my booth earlier to tell me, disappointedly, that I had not been chosen for an award this year. I remember thinking how grateful I was that he had told me early so that my hopes wouldn’t be toyed with as the marching band of awards made its way up and down the street.
I was then beyond surprised when the parade of awards stopped right in front of my booth, and I was honored with the Allen Ingles Palmer Memorial Award. My photographer friend, the incredibly talented Leopoldo Palis, just laughed and shouted “gotcha!” His playful trick made the surprise all the greater (as evidenced by screenshots from the Taubman’s live video below).
Thank you, sincerely, to the Taubman Museum of Art and this year’s judge, Dr. Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, for this award. I will truly cherish it for a lifetime. Check out the inspiring work of the award’s namesake, Roanoke artist, Allen Ingles Palmer. I’m unbelievably honored to have received this award in his memory.
Pictured above are photographs by Leopoldo Palis of the Taubman Museum of Art’s Executive Director Cindy Petersen and this year’s judge, Director at Hampton University Museum, Dr. Vanessa Thaxton-Ward
Thank you so much to all of my new and returning Roanoke collectors. Despite the scorching heat of Saturday and the foggy drizzle of Sunday, you all came out in droves to show your support of fine art. I’m so grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for welcoming my work into your homes and lives. You all are what makes the Sidewalk Art Show one of our very favorite art events of the year. I’m already counting down the days until the next one. I hope to see you then!
In the meantime, check out my Events page, updated regularly, to see where else I’ll be, and sign up for the Collector’s Club at the bottom of this page to receive exclusive first access to all new work, prints, and art products.
Picnicking at Fries River Park in Fries, VA on our way home from Roanoke, VA’s Sidewalk Art Show. See if you can spot Zorro in this image.
One of the many lovely things about doing art fairs on the weekends is taking time to appreciate the beautiful places we get to visit after the art fairs are over. Last year, we hiked up the breathtaking Dragon’s Tooth Trail after the Sidewalk Art Show and this year, we picnicked along the New River in Fries, VA. My husband and I love any excuse to play in the river, frolic in the mountains, and visit beautiful mountain cities like Roanoke and Fries, VA. We’re so appreciative of this life. Thank you all not only for being a part of it, but for making it possible.