Watauga Democrat | View from Blowing Rock's Art & History Corner

Reblogged from Watauga Democrat, written by Sharon Smoski and originally published June 22, 2023

Artists in Residence: Theresa Gloster and Veronica Vale, courtesy of Watauga Democrat

So, I’m a little worried about this week’s column. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do justice to the great color, detail and distinctive style of this week’s artists.

Veronica Vale knows mountains. Her former home was in the mountains of Utah; her travels include the western US; and her current home is in the foothills of the beautiful Appalachians. But she comes at mountains and nature in a different way. She translates the powerful beauty and gentle tranquility of nature into modern, stylized paintings. Just look at her work here…a bit of fantasy, a bit of the unreal, but with a knowledge and love for nature flowing through her brushes.

“Autumn on the Parkway” by artist Veronica Vale, photo courtesy of Sharon Smoski from Watauga Democrat

Theresa Gloster delivers color and magic as well, but in a different form. Theresa is a storyteller and she tells her stories through memory painting and folk art. Some of you may remember Theresa from last year in the Cottage. Or maybe from her “show and tell” at BRAHM using art to tell her stories of childhood and people and places in her life. I was so surprised to find Theresa’s stories of Christmas past very close to my own families’ stories. You guessed it. Theresa’s picture of our memories now grace our home at Christmastime.

An artwork by Theresa Gloster, photo courtesy of Sharon Smoski from Watauga Democrat

I hope you can find some time to come share your stories and enjoy Theresa and Veronica’s distinctively enjoyable art this week, from June 26 through July 2 at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock.

And for that touch of history this week? We need only look next door to the Artists Alley exhibition at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. In a very compact and intimate setting I was able to see the work and picture the lives of five local art icons who lived in this artist community. Don’t let this exhibition slip by without seeing it.