Artistic Encounters -Meet the Artist essentially takes the artist from behind the camera and welcomes them into the Blue Ridge PBS studio. This provides our arts loving audience the opportunity to meet the featured artist while they introduce their works one on one. Specially curated pieces from their collection will be on display during the reception and for several weeks afterwards with many available to take home by making a donation to Blue Ridge PBS. Additionally, each artist will donate one piece to Blue Ridge PBS which will then be auctioned the night of the artist’s reception. Proceeds benefit the artist and Blue Ridge PBS so it may continue its mission of enriching people’s lives by providing educational, informational, and cultural programming that fills a unique role as a positive and lifelong resource for the communities we serve.
Our Featured Artist: Joni Pienkowski
Nationally renowned artist, Joni Pienkowski, began creating art as a young girl in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. In 1948, she was the youngest entrant at the Wisconsin State Rural Art Show. Pienkowski went on to study art at the University of Wisconsin. In the 1960s, she moved to Blacksburg, Virginia.
Ranging from abstract to realistic portraits, much of her art is large format. She often mixes mediums in a single work.
Her award-winning creations have been exhibited in galleries across the country including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, the Parthenon in Nashville, the William Dale Gallery in New Orleans and the Franz Bader Gallery in Washington, D.C. Her work is in many museums and private collections.
Pienkowski taught at Virginia Tech, the University of Wisconsin, and Radford University.
Reception:
Thursday, August 28 from 4 – 7 pm
Exhibit & Sale:
Weekdays, September 2 – 12 from 1 – 4 pm
And by appointment.
Admission is free.
Blue Ridge PBS: 1215 McNeil Drive, Roanoke, VA 24015
In order for the series to continue we need funding and artists! Please reach out to ArtisticEncounters@BlueRidgePBS.org
Artistic Encounters - Visionaries
Recognizing and supporting Blue Ridge PBS’ artist series, Meet the Artist
- Brenda Barksdale
- Anne and Curt Steele
- Ann Martyn
- David-Charles Campbell