Winner of a 2025 Public Media Award for Visual Arts 

and a 2025 Virginia Association of Broadcasters Award for Best Human Interest Series

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.

After 30 years of teaching art in kindergarten-college, Janet Wimmer of Blue Ridge retired to paint and teach at home. Since her retirement, she has painted over 500 paintings of the Blue Ridge Parkway with scenes from her exploration of the whole 469 miles of various hiking trails, overlooks and beautiful mountain vistas.

Last year she began a new series of paintings called “Going Home.” This series is similar to the Parkway series in that it features the beautiful mountains and valleys; however, it is different in that each painting includes a path, road, stream, or footprints, a metaphor for the Holy Spirit that leads people on the journey through life; the sun, representing His Son Jesus; and a small touch of liquid gold leaf to remind viewers of the final destination, the Father’s throne.

Reception: 

Thursday, July 23 from 4 – 6 pm

Exhibit & Sale: 

Weekdays, July 27 – August 7 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

Recognizing and supporting Blue Ridge PBS’ artist series, Meet the Artist 

• Brenda Barksdale
• Ann Martyn 
• Mark Wheeler

Support this series  -Pledge Now!