A Banner Job
By Ashley Kreis, Public Relations Representative, Cooperative Living Magazine
Local artist’s work combines industry and nature to create beautiful image
If you happen to be in downtown Winchester, don’t forget to look up! You don’t want to miss this year’s ArtScape, the Shenandoah Arts Council’s outdoor gallery installed on light posts.
ArtScape is an annual art exhibition in Old Town that transforms light posts with banners that showcase works by regional artists. It is a public art program open to artists of all ages, representing all walks of life and levels of talent.
This year marks the 13th year of ArtScape, which began in 2009 with two dozen banners displayed. Since then, participation has grown immensely, and 57 pieces of art were selected to be shown on this year’s banners.
Earlier in the year, interested artists submitted work to ShenArts for consideration in a juried art competition and a call for sponsors went out to local businesses. Each piece of art selected for a banner was paired with a local business sponsor whose name is featured on the banner along with the artist’s name.
A PERFECT MATCH
In June, the light post banners throughout the walking mall were updated with this year’s brand-new banners, which will be displayed for a year. SVEC was happy to sponsor ArtScape again and we were delighted when we saw the artwork our banner was paired with.
The piece is titled “Hometown View of the Blue Ridge Mountains” and was painted by Kelsey Camacho, a Stephens City artist. It depicts a beautiful view of powerlines against the mountains at sunset. ShenArts put us in contact with Camacho so we could ask her more about this piece of art.
Q: What motivated you to apply to be an ArtScape banner artist?
A: I grew up in the Winchester area, and I’ve been aware of the ArtScape project since high school. I’ve always hoped to have my art on a banner, but never submitted due to feeling insecure in my artwork. I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my abilities over the last few years, and I finally feel comfortable to start putting my work out there and make a name for myself in the art world. I’m so honored and excited to be a part of a project that brings art to public spaces.
Q: Why did you choose to paint powerlines?What was your inspiration?
A: Aside from providing a necessary resource we need to live our lives, powerlines are as much a part of our landscape as the Blue Ridge Mountains.They are so easy to overlook as an “eyesore,” but powerlines can be beautiful.The way powerlines sometimes glow at sunset when the light hits them just right has always captivated me. Tome, that glowing effect brings a sense of fantasy and magic to life in the brief moment the sun catches them, and I wanted to capture that in my painting.
Q: The combination of nature and industry in the painting is interesting! Is this a theme in your work or just coincidental for this piece?
A: It was coincidental for this piece, but it inspired me to make it a series. I have quite a few paintings planned that fit in with this theme and most of them will feature landscapes with powerlines. I’d like to help people see the surprising beauty of the world and what humans have created.Without powerlines and industry, so much of what makes our lives incredible wouldn’t be possible. I’m excited to share the paintings when they’re finished!
LOOKING AHEAD
Next year, ArtScape will continue to grow and expand into Middletown. They will be seeking artists and sponsors from the Middletown area to be featured on 10 banners throughout the town.
SVEC is proud to support a program like ArtScape that encourages creativity, brings art to the community and supports local businesses. Lisa Sipp, executive director of the Shenandoah ArtsCouncil, says it best when she notes, “A community that supports the arts is a healthy community.”