A Rockbridge County treasure is being celebrated at the Alleghany Highland Arts and Crafts Center at 439 East Ridgeway in Clifton Forge.
“Sounder,” the Newbery Medal winning novel by Collierstown native William Howard Armstrong, is a centerpiece in the annual Juneteenth Art Show at the gallery.
All 10 original paintings created by James Barkley to illustrate “Sounder” are on display, greeting visitors as they enter the show.
Curator Nancy Newhard invites folks to “swing by the Gallery to check out our current exhibit, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and rich cultural legacy of Juneteenth. This exhibition honors African American history and artistic expression.”
Although “Sounder” is a work of fiction, it is based on stories told by another Rockbridge treasure, Charles Addison Vaughan Jones, a Black farmer and teacher at the Collierstown Colored School in the early 20th century, a scholarly man whom some in the area still remember.
“Without Charlie’s storytelling, a novel and movie recognized and loved throughout the U.S. wouldn’t exist,” said Lexington native Susan Virginia Mead. “The book’s illustrations by artistic genius James Barkley have inspired me for nearly 60 years; I am so fortunate to be able to ‘shepherd’ these images, taking them to community organizations that want to learn more about ‘Sounder.’ We are thrilled to share them across the mountain!”
The Juneteenth show, dedicated to “freedom, heritage, and the enduring power of art to share stories of life, liberty, and justice” also features works by artists Pearlista Henry, Dyke Wood, Donald Earley, Clinton Helms, Armilda Hayes and Sarah Williams.
“There is something for everyone in this show: landscapes, portraits, animals, colorful abstracts, collages that make you ponder big issues, and even coloring pages of the Sounder images for the kids,” said Mead.
The Juneteenth Show at the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center runs through July 10. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
