Message from Executive Director

Susan Martin

Dear Bower Family & Friends,

   Happy Spring!  May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and It is scientifically proven that art can have positive effects on our mood and can help improve our mental health.  Whether it is physically creating artwork, curating your own social media feed to look perfect, or just appreciating an advertisement that caught your eye, there is creativity in every aspect of daily life.

    The process of creating art helps process feelings while reducing stress, anxiety and can help to increase self-esteem.  At Bower Center for the Arts we believe anyone can be creative and creating art is something that everyone can get involved in. Whether it is the process of drawing, turning clay or working towards a finished painting, it can take you away from any daily worries or stress that you might experience.

     Join us for an upcoming class, performance or exhibit and take advantage of the benefits of creating and viewing art.  We are currently hosting the Bedford County Public Schools High School Art Invitational.  Stop in and enjoy the amazing work created by our area students from now until May 14.  This show is outstanding and provides a look at the wonderful job our teachers are doing providing an opportunity for our youth to express themselves.

     We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Susan 

CREATE. INSPIRE. CONNECT. GROW.

Up Next

Artist Spotlight

     Beginning on May 17th you will be able to see our 10th Installation of our Annual National Juried Exhibition. This year's exhibition features work from 66 artists representing 12 different states. Each piece was selected by this year's juror and judge, Nancy Dahlstrom.

     Nancy, a retired university art teacher, most recently at Hollins University, is well versed in many art media, has taught a variety of studio art courses for over 40 years, and is familiar with the particular challenges of producing quality work in different art media.
     She is an accomplished artist, having widely exhibited her work locally as well as internationally. She has received many awards and recently has collaborated with a group of international artists in producing mezzotints for an annual exchange portfolio.

Dotti Stone

Mosaics, Instructor, & Exhibits Manager

     Dotti studied art at Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU), Richmond, VA. She spent over 40 years in the photography business in the DC area where she also operated Great Falls Stained Glass and later took up mosaics.

     She moved to southwest Virginia in 2007, began teaching mosaics to adults and youth at Bower Center in 2009, and in 2010 started managing exhibits. In 2015 she and a few other mosaic artists formed BRMA, Blue Ridge Mosaic Artists, who call Bower Center home. The group meets bimonthly, exhibits mosaics, and works on community mosaic projects.

     Stone creates fine art panels and sculptural works, and teaches mosaic classes to adults and youth.

     "It's most rewarding seeing what my students create , their excitement over the different materials and colors, learning various techniques and their applications, and developing an appreciation for mosaics. Mosaic art if one of the oldest art forms and creating and exhibiting them to inspire others to enjoy, appreciate, and learn about this versatile and tactile form of art is important and satisfying."

-Dotti Stone

Upcoming Performances

Looking Back

March 2022

Bower Center For The Arts

305 N. Bridge Street

Bedford, VA

540.586.4235