Danville museum opens two new exhibits

Children’s picture-book illustrations and rural Pittsylvania County settings abound in two new exhibits at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.

“Color All Around: Illustrations” by African-American artist Adjoa J. Burrowes, and “Piedmont Paintings: Ross Arkell” opened in the museum’s Jennings and Boatwright galleries Sunday and will run through Oct. 26.

Burrowes’ showcase features 42 cut-paper collages from her illustrated books, and preliminary drawings, model photos and editorial comments to show viewers the process of illustrating books from concept to finish. The exhibit includes collages of children and adults in library settings, and fall and winter scenes.

“Not only is it colorful, it’s also educational (about) the process of illustrating a book,” said Lynne Bjarnesen, executive director of the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.

The timing of the exhibit is perfect for the start of the school year, providing an opportunity for school field trips, Bjarnesen said.

Burrowes, a resident of Arlington, has illustrated 17 children’s books and written three of them. Her book, “Grandma’s Purple Flowers,” won the American Booksellers Association’s Kids Pick of the List and the Bank Street College’s Children’s Book of the Year awards in 2000. Burrowes, who earned her bachelor’s of fine arts degree from Howard University, will be at the museum Oct. 4.

To add an incentive for aspiring book illustrators, the museum is holding its Fifth Annual Writing Gallery Competition. Students from grade 3 and up can view Burrowes’ work and write a poem or short story about a featured piece. Entries must be turned in to the museum by Oct. 14 and will be judged by staff at the Danville Public Library.  Winners will be announced during a ceremony at the museum on Oct. 26. For more information, call (434) 793-5644.

Arkell’s exhibit, “Piedmont Paintings,” is a collection highlighting mostly Pittsylvania County’s bucolic country fields, woods, creeks and old houses. Arkell, a Chicago native, has lived in Penhook for 15 years and cherishes old buildings. He said he’s painted about 100 houses in Pittsylvania and Franklin counties as an act of preservation.

“I wanted to make a record of as many as I could,” Arkell said during an interview at the museum Sunday.

Arkell, who has exhibited his work across the United States and Canada, majored in painting at Northern Illinois University and studied at the former Art School of the Society of Arts and Crafts, now the Center for Creative Studies.

His works featured at the museum include “Owens Creek,” “Industry Martinsville,” “Museville House in Shadow,” “Snow Creek — April” and others. Inspiration for one painting came while painting a house on Friendly Road, Arkell said. He noticed three trees eaten up with wisteria, an invasive vine, and made them his subject in “Trees with Wisteria.”

Arkell said he prefers using oil because it is “difficult” and provides subtlety. Though many of his paintings are oil-on-board, he also likes canvas because of its “nubby” surface that provides unevenness and unpredictability.