A new show has opened at the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center at 439 E Ridgeway, Clifton Forge. SIBLING SHOWCASE with works from both Joel Tucker and Getrude White is sure to drive away the winter shivers and make you believe in spring. These two natives of the Alleghany Highlands have brought us work that is bright, colorful, and offers more than a hint of spring. You don’t want to miss it! The Center is open at no charge Tuesday through Saturday 10:30-4:40. In case of inclement weather, the Center follows the Alleghany Highlands School systems procedures for closing.
Joel Tucker’s interest in art began in high school. Along with his older sister, Gertrude, he took classes with William Thompson of White Sulphur Springs, WV in the 70s. Then in the 80s and 90s, he studied with JR Shepherd of Millboro, VA, and later with Vera Dickerson of Troutville, VA.
At the time, Tucker was employed by Chessie Systems Railroad as signal maintainer. He also worked for UPS part-time as well. “I was fascinated with the beautiful landscapes and railroad scenes I’d see working on the rails. Joel often took a camera to work to get ideas to paint. I painted a series of cabooses from the Clifton Forge yard with assorted styles of caboose and the old elevator. Several of those are in private collections. I was particularly drawn to cabooses since they were becoming obsolete. My whole family (Dad, three brothers, a brother-in-law, and several uncles) were all railroaders. It was a sad day for us all when the Chessie System and Seabord line merged to form CSX Transportation and the ’Sleeping Kitty’ was put to rest forever.“
“Fortunately, I’d also been working that part-time job for UPS. With the changes in the railroad, which became full-time, I retired after more than 37 years of service there. I now live in Wilton Manors, FL, and Roanoke VA. I really enjoy the visual stimulus from these vastly distinct locations. I often visit the Alleghany Highlands as well; here the familiar scenery of my youth brings memories to paint. The energy and liveliness of the Roanoke ‘scene’ and the bold color and unusual subjects matter that I find in other places, but particularly Florida seems to trigger very different ideas. Whatever is unusual and different or colorful often sets the spark for my creativity.”
Joel works primarily in watercolor, pen and ink and photography but has taken an interest in acrylic painting of late. His work can be found in public and private collections across the US and abroad. Six of his watercolors have been selected over the years by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest VA as a fundraiser. He has also painted many Christmas Cards for the United Way. and has won many of the Westrock Paper Mill Christmas Card Competition, most recently in 2022. Joel also regularly participates in both the Clifton Forge Fall Festival Exhibit and the Fx2 Regional Photography show at the AHACC, often securing awards in both exhibits. No matter what the medium, Joel Tucker’s work is always varied, colorful and surprising. What rousing conversations he and Gertrude must have when they get together!
Gertrude White has always been interested in some form of visual art. Her favorite medium is watercolor, but she has also used oil, acrylics, colored pencil, pen & ink, pastels, and mixed media on diverse surfaces, including canvas, Arches watercolor paper, Yupo, a new synthetic “plastic” paper, and handmade paper. She loves to experiment and often incorporates different pieces of nature in her joy-filled work. Much of her subject matter reflects her love of nature and she often incorporates bits of the natural world in her work. However, she also loves to explore materials and shows an enthusiastic sense of adventure as she “plays” with different media, techniques, and color.
Although primarily self-taught, Gertrude and her youngest brother Joel took art classes under the late Bill Thompson of White Sulphur Springs WV for many years. Thompson taught classes in Covington at the Woman’s Club building. White has also studied under several leading artists of the region, including the late Gertrude Lacy of Covington, the late Anne Hale of Roanoke, and the late J.R. Shepard of Millboro VA. White has also had classes from Vera Dickerson, of Troutville, VA, who now teaches at the Studio School in Roanoke. Gertrude was a long-time member of the Brush Buddies and the Firehouse School of Painting in Clifton Forge, VA both of which predated the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center. She and her brother Joel still often critique each other’s work, exchanging ideas and skill sets.
Over the years, White has won several awards in Virginia and West Virginia art shows, including 1993 Westvaco (now Westrock) Christmas Card contest and the 2000 Ronald McDonald House Christmas Card contest. She participates in the Clifton Forge Fall Festival Show, the Bath County Art Show, and has shown her work at both the Fincastle and White Sulphur Fall Festival exhibits as well. Her pen and ink drawings of familiar landmarks of the area were often selected for inclusion in the AHACC calendar for many years. She is a juried exhibitor at the AHACC with both photography and painting.
A SIBLING SHOWCASE, with works by Joel Tucker and Gertrude White opened Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and will remain on display through Friday, February 16, 2024. The Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center is supported by its members, contributors, volunteers, Westrock, The Town of Clifton Forge, the City of Covington, the County of Alleghany, The Alleghany Foundation, The Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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