A vibrant celebration of contemporary portraits showcasing the heart and soul of ROANOKE!
➤ OPENING RECEPTION & OUR NEW NONPROFIT RIBBON CUTTING:
Sunday, June 1st, 2025, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
We are honored and proud to announce that our friend Whitney Brock, a talented, passionate and dedicated portrait artist in Roanoke, will be showing her year-long project, “A Thread Through Roanoke,” at Art on 1st for the month of June. She approached us to ask Rick if he would do the photo shoots for the Roanoke luminaries whose portraits she would paint. She directed the shoots and she and Rick worked together to get the poses and the lighting just right.
ART ON 1ST RIBBON CUTTING
We are also excited to announce the grand opening of the new Art on 1st non-profit gallery and creative space. Our Mayor, Joe Cobb (whose portrait is also in Whitney’s show) will be cutting the ribbon as we celebrate this new direction for Art on 1st.
It will be a great celebration on Sunday, June 1 from 1:00-4:00 PM. Mark your calendars!
FROM THE ARTIST
“This project has grown into a massive endeavor—and it’s been nothing short of an absolute a blast! “A Thread Through Roanoke” will bring to life 10 larger-than-life portraits of the incredible people driving positive change in our community. But here's the thing—there are so many amazing individuals in Roanoke that I can’t possibly capture them all. There are countless unsung heroes, everyday influencers who go above and beyond with their passion for humanity. This project is my way of shining a spotlight on just a few of these remarkable souls who truly make Roanoke matter!”