Virginia Conservation Association meeting

Virginia Conservation Association Meeting
May 16, 2013
Public Lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center
2410 Wickham Avenue
Newport News, Virginia 23607

On May 16, 2013 the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport
News will welcome the Virginia Conservation Association (VCA) for
the next Members Meeting. The Downing-Gross is home to a striking,
dynamic collection of visionary art created by Elder Anderson
Johnson, a self-taught preacher, musician and artist who came to the
attention of the art world later in life. For many years Johnson
maintained a house of worship in the East End of Newport News, where
he showed hundreds of his paintings, painted objects, and wall art.
In 1987, the building was procured by the city and demolished as
part of an urban renewal project. The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts
Center was created from the adaptive reuse of the old Walter Reed
school in the East End in 2008, and a dedicated gallery was designed
for Elder Johnson's work. Kept in storage for decades, the rescued
artwork was installed in 2012.

Following the VCA business meeting, long-time VCA member Andrew
Baxter will discuss his role and work in helping to salvage the
Johnson artwork and prepare it for museum display. His presentation
promises to be exciting, thoughtful and perhaps even worthy of
debate.

The VCA business meeting and board elections will commence at
5:30pm, before the public lecture at 6:30pm.

Article from the College of William and Mary website, describing the
exhibit:

    <URL:http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2012/braxton-plays-key-role-in-creation-of-anderson-johnson-exhibit.php>

Video from the Daily Press newspaper website:

    <URL:http://www.dailypress.com/videogallery/72712690/News/VIDEO-Gallery-for-folk-artist-Elder-Anderson-Johnson-of-Newport-News>

Directions to the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center:

    <URL:http://www.downinggross.org/directions.php>

Valinda S. Carroll
Web Committee Chair
Virginia Conservation Association


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 26:47
                  Distributed: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
                       Message Id: cdl-26-47-007
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