Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAN FERRANTE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Community Group of Blacksburg, dedicated to the beautification and preservation of the valley, will bring its festival to the Miller-off-Main Street Galleries on Saturday. A corresponding art exhibit will be held at the gallery through Oct. 21.
All forms of expression are open to the festival including fine arts, music, performance, poetry and dance.
The festival is a "nonprotest action" in response to the major changes that group members say could eventually diminish the beauty and integrity of the New River Valley. Works on exhibit include "Rock Garden" by David Parks and "My Mountain My Valley" by Joanna Sunshine. The works portray the beauty of the community as well as the results of growth without enough planning.
"We decided on the 'Vision of our Valley' festival to express what a wonderful place we live in," said Darcy Meeker, a member of The Community Group as well as active sculptor. "We all have an awareness of the energy of being where we are with nature and its wildlife," she said.
"The Community Group" is a discussion panel, made up of citizens living in the New River Valley or surrounding areas, which gets together to talk out each other's common concerns pertaining to the preservation of nature in the area.
The group is specifically concerned with what they call the overgrowth of Christiansburg and the newly planned super highway, Interstate 73. The highway, which economic officials and legislators say will bring with it economic growth, may be passing through some scenic parts of the area, and could destroy some wildlife habitats. A final route will be chosen by the federal government in conjunction with the state of Virginia.
"The overgrowth always seems to ruin the landscape, and it only creates about 20 minimum wage jobs," said Robert Miller, owner of the Miller-off-Main Street Galleries.
The goal of the group is to make citizens and business leaders aware of how large growth and development without enough planning can destroy the environment. The Community Group is more concerned about the quality of life in the future rather than the quantity. "We, as a community, need to accommodate for growth in the community, but definitely with discretion," Miller said. "This is definitely not a protest show, we're just trying to express our love for the community where we live."
Saturday's festival will be held at the gallery 2- 5 p.m. The corresponding art exhibit can be viewed 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Anyone interested in submitting proposals or art work for the festival should bring them to Miller-off-Main Street Galleries, 211 Wilson Ave., Blacksburg, Va. or call 552-6969 for more information.
by CNB