Work of artists Frances Frederick and Michele Walter also on display
CHRISTIAANSBURG – The Montgomery Museum of Art & History announces the opening of three new exhibits: Frances Frederick: Evolving Potpourri, Michele Walter: Seasons, and Secrets of the Ledger.
An opening reception will be held at the museum Thursday, Nov. 21.
Frederick describes herself as a jack of all trades, but a less modest and more accurate description might be a polymath, a person of great and varied learning. She plays the piano and the violin well enough to be in the orchestra of operas. The exhibit title “Evolving Potpourri” describes the expanding variety of media and subject matter. Her forays into the art world encompass not only the two-dimensional art in the new exhibit at the Montgomery Museum, but also weaving and spinning, paper making, Chinese printing, stained glass, pottery, and steel sculpture.
As an artist, Walter describes herself as on a journey that takes her through different styles and subjects. The title of this exhibition refers, in part, to the four seasons of the year as in the two autumn pictures of the trail to the Cascades, but it also references the seasons of life that people experience. She paints landscapes, flowers, animals, and portraits using watercolor, acrylics, pastels, and collage. Walter is always experimenting with new techniques. Walter paints in a lot of different styles. She is always stretching herself and exploring new media and fresh subject matter. If there is one thing that unites her work, it is joy. Even when she is feeling sad, Walter creates joyful paintings.
Secrets of the Ledger is a history exhibit that transports visitors back to the 1820s to explore life in a general store run by William Kyle in downtown Christiansburg. Using a carefully preserved ledger book, meticulously written in Kyle’s intricate script, this exhibit uncovers fascinating details about the town’s residents, businesses, and day-to-day life two centuries ago.
The exhibit is made possible by a generous grant from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) Commonwealth History Fund, which supports projects that preserve and interpret Virginia’s rich history. As one of only 11 recipients across the state in 2023, the Montgomery Museum of Art & History is using the funding to bring the story of Virginia’s Appalachia to life through the development of an Education Lab and new interactive exhibit materials. The Secrets of the Ledger exhibit is a key part of this initiative, offering visitors a hands-on opportunity to explore 19th-century life in Christiansburg, enhancing the educational experience for the entire community.
The exhibit offers an in-depth analysis of the business practices of the era, examining the types of products sold, the store’s frequent patrons, and significant moments where women and enslaved individuals interacted with the store. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with this historical narrative through interactive displays, allowing them to explore the ledger’s secrets firsthand. Young people are encouraged to explore this history through new items in the Museum’s Children’s Corner as well.
The opening reception will be held at the Montgomery Museum of Art & History, 4 East Main St., Christiansburg, Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5 – 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and beverages, with remarks taking place at 6 p.m.
Montgomery Museum of Art & History
