“Church Social” taken in Floyd County by the Shanks demonstrating a spread with pickles and cake.
RADFORD—Ricky Cox, Alice Slusher and Catherine Pauley, exhibit curators for the gallery showing Kindly Mirrors, will be giving a talk about the photographic works of Richard Miles “Dick” Shank and Gertrue Vest Shank at Glencoe Mansion on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m.
The talk will be followed by a traditional Appalachian “Pickles and Cake Reception.” The talk is in conjunction with the showing of the collection of photographs at Glencoe Mansion, on display now through Oct. 29.
The 32 photographs in this exhibit were taken between 1912 and 1917 by “Dick” and Gertrue Shank who were living in Floyd County at the time. Using a Brownie camera that Gertrue Vest owned before she married Dick Shank, the Shanks preserved their landscapes, joys, and day-to-day lives in images that appear almost contemporary. The photographs offer intimate moments: a lamb being bottle fed, a child playing hide and seek, a baptizing.
The speakers will explore the history and artistic merits of this amazing collection of photographs that were nearly lost to time. Ricky Cox is a retired instructor from Radford University’s Departments of English and Appalachian Studies. Alice Slusher and Catherine Pauley are the president and vice-president respectively of the Old Church Gallery, which created the exhibit.
The talk will be approximately an hour, including time for questions, and will be followed by a “Pickles and Cake Reception.” The tradition of serving sweet pickles and cake runs deep in this region and pays homage to one of the images in the collection showing a gathering in Floyd where a spread of pickles and cake can be seen. The reception will run until 7 p.m.
Come explore this amazing piece of art and history. The talk and reception are open to the public, and there is no admission charge.
Glencoe Mansion
