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I got a chance to visit one of the famed attractions of Roanoke, Virginia which is The Taubman Museum of Art. The Taubman Museum of Art is part of their downtown area of arts and culture in their community. This museum is a must visit with their building being a prominent visual landmark to the town. we

We were able to explore this fascinating art exhibit on a private tour that has a variety of genres, new, seasonal and permanent displays to observe.

Divas Ascending

Mimi-Rigor Mortis (La boheme, Puccini) (Red Vintage) – e recounts the sad tale of the seamstress Mimi; from her rapturous love for the dashing poet Rodolfo to her tragic demise from a dreaded disease, dying in the freezing cold in the arms of her love. This exquisite example of a bustled Victorian dress in red velvet, with its laced bodice and satin ribbon, is so architecturally constructed it practically stands on its own. Vialeta (White Bodice & Skirt) high society courtesan to self-sacrificing heroine constitutes Violetta’s gown has been transformed—broken in half as a strength to her character.

CARMEN ( CARMEN, BIZET ) One of the most notorious women in opera, the willful and fiercely independent Carmen is the ultimate operatic gypsy. Carmen’s Spanish-style gypsy dressappears tough as armo showcasing her rebellious spirit, while a rose stabs her in the heart.

HATS A selection of fanciful millinery from several operas such as Turandot, Casanova and The Magic Flute,

MANON – GHOST ANGEL ( MANON, MASSENET ) Manon Lescaut’s triumphant rise to fame and fortune, followed by her devastating fall into poverty and despair. This silhouette its weightless sweep assuming the form of an angel to go with the name.

CINDERELLA PEASANT/PRINCESS This sculpture is composed of two Cinderella dresses that symbolize her transformation: the white, cake-like “Princess” dress with its pearls and panniers, and a dress found on a rack of the costume archive labeled “Distressed Peasant.”

MERRY WIDOW ( THE MERRY WIDOW, LEHÁR ) This sparkling operetta embodies the tale of wealthy widow Hanna Glawari, the most sought-after woman in Pontevedro. Upside down, her dress functions as a reservoir for her fortune, which many men seek as you can see physical currency “bleed” out of her.

SKIRT CHASER ( DON GIOVANNI, MOZART ) A womanizer viciously seducing thousands of women and acts like the epitome of entitlement, Don Giovanni remains an irresistible force of nature, attractive to women and audiences alike.

Mrs George Gribble (Norah Royds)

This is a full length painting by John Singer Sargent — American painter 1888 .Norah Royds (1859-1923) married George James Gribble (of London) on July 27, 1881. Seven years later, when she was about twenty-nine, Sargent painted her. This is a center showcasing canvas in the exhibit with a wood frame & gold plated embossing.

Framed by Norman Rockwell

This is a Norman Rockwell original oil on canvas painting is part of the collection of the Taubman Museum of Art. Framed, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published March 2, 1946.

Judith Leiber blinged purses

Virginia Arcadia: The Natural Bridge in American Art

Organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Arcadia: The Natural Bridge in American Art is an artistic and visual collection of one of Virginia’s iconic natural wonder of The Natural Bridge. The Natural Bridge is Virginia’s National Historic Landmark developed over hundreds of years from twenty stories of solid limestone rock. Located in Shenandoah Valley, the Natural Bridge formed gradually measuring 215 feet high and 90 feet wide.

The rock formation is more than 400 million years old, but it gain popularity with early publishing references to the natural wonder by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.  In 1774, Thomas Jefferson purchased this 150-acre tract of land from King George III.  The land remained in the Jefferson family for seven years after his death in 1826. This arch quickly became one of the most easily recognizable natural wonders and several artist painted art in appreciation and memorializing this landscape.

The newly creation of a Natural Bridge State Park is the realization of Jefferson’s long-delayed vision. Natural Bridge State Park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America which officially opened on September 24, 2016. I didn’t get a chance to physically visit the natural wonder of Virginia, but this exhibit truly gave essence to what the artist saw and recreated in the structure.

Passage: “but soon the fore part of him slowly rose from the water; for an instant his whole marbleized body formed a high arch, like Virginia’s Natural Bridge”.

Hunt Slonem

Hunt Slonem (born Hunt Slonim, July 18, 1951) is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He is best known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of butterflies, bunnies, and his tropical birds. Fun fact: Hunt Slonem has an artistic obsession with bunnies and paints a new bunny every day!

Hunt Slonem has an interesting spiritual connection to Abraham Lincoln. He has been quoted, “Abraham Lincoln is my Marilyn Monroe”.

Abraham Lincoln is more than a historical curiosity to Slonem, to the artist, there’s a kind of spiritual connection between the two men.

“I work with diviners and mystics…[Lincoln] guided me to paint certain things, like my doves, he wanted me to paint them as a symbol of freedom,”says Slonem.

Views of the Roanoke Star

The city’s most visible attraction is the famous Roanoke Star, a 100-foot-high illuminated steel and concrete structure, which has been a beacon at the top of Mill Mountain for more than 70 years. You can see a clear almost Hollywood sign hill view of this Star directly at the Taubman Museum. So if you want a great daylight view of the town’s historic landmark, definitely come to The Taubman Museum.

Learn more about The Taubman Museum at taubmanmuseum.org

 What did you find interesting about Taubman Museum?