There is an undeniable attraction about Pulaski County; no matter the season or time of year, you can always find scenes of beauty to remind you that Southwest Virginia life is one of green valleys, snow covered barns, and smiling faces. And while it’s easy to romanticize images such as these in our heads, it’s actually our reality every day. It’s just that we get used to living in such a wonderful area over time.
The Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley recently decided that this beauty should be put on display in a new exhibit titled “Pulaski County Is…”. The exhibit aims to give residents of Pulaski County a chance to submit photographs of what they consider to be the most appealing aspects of where we live. And these photos aren’t resigned to shots of the countryside; after taking a tour of the exhibit myself, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of photography skills on display. While there were some beautifully photographed nature scenes, there were also slice of life photos depicting people going about their everyday lives. Add in a few photos of wildlife and the culture of Pulaski and you’ve got a winning formula for a great art exhibit.
The exhibit is planned to stretch from April 15th until May 29th, giving visitors an ample amount of time to peruse the photos and vote for their favorite. You can actually vote once per day on your favorite photograph, so if you really want one in particular to win one or two people could easily tip the scales. The popular vote will be split into four separate categories; youth under 12, youth aged 12 to 18, adults and professionals. Alongside the popular vote, a blind jury will also be selecting their favorite photographs. The winners of this vote will actually have their photos used in promotions for Pulaski County, including displays at several countywide locations and in print media.
We look forward to seeing who comes out on top of the contest, both in the popular vote and in the blind jury vote. No matter who wins, this exhibit is proof positive that Pulaski County is one of the jewels of Southwest Virginia!
If you'd like to read more about the contest or check out past exhibits at the Fine Arts Center, you can check out their website here.