Summer Series
Picnic with the Arts
Free family-friendly art events all summer long!
July 3 | July 12 | July 19 | July 23
This summer we invite you to celebrate our second annual Picnic with the Arts Summer Series.
Each event of the series is free and open to the public - everyone is welcome to join us this July for beautiful music and opportunities to try something new or different!
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Patriotic Pops Concert
Symphony of the Mountains
Sunday, July 3rd
7:00 PM
Leeman Field, Pennington Gap
Picnic with the Arts will commence Fourth of July weekend with a Patriotic Pops Concert from Symphony of the Mountains. The concert will begin at 7:00 PM at Leeman Field in Pennington Gap, VA. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and settle in for an evening of fresh air and beautiful music to celebrate America’s 246th birthday. This event is free and open to the public.
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The concert program evokes memories of American summers, from thunder storms to bumblebees to concerts in the park, with works from Strauss, Richman, and Copland. Patriotic favorites like Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and Samuel Ward’s “America the Beautiful” will ring in the holiday. The Symphony will also perform “The Soldier’s Farewell”, a powerful tribute to those who gave all for our country.
Acrylic Painting Workshop
Misty Stratton, MFA
Vision
Tuesday, July 12th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Pennington Gap Community Center
41670 W Morgan Ave, Pennington Gap, VA 24277
Picnic with the Arts continues with an Acrylic Painting Workshop by Misty Stratton on Tuesday, July 12th from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Pennington Gap Community Center. This introductory workshop is open to all skill levels aged seven years and older. Workshop participants will work from the same image and at their own pace, with the goal of completing an artwork they can take home. Supplies will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch to enjoy during their break.
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Misty Stratton has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and an MFA from Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. She is assistant professor of studio art at UVA Wise and adjunct faculty of art at Mountain Empire Community College. This workshop is free and open to the public. If you would like to participate in the Painting Workshop, please RSVP by email to pro-art@uvawise.edu or by phone at 276-376-4520 by Friday, July 8th.
Crash Course in Knitting
Robyn Raines
Tuesday, July 19th
11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Lonesome Pine Library, Wise
Then, on Tuesday, July 19th, take a Crash Course in Knitting with Robyn Raines from 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM at the Lonesome Pine Regional Library in Wise. This workshop introduces beginners to the basic tools and materials used in knitting. Participants will receive group and individualized instruction. Materials are provided for this workshop, and at least one project will be on its way to completion by the end of the day.
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A southwest Virginia native, Robyn Raines moved back to the region after completing her BFA in textile design from Moore College of Art & Design (Philadelphia); working for Betsey Johnson, New York fashion designer; and completing the Core Fellow Program at the Penland School of Crafts (NC). In 2017, she completed her Master’s Degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability. Robyn followed a path of full-time leadership roles in both the art and human service non-profit sectors until 2020 when she decided to refocus. She owns Whitetop Yoga in Abingdon, where she is excited to support gratitude, mindfulness, and intention with the local community and visitors to the region. She loves balancing her space and time between her yoga and art studios, as well as farming and traveling. This workshop is free and open to the public. If you would like to participate in the Crash Course in Knitting, please RSVP by email to pro-art@uvawise.edu or by phone at 276-376-4520 by Friday, July 15th.
Symphony by the Lake
80 Years of Movie Music
with Symphony of the Mountains
and guest soloist Chris Coletti
Canceled Due To Weather
Saturday, July 23rd
Lawn by the Lake, UVA Wise
The Picnic with the Arts Summer Series will culminate with one of the organization’s favorite events—the 11th annual Symphony by the Lake Concert in partnership with The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Everyone is welcome to gather at sunset on Saturday, July 23rd on the lawn by the lake at UVA Wise for “80 Years of Movie Music” from the Symphony of the Mountains.
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Bring your family and friends, a picnic, blankets or lawn chairs, and enjoy fabulous film scores from eight decades of movie magic! The symphony will regale the audience with favorites from “Star Wars”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “West Side Story”, “The Sound of Music”, and many more. Patriotic selections will honor active military and veterans. Virtuoso trumpeter Chris Coletti, former Canadian Brass, joins the orchestra as a featured soloist. The concert is free and open to the public, Pro-Art invites everyone to join them for a beautiful evening under the stars.
Symphony of the Mountains’ commitment to service encompasses the entire region, without regard for state or county boundaries. The orchestra consists of more than 70 professional musicians conducted by Cornelia Laemmli Orth. For more information about the symphony and to see a list of upcoming performances, please visit symphonyofthemountains.org.
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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with mobility issues are encouraged to call or email the Pro-Art office to make arrangements for parking. For evolving conditions related to the global pandemic, inclement weather, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to visit proartva.org or call 276-376-4520 for up-to-date information.
