Mountains and Waters

A little house tucked away in the center of downtown Christiansburg, Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center, shows interesting works of local artists and students.

Up the stairs, in the office to the left, the director works alone in this creaky to make sure all is ready for the newly entering exhibit. From organizing the gift shop to running the day-to-day maintenance of such an old building, Sue Farrar, of Christiansburg, makes the Montgomery Museum efficient.

Betty Moore’s Mountains and Waters exhibit will be shown from July 1 to August 24. “Betty will be here for the opening reception,” Farrar said, “July 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.”

Moore was raised in Blacksburg. A recently retired Christiansburg High School art teacher, Moore has instilled art into the hearts of many in the local area, Farrar said. Moore has even helped her students exhibit in the Montgomery Museum as well. “The best part of my experience,” Moore said “was developing relationships with my students. Many of them still keep in touch and that is very gratifying.”

“The folks at the Montgomery Museum are always wonderful to work with” Moore said, “and I enjoy supporting our local museum.”

Moore said she hopes that the viewer sees what is intended in her paintings. “Painting is my way of expressing what is good and beautiful in this world,” Moore said. “When viewing my paintings, I hope the viewer will share the joy I feel when painting,” Moore said.

“Mountains and waters are two of my favorite subjects for painting. This is the first exhibit where all the work relates to a specific theme,” Moore said. “In my past exhibits I have included a mixture of my portraits, landscapes, and abstracts,” Moore said.

“Betty is a well known and respected as a fine artist,” said Farrar, who has been the director for three months, and a member of the board for two years.

When asked what is special about Moore’s art, specifically to the museum, Farrar said, “As a native to this area she is showing her feelings for the land. She loves he ocean also and has visited there, and so decided to combine her love for both.”

Moore said, “Watercolor is my favorite medium. It’s transparency and the ‘accidental’ effects which can be achieved.” “I sometimes focus on detail and realism,” Moore said, “and at other times enjoy working in a more abstract manner.”

Farrar said, “Gazing into her work one appreciates the subtle color changes, the graceful movement between the mountains, water, and sky.”

The Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.