A life of painting and giving

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2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football

6. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

7. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible

9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli

10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area

Dorsey Taylor | Taylor lives in Roanoke County and with his wife, Linda, owns LinDor Arts, an art gallery in downtown Roanoke.

Monday, July 15, 2013

My longtime friend and artist, Harriet Stokes of Salem, has just celebrated her 99th birthday. I’d like to tell you of her influence over me and others around her. Rather than say nice things about her later, I’d like to say them now so she can know how important she has been to all of us in the art community.

I first met Harriet when I opened The Dorsey Gallery in the early ’70s. She unselfishly promoted the gallery and opened my eyes to other artists she thought I would be able to sell.

As the years rolled by, Harriet and I would have numerous conversations about who’s who on the art scene. The more we talked about what was going on, the more I learned what a promoter of others she truly was.

She either created or was one of the originators of Art in the Alley, which for 30-some years took place during September at Langhorne Place in Salem. There was the base group of artists, but year after year she invited just as many guest artists to display. Included in that were artists who were new to the art scene and would be discovered by the public over those weekends.

This unselfishness prompted me to behave like Harriet.

All of her life, Harriet has exuded the importance of holding out your hand in support of others. Through her efforts, she has shaped the friendliness of the art community to embrace one another rather than see us all fall to only self-promotion.

So, to those of you who read this, please stand and raise your arm up high, make the thumbs-up sign, and say out loud, “Thank you Harriet Stokes, for you are the grande dame of the arts. Happy Birthday!”

Monday, August 12, 2013