2014 Bedford County High School Art Exhibit - Education through the Arts

A sampling of the outstanding art work
in the 2014 Education through the Arts
exhibit at Bower Center in May

A record number of over 600 works of art by Bedford County High School art students (Jefferson Forest HS, Liberty HS and Staunton River HS) was recently exhibited at Bower Center. The high caliber of the art work is a tribute to the talented students and the instruction in the schools to nurture their creativity. The Center was packed with students and parents for the awards that were presented at the Second Friday reception on May 9.

Botanical II exhibit is now open to the public

Art Work L to R:
"Silhouette" by Leah Thompson, "Bursting with Life" by Leslie Santapaul
and "Midnight Garden" by Lennie Richardson

The artists' reception for Botanical II will be Second Friday, April 11, 5pm-8 with awards being presented at 6pm.


Exhibit dates: March 25 - May 3, 2014

The exhibit, judged by Beverly Rhoads, artist and an associate professor at Lynchburg College, is in the Performance Hall Gallery, Main Lobby Gallery and Terrace Gallery on the lower level.

Another component to this exhibit is the addition of floral arrangements by area floral designers. They will be viewing the exhibit entries and make selections of art works that inspire floral designs. These will be on view the last weekend of the exhibit on May 2 and 3. There will be a reception on Friday May 2, 2pm-4 to recognize those designers. Artists who created the art currently exhibited as well as the general public is invited to this May 2 reception at Bower Center.

Gingerbread Visions II

There is still time to enter a gingerbread creation into Gingerbread Visions II. 

The deadline has been extended to December 5 in order to have gingerbread houses up for Sunday, December 8, when Bower Center, along with other art venues will be open (1pm-6) - same day as the Christmas Home Tour. 

Then there is Second  Friday ... December 13, 5pm-8, when the Center will be open for the 
Americana reception. We want to have gingerbread creations, too!













Gingerbread houses can be small or large, plain or fancy! The choice is yours. Join in the fun and either  individually or as a family or club group, make something ... there is no entry fee!

Have question? Call Bower Center during office hours: Tues-Sat, 11am-6pm or leave a message .... or ... email us at bowercenter@gmail.com

Little Mountain Boys come to Bower Center - November 30

To whet the appetite of Bedford's love of Bluegrass music, The Little Mountain Boys have been invited back to Bower Center for another concert.

The Little Mountain Boys are a group of individuals who play a wide range of music, ranging from bluegrass, country and gospel. Some of the music they grew up with and some they composed.

On Second Friday, December 13 at PM there will be a special free holiday concert - The Roanoke Chamber Brass. This is another return performance!

Festival of Trees at Bedford Welcome Center

Bower Center's tree is up!!! 

Executive Director Sara Braaten took the Center's student intern Angelique to help set up and decorate the tree.

During Second Friday activities and after school classes area students and young children helped make the red and white ornaments that have been hung. Be sure to go visit the Bedford Welcome Center (Rtes 460/122) to see Bower Center's tree and all the others that make up the 2013 festival of Trees.

Vote for your favorite ... support area youth with a vote for Bower Center's tree!

Current Exhibit: 3-in-1 Sculpture, Plein Air and Architectural/Architectural Elements

Still time to see the current "3-in-1" exhibit ... It will be up though Saturday, October 5. Included are bronze equine statues by Joe Collins, sculptural wall hangings by Edrie Bays, whimsical mosaics by Sergei Troubetzkoy and architectural subjects by Revelle Hamilton. 

The next exhibit will be "Color My World" that will open on October 8 - reception on second Friday, October 1 1, 5-8pm

Steve Garay is back with Tai Chi

Photograph from wedmd website

Monday nightTai Chi classes return September 9,  6:30pm-7:30

Steve Garay will be back 
from a summer break to 
teach the popular 
24 form Yang Style Tai Chi.

Steve is trained to teach Sun and Yang style Tai Chi and Qigong, including programs specially designed for those with diabetes and arthritis, and Tai Chi Cane and Sword forms.

Why do Tai Chi? It is a fun and easy exercise to learn. It is a low impact exercise that consists of slow, relaxed movements that help to develop internal and external balance and harmony, improve circulation and fitness levels, and increase oxygen to our bodies. The moves are practiced in a slow controlled fashion that relaxes the body and clears the mind. Regular practice of Tai Chi Ch’uan slowly, yet measurably, improves ones overall fitness and harmony, including relaxation, balance, posture, flexibility and immunity.

Photograph from AVSED website

Photograph from likthestar blog

The Mayo Clinic (on its website) recommends Tai Chi based on preliminary studies showing possible benefits beyond stress reduction, such as: reducing anxiety and depression; improving balance, flexibility and muscle strength; reducing falls in older adults; improving sleep quality; lowering blood pressure; improving cardiovascular fitness in older adults; relieving chronic pain; increasing energy, endurance and agility and improving overall feelings of well-being.

The cost is $30.00 per month, with on-going classes; pay instructor at the beginning of each month. No pre-registration necessary.