Blacksburg Regional Art Association

ART IN OUTREACH!

One of Blacksburg Regional Art Association's purposes is to promote the understanding and appreciation of, and participation in, the visual arts.  Additionally, we want to reach out to our community and provide actual hands-on art experiences.  Our organization's outreach programs vary from painting pet pictures to decorate the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center, to working with senior citizens by helping them create their own cards, to creating butterfly paintings as fundraisers for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Montgomery County, to bringing Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' artists to our local high schools, and more.

To this end, we will be engaging Doug Hiser (Houston, Texas) to conduct several local events, one of which will involve East Montgomery High School's art students in the creation of a wildlife 8'x8' mural. 

Doug Hiser is an internationally-known signature member of Artists for Conservation, the top Wildlife Artists from 30 countries. Additionally, he has authored 34 books and has written over 30 songs. He holds a degree in Applied Design and Visual Arts from the University of Houston Clear Lake and is most proud of his University of Houston Distinguished Alumni Award.

The events surrounding Doug Hiser’s projects are scheduled from Wednesday, October 15 through Saturday, October 18, 2025:

 Wednesday, October 15th 10:00 am to 1:00 pm:

Mr. Hiser will be doing a live painting of real birds.  As he works, he will painting and explaining the process of live bird drawing.  The event will be at the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation (Alexander Black House).  The event will be open to the public and is free of charge.

Wednesday, October 15th 5:00 to 7:00 pm:

Doug will also be doing an author talk and wildlife slide presentation at the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation (Alexander Black House).  The event will be open to the public and is free of charge.

Thursday, October 16th: 

Wildlife and Conservation Presentation to East Montgomery High School clubs:  Doug will be giving a slide presentation to the students regarding his participation in wildlife conservation and his travels around the world photographing animals.  He uses these photos as a reference for his wildlife paintings.  As a retired art school teacher, his desire is to inspire and educate students.

Thursday, October 16th - Saturday, October 18th:

Todd Lewis, principal of East Montgomery High School, has approved involving their students in the creation of a local wildlife mural which will be 8’x8’ and will be made in such a way that the mural can be disassembled and moved around the New River Valley.   BRAA’s name will be displayed on the mural along with the artist’s name and the participating students from East Montgomery.

Friday, October 17th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm:

Doug will conduct a workshop where attendees will observe him painting a wildlife picture using ink and watercolor, explaining his approach and methodology as he works.  The Meadowbrook Community Center in Shawsville will be the location of Doug’s live wildlife painting demo. The event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, October 18th, time TBD:

Come and celebrate the dedication of the mural produced by Doug Hiser and students from the East Montgomery High School!  The event will be at the Meadowbrook Community Center in Shawsville.  There will be a small reception after the dedication.  The event is free and open to the public.

Let's bring more art opportunities to the New River Valley.  

YOUR DONATION WILL HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN! 

WHO WE ARE

The Blacksburg Regional Art Association (BRAA) is a vibrant community of artists established in 1950, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.  With over 150 members, BRAA comprises painters, sculptors, photographers, and artists of various mediums.  The association aims to make quality art events affordable, attractive, and accessible, encouraging creativity and art exploration.

BRAA offers weekly meetups, monthly meetings, educational workshops, art shows, and promotes local artists.  They also have a juried biennial exhibition, the New River Art Biennial, which showcases artworks from regional artists.  This year, the event will be held at the Moss Art Center in Blacksburg.  Additionally, BRAA has partnerships with local businesses to display member artists' work, providing opportunities for sales and exposure.

The Association is organized for the following purposes:

1. To promote the understanding and appreciation of, and participation in, the visual arts.

2. To enhance the cultural life of its members and other residents of Blacksburg and the New River Valley Region and beyond.

Membership is open to all persons in the region and beyond who support and promote the purposes of BRAA.  Membership categories are (a) student, (b) individual, (c) family, and (d) Club 80 (members over 80).

COME AND JOIN US AS TOGETHER WE ART!