Taubman Museum of Art 540-342-5760 110 Salem Ave. SE Roanoke, VA 24011 www.taubmanmuseum.org Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday, Friday- Saturday: 10:00 - 5:00 Thursday: 10:00 - 7:00 Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 Closed Mondays Reviewed by: Ashlee VanMeter The Taubmen Museum of Art is not hard to spot because it is perhaps the most striking building in Roanoke. The design of the museum is inspired by both the natural landscape that surrounds it as well as Roanoke's history. The building itself is multifaceted and is as visually interesting as the exhibits displayed inside. The staff at the welcome desk was friendly and there were knowledgeable art students standing by to answer any questions we had about the museum and exhibits. The current exhibits were just a small part of the museums overall collection. The first room we went into had photographs by Peter Henry Emerson and twenty other photographers with a focus on American naturalistic photography. Naturalism reached it's height from 1890 - 1910 and is known as the first movement of expressive photography in the United States. The photographs are of creeks, forests and landscapes. Some of the most compelling photographs in the collection explore the agrarian lifestyle and people whose livelihoods depend on a close relationship to the land. The second room featured video exhibits by Sam Easterson called "Eco-Sensing." Easterson placed small cameras on various animals from different habitats to study their world as they see it. This exhibit was one that would appeal to both adults and children. There were several exhibits there that would be appealing to children, although they are not necessarily geared towards children. Depending on what exhibits are showing at the time, I think the museum would appeal to children over eight years old. There was a lot of variety in the exhibits. One room held the futuristic Eclipsis/Lumenhaus display of solar house designs while the next room had a selection of 17th Century Florentine Paintings. The museum itself is not especially large, you could expect to spend about two to three hours there. Guided tours are available, check with the museum for times and availability. The museum also hosts regular events and children's programs. If you enjoyed the museum and still want more, downtown Roanoke has several art galleries within walking distance of the museum. The Market Gallery is located in the historic market downtown. You can view the original artwork of twenty seven different artists including paintings, drawings, assemblages, sculpture, serigraphs, photography, pottery, and urban artifacts. The Wilson Hughes Gallery is located in the historic West Campbell art district and features original creations of fine and functional art. The Pamela Jean Gallery has regional as well as internationally acclaimed artwork. Hours of operation vary at these places, so it is best to call ahead if there is a specific place you are interested in. We walked through downtown Roanoke on a Saturday afternoon and found over a dozen galleries and little shops that were interesting to browse through. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is also located downtown and has great collection of trains, cars, and other modes of transportation. Their collection features old classics such as the 1948 Packard Limo and 1950 Studebaker as well as Nascar exhibits like Jeff Gordon's 1993 Dupont Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The two most valuable exhibits are internationally known as Norfolk and Western Class J 611 and Class A-1218, the most modern steam locomotives ever built. This is definitely a museum that would appeal to the young and old. Directions: Take Hwy 100 North (Wysor Hwy.) to 1-80 North Merge onto 1-80 North toward Roanoke, travel 53.6 miles Take exit 143 to merge onto I-581 S/US-220 S, travel 5.8 miles Take Exit 4 E onto Orange Avenue East Turn right onto Williamson Rd, travel 0.7 miles Turn right onto Salem Ave. SE/US-11 Taubman Museum of Art is on the right Estimated Drive Time: 1 hour 10 minutes