The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute will open its doors to the public for its Creativity in Health Education Program’s inaugural art show on Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

More than 50 pieces from dozens of local artists will be featured. High school artists also submitted pieces for a special gallery. In addition, one wall will showcase art pieces made by the late Morgan Dana Harrington.

“We were very pleased with both the quantity and quality of the submissions we received,” said Dr. David Trinkle, associate dean for community and culture at the school. Trinkle developed and helped implement the Creativity in Health Education Program. “Since this is the school’s first endeavor of this sort, we were not sure what kind of response we would receive. We were thrilled to receive so many great pieces of art.”

Nearly 60 local artists submitted around 150 pieces for consideration for the show. “We would love to display all of the entries, but space constraints make that impossible,” Trinkle said. In the end, the program accepted 57 pieces from around 40 artists.

For the inaugural show, only wall art was accepted. The restriction, however, did not limit the variety of pieces that will be on display. The show will exhibit various mediums including oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings as well as pastels, mixed mediums, drawings, photographs, and even a wall sculpture. The selected pieces reflect an assortment of styles and subjects.

The Creativity in Health Education Program also requested pieces from local high school students that fit the theme, “What is medicine?” The special gallery will feature pieces from 40 high school artists.

In addition, the inaugural show will include a special Morgan Dana Harrington exhibit. Dr. Daniel Harrington and his wife, Gil Harrington, offered to display art pieces made by their daughter. Daniel Harrington is the senior associate dean at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Morgan Harrington worked at the school as an intern the summer before returning to Virginia Tech for her senior year of study. The Harrington's created a scholarship at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine to honor her memory.

“We are honored that Dan and Gil decided to display their daughter’s work at the school,” said Trinkle. “The gallery will serve as a symbol of remembrance and healing for all those who see it – from our faculty, staff, students, and guests.”

In addition to the inaugural art show, the art will be on display at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute’s Grand Opening Celebration which will be held on Saturday, May 7. A ribbon cutting will take place promptly at 9:30 a.m. on the front steps of the building followed by a distinguished speaker’s forum, tours, and refreshments. The event concludes at 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

“We sincerely hope the community attends events like the inaugural art show and grand opening,” said Trinkle. “It is an opportunity for the public to come into the school, to see all of the great things happening here, and to be a part of it.”

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute is located at 2 Riverside Circle in Roanoke, Va., near the intersection of S. Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue.

The school’s Creativity in Health Education Program will hold other periodic art shows, rotating approximately every four months.

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