An Art Walk Through Luray

It was a beautiful day for an art walk.

Downtown Luray, VA, has both vehicular and pedestrian traffic that reflects a busy, active life. It has also established an art walk that acquaints residents and visitors with the work of local artists who have painted a number of murals.

Our walk began at the railroad depot on "Railroad Days." Inside the depot was a model railroad display with members of the local club to talk about their display and answer questions about model railroading.

Other members had set up tracks and trains through the landscaping around the depot.

Lewis Ramey’s Blacksmith Shop
Sheffield Kagy

This mural is found in the Post Office and is one of 28 public paintings done in Virginia between 1937 & 1941 to celebrate, in art, the best of American Culture.

As you walk into Ruffner Plaza, to your right is Four Seasons in the Countryside by Jennifer Bradt

and to the left is Picnic Times at the Ruffner Plaza (above and below) by Merle Hilscher behind the stage used by performers in the summer series “Evenings on Main.”

Singing Tower
John Graves

Already showing signs of weathering.

Virginia
Weldon Bagwell

On the corner of E. Main St. and Tannery Rd. is a tiny park--Slye Pocket Park. Tucked inside one shady corner is this mural.

Jennifer Bradt

A short walk up Tannery Road will bring Turner's Auto Body into view. On the side of this building is this un-named mural, looking a bit unusual due to the corrugated exterior of the Shop.

The Whitehouse Ferry
Merle Hilscher.

Of the murals we saw on our walk around town, these two (above and below) were the most impressive--both in size and artistic quality.

Story Hour at the Old One Room Massanutten School
Jennifer Bradt

Nature’s Tribute to 911 (left) Willow Grove Mill (right)
Janet Scott (left) Jennifer Bradt (right)

The reflection of these two murals in the waters of the south fork of the Shenandoah River (shown also in the next photo) seemed to add another artistic dimension to the photograph of the murals.

The art walk ended on a sad note. We had hoped to stop at the soda fountain of the McKim & Huffman Pharmacy, est. 1868 and the oldest continuing business in Luray, but signs indicated the store was closed.