The Arts Depot in Abingdon is pleased to announce the addition of two new resident studio artists to enhance your visit to this facility located in the historic old Norfolk & Western freight depot.

Bonnie Hurley of Green Cove, VA began painting in the late 60's with her local art teacher in Manassas, VA and later took a few art courses at Northern Virginia Community College. Living near Manassas, she developed a love of painting the historic sites there. When she moved to the SW Virginia area in 1986, she continued this theme by painting a series of sites along the Virginia Creeper Trail, particularly train depots and old steam locomotives. This is a natural extension of her earlier historic work as she grew up in Boone, NC not far from the end of the old Virginia Creeper railroad line. Although she occasionally veers off and paints or creates a collage of other subjects, her main interests, other than historical subjects, continue to be of misty mountains, flowers, birds and animals of the region. This is not surprising since Bonnie inherited her love of painting from her mother who also loved to capture folksy mountain scenes whenever she could grab a spare moment from the task of a widow raising four children. Many of Hurley's works are available as prints and on note cards. She has been accepted in several juried art shows and has received several "purchase awards". Bonnie says "I believe God put within each of us a desire and ability to do certain things and I trust His leading in my art too. I am very thankful to be a part of the Arts Depot where I can carry out some of my ideas and be creative and helpful to people".

Carol Murray of Marion, VA has been joyfully drawing and painting since she was a small child. She has had no formal training, but did take art classes at Marion High School ands has attended some workshops as an adult. Carol says "I am drawn to paint what inspires me, what strikes a chord of emotion in me. I want to communicate to the viewer of my work what I was feeling while I was painting. I want the viewer to not just see the painting but to have a feeling, an emotion, when they see my work". Carol enjoys working with most mediums, but because of its versatility her favorite is water media and she really enjoys experimenting with the new products and techniques that are available with watercolors and acrylics. Carol paints just about any subject, including flowers, natural settings with people, American Indian, portrait style, etc. she has illustrated four children's books and learned a great deal from each one. "Best of all", she says "is that I am having a great time with the children I visit with and speak to while promoting the books". Carol's paintings have been accepted in the Virginia Highlands Festival Art Show and exhibits in the Arts Depot Members Gallery, among others. Even though she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about 15 years ago, that hasn't dampened her enthusiasm and her art actually works as a form of therapy. She is an active adult art class instructor in Marion as well as offering private instruction. Carol sums it all up saying "I have wanted to be an artist my entire life. Now through God's grace and the help of family and friends I finally get to do what I love".

Bonnie and Carol both are looking forward to visiting with the public as they paint in their studios. They, along with the other five resident studio artists at the Arts Depot, welcome and encourage your inquisitiveness as to what they are doing and their thoughts behind it.

The Arts Depot is a non-profit volunteer organization that is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, VA. The gallery and artists studios are open for your viewing pleasure Thursday thru Saturday, 11-3 pm, and by appointment. There is no admission charge. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091, or e-mail at artsdepot@naxs.net, or visit our web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org.

A community based arts program, the Arts Depot is operated by the Depot Artists Association, a nonprofit, tax-exempt Virginia corporation.
314 Depot Square
Post Office Box 2513
Abingdon, Virginia 24212-2513
Phone: 276.628.9091
E-mail

Our members are dedicated to making the arts accessible to the community

Website by Thursday-Saturday & by Appointment