This project aims to memorialize the continuing thread of life and community in Fluvanna County, connecting the lives of 150 years ago to the present.
Featuring local artists from Central Virginia, The Fluvanna County Historical Society, and many communities along the James River.
This is a convergence of interests of West Bottom Church, a community motivated to ancestors, working on the renovation of the cemetery at Oak Hill on Glen Arvon Road, the Fluvanna County Historical Society and Linda Staiger, a local artist with a desire to encourage and develop the unique voices of other local artists, especially young artists of color. We have been working since early 2023.
The group meets monthly at various spots in Fluvanna County, usually on the third Saturday of the month, from 9:00-12:00 a.m. The sitters present themselves as they wish. We engage directly with the sitters in person, then continue working on our portraits in studios. Donations are made on behalf of each sitter to whatever organization, charity or fund they designate.
Photo courtesy of Susan Lang
This photo shows a typical session. We make our sitters as comfortable as possible for being still for 2- 2 1/2 hours (with breaks). The artists set up around the sitter and work with whatever tools they want to use on that day: pencils, chalk, oil paints, brushes, cameras etc. Artists bring their own equipment. Lighting is provided by the organizers.
Interested in participating in this project?
Sitters Welcome
We encourage people who live in communities in Fluvanna County, along the southwestern region, parallel to the James Rivert, to get in touch. We are doing portraits once a month of folks who are descendants of people of color who lived and worked from Scottsville to Columbia.
All types of artists and creative people are welcome to participate. We are dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere in which to have a human-to-human interaction with our sitters. Painters, designers, sculptors, writers, song-writers/musicians, photographers, videographers. This is a good place and we'd be excited to have you.
Artists Welcome
This project is entirely funded by generous donations from patrons who resonate with the importance and urgency of this work.
upcoming:
A full catalog of art produced, organized by artist and by sitter will be available
Historical and current mapping based on formerly enslaved peoples’ migration from the Cocke Plantation outward into the greater Bremo area
