by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
Business Name: Brush Strokes Gallery
Location: 824 Caroline Street
Regular Business Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: brushstrokesfredericksburg.com
Phone: 540/368-0560
Just under two decades ago, a group of artists who attended workshops led by Johnny Johnson – the late iconic Fredericksburg artist, teacher, mentor, coach and humanitarian – decided to come together to form their own co-op gallery.
The original Brush Strokes Gallery was located on Hanover Street and had 10 member artists. Today, the gallery is on Caroline Street, in the same building as Art First, and has twice that number of member artists.
Works on exhibit change each month. Each member artist has an opportunity to be the featured artist of the month, or all member artists will submit artwork on a certain theme. December’s exhibit is titled “Deck the Halls.”
The Advance spoke with photographer (and former journalist) Penny Parrish about what the gallery offers the Burg.
Three Questions for the Owner
FXBG Advance: What makes your business or product unique?
Penny Parrish (photographer, gallery-member): We are a co-op gallery and currently have 25 members. We have a wonderful variety of art: oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, pen and ink, acrylic, photography, jewelry, mixed media, glass and metal. The quality of art – all members must be juried in – is outstanding. Buyers often come from Richmond or Northern Virginia and even Washington, D.C. to shop here.
FXBG Advance: How else are you involved in the Fredericksburg community?
Penny Parrish: Our artists give back to the community by donating art for charitable causes, such as silent auctions for the Fredericksburg SPCA, Fairy Godmother Project and the YMCA, or by donating the proceeds of art sales to local organizations, such as the Old Dominion Humane Society.
We also have a commitment to participating in Main Street projects and Art Attack, and we show art at Mary Washington Hospital and the Fredericksburg Food Co-op.
At Halloween, we give out coloring book pages and crayons rather than candy, which makes the parents happy!
FXBG Advance: What’s your five-year vision?
Penny Parrish: In five years, we want to throw another party and celebrate our 25th anniversary! Until then, we will continue to be a destination in downtown Fredericksburg for art lovers locally, and from around the region.
