Main Gallery Exhibit: Jesi Pace-Berkeley
2024-11-29 - 2025-02-07 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Many people recognize Jesi as our community’s preeminent portrait artist. But her artworks span various genres beyond portraiture, including , still life, landscape, seascape, floral, abstract, and nonobjective.
Faces & More is a representation of Jesi’s creations and teachings over 53 years. Her collection is so vast and impressive that we are showcasing her retrospective work in two locations. The new Y Community Gallery will exhibit her larger portraits while The Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation gallery at The Alexander Black House will highlight her smaller scale work, most of which has never been publicly displayed.
Jesi’s passion for art and education over the years has led her to teaching in Montgomery County schools, leading multi-day Plein Air Watercolor workshops, and planning enrichment courses overseas in France, where she guides participants through the composition of stunning scenes from Avignon, Aix en Provence, Arles, Aigues Mortes, Uzes, Nime, and more.

Exhibit runs November 30 – February 7

Jesi Pace-Berkeley: Faces & More Opening Reception
2024-12-11 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | VA
Join us for our opening reception of Faces & More, a retrospective look at Jesi Pace-Berkeley’s work. The work is vast, so we’ve collaborated with the Y at Virginia Tech for this very special exhibit.
Opening Reception Times:
3-5pm at the Y
5-7 at BMCF’s Alexander Black House

16 Squares Walking Tour
2024-12-19 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-01-16 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-01-30 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-02-13 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-02-27 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-03-13 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-03-27 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-04-10 08:00 - 09:00 and 2 more dates | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Meet us at The Alexander Black House and then explore the historic streets within the original 16 Squares of Blacksburg and learn the rich history and stories behind many of the buildings and landmarks throughout town that may go unnoticed. You may also schedule this tour by appointment if Thursdays don’t work for your group.
By request, as an add-on, can also tour St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall.
Please RSVP by email at info@blacksburghistory.org. Tours limited to 15 people.

Uke Holiday Jam with Ash Devine
2024-12-20 13:00 - 15:00 | VA
Join us for music, community, and merriment at the second Annual Uke-Xmas Uke-led string jam, sing along, and holiday party led by Ash Devine!

For this session we will sing traditional December holiday songs, featuring classic carols, but not limited to. Some other themes may be solstice, peace and justice, winter, friendship, and more! Bring your uke, bring a song, or other stringed instrument, and play along or just come to listen or to sing along.

All song sheets will be digital this year, so If you’d like to have a copy of the charts you must email ash devine at bookashdevine@gmail.com.

Hot cocoa and light refreshments will be provided. But feel free to bring your favorite holiday finger food or non-alcoholic beverage.

The event is a suggested donation of $10-$20 per person, no one will be turned away.

Market Jam at the Museum
2025-01-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Market Jams at the Museum are back for the cold weather months! Join us for this month’s session featuring the host band Indian Run Stringband with Paul Herling on fiddle, Ginger Wagner on banjo, Matt Peyton on guitar, and Sam Linkous on bass.

Genealogy Saturday
2025-02-01 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-01 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-05 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-03 09:00 - 12:00 | VA
Join Carol Smith and Don Braffitt in the Ronnie and Faye Marcum Blacksburg History and Genealogy Room at The Alexander Black House for our monthly Genealogy Saturday the first Saturday of each month. Carol and Don will be on hand to assist you as you explore your family tree. They will be able to demonstrate starting your family tree or help you conduct a deeper dive into specialized areas of genealogy. Come with questions about research and discovering your roots or come with no knowledge of your family and let them guide you. Just Come! Free and open to the public. For helpful family tree templates, visit our Genealogy Page.

Jesi Pace-Berkeley: Faces & More Closing Reception
2025-02-07 12:00 - 15:00 | VA
Join us for our opening reception of Faces & More, a retrospective look at Jesi Pace-Berkeley’s work. The work is vast, so we’ve collaborated with the Y at Virginia Tech for this very special exhibit.
Closing Reception Times:
5-8pm at both the Y Gallery and BMCF’s Alexander Black House during the Downtown Art Walk

Market Jam at the Museum
2025-02-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join us in February for the “Reed Tradition String Band” with Russ Boyd on banjo, Bill Blevins and Chris Via on fiddle, and Matt Peyton on guitar. This session will honor the Reed Family of Giles County. Henry Reed captured many local fiddle tunes, and Alan Jabbour recorded his playing for the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress. His son, Dean Reed, attended many of our Market Square Jams. He passed away this summer at age 95 and our old time community misses his playing and singing very much.

SLOFH Soul Food Sampling
2025-02-15 07:00 - 13:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Celebrate Black History Month and take a step back in time at the 8th annual Soul Food Sampling at historic St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, where generations met to enjoy delicious food, music and fellowship. In this spirit, you will receive generous portions of traditional soul foods at dinner table settings, learn about the history of soul food, and enjoy discussions with former New Town residents.
10% off for museum members at the Supporter, Curator, Historian, Patron, and Benefactor Levels with code soulfood2025. Want to become a member? Click HERE!
Showing 1 – 2 of 2 results Showing all 2 results Showing the single result No results found Sort by Price high to low Sort by Popularity Sort by Rating Sort by Price low to high Sort by Price high to low Sort by Newness Sort by Name A - Z Sort by Name Z - A Filters Sort results Reset Apply ImageNameDescriptionPriceQuantityAdd to cart Soul Food Sampling 2026 Membership discount available – see details above. $40.00 Max: Min: 1 Step: 1 Add to cart Soul Food Recipe Booklet We have compiled soul food recipes in a small, easily… $5.00 Max: Min: 1 Step: 1 Add to cart

Important Notes:
* Each meal is predominantly non-vegetarian.
*Due to the planning and meal preparation it takes to put this event together, tickets are not refundable but are transferrable. We can also arrange for takeout orders if you cannot attend in person.
*If weather prohibits our event, the new date will be February 22.

B. Scott Crawford Lecture Series
2025-02-25 12:30 - 14:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
RESCHEDULED from February 20 to February 25
Presentation #1
The Selfie: From Stone Age to Digital Age
The Digital Revolution has launched an unprecedented communications revolution. Individuals have an ability to now promote themselves at a global level at any time and in a matter of seconds. The selfie has emerged as the latest means for individuals to project images of themselves for public viewing, but now, through digital technologies, in a democratic manner. No longer is portraiture reserved for the wealthy; access to a ubiquitous mobile phone and a free social media account can allow an individual to share self-images with audiences possibly larger many traditional portraits ever reached! This presentation will explore the art behind the preservation of images of individuals, spanning cave art to Instagram. Through this journey over time, we may very well find that the selfie is not as much about megalomania as it is about simply magnifying a timeless component of human nature. However, with the introduction of artificial intelligence, we will end with a reflection of how AI may, through training, be embracing this nature as well!

B. Scott Crawford holds a master’s degree in history from Old Dominion University and has an extensive background in education, having taught at the high school and college levels, as well as serving as the social studies coordinator, K-12, for a Virginia school division and as the Director of Education for the Museum of Western Virginia and then Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia. Scott currently serves as President & CEO for Virginia 811. He has been with the Notification Center since December 2016, serving as Director of Operations and then Vice President prior to moving into his current position in July 2020.

This event is free and part of our 2025 Lecture Series which will focus on Blacksburg history, community, and culture plus intriguing history and arts topics in general.

Market Jam at the Museum
2025-03-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join Montgomery JAM instructors and students for the Blacksburg Market Jam at the Alexander Black House! Instructors include Gina Dilg on fiddle, Ginger Wagner on banjo, Jason Dilg on bass and Paul Herling on guitar (sitting in for guitar instructor, Tim Thornton).

B. Scott Crawford Lecture Series
2025-03-20 13:30 - 14:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Presentation #2
“A Wise man will Find us to be Rogues by our Face”: Physiognomy and Portraiture
Johnathan Swift’s observation about the relationship between character and physical features sums up an important comment of Western art. From the Ancient World into the 21st century, to varying degrees, the belief that physical features indicate clear and even irrefutable clues as to a person’s character influenced portraiture. Exploring Ancient statues and a host of Medieval and Renaissance paintings, as well as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the impact this pseudo-science, physiognomy, had on art and portraiture will be highlighted. Taking this overview as a starting point, Santi di Tito’s late 17th century portrait of Machiavelli will be examined through this physiognomic lens in order to better understand di Tito’s posthumous representation of the controversial philosopher and gain insight into Machiavelli’s work The Prince. This original research will provide both an understanding of physiognomy and a new understanding of at least one reason Machiavelli has been viewed as scandalous.

B. Scott Crawford holds a master’s degree in history from Old Dominion University and has an extensive background in education, having taught at the high school and college levels, as well as serving as the social studies coordinator, K-12, for a Virginia school division and as the Director of Education for the Museum of Western Virginia and then Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia. Scott currently serves as President & CEO for Virginia 811. He has been with the Notification Center since December 2016, serving as Director of Operations and then Vice President prior to moving into his current position in July 2020.

This event is free and part of our 2025 Lecture Series which will focus on Blacksburg history, community, and culture plus intriguing history and arts topics in general.

Education Exhibit Opening
2025-03-21 14:30 - 16:00 | VA
Members-Only Reception with Panel Discussion – 5:30-6:30pm
General Public Opening – 6:00-8:00pm

Please join us as we officially open our Education Room exhibit!

Since we consider this a community project, we will continue accepting relevant items that help tell a well-rounded story about education in Blacksburg and the surrounding area. We are looking for artifacts, books, photographs, memorabilia, oral histories, stories, documents and more. Your donations and/or loans can potentially help us complete the historic record of our area’s education system in all its challenges, triumphs, and milestones.

Feel free to bring items for consideration during our opening as well or just stop by to see what may fit the room!

Main Gallery Exhibit: Matt Gentry
2025-03-31 - 2025-06-06 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Regional Road Trip – Plein Air Paintings of the New River Valley and Beyond

“Regional Road Trip” consists of original watercolors, framed prints, and Appalachian Trail sketches in addition to a colorful array of Matt’s journals, all of which he has emphatically stated he wants visitors to thumb through. And if you know Matt, he means it! After all, one of his greatest joys in doing this type of traveling art is seeing us enjoy the journey.
Exhibit runs April 1 – June 6

Matt Gentry Opening Reception
2025-04-04 13:00 - 16:00 | VA
As part of Downtown Blacksburg Inc.’s Art Walk activities tomorrow evening, we will be open from 5-8pm with an exhibit opening reception for Matt Gentry’s plein air watercolor pieces. “Regional Road Trip” consists of original watercolors, framed prints, and Appalachian Trail sketches in addition to a colorful array of Matt’s journals, all of which he has emphatically stated he wants visitors to thumb through. And if you know Matt, he means it! After all, one of his greatest joys in doing this type of traveling art is seeing us enjoy the journey.
Additionally, alongside our reception food and in keeping with the theme, we will offer delectables fitting for a walk or hike outdoors. Perfect for our beautiful Spring weather!
We thank our rotating art exhibit sponsor, Shelter Alternatives, Inc.!

Market Jam at the Museum
2025-04-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
House band information to come soon!

B. Scott Crawford Lecture Series
2025-04-17 13:30 - 14:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Presentation #3
“You Cannot Paint her too Beautiful for my Imagination”: Domesticity, Death, and Photography in 19th Century Portraiture
Portraiture is so often thought of as being a means to capture the image of a sitter determined to have his or her likeness preserved on canvas. However, not all sitters were alive. While not entirely new in the 19th century, the Victorian Age witnessed a unique culture of death with mourning portraiture being an important part of this culture. Lilly Martin Spencer, known for her reflections of 19th century domesticity, had a fairly lucrative career painting postmortem portraits. While she admitted that the new technology of photography threatened traditional portraiture, she was able to actually embrace this new technology to open new opportunities for revenue due to photography. Specifically, a painting in the Taubman Museum of Art’s collection will serve as the focus for how Spencer adapted to new technology and was able to remain relevant as an artist, finding a means to augment her household income and directly challenge the 19th century norms tied to domesticity so many of her portraits paradoxically reinforced.

B. Scott Crawford holds a master’s degree in history from Old Dominion University and has an extensive background in education, having taught at the high school and college levels, as well as serving as the social studies coordinator, K-12, for a Virginia school division and as the Director of Education for the Museum of Western Virginia and then Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia. Scott currently serves as President & CEO for Virginia 811. He has been with the Notification Center since December 2016, serving as Director of Operations and then Vice President prior to moving into his current position in July 2020.

This event is free and part of our 2025 Lecture Series which will focus on Blacksburg history, community, and culture plus intriguing history and arts topics in general.
