Piedmont Arts 'Mobilizes' Community with Student-Made Public Art

A large-scale mobile by local students and artist Kevin Reese is on permanent display in the Piedmont Arts atrium.

Artist residency brings 49 mobiles to Martinsville-Henry County

Piedmont Arts permanently installed 37 mobiles in local schools and businesses this week, as part of Mobilizing Our Community, a four-week mobile-making artist residency sponsored by the museum. 

"We are excited to bring these student-made works of art to the community," said Barbara Parker, Piedmont Arts director of programs. "Their presence will be a wonderful reminder of the hard work of our talented students and the support of the community."  

Memorial Hospital Chief Operating 
Officer John Maxwell (left) and artist
Kevin Reese stand beneath a newly
installed mobile in the hospital's lobby.

Students from Martinsville City Public Schools, Henry County Public Schools, Carlisle School, and homeschool students participated in Piedmont Arts' Mobilizing Our Community, which was facilitated by mobile artist Kevin Reese. During the residency, Reese worked closely with students to design and create a total of 49 mobiles, 37 of which have been permanently placed in local schools and businesses that provided support for the program. Other mobiles have been purchased by local residents to be displayed in their homes.

“I am thrilled to bring Mobilizing Our Community to Martinsville-Henry County," said Reese. "Mobiles are a perfect metaphor for community: individual shapes of different sizes and colors, balanced, in relationship, creating a wonderful whole.”

Piedmont Arts Executive Director Kathy Rogers said Mobilizing Our Community would not have been possible without the generous support of many sponsors. "Piedmont Arts would like to thank all the businesses, organizations and individuals who sponsored this program and who helped raise $28,000 to bring Mobilizing Our Community to Martinsville-Henry County," said Rogers. "Their support has truly made a lasting contribution to arts education in our community."

Patsy Anderson-Rusmisel (left) and Kris Landrum of Patrick Henry Community College stand beneath a mobile installed in the college's Frith Center.

The following businesses, organizations and individuals provided support for Mobilizing Our Community: Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, Dominion, RTI International Metals, Hooker Furniture, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Chick-fil-A, W.W. Sale Foundation, Lucy P. Sale Foundation, Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County, The Lester Group, and the Kathryn Ascough Smith Arts Education Fund of Piedmont Arts.

Principal Pat Walmsley (left) and artist Kevin
Reese stand beneath a mobile installed at
Campbell Court Elementary School.

Mobiles which will remain on view to the public can be found at the following locations:

• All 19 schools in Martinsville-Henry County

• Piedmont Arts

• Martinsville YMCA (Donated by Charity League)
• United Way of Henry County and Martinsville
• Memorial Hospital
• Patrick Henry Community College's Frith Center
• New College Institute

• Virginia Commission for the Arts, Richmond

Mobiles installed in non-public facilities are located at The Lester Group offices, Hooker Furniture's Customer Service Center, Chick-fil-A, RTI International Metals, Taco Bell, and private residences.