Media Release
Contact - Peg McGuire, Marketing Director

Virginia Museum of Transportation

pmcguire@vmt.org   540.339.2753

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 21, 2014

Virginia's newest LOVEwork art installed
in Downtown Roanoke

The LOVE Artwork is an initiative by the Virginia Tourism Corporation to promote tourism throughout the Commonwealth

Roanoke, VA - Roanoke is adding more LOVE to its already thriving downtown historic district.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau worked with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to have Virginia's newest LOVEwork installed in a prime location in Downtown Roanoke.

LOVEworks spell out L-O-V-E and can be found at over 20 tourist destinations throughout Virginia.  Roanoke's LOVEwork is approximately 9 feet wide and 5 feet tall and ties into Roanoke's rail heritage and Virginia's tourism message that "love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation."

The LOVEwork was designed by well-known Roanoke artist Eric Fitzpatrick and was inspired by a train theme.  "At its heart, Roanoke is a rail town," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. "The LOVEwork is a nice addition to the nearby Railwalk and will certainly appeal to train lovers who travel to Roanoke to see the iconic locomotives created by the tradesmen of Southwest Virginia."

The LOVEwork is on display for one year at the base of the Market Square Walkway entrance on the corner of Norfolk Avenue and Market Street.  Visitors are encouraged to take photos in front of the artwork and share it with family and friends on social media.  "The photos will lure potential visitors to vacation in Roanoke and Virginia's Blue Ridge, doing the things they love to do on a great metro-mountain vacation getaway," said Gary Jeffrey from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation encourages everyone to post their LOVE pictures at www.facebook.com/Virginiaisforlovers and on Twitter @visitVirginia using the special #loveva hashtag.

The Roanoke Train LOVEwork was made possible by a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Twist & Turns of Roanoke and Budget Signs of Roanoke. Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and the City of Roanoke including the Parks and Recreation Department were also instrumental in the installation of the LOVEwork.

About Eric Fitzpatrick
Roanoke-based artist and designer of Roanoke's LOVEwork

Mr. Fitzpatrick is a well-respected, award winning (and ambidextrous) Roanoke-based artist.  Mr. Fitzpatrick has been painting professionally for over three decades, specializing in expressionistic landscapes, stirring seascapes, and fanciful musicians. He is equally at home working in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, monoprint and sculpture.

Mr. Fitzpatrick was voted the Best Area Artist by the Roanoker Magazine for 24 years until the category was retired in his honor in 2011. Mr. Fitzpatrick's work is displayed in galleries, corporate collections and museums in over 19 countries around the world.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation LOVEworks Campaign

LOVEworks is part of the Virginia is for Lovers tourism marketing campaign by the Virginia Tourism Corporation to spread awareness about the Commonwealth. Over 20 sites throughout the Commonwealth promote tourism with LOVEworks.  https://www.virginia.org/love/  They are designed to become instant photo ops where tourists and visitors take their pictures and share with the world on social media.  

About the Virginia Museum of Transportation

Home to two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence today-the N&W Class A 1218 and the N&W Class J 611-the Virginia Museum of Transportation regularly attracts visitors of all ages from across the U.S. and around the world. Through exhibits, artifacts, and an outstanding collection of rail equipment, cars, trucks, airplanes, and more, the Museum tells the rich story of Virginia's transportation history.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but receives no state funding. The Museum celebrates over 50 years of showcasing Virginia's unique rail heritage and contributions to the auto and aviation industries. The Museum is located in the historic Norfolk & Western Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. 540/342.5670. www.vmt.org.

About the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

The official destination marketing organization for Virginia's Blue Ridge region. www.visitvablueridge.com