The entry to our historic building was a little . . . drab. It certainly didn’t represent the fascinating collection of West Virginia art found within. The stairwell needed a series of artworks – visually stimulating but also unified and cohesive. A modern take on our Appalachian roots. Artwork that would let folks know they had arrived in a place that honors the past, celebrates the present and welcomes the future.
We decided to develop this idea for the 2023 West Virginia Art Fund Purchase – our annual purchase of local original art for Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals.
Luckily, we knew just the woman for the job – Lindsay Toney. We met Lindsay years ago when she worked at Tamarack Marketplace. We’ve admired her style and screen-printing techniques for years, and we’ve also enjoyed hosting her at Lafayette Flats. Lindsay has stayed in our art-filled flats several times to be – in her words – refreshed and inspired.
The Art of Layering
We reached out to Lindsay with our request and asked her to come up with some ideas. She nailed it. By creating segments of the traditional star quilting pattern and then layering them on top of one another in multiple configurations, Lindsay created five unique designs.
The color palette she chose is warm and welcoming while simultaneously fresh and light. The five patterns are highlighted by the almost copper-colored wooden frames that Lindsay built and stained herself (with the help of her brother).
Lindsay said it was layering that inspired the series. She went on to explain that she experiences a southern West Virginia where her fellow mountaineers were welcoming not just to neighbors and locals but to travelers as well. Within these layers of relationships, everyone was important, connected, and needed.
In life, as it is in art: all the layers come together to enhance the whole.
About Lindsay Toney
Lindsay Toney graduated from West Virginia University with a BFA in Printmaking and a BA in Art History. After graduation, Lindsay served as a gallery assistant at Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, WV before becoming the first executive director of Love Hope Center for the Arts in Fayetteville. Lindsay now resides in Charleston, WV where she works as an independent artist.
While primarily working in silkscreen, Lindsay also enjoys experimenting with other mediums including relief, acrylics, ceramics, and installation art. In every medium she strives to create visually powerful work, creating an emotional reaction from the viewer. In this way, you will find similarities in Lindsay’s work with the contemporary artists that have most influenced her – Carolee Schneemann, Kara Walker, and Cindy Sherman.
Much of Lindsay’s most powerful work reflects her experience dealing with social taboos and her ever-growing anxieties. For example, her mixed media piece, “Urinary Frequency” won the Governor’s Award at the 22nd Biennial West Virginia Juried Exhibition in 2021. To learn more about Lindsay Toney’s work, visit her website.
Discover other WV artists – explore our past West Virginia Art Fund purchases.
2022 – Marisa Jackson
2021 – Robby Moore
2020 – Nevada Tribble
2019 – Rosalie Haizlett
2018 – Eddie “Spaghetti” Maier
2017 – Meredith Gregg
2016 – Paula Clendenin
2015 – Stephanie Danz
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