Painted on the back of the Barrows Inc. building is a mural that can be seen along the Roanoke River Greenway. The mural was created by three artists, Libby and Josh Nolan-Shafer (Tandem) and Maggie Perrin-Key. The mural is designed as a narrative that moves through the seasons and incorporates natural elements. After completion, Nolan stated “I like how it turned out, it turned out pretty much how we wanted it to. With things like this, the scale, the surface, it doesn’t turn out exactly the way you think, but hopefully it turns out better and I think this turned out better than we had hoped for.” Barrows Inc., PLAY Roanoke, the City of Roanoke, and Roanoke Parks and Recreation funded the Barrows Mural Project.
About the artists:
Tandem is a duo of muralists Libby and Josh Nolan-Shafer. Based in Roanoke, VA, the two have been working together since 2021. Josh has a formal painting background and Libby has a writing and performance background. With a combination of their unique skills in the arts, their work features figure-based illustrative pieces with a narrative. See more of their work at tandemartscollective.com
Maggie Perrin-Key is an artist and muralist from Roanoke, VA. Since receiving her B.A. in Studio Art from Hollins University, she has been displaying her work across the region. Through various mediums, Perrin-Key's work explores abstract physical aspects to establish a connection with the energetic realm. With her immersive installations, she can bring viewers into a world of organic forms where they can engage with their senses and subconscious. Check out more of her work at maggieperrinkey.com
Sourced from:
Barrows Inc: Mural Project
Roanoke Parks and Recreation: New Murals Enhance Roanoke River Greenway
WDBJ7: Community Gathers to See Roanoke's Newest Mural
