Retire-VA 2021 - 30

a show and tell and since "we can't have
in-person meetings now, we have now

ABOVE:
Gina Louthian is a
local artist taking
online classes
from other artists
around the county.

though."
Lana Whited, an English professor at

started ZOOM meetings." Her quilts are

Ferrum College, has "two books in process

displayed on her front porch with a written

during the stay-at-home period. One [a

explanation at the end of her walkway,

35-year-old idea] is an assessment of fact-

so walkers can read a description and

based crime novels and their place in the

found that "my quilts are much better

American literary tradition. The second

documented now."

project is a second volume of The Ivory

Roanoke artist Gina Louthian has been

Tower and Harry Potter, the first volume of

absorbed in taking and creating online

which was the first book of critical essays

art and working from home teaching art.

on the Harry Potter series." She is working

"I have been taking online classes with

with 22 contributors.

some well-known artists who typically

"There is a lot about the stay-at-home

teach around the county," she says. "I have

directives that has truly appealed to the

often wanted to go take these classes but

introvert in me, who needs to be holed

have not been able to because of various

up in the study most of the day," she says.

reasons." The pandemic solved that

"But my three sons (of four) who still live

problem.

at home, also entered the education-from-

She has taken three classes in encaustic
printmaking, experimental drawing and R
and F Oil Stick Primer and is teaching an
online class on Eco-Printing, (using natural
foliage such as flowers, leaves and roots.)
AT RIGHT:
Lana Whited is
working on two
books during
quarantine.

things easier. I may explore more options

to print onto fabric and papers.
"The technology has been a tad
overwhelming," she says, "but once
I settled on one format it sure made

30 / Retire-VA.com / RETIRE-VA 2021

COURTESY LANA WHITED

Star Quilters Guild meets monthly with
Retire-VA 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Retire-VA 2021
