ROANOKE, VA.- The Genius of the Place: Land and Identity in Contemporary Art, an exhibition using contemporary photography and electronic media to explore how artists are breaking with traditional ways of engaging the landscape, is on view at the Art Museum of Western Virginia through February 11, 2007.

Works by Rosemary Laing, John Gerrard, Andy Goldsworthy, William Christenberry and Binh Danh illustrate how contemporary artists are altering the land itself and investigating how the land has shaped its inhabitants -- from the particularities of the American South to virtual worlds. Whether carpeting the forest, using natural processes to produce iconic images, or stretching time beyond the scale of human activity, these artists are creating works of breathtaking beauty and artistic virtuosity that surprise and delight.

“The Genius of the Place: Land and Identity in Contemporary Art invites viewers to consider the artists’ perspectives on the world we inhabit, as well as their own relationship to our complex earth,” said Georganne Bingham, executive director of the Art Museum. “The works are exhilarating and thought-provoking, and they are striking examples of the exciting art being created by some of the most important and influential contemporary artists at work today.”

Included in the exhibition are two works that the Art Museum has acquired for its permanent collection: John Gerrard’s One Thousand Year Dawn and Rosemary Laing’s groundspeed (Rose Petal) #15. The Art Museum is the first museum to acquire a work by John Gerrard, an outstanding and internationally acclaimed new media artist. One Thousand Year Dawn is the Art Museum’s first new media acquisition.

“The addition of these works is tremendously exciting for the Art Museum and a clear affirmation of our commitment to collecting contemporary art,” said Susannah Koerber, the Art Museum’s chief curator. “One Thousand Year Dawn and groundspeed (Rose Petal) #15 help take the contemporary collection to a new level. They join The Palmist Building sculpture and suite of photographs by William Christenberry in what is quickly growing into a very strong contemporary collection. All of the works in The Genius of the Place: Land and Identity in Contemporary Art are visually stunning, with great depth that will enthrall visitors. That key works will be in Roanoke permanently makes this project even more significant for the Art Museum and the community.”

Engaging exhibition-related programs for The Genius of the Place offer something for every age, including an art history course on contemporary photography and new media, gallery talks with contemporary art expert Mark Hughes, artists Binh Danh and John Gerrard, and hands-on activities and workshops for children and youth. Exhibition-related programs are supported in part by the City of Roanoke.