Michael Neary

mneary@newsleader.com

WAYNESBORO – The P. Buckley Moss Museum is slated to close after July 13, and P. Buckley Moss Galleries — the organization that owns the museum — will be starting a gallery at the Gateway theater, at 329 W. Main St.

Family members and other supporters extol the move as a way to help energize downtown Waynesboro with work from a renowned artist who has roots in the city. The move comes after the organization opened a gallery of P. Buckley Moss's work earlier this month in Blacksburg.

"These two galleries are in key markets, key locations," said Chris Moss, chief executive officer and president of P. Buckley Moss Galleries. He's also the son of P. Buckley Moss.

P. Buckley Moss has homes in Waynesboro and also in Radford, which is close to Blacksburg.

Patty Moss, chief operating officer for P. Buckley Moss Galleries and the daughter of P. Buckley Moss, stressed the importance of displaying the artist's work downtown.

"We want to be part of an effort to bring (downtown) back together, to bring it back to what it was," she said.

The community of Waynesboro, she added, is deeply important to the Moss family.

"I personally grew up in Waynesboro," she said. "My whole family did. We've always considered it our home."

Chris Moss said the Gateway site — recently purchased by P. Buckley Moss Galleries — provides a venue with both width and depth for exhibits. He also noted the potential for artistic events.

"One of the things we'll be hoping to do is to host an event for the Fall Foliage (Festival) art show," he said.

P. Buckley Moss, 81, has remained active with school groups and young artists throughout the area. During a recent visit to Blue Ridge Community College, she spoke to aspiring artists. "You have to respect what you do," she told them. "And you have to demand respect for what you do."

Moss, born in New York City, spent a significant portion of her life in Waynesboro.

Piper Groves, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, said the gallery would be welcome in the downtown community.

"We're tremendously excited to welcome them downtown," she said. "They're such an iconic gallery, and she's an iconic artist."

Groves said the move would be of particular help to several arts-based businesses downtown.

Patty Moss said the gallery at the Gateway site will most likely not require as large of a staff as the museum, but she noted that boosts in staff would be needed for special events at the gallery.

She said the gallery was slated to open in early August. The museum is about 25 years old.