When considering relocating two paintings that had long hung in the president’s office at The Bank of Marion, Chris Snodgrass wanted the artwork treated with great respect. His approach was fitting. Today’s leaders in Marion’s art community continue to hold the artist, the late Margaret “Perkie” Ford, in high regard.
Anne Hull, an artist and coordinator for Marion’s Appalachian Spirit Gallery, explained that during the 1970s and 1980s, three painters were well known and well respected in the community. They were Virginia Greer, Myers Mink, and Ford.
“Everyone knew them, everyone liked them and a lot of Marion individuals collected their work. For years, all three exhibited their work at the Hungry Mother Art Festival,” Hull said.
Hull knows Ford’s paintings personally as one hung for years in her mother’s home.
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She remembered that nature often inspired Ford, who typically painted landscapes and foliage.
Ford and her husband, Henry, had a cabin near Grayson Highlands State Park and she produced numerous paintings while they stayed there. “Perkie painted in a very realistic style…. She used very small strokes and painted mostly in oils,” recalled Hull, who also said, “Most of her paintings were exquisite tiny masterpieces.”
During the early 1980s, Marion artist Ned Johnson taught classes at Wytheville Community College. Ford and Greer enrolled in several of his art classes.
Hull recalled, “Perkie was very supportive and encouraging of Ned’s artwork and they enjoyed talking art and sharing what paintings they were working on.”
They went on to exchange artwork with Ford giving Johnson a painting titled “Wilson Creek at Volney.”
In exchange, he gave her a watercolor/gouache painting of the Dip Dog Stand.
“She proudly hung it over her couch and every day when Ned went jogging through the Wassona neighborhood, he could see it through their picture window. Perkie was the first person Ned told when he won Best in Show at the Roanoke Festival in the Park Art Show,” Hull said.
