The Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke is probably the only museum that simultaneously exhibits hot rods and the world’s largest pop-up book, a nearly 14-by-21-foot tome that features a Chinese peach blossom-filled cave. A little something for all art lovers would probably be the best way to describe this eclectic space that is home to a permanent collection of about 2,400 works and has featured both Yoko Ono and Norman Rockwell in its 11-year history.
Through Feb. 3, car enthusiasts can see “Drive! Iconic American Cars and Motorcycles” that highlights cool rides made from 1912 to 1965, including a 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 and a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, which for many wheel heads is well worth the car trip. Catch the tail lights of this exhibit and the opening of “We Are Dragon People” on Feb. 2 which features collages and pop-up books from Colette Fu.
The artist traveled to China’s Yunnan Province to learn about the minority tribes there, particularly the Black Nuosu Yi tribe, of which her mother, a Roanoke resident, is a member. “Tao Hua Yuan Ji” is the name of her record-breaking large book, but aside from its size, the book and the other pieces in this collection are worth seeing for their color and composition. Anyone who has spent time in one of our area’s maker spaces would appreciate the engineering behind this inventive project. The museum hosts one of its most popular fundraisers on Feb. 8, the self-explanatory Bourbon + Bacon. Post-holiday letdown? Cabin fever? Head south, friends, and toward the art.
Museum admission is free; Tickets for “Drive” start at $12. Bourbon + Bacon, $55. taubmanmuseum.org
