Roanoke has finally joined more than 20 other Virginia destinations that have the honor of featuring LOVEwork art. Roanoke’s unique design appropriately ties into the city’s rail heritage, whimsically resembling both a train engine and engineer.
Prominently placed at the base of the Market Square walkway, Roanoke’s LOVEwork – designed by local, award-winning artist Eric Fitzpatrick – is part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s initiative to promote tourism throughout Virginia. The project was made possible in Roanoke thanks to a $1,200 grant from VTC to the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB then collaborated with the Virginia Museum of Transportation to put the project in motion.
“The LOVEwork is a nice addition to the nearby Railwalk and will certainly appeal to train lovers who travel to Roanoke to see the iconic locomotives created by the tradesmen of Southwest Virginia,” says Beverly T. Fitzpatrick Jr., executive director of the museum.
Eric Fitzpatrick’s design for the sculpture was cut into metal by Twist & Turns and framed by Budget Signs. The sculpture sits atop a wooden railroad tie.
Want to see other LOVEworks? Here are a few just a short drive from Roanoke:
• Blacksburg: a mural by artist Denisse Bento in which antlers on a deer form the letter V.
• Heartwood in Abingdon: a sculpture fashioned after the traveling artwork created by VTC.
• Lynchburg: each letter of the word LOVE representing activities available on the Blackwater Creek trail system.
• Waynesboro: a river-themed LOVE sign, including an L representing wading boots and an E made of oars.
• Galax: letters made of fiddles, acknowledging the city’s bluegrass and old-time music ties.
