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In trying times when unity within the community is needed the most, the beauty, joy and fun of an art installation in Danville, Virginia, does just that. Called “WANDERLOVE: A Stitch in Time,” the installation began on June 28 on the Danville Riverwalk Trail and is now open to the public for viewing.

“We have received wonderful feedback from the community, who has responded very positively to the color placed on the Riverwalk between the Martin Luther King Bridge and the Pedestrian Bridge,” says Elsabé Dixon, Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History (DMFAH) executive director. “We’ve even seen people from out of town. There was a couple from Hillsboro and Burlington who drove up to see the installation.” According to Dixon, the exhibition has been covered by River City TV, Danville Register and Bee, ABC13 and all of the three local radio stations. The hope is to promote positivity within the community through this event.

Within these displays on the trail is a section contributed by VCU Massey Cancer Center. Knitted, crocheted and sewn squares and scarves were created in honor of cancer survivors and in memory of those whose lives were lost to cancer. 

“Massey and the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association considered yarn bombing the Riverwalk Trail a light-hearted way to work alongside a whole new world of local organizations and community members,” shared Kathy Hurt, programs coordinator at VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Cancer Research and Resource Center in Danville. “Additionally, we believed enlisting cancer survivors and their friends and families to contribute knitted and crocheted items to this colorful public art installation was an uplifting and safe way to connect them with an exciting project during the difficult time of COVID-19.” 

The team at Massey’s Cancer Research and Resource Center strives to engage with the Danville community, and such an event helps reinforce that relationship as they continue to educate the area about cancer prevention and screening and share Massey’s research studies.

The installation will remain on display until September 28, at which point it will be taken down and upcycled for other projects. For more information about adding to Massey’s display, call 434-791-5205, or send contributions directly to the outreach center at 530 Main Street, Suite 208, Danville, Virginia 24541.

Written by: Michelle Rosado