Pembroke Gallery

05/28/2026

Art by Jordyn C. 2026

05/28/2026

Visit Mermaids Collective Art & Poetry from the New River Valley, VA & produced by Studio Appalachia @ https://www.facebook.com/mermaidsva

Mermaids Collective, Appalachian poetry and art by P.S. Colley, Jordyn C., Shay, & Melissa Downs from Pilot VA. Produced by Studio Appalachia. Ghost House Publishing.

05/01/2026

Heart of Appalachia

Somewhere nestled in the foothills of
some Blue Ridge Mountain town,
Live a people, plain and simple,
and yet, utterly profound.
If you take the silent, sacred, scenic skyline drive,
dare to go no faster than a snail's pace thirty-five,
One single car may pass you, or maybe even two,
don't blink, or you might miss the bliss
of a wandering, winding view.
Under steel bridges, the oldest river, ironically named the New,
beckons those who fish to float adrift in rented paddle canoes.
Forests whisper where hikers with their mother nature commune
across creek worn paths ascending towards waterfall lagoons.
In town, steeples sleep like peeping pearls just lazily a napping
while stars and stripes, breeze unfurled, bust bravely a flapping.
Down Mainstreet, picket-fenced cottages call to willingly invite
to porch swing chats, long lasting into gazing starry nights.
Beyond the tiny post office in an age worn, old brick schoolhouse,
the seniors circle their rockers,
passing fond memories round about.
A Sic Semper Tyrannis flag, fielded on deep blue,
salutes each born Virginian, both the oldest and the new.
All friends and all family, all kin by divine right,
all neighbors yearn to spin away,
their small talk yarn delights.
Garden clubs chatter on the library lawn, books free for everyone,
as poets read their daydreams beneath the noonday sun.
Where Grandpas take sons fishing for bass and rainbow trout
while grandmas get their baskets and preserving canners out
to win apple pie blue ribbons at the local farmer's fair
where patchwork quilts hang boasting each needlecrafter's care.
In the distance one hears echoes of a church bell's woeful ringing
while pews of sabbath choirs, join in boisterous soulful singing,
"Home of the brave, and blessed land of the forever free,
let the blood of my Savior wash clean down over me."
No other place can soothe the heart like my Appalachian home
where kind people find each other and no longer want to roam,
because their gathering shines their hopes of another glorious day
celebrating a pleasant peace in their Small Town, U.S.A.
~P.S. Colley~
Dedicated to the people of Pembroke, Virginia

04/29/2026

Photo Credit Town of Pembroke Giles County, Virginia. *built in 1881

04/29/2026

04/23/2026

After being out of my studio for three weeks, I am back painting again. I love my new job.

04/09/2026

On Friday, April 10th, XYZ will be part of a gallery crawl, “Walk of Tolerance!”
Starting at The Alexander Black House at 4pm with a few opening remarks from Mirko Ilić.
Posters from the Tolerance Project, fill galleries and businesses throughout Blacksburg.
And, featured at XYZ, undergraduate graphic design students designed their own posters!
We welcome everyone to join us on our gallery crawl.

03/18/2026

Dusk is on my mind....

03/15/2026

When the Blackberries are blooming

When the blackberries are blooming
The pumpkin seeds need planting
As do all the other winter squash

In Gardening, there is no reprieve
From season to season
And year to year

So don’t sit in your chair
And smell the pleasant air
When the blackberries are blooming

When the blackberries are blooming
Rise up and plant your seeds
For winter is coming

And you will want pumpkins in fall
To can and put up
For pie, bread, and even soup.

Do not be distracted by blackberries,
And the way they taste
In jelly on hot buttered biscuits in winter.

When the blackberries are blooming
Be of strong will
Rise up from your chair

Stop dreaming about jelly biscuits
And rise up from your chair.
When the blackberries are blooming.

For the pumpkin seeds need planting
As do all the other squash
When the blackberries are blooming.

Melissa Downs Artist