P. Buckley Moss - Moss Museum

Patricia Buckley Moss, also known as P. Buckley Moss (born May 20, 1933), is an American artist. Reared in Staten Island, New York, she is known for her portrayals of rural landscapes and life in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Early life and education

Born Patricia Buckley (called Pat) on Staten Island in New York City, she attended Washington Irving High School for the Fine Arts in Manhattan. She had dyslexia and struggled with some of her classes in high school, but was good at art. She received a scholarship to study art at Cooper Union College.

Marriage and family

Soon after graduating in 1955, Buckley married Jack Moss. In 1964, Mr. Moss' work as a chemical engineer found the family of seven with a sixth child on the way relocating to Waynesboro, Virginia. This relocation would become pivotal in Moss' art and subject matter. In 1979, she divorced Jack Moss, remarrying again in 1982 to business manager Malcolm Henderson, whom she later divorced. The build-up of Moss Galleries, Ltd. resulted from the influence of Moss' marriage to Henderson.

Art career

In 1964, Jack Moss' work took the family to Waynesboro, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley. Patricia Moss appreciated the rural scenery and began portraying it in her art. She was particularly drawn to the Amish and Mennonite people who farmed in the countryside and has portrayed their figures in iconic ways. In 1967 she had a one-person museum exhibition that promptly sold out, after which Moss started to market her work more seriously. Her unique style, marked by her subtle stylings and the calm nature of her work, alongside the warmth emanating from her subject matter quickly won her widespread acclaim.

Referred to in 1998 as "The People's Artist," by journalist Charles Kuralt, Moss opened the P. Buckley Moss Museum in Waynesboro the following year. Since opening in 1989, the facility has grown to attract roughly 45,000 visitors annually. Kuralt's moniker is often used in the museum's marketing as in her artwork. Today, artwork that Moss signs as P. Buckley Moss is represented in more than 200 galleries worldwide and collected throughout Europe and Japan, as well as the United States.

Civic activities

In 1995, Moss founded the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education to aid children with learning disabilities.

Awards and honors

• American Mother Artist of the Year (1976)
• 1st Place, National Arts & Crafts Exhibit, Washington, D.C. (1976)
• Commendation from the House and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Virginia (1984)
• Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts Retrospective Exhibition (1985)
• Indianapolis Children's Museum Exhibition (1985)
• American Artist of the Year - International Wildlife/Western and American Show, Chicago, Illinois (1986)
• Honorary Doctorate of Fine Art - Centenary College, New Jersey (1986)
• Cultural Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia (1986)
• Mammography Unit at Warren Memorial Hospital (Virginia) named the P. Buckley Moss Ward (1987)
• Appointed Honorary Tar Heel (North Carolina) (1987)
• Commendation from the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1988)
• Commendation from the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan (1988)
• Awarded The Sagamore of the Wabash (Indiana) (1988)
• Contributor of the Year Award, Straight - Tampa Bay (1988)
• Conferred title of Special Honorary Citizen of Takamatsu, Japan (1988)
• The Nittany Lion Award - Penn State University (1989)
• Appointed Honorary Kentucky Colonel (Kentucky) (1989)
• Annual Business/Industry Award, Waynesboro/East Augusta Chamber of Commerce (1989)
• Sight-Saving Chairman for The VA Affiliate of the National Society to Prevent Blindness (1989)
• Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Angel Award, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida (1990)
• Winner, International Plate Award: "Family Reunion," South Bend, Indiana, International Expo (1990)
• Marion Ohio: P.B. Moss Day, July 11 (1990)
• Tokyo, Japan - Metropolitan Museum One Person Exhibition (1990)
• Award - Learning Disabled Children in State of Ohio (LDA) (1991)
• Citation; White House Points of Light Office (1991)
• "Woman of the Year" - Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority (1991)
• Citation from 1st Lady Barbara Bush for Moss' charitable contributions towards learning disabled children (1992)
• Louisville, Kentucky: P. Buckley Moss Day, March twenty-second (1992)
• PBS documentary "Split the Wind" about P. Buckley Moss and her art (1992)
• Learning Disabilities Association of America - documentary video, "A Picture of Success" (1993)
• Paul Harris Award, International Rotary (1993)
• Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters - University of Akron, Akron, Ohio]] (1993)
• Designated Easter at the White House Artist (1994 & 1995)
• Outstanding Dyslexic Calendar Person (LDA), "JUNE" (1995)
• Kermezaar Keynote Artist, El Paso, Texas - October Arts Festival Honoree (1995)
• Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia (1996)
• Distinguished Virginian Award - Virginia Association of Broadcasters (1996)
• Living Artist Exhibition, Marchâ€"September, Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences (1997)
• Golden Key Award - Daughters of the American Revolution (1998)
• Chosen Artist - 50th Anniversary Celebration, Community Arts Center of Cambria County, PA (1998)
• Virginia Chamber of Commerce Diamond Award (1999)
• Cooper Union's President's Citation (1999)
• Pinnacle Award - International Dyslexia Association (2002)
• Recognition for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of learning disabilities - Learning Disabilities Association of Virginia (2002)
• December 9, Senator George Allen read Pat's biography on the Senate Floor, thereby making her history part of the Congressional Record (2004)
• Woman of Distinction Award - Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, Tampa, FL (2003)
• Margaret Sue Copenhaver Contribution to Education Award - Roanoke, College, Roanoke, VA (2003)
• Honorary Doctorate for Public Service - Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA (2004)
• Guest Artist - Puyallup Fair in Washington State (2007)
• August, "Thursday's Child", a play inspired by Pat's life, debuted at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, WV (2007)
• 2008 Virginia Women in History honoree - The Library of Virginia (2008)
• Guest Artist and Speaker, 21st. Annual Quilters' Heritage Celebration in Lancaster, PA (2008)
• WVPT documentary, "The Lady Behind the Brush" commemorating Pat's 75th birthday (2008)
• Pat's donated 'painted violin' appeared in the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra Art String auction (2008)
• Opening Doors Award from The Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (ACLD) of Greater Pittsburgh for her "tireless work in support of children and adults with specific learning disabilities." (13 November 2008)
• Award from the Virginia Council for Exceptional Children for her Commitment to Special Education (2008)
• Certificate of Recognition proclaiming her an Honorary Iowan by Iowa Governor Chester J. Culver. It was presented to her by Iowa's First Lady Mari Culver (2009)
• Among the first members to be included in the Cooper Union's Alumni Hall of Fame (2008)
• Received key to the City of Roanoke. Proclamation from Mayor naming May 24-25th, 2013 as P. Buckley Moss Days (2013)
• Named a Fellow of Virginia Tech’s outreach programs and the university’s Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement (30 August 2013)

References

External links

• Official website
• "Horsing around: P. Buckley Moss and not-folk art", The Hook, 3 May 2007
• P. Buckley Moss, Virginia Women in History, Library of Virginia