Arts & Culture

The Shenandoah National Park made a surprising announcement last week - inviting people to apply for an artist-in-residence program. 

During this - the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act - the park wanted to celebrate its year-round residents and invite artists to record the natural beauty of the place. 

The winner will have two weeks in September, all expenses paid, to live and work in the Shenandoah.
Near Charlottesville, another artistic happening is underway. 

Organizers of the Lockn’ Music Festival are gearing up for this year’s event, despite complaints from ABC agents who videotaped illegal drug buys and one young woman sunbathing topless. The four-day fest will feature some big names, including Willie Nelson playing - for the first time - in Nelson County.  

Lockn’ 2014 is expected to outdraw last year’s crowd of 25,000, with a long list of popular bands.

Natural Bridge, the geologic wonder that captivated early America, is heading toward a revival as a Virginia state park.  That will likely bring more hiking and biking to the famous 215-foot tall formation. But that means that some of the more unique sideshows, like the wax museum, are being pushed aside.  

On a recent visit, tourist Todd Artz from Pennsylvania emerged from the Museum calling it a 3-D history book.

“It was excellent. It tells the history of everything down here. And because I just found it’s losing the lease here, it should stay here.”

Listen to Tab O'Neal's full interview with Roanoke's Adrian Cronauer, the man behind Robin William's character on "Good Morning Vietnam".  

The National Marriage Project is out with new and surprising findings.  In a study of more than 400 couples, UVA social scientists concluded the size of your wedding matters.