I am thrilled to introduce y'all to my friend Elizabeth Stroud who has graciously agreed to be our latest guest curator on Well + Wonder. Elizabeth is Vice President of Bags & Accessories for the leather company Moore & Giles which is based in Lynchburg, Virginia. But beyond her (really cool) job at Moore & Giles, Elizabeth is a champion of the arts and southern artists. Our paths crossed a few years ago when she orchestrated an installation for Well + Wonder + Moore & Giles at the newly opened Fritz Porter in Charleston. We became fast friends who have inspired one another and encouraged one another as mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. When we sat down for this fun little Q&A I told Elizabeth this was really one of the best parts of my job! No, not just a fun Q&A (although I do really enjoy those!), but connecting with like-minded creatives who have become wonderful friends. Welcome, Elizabeth! We hope you enjoy reading along!
Tell us about yourself.
In addition to being a wife and a mother, I am the Vice President of Bags & Accessories for the leather company Moore & Giles. I also serve on the board of the Academy Center for the Arts in Lynchburg, VA and co-founded a young donors group of the Academy, called MIX. Art touches nearly every aspect of my life - through work, through community outreach, and through parenting - and I am so passionate about it!
What is currently on your nightstand? What are you reading?
I have a slew of books that I have not yet read or have half-read on my nightstand, but I did just finish Mr. Dickens and His Carol, which was the December pick in my book club. It was very endearing and perfectly Christmas-y!
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
My current favorite room is our newly renovated kitchen. We took down a wall, which has made such a difference in how we use the room and has given us so much more light. In addition, some of my favorite pieces of work hang in our dining room which now opens to our kitchen!
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective?
In my opinion, the benefit is access to other emerging artists. I originally connected to Well + Wonder through Adele Yonchak, who I went to college with, but I have discovered so many other wonderful artists that I have to come to love as well!
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
I think I’d choose the Pompidou in Paris, which really helped me push the boundaries of what I expected art to be when I was younger and which I still love to this day. Plus, Paris!
When and where do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
Isn’t it so true that inspiration always strikes at the funniest times? My brain is always on fire when I’m driving, on a run, or (unfortunately) when I’m going to bed.
So, tell us a bit about your corner of the world – where do you live and what do you love about it?
I live in Lynchburg, VA, which I consider to be an “emerging” city. We are in the midst of a major revitalization of downtown Lynchburg and they are a lot of really fantastic things happening here, many of which are connected to arts and culture. It’s an exciting time to live here and to be able to impact the future of our community. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s a great place to raise a family!
