Todd Price
Little did Todd know as he vacationed in Galax, Virginia as a young boy that he would make such an impact on the community. His walks in downtown Galax to the Rex Theatre, shopping with his family on Main Street and playing in Felts Park left an impression. Todd remembers fondly the melt in your mouth biscuits & gravy his Aunt Lizzie made in her kitchen. He was always curious about Uncle Bud, a real southern gentleman.
Uncle Bud (George) Cowden drove his truck to neighborhoods to find workers for his many construction projects.
He built and managed businesses in Galax in the 50s and 60s, J & T Restaurant, a car wash, mobile home park, camper dealer, tool rental, Galax hotel and trucking. When cousin Mike Cowden repeated stories about the lushness of the Blue Ridge Mts. and his budding HVAC business with his Dad, Pat, Todd grew more interested in the possibilities. The excitement of the annual Galax Fiddler's Convention fed the souls of his parents, Bill and Mary Price.
Mom & Pop moved to Fries, Virginia in 1979 to start their self-sustaining homestead on the side of Briar patch Mountain. Todd and Gloria enjoyed many visits to help with fencing, farming, and canning. With their children, llona and Drew, trekking often to the mountain retreat, it was inevitable that they would choose Grayson County to settle. After the dream job of pictorial artist faded in progress of the vinyl billboard industry at Patrick Media Group, Todd and Gloria found a new chapter in their lives.
The doors opened wide when the 1993 Bi-Centennial Committee, led by Sidney Rose Fant, commissioned Todd to create "Welcome to Grayson County" signs for the main roads leading to paradise. Todd and Gloria purchased Bays Wingate Upholstery Shop to start Signs Work, a custom design studio, on Elk Creek Parkway.
Gloria found friends and community by joining the Elk Creek Fire Department Auxiliary. Then Sidney Rose and Nancy & Ernest Warren Stone invited the Prices to church and Lebanon United Methodist Church became their faith home. This led to a blessed relationship with Camp Dickenson, a United Methodist Outdoor Ministry, where the children grew in the great outdoors. Gloria served on the Board for a dozen years, always helping other kids get the opportunity to experience camp in God's creation.
All the while, Todd was creating beautiful custom signs and paintings for businesses, churches, communities and homesteads. Folks come to his studio looking for one of those Todd Price Signs. The Felts Park signs are hand carved and paintings of the music and activities so telling of an active community. Dave Nelson of the Galax Recreation Department recognized an artist with a story to share and acquired the landmarks so known in the City of Galax.
Keith Barker, then Assistant City Manager, realized Todd's talent and commissioned him to design a memorial. It became the Blue Ridge Veterans' Memorial, located next to the Galax Public Library. It is a moving and striking complex with reverent symbolism. The monument design uses circles to represent life and eternity. The granite pillars are obelisks, like the Washington Monument, that point to heaven, to God. The pillars have shiny black polished surfaces and with rough edges symbolic of war and peace. He wanted sight impaired veterans to be able to experience the monument through touch. This was especially meaningful to Todd since his father was legally blind. The eagle on the center pillar is free and flying, not perched. The angle of the eagle's wings is meant to evoke the gentle slope of the Appalachian Mountains - and reflect the angle at which a soldier holds their right arm in a salute.
Todd teaches and exhibits at the Chestnut Creek School of the Arts in Galax. Tourism is blooming in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Todd's many beautiful signs lead visitors to many sights and activities.
Some major SIGNS:
Welcome to Downtown Historic Galax
Welcome to Galax
Blue Ridge Veterans Memorial
Felts Park
Galax Recreation Center
Grayson County Courthouse
GATE Center
Welcome to Grayson County
