Piedmont Arts Uses Technology to Heighten Gallery Experience

Piedmont Arts' newest exhibit, Subtle, featuring works by Blacksburg artist Jesi Pace-Berkeley, will use QR codes as a way for visitors to learn more about the artist and select works in the exhibition.

Short for quick response code, QR codes can be read quickly by any smartphone's code reader.

By scanning a QR code with a smartphone, visitors will instantly be taken to a webpage containing information about the exhibiting artist, such as her artist statement or a link to her Facebook page, or information about a work in the exhibit. Not all smartphones come equipped with a code reader, but one can be easily installed for free by visiting any smartphone's app store.

"The QR codes are easy to find," said Bernadette Moore, Piedmont Arts director of marketing. "They are displayed on the wall beside each relevant work and in central locations in the galleries. They look like large, square barcodes."

"We are very excited about incorporating QR codes into this exhibit," said Brandon Adams, Piedmont Arts director of exhibitions. "Subtle will be on display through September 21, but we plan to use the codes in future exhibits to continue to heighten the experience visitor's have in our galleries."

Piedmont Arts is a nonprofit art museum and educational outreach center in Martinsville, Virginia that facilitates ongoing enrichment of the lives of the people of Martinsville, Henry County and the surrounding area, through positive exposure, education and experiences in the visual and performing arts. Piedmont Arts is a statewide partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is accredited by the American Association of Museums. Learn more at www.piedmontarts.org.