Mrs. Crabby Apple Gives Me Life (By the Cecil Higgin-Botham Memorial at the Foot of the Magnolia Tree in Argonne Circle)

Active Roanoke artist and Old Southwest resident Gerald Hubert has owned galleries, shown in numerous public spaces, and currently undertakes commissioned work.

“For my self-portrait, I was thinking about my connection to my neighborhood, especially in the relationship to Roanoke's LGBT community,” says Hubert. “The late neighborhood activist Cecil Higgin-Botham is honored in Argonne Circle in front of my home, and I wanted to convey respect for those who came before us and shape the community we live in today. The figure on the right is me in drag, Mrs. Crabby Apple, a social-media personality my husband and I created last year. Her paintbrush, like a magic wand, bestows me with renewed life. I am inspired by feminine creative energy, as well as the intersection of nature and city life.”