If you are looking for a gift for a special occasion, a holiday present, a thank-you or thinking-of-you item or maybe you just want to treat yourself to something special, then be sure to visit RiverArts Gift Shop at 315 High Street. With 40-50 artists having their work at RiverArts, you are bound to find something unique. Most artists change out their work quarterly which keeps the selection fresh. And what is most important is that everything is hand-made and, in many cases, one-of-a-kind. Items range from a $1 postcard to fine jewelry or framed art.
The RiverArts Gift Shop is known for carrying quality items. While most of the artists are from Kent & Queen Anne’s counties, we now have a number of artists from Easton and Saint Michaels. For example, Cottage Studio is a husband and wife team from Easton. They closed their store there and now consign their silver and copper jewelry through us.
By far, the most popular sellers are jewelry by such artists as Cottage Studio, Char Guschl, Joy Berghaus and Annie Smith. We also sell a lot of pottery, artwork and wearable art. Doug Sassi, a well-known potter from Betterton, creates beautiful, distinctive, yet utilitarian work. Besides his studio, RiverArts is the only place where he sells his pieces. For framed art, Jody Primoff is probably one of our most popular artists. And for wearable art there are woven scarves, crocheted pieces and most special of all are the knitted wear by Master Knitter, Sue Wright. Our most unusual pieces of wearable art include painted silk clothing by Katharine Johnson who makes jackets and scarves for women. She also makes pillows and wall hangings.
The gift shop committee is made up of chair, Sue Leeman, Sue Basener, Joy Berghaus, and Suzanne Street. They have been doing a wonderful job of organizing the shop, making shopping an enjoyable experience. When you enter RiverArts the first grouping you will see is the “Artist of the Month”. Sue Leeman explains that “the committee chooses the artists by the medium. If we have jewelry one month, then we try focusing on art or pottery the next month, and then maybe woodworking. Within each medium, we look at who has been a longtime member of RiverArts and who has been selling well. We also look at holidays within the month and play to that.” For example, in May with Mothers Day, we highlighted Charlotte Guschl’s jewelry.
Charlotte Guschl of Rock N Rose was introduced to the art of jewelry design eighteen years ago by her sister. The initial contact was through the lost technique of making rose clay beads from rose petals then incorporating them into designs with semiprecious stones. Each unique piece constitutes using the traditional meaning of the stones to reflect the personality of the wearer.
Char has been involved originally with ArtWorks and now RiverArts for the tenure of her involvement with making jewelry as wearable art. She first was active with Chadds Ford Days, Arsenal on the Green, and the Arden Fair in DE as well as other local shows. She also has done public speaking on the traditional meaning of stones, processing of rose clay, and workshops on grieving and loss.
Both David and Christine O’Neill have been selected for June’s Artists of the Month. They live in Rock Hall as well as cruise on their sailboat Felix. Their work reflects their love of the water as they sail extensively in the US and the Caribbean. Christine’s paintings are created in oils, acrylics and watercolors. Each medium has its own characteristics that help create the right atmosphere for a painting. David is known for his woodworking and photography as well as children’s coloring books. The Committee asked them to be Artists of the month for June because their work celebrates the water. Their artwork evokes the joy of spending summer days on and around the River and Bay.
Unlike other gift shops in town, you get the added pleasure of seeing wonderful art exhibits in the Main Gallery and Studio Gallery. RiverArts hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11:00-4:00, Saturday, 10:00-4:00 and 11:00-8:00 on First Fridays. So do stop in! For additional information on the RiverArts gift shop, galleries and events, visit www.ChestertownRiverArts.org.
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