On Friday May 6, Chestertown RiverArts will open the doors for its first invitational show featuring eight artists. Now celebrating its fourth year, RiverArts was established by bringing the town’s two art associations together to share resources and talents. This invitational show is a witness to how successful the collaboration has been. RiverArts has quickly become recognized as one of the Eastern Shore’s most prominent arts associations, indicative of Chestertown’s reputation as a popular destination for the arts.
Shoe VIII by Ruth Pettus
The exhibit will feature the works of painters Carol Minarick, Julia Sutliff, Marilyn Banner, Eva Stina Bender and Bobbie Staat, as well as works of photographer George Holzer, and sculptors Marcia Wolfson-Ray, and Ruth Pettus. The show has a unique twist. Chestertown resident and former Adkins Arboretum director Ellie Altman is curating the show. She invited four artists, Sutliff, Banner, Wolfson-Ray and Holzer to participate, and then gave each of these artists the opportunity to invite one artist- bringing the invitations to eight. This is a way to introduce new artists to the Chestertown RiverArts’s community and to ensure a dynamic and diverse selection of work for the show.
Terrain by Wolfson Ray
The show will include contemporary work, abstract and realistic, a variety of painting media and techniques, as well as drawings. The sculpture reflects the careful craftsmanship of Pettus and Wolfson-Ray that cannot be replicated as they work with unique raw material. Pettus transforms old shoes into compelling human stories, and Wolfson-Ray constructs complex structures with natural materials using techniques that reflect each plant species’ characteristics.
The Chestertown RiverArts board and staff are proud to bring these eight accomplished artists to Kent County for this special exhibit. Artists Mary and Howard McCoy, and Marcy Ramsey are assisting with planning and installing the exhibit.
The studio gallery features Paint the Town’s “Second Look,” with artwork from 20 of the artists who were in town last week for RiverArts’ annual four day plein air event.
A reception, free and open to the public, will be held on May 6, 5-8 pm, as part of downtown Chestertown’s May First Friday events.
MARY WOOD says
THAT SHOE MAY BE A WORK OF ART, BUT IT DOESN’T LOOK VERY COMFORTABLE – OUCH !