RiverArts is all about community, creativity, and connections. Whether you are an artist, an aspiring artist, a non-artist and/or someone who is an art and craft appreciator, RiverArts has so much to offer you. There are programs for all ages and experience levels. No matter what the offering it’s always about appreciating art, having fun, and meeting new people. There’s a lot to see, hear, and do planned through April.

Every month there is an opening reception for a new gallery exhibit followed by an artist talk where you can hear from the participating artists themselves about their inspirations and processes. In celebration of Black History Month the February exhibit, “Merging Perspectives” will feature both local and regional black artists who work in a broad range of media. The opening reception will be held February 3, 5-7pm; the show will run through February 25. The artist talk will take place Thursday, February 9, 5-6:30.

February’s First Friday reception will also include the GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE RIVERARTS GIFT SHOP. See how it has been expanded and re-designed to feature an ever greater variety of one-of-a-kind gifts created by RiverArts members in a space more conducive to shopping.

To complement the exhibit there will be two additional chances to hear from special artists.  On Saturday, February 4, at 1pm Kyle Hackett will present “Circular Narratives.” Kyle (b. Still Pond) is an artist, professor, and RiverArts Board Member who has returned home to share the influences and autobiographical connections to his artwork and journey. He will address painting tradition, contemporary image-making, and concepts of identity rooted in the communities that shaped him.

Jason Patterson’s work focuses on African American history on the Eastern Shore and highlights the role the past has in cultivating our current political and social conditions in the United States.”

Every month there are classes at the Clay Studio in hand-building and the wheel. These classes are designed for beginners, beginners-plus and intermediate levels where students learn a broad range of techniques. A special raku class will introduce Japanese glazing and firing techniques that result in one-of-a-kind pots in a broad range of colors with an interesting crackled appearance.

For those wanting to enjoy a casual fun-filled evening while learning something new there are the popular monthly get-togethers, “Uncorked Creations”.  Held at Casa Carmen you can learn a craft while enjoying premier wines and vermouths.

Specialized classes introduce a broad range of crafts for all levels. Learn the craft of quilling involving the shaping of paper flowers using folding and pleating techniques. Have fun with the art of Pysansky, a Ukrainian egg decorating technique.

For those who enjoy working in fiber there are three workshops. At “Indigo at Night” learn to indigo dye and explore shibori resist methods while creating glorious blue gifts.  During “Eucalyptus Magic in the Morning” create a naturally dyed, one-of-kind silk or wool gauze scarf using fresh eucalyptus leaves.  At “There’s Gold in Those Petals” create a golden cotton scarf using a natural dye with dried marigolds.

And don’t forget the kids! During the Saturday Farmers’ Market, year-round, children ages 2-12 are welcome to drop in at KidSPOT in the breezeway for creative and STEM-oriented play, artistic exploration, crafts and fun. Drop-in is always free.

RiverArts has a weekly newsletter that provides ongoing information on all upcoming offerings. In addition, it brings the world of museums, galleries, and the works of contemporary artists to its readers through on-line video tours and presentations. All community members are welcome to request this online publication; go to [email protected] or call 410-778-6300.

The RiverArts Gallery and Gift Shop as well as KidSPOT are located at 315 High Street, in the breezeway. The Clay Studio is located at 205 High Street. For information on all of the exhibits, talks, classes and special events and to register where needed go to www.chestertown.riverarts.org or again call 410-778-6300.

There are those that say that they buy all their holiday gifts at the RiverArts Holiday Show and Sale and for good reason! Now through December 31 over 50 artists are offering one-of-a-kind pieces of craft and art at affordable prices. The show opened on November 17 with some 1,000 items which are being replenished so that there is always a plentiful selection. This year we are delighted that our past best-selling artists are returning.

For those looking for pieces celebrating the holiday season, Amos Rudderow is well known for his distinctive wreaths, some traditional and some more contemporary. In addition, he creates charming wood frame and other decorative hangings.

While cards offer the opportunity to send family and friends holiday greetings, it is even better when they are works of art. Patty Mowell offers boxed sets of note cards with holiday, floral and oyster designs in addition to small prints from her original watercolors of holiday, local landscape, wildlife, and floral designs.

Enjoy pottery incorporating a broad range of styles designed for both practical and decorative uses. Ken Reinard works in clay, wood and stained glass. His work is known for its clean, simple, and elegant shapes, inviting one to touch as well as being satisfying to use. Marlayn King enjoys exploring different surface treatments such as the carving of clay and layering of glazes to create decorative and often colorful designs. She offers a wide selection of bowls, luminaries, butter crocks and platters.

Choose from many different styles and materials in jewelry. Ronn Akins creates unique statement jewelry which tends to be traditional in style. Though known for his wire necklaces and earrings, this year he will expand his collection to include polymer clay and more contemporary pieces. Totally different from Ronn is the contemporary design of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets created by Joan Strand. Her eclectic selection of sterling silver jewelry also incorporates semiprecious gemstones.

Some of the fiber art popular in the Holiday Show serve a decorative purpose while others are wearable. Lesley Campana loves to experiment with color and different weaving techniques. In addition to the scarves and shawls that she is best known for, she offers kitchen and table items. Christine Kamon makes colorful quilted items for table tops and walls to brighten homes for the holidays and year round. Her table toppers and mug rugs soften hard surfaces.

Jeff Haude is known for his 18^th century and contemporary styles in furniture as well as for home and gift items. This year his works will include cutting boards in many sizes and woods, coaster sets, cherry wood trays, knick knack shelves and, new this year, Scandinavian inspired waste baskets.

The show is at the RiverArts galleries in Chestertown’s decorated breezeway at 315 High Street.  Gallery hours have been extended to make shopping easier. By staying open later, visitors to the gallery may stop in   going to dinner in any number of Chestertown’s popular restaurants.

First Friday December 2 11-8
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – 11-3.
Wednesday and Sunday 11- 4
Thursday – Friday – 11- 6
Saturday – 9-5

For more information visit www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/  or call 410-778-6300. Special thanks go to the Kent Cultural Alliance and the Maryland State Arts Council for all the support they give to RiverArts activities and events throughout the year.

What could be better than the return of the Chestertown RiverArts’ Studio Tour where visitors can see wonderful art and talk with artists about their work while enjoying Kent County and northern Queen Anne’s Counties’ beautiful fall scenery! Take your free self-guided, tour on October 22-23 and 29-30, rain or shine, 10am-5pm.

Over 40 artists are participating in this year’s tour. Many of our most popular artists are returning and several are new. Their art is as diverse as the artists who create it with styles ranging from traditional to avant-garde. They work in a broad range of media that include fine art, pottery, fiber, woodcraft/furniture, jewelry, glass, mosaic, and metal.

Most studios are located throughout Kent County. Studio locations vary including artists’ private home studios, independent studios in a small art complex in Chestertown, and the studios at Heron Point.  Also take in RiverArts Clay Studio to see work by the many artisans that create both wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery. Whatever the location expect to have the chance to chat with the artists about their techniques and inspirations, see demonstrations and have the opportunity to buy original work at studio tour prices.

It is recommended that visitors start their tour at the RiverArts Gallery, 315 High Street, Chestertown in the breezeway, to view an exhibit of works by the artists on the tour. This month-long exhibit will give viewers the chance to decide which artists they wish to visit and plan their itinerary by referring to the tour’s brochure. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday, 11:00-4:00 Saturday, 10:00-4:00, and Sunday 11:00-3:00,

The tour’s website, www.studiotour.chestertownriverarts.org, provides information on each artist by name, location, and medium.  For more information on the tour call 410-778-6300, visit the website, or email [email protected].

Specials thanks go to the tour’s sponsors: Chesapeake Bank and Trust, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Kent Cultural Alliance.

Chestertown RiverArts is excited to announce our quirky, anything goes, free-standing and free sculpture competition that will be at our 10^th anniversary celebration, !magine, on Sunday, September 11 from 1:00-6:00. We plan to enliven the middle of High Street with a menagerie of wild things, curious characters and gravity-defying assemblages.

All fun-loving creatives are invited to design and construct an imaginative sculpture that makes people smile, ponder or wonder. Both individuals and teams (whether representing an organization or a group of friends) are invited to participate and may enter more than one sculpture. This would be a perfect way to provide some extra visibility for your organization. Sculptures can be set up between 11:00 and 1:00 on the day of the festival. Festival goers will vote for the “People’s Choice” with an announcement of the winner at 5:00.

!magine is a community street festival along High Street that will bring art and fun for all ages: adult and children’s activities, artists selling their work, community arts projects, quick draw, photography and sculpture competitions, music, and food. RiverArts is offering this festival as a way to engage the whole community in the joys of art.

Other invitations for community participation include artists registering for space to sell their work,  photographers registering for the competition for best festival photo and plein artists registering for Quick Draw. For more information and to register for any of these opportunities, email RiverArts at [email protected].

Love chocolate? Chestertown Wednesday, August 17, 5:30 to 7 pm featuring Bespoke Chocolate truffles and Casa Carmen wines. This event is held in conjunction with the August art exhibit, Epicure.

Red wine is not always the rule of thumb when it comes to pairing chocolate with wine!  Enjoy three unique wine and chocolate truffle pairings complete with a tasting note card.

Casa Carmen wines will also be available for sale, as well as Bespoke Chocolate Truffle sample boxes. Create your own tasting party at home!

Register now for the event, as attendance is limited. Tickets are $25.  They may be purchased online https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/chocolate-and-wine-tasting, by phone, or at RiverArts.

For more information visit www.chestertownriverarts.org call RiverArts at 410 778 6300 or email [email protected]

Chestertown RiverArts is located at 315 High Street, Suite 106, Chestertown, MD  21620 – (in the breezeway).

Do you have an unfinished art project (or 6!) that you’d love to find the time to complete? Or art supplies you’ve always meant to use but can’t seem to squeeze into your busy schedule?

MAKEspace is RiverArts’ drop-in art time for YOU. Make space in your life for art by coming once to see what an hour or two of uninterrupted creative time feels like — or put it on your calendar each week to make a commitment to set aside this time for yourself. Use our space to make something, anything, that delights you.

Who? What? Why? It’s time to get into the open studio! Bring in your current project that you haven’t made time to do. Pick up those pieces of creative genius that have been gathering dust. Get motivated by being in a fresh studio space, no charge, just time to create in an open, informal setting. No cost, no expectations, no criticism, just time to MAKEspace. It’s an experiment in new normal creation – follow the Covid rules (with your mask and well-heeled social distancing skills in place) but break through creative barriers.

When? Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 8:30pm, from September 14 through November 16.

Where? ArtsAlive! This RiverArts educational space is located next to the Clay Studio at 200 High Street in downtown Chestertown. When the weather is nice, we meet outdoors in front of ArtsAlive!

How much? It’s FREE time, but we would love it if you could leave a small donation.

No RSVP necessary, but if you’d like, you can let us know you’re coming at https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/makespace

What could be better than the return of the Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour? Visitors can see wonderful art and talk with artists about their work while enjoying Kent County’s beautiful fall scenery! Take your free self-guided walking and driving tour on October 16-17 and 23-24, rain or shine, 10am-5pm.

The art is as diverse as the artists who create it, with styles ranging from traditional to avant-garde. The artists work in a broad selection of media that include fine art, pottery, fiber, woodcraft/furniture, jewelry, glass, mosaic, and metal.

The venues also vary, including artists’ private home studios as well as independent studios in a small art complex. Several participants will be located at the RiverArts ArtsAlive Center and the RiverArts Clay Studio. Whatever the location, expect the chance to chat with the artists about their techniques and inspirations, see demonstrations, and have the opportunity to buy original works for your collection at studio tour prices.

Artists are located throughout Kent County. Of the 28 participants, 14 will be in their own Chestertown studios, four will be at the ArtsAlive Center at 200 High Street in Chestertown, one at the RiverArts Clay Studio, and three at the home of the Blueberry Pie and Art Society, in the rear of ArtsAlive. Rock Hall will have three artist studios to visit. Rick Bisgyer’s studio in Betterton, Cindy Fulton’s in Worton, and Marcey Sherman’s in Sudlersville are each truly worth the trip through the Eastern Shore countryside; their work is special and the scenic ride worth taking.

It is recommended that visitors start their tour at the RiverArts Gallery, 315 High Street, in the breezeway, to view an exhibit of works by Studio Tour artists. The month-long exhibit located in the front and middle sections of the Main Gallery will give viewers the chance to decide which artists they wish to visit and plan their itinerary by referring to the tour’s brochure, available in the Gallery.

The art studio at Heron Point is currently closed due to the covid pandemic, but RiverArts has dedicated the Studio Gallery and part of the Main Gallery to a special exhibition, “Artists of Heron Point,” featuring paintings by 15 artists who would not otherwise be able to participate in this year’s tour. The work in this exhibition is both inspired and inspiring, covering a broad spectrum of styles and subjects.

In addition to these venues, make time to visit the tour’s sponsors. The Tish Fine Art Plus Gallery on High Street in Chestertown features artwork, jewelry, woodcraft, and basketry by local artists. Bi-monthly shows include featured artists. The gallery also promotes two judged shows annually.

The tour’s other sponsor, Selkie Books of Rock Hall, en route to Rock Hall, where visitors can stop by the main book shop and across the parking area, Undine’s Art Cottage, housing the work of 15 additional local artists working in multiple media including woodwork, jewelry, acrylics, photography, yarn, and more. Selkie’s has 6-7,000 new, used, rare and consigned books including books by six local authors, covering every major genre and topic.

Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays 11am – 3pm, Saturdays 10am – 3pm, and Sundays 11am – 2pm. Saturday and Sunday hours will be 10am – 5pm on both weekends of the Studio Tour. More information on the tour and participating artists, as well as classes and other events can be found on the RiverArts website at https://community.chestertownriverarts.org.

Chestertown RiverArts is a community arts center in Chestertown, Maryland, whose mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” RiverArts connects local residents and visitors with the arts through exhibits, classes, children’s arts activities, and a clay studio. Visit online at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org, connect via email at [email protected], or by phone at 410.778.6300.

Chestertown RiverArts is putting a new twist on its annual Plein Air festival this year. On Friday and Saturday, June 4-5, come to historic Chestertown to enjoy Paint the Town Plus, a festive atmosphere celebrating the art of the outdoors in the outdoors. Works from the festival will be hung in the RiverArts Gallery in the breezeway, for its first in-person exhibit in over a year, to open June 11.

On June 4 from 5-8pm, as part of Chestertown’s First Friday festivities, RiverArts will exhibit works by some 30 artists from throughout Maryland under tents in Fountain Park. These artists have been working on landscapes, seascapes, paintings of quaint towns, and more since April 30. Artists who work in media other than painting have also been invited to participate, a new addition from past years. The Friday evening event will be an opportunity to enjoy this exhibit, perhaps purchase a piece, and get to chat with the artists themselves.

In addition to the exhibit, throughout both days of festivities, the RiverArts Clay Community will offer Empty Bowls Upside Down, a new version of the ever popular Empty Bowls tradition, which benefits the Kent County Food Pantry. Potters have made hundreds of beautiful bowls, any one of which can be purchased for $20.Buyers are also asked to bring canned soup and boxed dried food for donation.

Visitors will want to stroll through Chestertown during its First Friday celebration. Known for its arts and entertainment district and beautiful historic waterfront, the town has many galleries and fun shops which will be open, adding to the gala spirit.

On Saturday morning, coinciding with Chestertown’s noted Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market, RiverArts will be sponsoring a Quick Draw. From 10:30-12:30, artists will paint scenes from throughout Kent County, some based on suggestions from local residents. Expect to see some of these artists painting in town, once again offering the chance to speak with them about their approaches and techniques. These works will then be exhibited for judging in the tents. Cash awards will be given. Again, all of these works will be for sale.

Also on Saturday morning, RiverArts’ KidSPOT will host Paint the Park for young children. Easels, paper canvases, and oil pastel sticks will be set up in Fountain Park, giving young artists the opportunity to explore the joys of Plein Air painting and express their interpretations of the local scene. A good time will be had for the whole family.

Visit https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/ptt-2021 for more information. For everyone’s safety, appropriate safety protocols will be followed at all RiverArts events and locations.

Chestertown RiverArts is a community arts center serving Kent County, Maryland and beyond with exhibits, classes, children’s arts activities, and a Clay Studio. RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Visit RiverArts online at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org, or connect by phone at 410.778.6300 or email at [email protected].