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July 27, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

6 Arts Notes

A Message from From RiverArts and KidSPOT

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KidSPOT Art Kits

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since we were together in the KidSPOT studio.

Our wonderful Saturday coordinator, Sarah Lyle, and the dedicated members of our KidSPOT Advisory Board miss you! Throughout this year we have worked in person and virtually to provide creative and COVID safe art opportunities for our youngest artists to share with their families.

After a thorough evaluation of COVID safety protocols and the needs of area children, this summer we have decided to focus on bringing art experiences to children in Chestertown and other Kent County locations. We will continue our COVID community support with free KidSPOTArt Bag distributions, collaborations with community partners, and COVID safe activities at community events.

Look for KidSPOT at these events, with more to come this summer:

Saturday, April 17 and 24: The chemistry honor society Gamma Eta at Washington College is partnering with KidSPOT to donate slime kits for kids ages 5+ at the Chestertown Farmers’ Market!

Saturday, June 5: “Paint the Park” for kids, a part of the RiverArts Paint the Town Plus Plein Air festival.

Saturday, June 19:COVID safe collaborative art at Fountain Park for Chestertown’s Juneteenth Celebration.

Please check in with KidSPOTon Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to the Daily Dose newsletter to find out more about where to find us and play, create, explore together.

KidSPOT Farmers’ Market table

From your KidSPOT friends,

Sarah Lyle, Elizabeth Healy, and Anne Highfield-Clarke

And there is so much more happening at RiverArts! Here is a small sampling of additional programs and events in the near future. For more information and to register, and to find out about other offerings, visit community.ChestertownRiverArts.org.

Weather or Not (online): The second Flash Exhibit of the year, opening on Earth Day, April 22.

Paint the Town PLUS, a renewed and reimagined Plein Air festival will take place in late May and early June, with opportunities for artists of all ages in all mediums, a timed Quick Draw a COVID safe Empty Bowls event at the Clay Studio, and more. The festival will culminate on the weekend of June 4 with a judged show outdoors in the park and a Wet Paint

RiverArts SalonApril 20, 5pm: Provincetown Printers with Fred Dylla. Hear about a physicist’s discovery of the white-line woodcut.

Fireside Chat with Maria Wood (via Zoom) April 21, 4pm: Open office hours with the Executive Director.

How to Enter Online Exhibits 101 with Kris Kelley (via Zoom)April 22, 6:30 pm: Learn how to present your art and yourself in the most positive way so that you can successfully enter online exhibits.

Outdoor Watercolor Skies with Steve Bleinberger (Outdoors) April 24, 10am – 2pm: Learn tips and techniques for creating striking colors, shades, and washes. Bring your own watercolor supplies, and enjoy painting outdoors in the springtime in the first in-person class since September!

Artists’ Roundtable with Sue Wilson (via Zoom) April 28, 6-7pm: Working artists of all levels of experience are invited to a conversation about topics of interest.

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].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

RiverArts: Keeping Our Community Connected

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“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” So said Molière. In that spirit RiverArts has sought to come up with creative ways to overcome the limitations created by the pandemic. It continues to explore new ways to bring people together virtually and, in so doing, act as a force to help keep our community inter-connected and thriving.

New Contention, 2020. Oil on copper. Kyle Hackett

Early on, RiverArts began offering its now popular Salon Discussions. These get-togethers promote connection and stimulate thought by inviting speakers of note to present programs on a broad range of topics from art of all kinds to climate change to life-long learning to the African American experience here in Kent County. Questions and conversation are encouraged. Tuesdays, 5-5:45pm.

More recently, RiverArts began offering monthly Artists’ Roundtables. Hosted by Gallery Director, Sue Wilson, these zoom conversations offer peer-to-peer support and a place for local artists to share ideas and experiences. A broad range of topics are explored such as “How should I frame my piece?” or “How should I price and sell work navigating the new normal?”

Wednesdays, 6-7pm.

The RiverArts Photography Club meets on Thursdays at 7pm. Participants of all experience levels are encouraged to share their work and provide each other with helpful feedback. To sign up email Steve Kane at [email protected].

Classes for youth and adults are offered virtually and occasionally in person outdoors, providing instruction on basic techniques in a broad range of media, and for all levels of skill and experience. Student comments after a recent Exploring Watercolor class taught by nationally renowned landscape painter Deena Ball included the rave review, “I’ve been taking classes for over 20 years and by far, this was the best class I have ever taken.”

The newest addition to these offerings are Flash Exhibits, online shows offering an opportunity for artists of all ages to share their work with the community in the context of the rapid change and unpredictability in which we are living. Announced no more than a week before opening, Flash Exhibits showcase the work of the talented artists in our community in a format of exploration and spontaneity. Artists are encouraged to invite audiences into the process of art-making at any stage along the journey from the initial inspiration to the finished work.

April Schedule (more events being added weekly):

SALON: Exploring Race, Class, and Social Standing Through Painting with Kyle Hackett

Sam Nester

April 6, 5pm

Kyle will discuss how his paintings explore issues of race, class, and social standing through approaches to self-representation and the constructed image.

SALON: Plants, Music, Light and Art with Sam Nester

April 13, 5pm

Sam Nester’s Arcadia sound and light installation takes the natural biorhythms of Virginian native plants and converts them to MIDI data to control MIDI instruments and a corresponding synesthetic light installation in real-time.

CLASS: How to Enter Online Exhibits 101 with Kris Kelley, via Zoom

April 14 daytime session, 12 noon, April 22 evening session, 6:30pm

Learn how to present your art and yourself in the most positive way so that you can successfully enter online exhibits.

SALON: RiverArts Salon: Provincetown Printers with Fred Dylla

April 20, 5pm

Hear about a physicist’s discovery of the white-line woodcut.

Sailboat on Starboard Tack. Watercolor. Steve Bleinberger

CLASS: A Watercolor Spring “Tune-Up” Where The Sky’s Not The Limit! with Steve Bleinberger, Outdoors near the Chestertown Waterfront. April 24, 10am

 There’s never been a better time to learn to paint dramatic clouds and beautiful skies in watercolor. Learn tips and techniques for creating striking colors, shades, and washes. Bring your own watercolor supplies, and enjoy painting outdoors in the springtime.

Chestertown Art Walk, April 24

Handmade, one of a kind pieces created by local artists over the last year will be viewable in our studio windows at the RiverArts Gallery, the Clay Studio, and ArtsAlive, all in downtown Chestertown. Come downtown for a wonderful stroll and see what RiverArts artists have been up to. All items are available for sale. Purchases and pick up or delivery arrangements can be made on our website, chestertownriverarts.org.

Paper Mache Piñata – Kit Class, via Zoom, April 27, 7pm

This class is timed to have the supplies ready to create these crafts before or during Cinco de Mayo. Purchase a kit in advance from the Artesanas of the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, then join the RiverArts Zoom to work on piñatas together!

To explore links that take you to wonderful art, music, poetry, activities for kids and more and to learn about programs being offered by other groups in the community, subscribe to the “Daily Dose.”

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, call 410.778.6300, or email at [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Welcome to RiverArts Virtual Flash Exhibit

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Body of Water by Lisa Scarbath

If you’re wondering what local artists have been working on these many months, then welcome to RiverArts’ virtual Flash Exhibit running from March 8 –  26, at the Chestertown RiverArts website, https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/exhibit/imperfection-two. As with any in-person show, you will be able to see a broad range of work and have the opportunity to get up close to study those pieces that particularly grab your interest, presented in two online viewing rooms.

The theme of this exhibit, “Imperfection,” puts an emphasis on the journey, not the destination. Accordingly, the viewer will gain insight into the creative process, the stumbles, and new directions along the way. You may get to see unfinished, evolving works, which speak for themselves. In some cases, artists have provided commentary about their approaches.

The response to the call for entries was extraordinary. The range of media is broad. Two dimensional works include paintings, prints, collage, photography, and cut paper. Other media include fiber art, sculpture, ceramics, glass, turned wood, mosaic and jewelry. Subject matter is also wide ranging including botanicals, still lifes, land and seascapes, life drawing, and nautica, as well as political commentary. Styles run the gamut from realistic to impressionistic to abstract to just plain whimsy.

As you move through the exhibit, take the opportunity to click on the + sign under each piece any number of times to zoom in to study the intriguing details. Just click on the arrows to move back and forth. It’s so easy to navigate, you’ll feel the joy of walking through RiverArts galleries from home.

Chestertown RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Visit online at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org, or connect by phone at 410.778.6300 or email at [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

RiverArts: Programs to Keep Our Community Connected

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Paper Flower by Pearl Uva

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” So said Moliere. In that spirit, RiverArts has sought to come up with creative ways to overcome the limitations created by the pandemic. It continues to explore new ways to bring people together virtually and act as a force to help keep our community inter-connected and thriving.

Early on, RiverArts began offering its now popular Salon series, which continues in March with a literary theme. These get-togethers promote deeper connections by inviting speakers of note who speak on a broad range of topics from art to climate change to life-long learning to the African American experience here in Kent County. Questions and conversation are encouraged. Tuesdays, 5-5:45pm.

More recently, RiverArts has begun offering monthly Artists’ Roundtables. Gallery Director Sue Wilson hosts, providing peer-to-peer support and a place for local artists to share ideas and experiences. Again, a broad range of topics are explored, such as how to frame, price, and sell artwork, and navigating the “new normal.” Fourth Wednesdays, 6-7pm.

The RiverArts Photography Club meets every Thursday at 7pm. Participants of all experience levels are encouraged to share their work and provide each other with helpful feedback. To sign up, email Steve Kane at [email protected].

Classes are offered virtually, providing instruction on basic techniques in a broad range of media.

The newest addition to the offerings is a “Flash Exhibit” called Imperfection. This online show will offer an opportunity for artists of all ages to share their work with the community in the context of the times in which we are living. In the spirit of “it’s the journey, not the destination,” artists are invited to describe their creative process. Artists may register for free and submit up to two pieces of original artwork in any media. The deadline for registration is March 1. To register go to

Selected March Events:

March 2: Salon with Kent County Public Librarians: Looking Back discuss the library’s upcoming “Look Back” art contest and Read Across America Day. 5-5:45pm

March 3: Pop Art, Coloring for a Good Cause: A Collaborative Project Via Zoom. 12 – 1pm.

March 9: Salon with Yolanda Acree, author and founder of Black Minimalists: Mindful Simplicity. 5-5:45.

March 11: Paper Cityscapes with Rose Leff. 5-8pm.

March 16: Paper Flowers with Pearl Uva, 6-7pm.

March 16: Salon with screenwriter, playwright and poet Robert Earl Price: Poems of Resistance, 5-5:45pm.

March 23: Salon with Dr. James Allen Hall: Discover Louise Gluck, America’s Nobel Laureate, 5-5:45.

To receive information about local arts events, links that take you to wonderful art, music, poetry, activities for kids and more, and to learn about collaborations with other groups in the community, subscribe to the “Daily Dose,” RiverArts’ email newsletter, at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org.

Chestertown RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Visit online at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org, or connect by phone at 410.778.6300 or email at [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Happening at RiverArts: Salons, Classes, and Artist Roundtable Discussions

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Watercolor, Deena Ball

Learn something new & have fun in 2021! Chestertown RiverArts offers a full slate of covid-safe programs for the winter and spring months, with new art practices, exciting guest speakers, and more. Visit the website at community.ChestertownRiverArts.org, subscribe to the Daily Dose email newsletter, and follow on social media for updates on the offerings below and more!

A RiverArts Salon is a place for lively, physically distant but socially connected conversation that goes a little bit deeper than small talk. Salons grow community connections and increased understanding every Tuesday from 5 to 5:45pm. RiverArts Salons have become increasingly popular, with guests including local luminaries from Washington College and the Eastern Shore arts community as well as global artists and scholars from Boston University, The Museum of Natural History in New York, and Hochschule für Musik Detmold, in Detmold, Germany and more.

On Tuesday, January 26, Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation talks about the Dock Street Foundation’s Hopeful 2021 campaign and what citizens of the Shore can do to be hopeful, give back, and engage during these times. University of Auckland health researcher Paul Ware brings a perspective from another hemisphere on February 2 to lead a conversation about cultural differences between the global East and West, focusing on New Zealand and Taiwan.

Salons will continue on Tuesdays throughout the spring. Guests will include Salvadoran musician, painter, and ceramicist Fredy Granillo, theoretical astrophysicist Eve Armstrong, Jan Elvin and David White of WC-ALL, and author and founder of Black Minimalists Yolanda Acree, among others. Register at community.chestertownriverarts.org/programs/category/Salon.

Drawing by Vanna Ramirez

Do you ever wish you had a personal consultant to help you frame your work? Have questions about pricing, selling, or how to navigate the “new normal” as a working artist? New monthly Artists’ Roundtable discussions offer peer-to-peer support and a place for local artists to share ideas and experience on essential topics. Hosted by RiverArts Gallery Director Sue Wilson, the series will begin on Wednesday, January 27 at 6pmwith “Framing your Work to Exhibit.”Presenting your work professionally is a crucial part of success as an artist. From picking the right mat or frame to design, money and time saving tips and tricks, and simple how-tos, Sue will draw from her over 25 years of experience to answer your questions.

February will also bring engaging classes and opportunities to learn something new. Through a combination of Zoom sessions and detailed homework lessons, painter Deena Ball presents an in-depth exploration of watercolor painting on the first three Wednesdays in February. Later in the month, local multi-hyphenate artist Vanna Ramirez offers a one-hour drawing primer, So You Think You’d Like to Draw. And we’re excited to offer two fun free classes that support hands-on creativity at home with the camaraderie of others in our community — a “yarnstorming” session with guidance & tips on making items to contribute to Adkins Arboretum’s March event, and a TGIF-style paint night to complete a “paint at home” kit together. Kits will be available on the RiverArts website.

Register for these and other classes at community.chestertownriverarts.org/programs/category/Class. RiverArts is committed to accessible programming and to compensating artists and instructors fairly and offers virtual classes on a pay what you can basis. Those with limited funds are welcome to enjoy full access to the class for a donation of any size. Those who are able are invited to pay more, to support accessible art experiences for all.

The community is the reason RiverArts exists. Executive Director Maria Wood writes, “We are pleased to serve both our founding members and those who are just discovering RiverArts. We believe Art in all its forms is essential for expressing our responses to the good and bad we find in the world, and for building bridges from where we are to where we need to be.” RiverArts is committed to action, and loves working together with community members and their considerable talents, experiences, and ideas to build the kind of world we want to see, to make everyone’s lives more creative, colorful, and connected.

Chestertown RiverArts is a community arts center serving Kent County, Maryland and beyond. RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Visit RiverArts online, call 410.778.6300, or email [email protected] to find out more.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

New Items and a Video Tour of RiverArts Holiday Show & Sale

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The RiverArts Holiday Show and Sale, on through December 22, is a treat for the eyes. It is updated regularly as items are sold and new ones come in. We welcome you to enjoy this festive show with holiday lights above in the breezeway and displays in the windows of the RiverArts Galleries.

Visit the RiverArts website at https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/holiday-shop to take a video tour. Peruse the posted offerings, which are regularly updated with the removal of items as they are sold, and new items added as stock is replenished. All are welcome to come into the galleries by setting up a 20-minute appointment online.

One reason that the Holiday Show is such a favorite tradition is the fun of sharing it with family and friends. This year, we’ve been delighted to host festive cocktail hours on Thursday evenings. Join us for the final social hour on December 17 at 5pm to chat with RiverArts Board members, artists, and friends. Feel free to ask questions, show off your purchases, and get great gift ideas for your loved ones and yourself. Just RSVP for this virtual get-together on the Holiday Show page of the website.

Photo credit: Steve Kane

More goings-on in December!!!

RiverArts Salon (free) – Tuesday, December 15, 5:00-5:45. Poetry as/and Justice with O’Neill Literary House Director James Allen Hall, who will talk about Katie Daniel’s poem, “War Photograph,” inspired by Nick Ut’s famous Pulitzer-winning photograph of a napalm attack on a village during the Vietnam War, published in 1972 in the New York Times. Register to join the discussion at www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/james-allen-hall, no later than noon on December 15.

Vision Boards for 2021 with Deanna Pratt  – December 17, 1:00-2:00

Create a fun vision board to help you focus on your hopes and dreams for 2021. Use visualization techniques to bring clarity to your new year’s goals and create an action plan to realize them. Register at www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/vision-board. Offered on a ‘pay what you can’ basis: Those with limited funds are welcome to enjoy full access to the class for whatever they can afford. Those who are able are invited to pay more, to support access to art experiences for all.

Stay informed about what’s happening at RiverArts by subscribing to the Daily Dose, a newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on exhibits, discussions, classes, club meetings, activities and more for all ages.

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].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

RiverArts Holiday Show and Sale

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Every year one of RiverArts’ most popular shows is the Holiday Show and Sale. Through December 22 this year, shopping for that special gift for a family member, a friend or maybe even yourself will be as enjoyable as ever, but even more accessible.

Twenty nine fine artists and crafters have worked in a range of media including paintings and prints, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, furniture and other wood items, as well as hand-forged pieces. Each piece is original and unique, and many items are under $100. In addition to seasonal items such as holiday cards and wreaths, they run the gamut from nautical to botanical, from classical to whimsical, from practical to festive, some decorative and some wearable.

As always you can see beautiful displays in the windows of the RiverArts Galleries where items are fully lit and can be seen from the shelter of the breezeway any time of the day. Displays will be rotated regularly to show all artwork to advantage.

Marlayn King, holly bowl

To truly accommodate all who wish to enjoy the show and do their holiday shopping from the comfort of home, visit the RiverArts online exhibit page, where each item can be viewed and purchased. After viewing the show on line, those who wish to see items in person may register for a private appointment.

Free gift wrapping is available by request. Purchases can be picked up curbside by appointment or delivered for free locally. Shipping can be arranged at an additional charge. Contact RiverArts with questions.

Visitors are asked to arrive on time and may spend a maximum of 20 minutes. Properly fitted masks must be worn (bandanas do not provide adequate protection). Social distancing is required and hand sanitizer will be available.

Have a happy holiday season and enjoy the show!

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].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Open Minds, Open Hearts, & Open Eyes: October and Beyond at RiverArts

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Chestertown RiverArts’ programming continues to provide ways for us all to be open to community, connection, and creativity. In October, explore unique outdoor classes (with masks & distancing), fun Zoom workshops, a month-long RiverArts Salon partnership with Shore Rivers, a new online photography exhibit, new art-at-home kits, and more.

Venture into wide open spaces with Vanna Ramirez’s in-person, outdoor, drawing class every Wednesday in October. Vanna is an extraordinarily talented local artist who has taught classes for RiverArts in a variety of artistic mediums and gets rave reviews for her knowledge, skill, and kindness. Registration is accepted for any or all of these Wednesday sessions, and the class is open to all ages.

Open your eyes to new vistas with Kris Kelley’s Intro to Smartphone Photography class on Wednesday, October 14 via Zoom. At the end of the class, students are invited to participate in a seven-day smartphone photography challenge, culminating in a curated virtual gallery on our website.

Kris Kelley

Open a buffet for your fine feathered friends when you make a Clay Bird Feeder in a Zoom class with Dianna Frymiare on Saturday, November 7. This class is designed for beginners as well as those who would like to build on their skills, and a video of the will be available free of charge for students to review afterwards.

Join the open dialogue of RiverArts Salons. Every Tuesday in October, the popular RiverArts Salons joins forces with ShoreRivers to present #ShoreRiverArts, a series of Salon discussions around a different aspect of the question “What is essential?” with respect to art and the environment. Special guests including Darran Tilghman, Tim Trumbauer, Maria and Adams Wood, and Dave Harp will lead explorations through the lenses of justice, family, and harmony. Each week will also include a meaningful call to action, and participants will be invited to take part in a collaborative art project.

Take to the open road and visit KidSpot at the Farmers’ Market on select Saturday mornings, or make an appointment to visit the Clay Studio to purchase a Quick Kit to complete at home—a fun new way to make a small project like a little pot, a whistle, a memory tile, or a holiday ornament (it’s never too early!). Enjoy our “Open Heart” Paint Nite kit to get everything you need to paint a fun art canvas from the comfort of your home.

Open your eyes to the world as seen through the lenses of photographers in the Juried Photography 2020 exhibit, viewable online now at community.chestertownriverarts.org/exhibit/juried-photography-exhibit-2020. This show, curated by William Trainor and judged by Linda Roy Walls, includes the work of many accomplished RiverArts members as well as many skilled and talented photographers who are first-time RiverArts exhibitors.
To stay engaged with RiverArts, subscribe to the Daily Dose, an open letter to the community sharing information about arts-related happenings in Kent County and beyond, contributions from local artists and community members, quizzes, tidbits of (mostly) arts history, and more. Find details, registration info, and more on all the programs mentioned above at community.chestertownriverarts.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Happenings at Chestertown RiverArts

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Chestertown RiverArts invites photographers to submit work for consideration for inclusion in a juried photography exhibit to open in the RiverArts online viewing room on September 28.

Curator William Trainor writes “In this Juried Exhibition, we would like to see the artistic vision of your image. We would like you to use your photographic skills to produce an image that brings something to tell us, inspire us, or surprise us. So, use your skills of composition and the use of light and dark, empty space, contrast, focus, background, elements of art and design to generate an artistic image that speaks to us all.”

Untitled, William Trainor

Judge Linda Roy Walls will select winners of Best in Show, Second and Third for cash prizes, as well as an Honorable Mention award. Viewers will vote on a “People’s Choice” Award. Submission is online with a deadline of September 14. Find guidelines and forms online at the RiverArts Community website

RiverArts Classes

Use handbuilding and embellishment techniques to make a beautiful Clay Birdfeeder in an online class with RiverArts Clay Studio Manager Dianna Frymiare. This 90-minute class is suitable for ages 8 – 80 using tools that are easily found around the house. Purchase a clay kit and register online.

The Joy of Visual Journaling in Nature is an outdoor class offered in a new partnership between RiverArts and the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College. Over two weekends in late September and early October, join Chesapeake writer and educator Kate Livie for a beginner’s visual journaling class designed to help you capture the beauty of nature while building your fundamental writing, drawing and watercolor techniques.

Also at RiverArts

RiverArts Salons every Tuesday from 5 – 5:45pm provide a place to learn something new, share ideas, explore interesting topics, see and be seen, and have fun. Upcoming guests and topics include The Importance of Character on September 22 and Robbi Behr and Matthew Swanson on September 29. Register online by noon on Tuesdays to receive the Zoom link for the week’s discussion.

RiverArts Photography Club meets online every Thursday evening at 7pm with a Tips and Tricks session at 6pm. Participation in the club is always free, and all are welcome, from advanced photographers to beginners coming for the first time. Contact Steve Kane at [email protected] to share your photos in the Photography Club.

Visit community.ChestertownRiverArts.org for more information and to register for classes, exhibits, and programs. To stay in touch with community, creativity, and connection locally and around the world, sign up for the RiverArts Daily Dose newsletter.

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].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

August Creativity, Community, & Connection with Chestertown RiverArts

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More than halfway through the summer, and you might be getting just a bit sick of swampy sticky days, overflowing gardens (quick! Come up with another tomato recipe!), and ferocious mosquitoes. Chestertown RiverArts to the rescue with a new website – community.chestertownriverarts.org – that is loaded with exhibits, classes, activities and more to help you beat the summer doldrums.

Try Camp RiverArts for projects, activities, and local outings: all free, and doable with supplies you already have.

Check out our exhibits!

“Chester River Spring” by Jack Fancher

– Taking Care: Celebrating the Earth, our first fully-online exhibit, is LIVE! Originally planned to coincide with Earth Day, this annual exhibit features visual artists and poets celebrating our community’s long tradition of environmental conservation. Check our website for links to the virtual Gallery Talk on Wed, Aug 12, at 6:30 pm, and the virtual Poetry Reading on Mon, Aug 17, at 6:30 pm.
– Legacy Day 2020: We will showcase the work of local Black artists on our website as part of the virtual Legacy Day celebration on Saturday, August 15.
– People Worth Knowing: In conjunction with the Black Union of Kent County and Lani Seikaly, we will share portraits & stories that give voice to the African American experience in Kent County. Look for these in the windows of RiverArts & the Historical Society of Kent County just before Saturday, August 15.

Take one of our short, sweet, and fun online classes:

Cut & Paste the Shore: Landscape Collage with Yolanda Acree on Thursday, August 13.
Absolute Beginner Watercolor with Deena Ball during the week of August 17th.

Participate in one of our weekly RiverArts Salons on Tuesdays at 5 pm:

Tues, Aug 11- Greg Farley – Green Building Design
Tues, Aug 18 – Diane Hunger – Passionate Saxophone Music
Tues, Aug 25 – Olivia Wood – Unearthed Historical Treasures

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Chestertown Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.