RiverArts

RiverArts Minute: Mary Ann Herron on Local Student Art Exhibition

October 31, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Mary Ann Herron discusses the November RiverArts exhibition of work from Kent County Public and Private School Student Artists. The show will run for 2 Weeks Only – Oct 30 through Nov 17. Work by students from every school in the county will be on display, showcasing the breadth of talent and creativity of students in a range of mediums, styles, and subject matter. Students, families, and the public are all invited to our First Friday opening reception. Family-friendly snacks and beverages will be provided.

Opening Reception: November 1, 5 – 8pm
Chestertown RiverArts
315 High Street, Suite 108
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-6300 Chestertownrverarts.org

RiverArts Studio Tour Moment: Potter Marilee Schumann

October 21, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Nationally known Potter Marilee Schumann gives us a tour of her Studio located on her Chester River Maryland Farm. Her Studio will be open and her work on display along with the Art of Faith Wilson during the last weekend of the 20^th Annual Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour Oct 26 & 27. Just down the road Marcy Dunn Ramsey will also have her Chester River Studio open for the Tour on these dates.

This year’s Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour, features 62 artists at 36 tour stops throughout Chestertown and the surrounding communities. There will be something for everyone, from painting and sculpture, to metal and jewelry and more. This is your chance to hear their inspirations and see their techniques as you meet the makers of the finest handcrafted art and craft of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

For more information visit the Studio Tour Website:

www.studiotour.chestertownriverarts.org

Or drop by: Chestertown RiverArts 315 High Street, Suite 108 Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-6300 Chestertownrverarts.org

RiverArts Studio Tour Moment: Porcelain Artist Rick Bisgyer

October 14, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Nationally known Porcelain Artist Rick Bisgyer discusses how he was inspired to create his signature Sailing Vessel pieces that will be on display in his studio during the 20th Annual Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour Oct 19, 20, 26 & 27.

This year’s Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour, features 63 artists at 37 tour stops throughout Chestertown and the surrounding communities. There will be something for everyone, from painting and sculpture, to metal and jewelry and more. This is your chance to hear their inspirations and see their techniques as you meet the makers of the finest handcrafted art and craft of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

For more information visit the Studio Tour Website: Or drop by: Chestertown RiverArts 315 High Street, Suite 108 Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-6300

RiverArts Minute: Artist Rob Glebe On Wall Art During Studio Tour

October 2, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Nationally known metal Artist Rob Glebe discusses how he creates the new and unique wall art that will be on display in his studio during the 20th Annual Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour Oct 19, 20, 26 & 27.

For more information visit the Studio Tour Website: www.studiotour.chestertownriverarts.org Or drop by: Chestertown RiverArts 315 High Street, Suite 108 Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-6300 Chestertownrverarts.org

RiverArts Curators Sade & Glebe discuss “Connections: Work in a Series”

September 11, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Creating a series allows each individual piece of work to be able to stand on its own, yet simultaneously relate to the rest of the other works in some manner.

The idea of working in series or in distinct purposeful directions is not about repetition but rather about being able to explore, investigate, examine or address ideas, themes, issues, compositions, concepts or topics in progressively deeper and more meaningful ways, and from a greater variety of perspectives than is possible by making just one or two. The exhibition was open to all media and artists were challenged to explore the theme, “Connections: Work in a Series” and to take their art to a deeper, more meaningful level.

Curator & Artists’ Talk
September 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Chestertown RiverArts
315 High Street, Suite 108
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-6300 Chestertownrverarts.org

Exhibits, Classes, and Events at RiverArts!

September 3, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Join Chestertown RiverArts this fall for: New exhibitions in the main gallery, special events and classes at the Clay Studio, classes and pop-up galleries in the ArtsAlive! Community Education Center, and at KidSPOT, free Saturday morning art activities for kids, and after school enrichment programs.

The September exhibit in the RiverArts Gallery is Connections: Work in a Series. The show presents work in a variety of media in which each of 3-5 individual pieces stands on its own while relating to the others in some manner. Working in this way allows the artist to explore issues, themes, compositions, form, or concepts in progressively deeper and more relational ways. The exhibit opens on September 4, with a First Friday reception from 5-8pm on September 6, and a Gallery Talk on September 12 from 5:30-6:30pm.

Marilee Schumann, Bottles for our “Connections: Work in a Series” exhibit .

Also on First Friday, the RiverArts Clay Studio presents a special fundraising event, Ice Cream Bowls. Have a scoop of ice cream from a pretty little bowl and then take the bowl home! All bowls are handmade by Clay Studio potters, and ice cream is provided by Lockbriar Farms. Admission is $15 per bowl, and members of the public may register in advance at ChestertownRiverArts.com, or pay at the door. 1pm – 8pm Friday, September 6 at the Clay Studio, 204 High Street, Chestertown.

The Clay Studio offers an array of pottery classes this fall. Intermediate Pottery Wheel will run Tuesday evenings starting September 3, and Beginner Pottery Wheel on Thursdays beginning September 5. Later in the month, Marilee Schumann will teach a four week class in Hand Building beginning September 21.

Barbara Watson (spotted dog) for our Animal Portraits pop-up gallery.

Two doors down from the Clay Studio, the ArtsAlive! Community Education Center hosts another in its new series of First Friday Pop-Up Galleries. This month’s show features Animal Portraits, inspired by RiverArts instructor Lynne Lockhart’s popular animal painting classes. The show will spotlight all kinds of work featuring animals, by artists Lynne Lockhart, Julia Brown, Carol Cowie, Pat Ellison, Kathleen Quinn, Anne Singer, Barbara Watson, Lydia Schut, and Suzanne Fischer. The gallery will be open on Friday, September 6from 5-8pm and on Saturday, September 7 from 10am-2pm at 200 High Street, Chestertown.

The following week, Lynne Lockhart, signature member of the Society of Animal Artists and a RiverArts favorite, will be back to offer Dog School on September 11 & 12. Whether trying their hands at portraiture or including these pets in a landscape or even a still life, this class will add skills to painter’s toolbox. RiverArts is delighted to partner with the Kent County Humane Society, which will provide adoptable models for this class.

Smartphone photographers will take their skills to the next level in Anne Highfield’s iPhoneography 2.0 on September 21. In this class, students will explore techniques to give their photos a painterly or textured look, which can draw the eye’s attention to details that are often overlooked in straightforward photography. These effects can evoke different levels of feelings, moods, and impressions in the images.

Anne Highfield (sunflowers), for her class “iPhoneography 2.0”.

Registration is now open for RiverArts KidSPOT’s After School Enrichment Program. This program for first through fifth graders runs for two 8-week sessions, 4-6pm Monday through Thursday beginning September 16. Led by experienced elementary teacher Elizabeth Healy additional qualified instructors, sessions include themed weeks of art activities and explorations in Physics, Geology, Biology, Poetry, field trips, fun and games, Theatre Arts and more! Visit the KidSPOT page on the RiverArts website for more information and registration links.

RiverArts has much more coming up this fall, with classes including A Fall Watercolor Warmup, an open-air Mobile Raku pottery workshop, the 20th Anniversary Studio Tour, First Friday fun every month, an exhibit featuring work by Kent County Public School students, and more!

RiverArts galleries and main office are at 315 High Street, Suite 106, Chestertown, MD 21620 – (in the breezeway). Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday, 11 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5:30PM, Sunday 11 AM – 3 PM, First Fridays until 8 PM.

A New Executive Director For RiverArts

August 12, 2019 by RiverArts 1 Comment

Maria Wood

Chestertown RiverArts Board announces a new Executive Director. Maria Wood will step in to the position on September 1, upon Andy Goddard’s retirement on August 31. Andy has been RiverArts executive director for 3½ years. Pam White, Board president, happily made the announcement. “The Board is very pleased that Maria has accepted our offer. Her experience and vision will build in exciting ways upon the strong foundation that Andy has created.”

A native of the Eastern Shore and a graduate of Smith College, Maria brings a deep belief in and appreciation of the benefits of the arts in the community. She brings, as well, the organizational skills that RiverArts will need. She spent 20 years with the National Children’s Music Project, a non-profit organization with a mission to promote social, cultural, and academic arts education, first as the program director and then as president. More recently, she was Deputy Campaign Manager for the Jesse Colvin for Congress campaign. Currently, she is Education Manager for RiverArts.

“I am excited to take on this position,” said Maria. “RiverArts is a crucial part of the rich arts culture in Kent County and I look forward to working with the Board, staff, volunteers, and members to support the important work of connecting the arts with the community.”

RiverArts Curator Chuck Engstrom discusses Judged Photography and Wood

August 7, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Woodworking artists were invited to enter their original creations in wood – made by carving, turning or any other woodworking technique. The goal was to display a wide variety of articles and styles representing the best in woodworking craftsmanship and design.

The beauty of these wood objects was enhanced by a concurrent Photography Exhibit which also emphasizes beauty in shape, line, and space.

Photographers were asked to show the individual passions that make them put camera to eye and submit photographs that ignited a passion, not to make the viewer speculate why you took the photograph but to spark a connection between the captured image and the viewer. The something that goes beyond, “I was there,” and inspires us to share what we saw through the image.

Curated by Michael Wootton (Photography) and Chuck Engstrom (Wood).

Curator & Artists’ Talk

Thursday, August 8 @ 5:30PM Chestertown RiverArts 315 High Street, Suite 108 Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-6300 Chestertownrverarts.org

RiverArts Curator Cindy Stafford on “Patterns of Eastern Shore Life”

July 9, 2019 by RiverArts Leave a Comment

Residents and visitors to the Eastern Shore love spending their time here because of the quality of life. Much of that joy comes from the patterns found in our natural surroundings.

Artists were challenged to interpret this theme broadly, capturing the beauties, and wonders of rural eastern shore life. Some artists were inspired by the seasonal rhythms of planting, a bountiful harvest, an early frost, or how light and shadow play across a changing environment. Some enjoyed capturing the bustle of parades, fairs, summer parties, farmers’ markets. Others were taken by the wildlife and still others by the water. Artists were asked to capture the patterns that can be seen all around us in the life on the Eastern Shore.

For more information, please go here.

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