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May 23, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

6 Arts Notes

Announcing Oxford Fine Artist 2023 Artists

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Susan Schauer John

The 39th annual three-day Oxford Fine Arts Show is set for May 19-21, 2023. The prestigious juried exhibit draws a wide selection of regional collectors as well as collectors from major cities along the Eastern Seaboard. The much-anticipated annual show is well known throughout the area and celebrated as the season’s “kick-off” for art lovers.  All submissions were sent anonymously to the juror who selected the much-anticipated list of artists for the year. The juror also selected a “featured image” to be the subject of the poster and is the honored “Featured artist”.  The competition was steep this year with many submissions for the small show kept to 36 artists. The OCC configures its gallery space to accommodate that limited number and find the show feels exquisite at that size.

The list of artists who were selected as the class of 2023 are as follows:

Sandra Alanko, Joel Boches, Carole Böggemann-Peirson, Naomi Clark-Turner, Cid Collins Walker, Erin Daniels, Lee DZmura, Lois Engberg, Mary Ford, Carla Huber, Mary Hunt-Miller, Holly Jackson, Kim Klabe, Kathy Kopec, Maryellyn Lynott, Mary Ellen    Mabe, Ingrid Matuszewski, Carol McClees, Laura McGowan, Karen Merkin, Michel Modell, Kimberly Nesci, Jose Ramirez, Diane Rappisi, Kathie Rogers, Steve Rogers, Ken Rose, Maggii Sarfaty, Susan Schauer John, Sheryl Southwick, Sharon Stockley, Jennifer Wagner, Stephen Walker, Heidi Wetzel, C. Keith Whitelock, and Juli Yensho.

The featured artist is Susan Schauer John.  The featured work of art is Susan’s piece entitled “Just Chillin”.

Susan Fay Schauer John was born to create. Her work is eye-catching, complex, dense, colorful, and beloved. Her detailed and often narrative paintings of fabric and thread draw the viewer into the work hoping for more and finding it.

“Just Chillin” by Susan Schauer John

In the late 1980s Susan turned her full attention to her art and has not looked back. She has had inspiration and recognition in many art forms, including woodturning, portraiture, and fiber arts. Her work has been exhibited and sold in galleries from Washington DC to San Francisco and she has work in the permanent collection of the White House. Living and painting in Talbot County, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Susan attracts clients from all over the United States. Susan’s current work is a suite of art pieces depicting wildlife found around the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. These “thread paintings” are free-hand sewn with English-designed fabrics and Italian cotton threads.

The juror for the 2023 show was Bernard Dellario.  Bernard is the current President of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, the First-Place winner at Winslow Art Center’s 2021 Winter Exhibition and Best in Show winner from the Academy Art Museum 2019 Annual Member Exhibit. Bernard Dellario earned a bachelor’s degree from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, PA with emphasis on finance and art history.  He studied Art at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia and attended several workshops with nationally known artists.  He has been a member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters since 2003. Fondly known as WSLP, one of the oldest active artist organizations in the Washington area, Bernard currently serves as President.

The schedule of events for the weekend begins with the Friday Preview Party Gala. It provides attendees the only guaranteed chance to “Meet the Artists”, view the full exhibit and the first chance to buy the amazing art! This is a fun evening where attendees mingle with the artists and enjoy live music, cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres.  The award ceremony happens at the preview party gala as well. Tickets sell fast, so save-the-date for May 19th, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. There are no tickets offered at the door for Friday’s Preview Gala. On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibit is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The distinguished role of judge, who selects the award winners at the preview party, May 19, 2023, is John Brandon Sills. John Brandon Sills received his BA In Fine Art at Towson State University in 1984, while a student at Towson State John studied Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy. John then attended the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in 1988. His paintings are in numerous collections in the United States as well as in Canada, England, France, Jamaica, Grand Cayman B.W.I. and Australia. Traditionally the prized awards are the Oxford Business Association Award for “Best Representation of Village Life”, Maritime Award, Artist Choice and Judges Choice.

Karen Walbridge, Chair of Oxford Fine Arts says, “I am excited about this year’s show. We have a wide variety of art from fiber to photography with a group of very talented artists some old and some new from near and far. I encourage everyone who loves art to come and see what they have to offer whether that is by attending the Preview Party or visiting over the weekend. You won’t be disappointed!”

Starting in April, there is an online raffle of beautiful artwork donated by the artists. You can buy raffle tickets online prior to the show and then over the weekend, the raffle continues in the physical exhibit. Both online and physical tickets are combined for the drawing. The raffle drawing happens at the end of the show on Sunday. You don’t need to be present to win. Saturday and Sunday lunch items are available onsite for purchase on both days. The famous strawberry shortcake is not to be missed!

The juried exhibit and sale have supported the work of Oxford Community Center (a non-profit 501(C-3), for 39 years to support OCC’s mission to provide the region with a year-round schedule of free or reduced educational, cultural and recreational programs and events.

For more information, please visit www.oxfordcc.org, or call 410-226-5904.  For more details on the featured artists Susan Shauer John, please explore her website at https://www.sfsfiber.art/.

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

Chesapeake Culture: Believe in Ferry Tales by Heather Hall

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One of the surest indicators of spring on the Eastern Shore is seeing the road signs announcing that the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry is open. Yet, so far, due to the pandemic, this iconic event is still on hold. With both locals and visitors asking when it will start running, Captain Judy Bixler replies, “No one wants to be on the water more than we do!”

Unfortunately, the Governor’s executive orders haven’t included much guidance for ferries. Operating with a limit of 10 people, including captain and crew, would leave a lot of people waiting at the dock.

Even before Phase One of Maryland’s reopening went into effect, Captain Judy and Captain Tom Bixler had submitted a plan to the US Coast Guard. However, federal authorities deferred to state and local officials. So, at the time of this writing, the Bixlers have a plan pending review by the State. If approved, they anticipate a June 13th opening.

Their proposal will allow them to begin operating before Phase 2 while still supporting pedestrians, cyclists, and auto passengers through social distancing and the wearing of masks. Auto passengers unable to comply will remain in their cars. Since wi-fi isn’t reliable on the river, payment will be made with cash or check, and to minimize risks, they plan to segregate incoming bills and make change using fresh bills. The Bixlers are leaving nothing to chance regarding the safety of both crew and customers.

This attention to detail is nothing new for the Bixlers, who have owned and operated the nation’s longest-running, privately owned Ferry for over 18 years. Despite the pandemic, they’re not about to lose sight of their dream and all of their hard work, which started many years ago.

Judy and Tom Bixler

Captain Tom grew up on the water, in a small town similar to Oxford. Raised on Shelter Island, a small community off of Long Island, he spent his summers on a houseboat and worked on the Shelter Island Ferry during his teens and college years. With the encouragement of Captain Gilbert “Gib” Clark (who would later own the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry), Bixler earned his captain’s license when he was just 18 years old. He recalls, “Captain Gib gave me the wheel the first day I had my license!”

Shortly after, he met Judy while both were attending St Lawrence University. He introduced her to sailing, and it wasn’t long before they were living aboard a sailboat. Eventually, the couple owned and operated two successful car dealerships in Upstate NY, before moving to NJ to run a real estate and insurance firm Captain Tom’s grandfather established.

It was during this time that Judy earned her captain’s license while also working on the Shelter Island Ferry, and the couple, who had been dreaming about owning their ship, began to look for their own ‘ferry tale.’

It didn’t take long. Three years after the search started, they got a call. It was 2001. Captain Valerie Clark Bittner (daughter of Captain Gib Clark) and her husband Captain Dave Bittner decided to retire and sell the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, which they had owned since 1974. Would they be interested?

The Bixlers now take alternating shifts as Ferry Captains. As the majority owner, Captain Judy coordinates the schedules for their 20+ part-time crew members. But she also maintains a busy life away from the water. In addition to leading the Oxford Business Association and the Talbot County Tourism Board, she is Chairperson for Maryland’s Tourism Development Board. Her service has been recognized by Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise Awards in Maryland, Virginia, and DC (2006, 2008 and 2010) and by Top 100 Women in Maryland (2007, 2009 and 2011). This year, she was also chosen as influential Leader in the Year of the Woman. Their business also received recognition this year, as the US Senate acknowledged the Oxford Bellevue Ferry as Small Business of the Week.

The couple gives a lot of credit to their crew and their outstanding safety record. Captain Tom notes that “We have happy customers, so being a deckhand on the Ferry is a great adventure for our young staff.” It has such an appeal that many of the crew are retired senior citizens who look forward to their shift on the water.

Captain Judy shares that three of their crew have gone on to get their captain’s license. “It’s wonderful to watch a young, shy person blossom into a leader, train new crew, and then go on to become a captain.” As an example, she mentioned one former teen, Martha Effinger, who “started with us when she was just 14 years old. She attends law school, now, and still fills in as captain when she’s home on breaks.”

To keep things interesting, the Bixlers have held fun ‘experiments,’ such as the Mini Cooper Event, which confirmed that you could fit 18 of the Minis on the 9-car Ferry. They have also held full moon cruises and charity events at least twice a year as a way to support the community. Previously they’ve hosted the Great Ferry Boat Race, which raised over $40K for charity.

Soon the Oxford Bellevue Ferry will be able to get back on the water. Teens and retirees can return to satisfying jobs. The community and visitors will hear the familiar horn blowing over the water and watch the Ferry approach the Oxford or the Bellevue shore. And the Bixlers can look down from their captain’s perch and see new and old friends and reflect on a dream well lived.

For more information on the Ferry and opening date, go here or check their Facebook page.

Heather Hall is a Leadership Coach, Spiritual Director, and Storyteller through arts and crafts. Born and raised in Maryland, she spent 22 years in Alaska, working in environmental service. She recently returned to the Shore and resides in Oxford. Photos courtesy of Judy and Tom Bixler.

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

Talbot Council, Congressmen Join Opposition to Coast Guard Closure

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The county council voted unanimously Tuesday evening to send a letter opposing the proposed closure of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Oxford. Maryland’s two U.S. senators and First District Congressman Andy Harris also are opposing the closure.

The letters from the county council and the congressmen were among 102 comments received by the Coast Guard, with many of those writing in opposition to the closure of the Oxford station.

The station is among five being considered for closure, according to a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment. The notice was published in mid-February, but only recently came to the public’s attention, just days before a midnight Tuesday deadline for comments.

A 2017 GAO report said the Coast Guard, in 2013, had identified 18 stations that could be permanently closed without negatively affecting the agency’s 2-hour response standard for search and rescue missions. In its Federal Register notice, the Coast Guard said it was planning to close five stations.

According to the report, the FY2015 operating cost for the Oxford station was a little more than $1 million. Crews there responded to 117 search and rescue missions between 2010 and 2016, about 17 annually. Of those 117 missions, eight were during winter months.

The Talbot County Council, in its submitted comment, said, “Station Oxford is necessary to provide security of the public health and safety and emergency assistance.”

The council, in a letter signed by Council President Corey Pack, wrote, in part:

“.. (T)he closing of Station Oxford would be detrimental to the safety of boaters on the Eastern Shore. Station Oxford plays a pivotal role in the safety of boaters along the waterways from northern Tilghman Island to the Little Choptank River on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay, and also over to Chesapeake Beach and south to Calvert Cliffs on the western side.

“Station Oxford provides timely response to any emergency on the water and plays a critical role in educating the public on boater safety. If Station Oxford is closed, the next closest station to most of the areas Station Oxford serves is Station Annapolis. This is a major concern.

Map Data © 2020 Google

“Station Annapolis is 32 nautical miles from Oxford, 25 nautical miles from St. Michaels, 45 nautical miles from Solomons, 80 nautical miles from Crisfield, and 48 nautical miles from Cambridge. In addition to the distance, Station Annapolis requires the responding crew to travel across the entire Chesapeake Bay, which can be treacherous at times and require slower boat speeds, resulting in an increased response time.

“A response time of greater than an hour is concerning. It is even more concerning when you consider that hypothermia can set in within 45 minutes. Talbot County has more licensed watermen than any other jurisdiction in Maryland, many of whom work in one fishery or another nearly year round, and the loss of a nearby USCG station in Oxford will mean that their lives will be in greater peril.

“The Eastern Shore is also known for waterfowl hunting during the winter months. Hunters routinely take out large groups on guided boat hunts during the winter. If a guided tour experienced an emergency on the water, the response time would be crucial to the group’s survival. Relying on a boat from Annapolis, in poor winter weather, could easily result in tragedy.”

Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both Democrats, and Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican, also urged the Coast Guard to take the Oxford station off the chopping block.

They wrote, in part:

“Station Oxford is the only U.S. Coast Guard site in the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a region that consists of nine counties and makes up more than a third of the total land area of the State. We fear that the loss of the facility in Oxford would drastically increase emergency response times with the effect of undermining the region’s safety and security.

“The Eastern Shore is a vast geographic region that includes the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay, Choptank River, and Little Choptank River. Economically, the area and its waterways form one of the most critical seafood harvesting grounds in the state. In its large geographic jurisdiction are the active Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant as well as the Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas export facility, two key national security assets. Moreover, these waters are part of the Intracoastal Waterway that vessels use for transit along the length of the East Coast of the continental United States. Thousands of watermen work and travel along the waterways, even in cold water and inclement weather. The individuals who work in this and other industries on the water will at times require assistance in a time of emergency.

“Station Oxford is all the more essential for meeting the unique security and safety needs of the Eastern Shore given that it is the only U.S. Coast Guard facility in this extensive region. Manned by approximately 20 U.S. Coast Guard personnel, Station Oxford provides critical emergency response in a timely manner that is not likely to be maintained if it were to close. Indeed, many of the public safety agencies in the area simply do not have the boats and other resources necessary for responding to emergencies on the waterways. There is no alternative facility that can meet the needs of the Eastern Shore. …

“Two other government agencies share the site with the U.S. Coast Guard: (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Service’s (NCCOS) Cooperative Oxford Laboratory and (2) Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This cohabitation of three agencies on one site has created longstanding partnerships while also allowing for greater utilization of the unique resources of the U.S. Coast Guard by state and local entities. Yet while both NOAA and DNR also provide important functions, they cannot be a substitute for Station Oxford, whose public servants stand ready to respond to emergencies 24/7 all year round. Their commitment to serving the needs of the Eastern Shore was only underscored when, during the 35-day federal government shutdown of 2018-2019, the men and women of Station Oxford continued to work even as they went unpaid and the NOAA and DNR facilities were vacant.”

The other stations being considered for closure and consolidation with neighboring stations are Fishers Island, N.Y., Salem, N.J., Shark River, N.J., and Roosevelt Inlet, Lewes, Del.

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

Jay Fleming: A Visual Storyteller for a Changing Chesapeake by Heather Hall

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Exploring the photography of Jay Fleming is an evocative experience.

The eyes of a waterman invite you to sit awhile and listen to his story. Reflections of a lighthouse dance on the water, and you instinctively put out your hands for balance, as if you are in the boat, too. Above and below the waterline, Fleming brings a fresh perspective to the Chesapeake Bay.

Born and raised in Annapolis, Fleming credits his father – professional nature photographer, Kevin Fleming – with inspiring his passion from an early age. With the Nikon 90s his father gave him, the young Fleming won his first national photography competition at the age of 14.

Perhaps Fleming inherited his father’s eye for detail, but his love of the Bay and passion for the people, their culture, and environment are uniquely his own.

Fleming describes himself as a visual storyteller. He curates his images with text for exhibits and publications, noting, “You can’t have one without the other.” To be sure the stories of the Chesapeake’s watermen and seafood industry were preserved accurately, he self-published his first book, Working the Water.

He describes his second book, Island Life (due to be released in 2021), as “a visual narrative of life on Smith Island and Tangier Island and their future amidst environmental and cultural changes.”

At the March 6 preview for the Oxford Museum, the audience was appreciative of Fleming’s presentation and passion for the culture and environment he documents. Sarah Morgan Watters shared, “Jay really connects with his people. He’s like an anthropologist, but he does it in a modern way.”

Jack Turner, a friend from Annapolis, said, “Jay is a man of the people. He has access to these unseen communities because he respects them and understands the challenges they face. He’s a spokesperson for them, sharing his platform as an audience to help them tell their story.”

Turner describes his own photographic endeavors as a hobbyist, blessed to “be along for the ride” during some of Fleming’s photoshoots. He recalls: “Last summer, Jay called me one night – all excited – and asked, ‘Want to meet me at 4:30 tomorrow morning to document all the submerged grasses?’” Turner describes their field trip – complete with a drone, GoPro, underwater housing for cameras, and snorkeling gear – as if they were kids out for an adventure in their backyard. They spent two days documenting the abundance and clarity of the Severn River.

If you follow Fleming on social media, you’ll note that even “social distancing” doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the world around him. While unable to venture far, he treks through streams and turns over rocks to share the sights and sounds of springtime, reminding us what we too can find in our backyards. From croaking frogs to sprouting seedlings, his appreciation for the environment is infectious.

Another way Fleming engages others with the Chesapeake Bay is by leading photography workshops. His first was five years ago, and he recalls, “I hadn’t really planned it, but a waterman I know on Kent Narrows met two DC photographers and referred them to me, so I took them to Smith Island for a couple of days. It’s so close, as the crow flies, but something they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.” The following summer, he led three workshops, then four in 2017. He now offers 15-20 workshops each year. Open to photographers of all skill levels, groups are limited to six, and they spend their days on the water in a boat Fleming custom-built for this purpose.

On the job or during his free time, Fleming can usually be found in his kayak or his small craft, as he prefers to be low to the water for the best angles and reflections. But you’ll also find him walking through the marsh and making new friends wherever he goes. Turner reflected on an adventure last winter, where they came upon two muskrat trappers. Fleming’s newly made friends let them tag along and document their work.

Fleming notes, “My work as a visual storyteller would not be possible without the trust and generosity of my subjects. Subjects giving me access to document elements of their daily routines or their businesses allows me to bring that story to my work and to educate the people viewing my work. For example, with the seafood industry, by having access to the people who harvest the seafood and the process by which it is harvested, I can create a view of the supply chain that most viewers of my work would never be able to see.”

When asked about future projects, Fleming says that he’d like to continue documenting the seafood industry up and down the Atlantic Coast. For now, he hopes the spring projects resume after the COVID-19 emergency passes.

Fleming is still scheduled to have two exhibits in Talbot County this summer.

Images from Working the Water will be featured at the Oxford Museum. Stuart Parnes, President of the Oxford Museum, reached out to Fleming because his work is the perfect follow up to last summer’s WaterWays exhibit from the Smithsonian.

Images from Island Life will be featured at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Jenifer Dolde, Associate Curator of Collections, shared that Mary McCarthy, who had put together an exhibit last year as part of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass Festival, mentioned Fleming would be their keynote speaker for this year’s festival.

Although both openings have been delayed due to COVID-19, they are anticipated later this spring. CBMM is working with Fleming on a virtual exhibit and planning to host him for an artist’s talk in a few weeks.

To learn more about Jay Fleming, sign up for workshops or purchase prints, visit his website.  Photos courtesy of Jay Fleming Photography.

Heather Hall is a Leadership Coach, Spiritual Director and Storyteller through arts and crafts. Born and raised in Maryland, she spent 22 years in Alaska, working in environmental service. She recently returned to the Shore and resides in Oxford.

 

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