This weekend, the Muddy Creek Artist's Guild, a group of artists from south county, will present the Artists on the Half Shell Exhibit and Sale at Galesville Memorial Hall.
The show will feature mixed media including: paintings, photography, clay works, sculpture, textiles, jewelry and wood, all for sale.
The idea for the Muddy Creek Artist's Guild grew over many years in the mind of local photographer Bea Poulin, recently coming to fruition.
"Not long ago, I was driving around south county, and noticed that all of these buildings were becoming vacant in the Deale, Churchton and Shady Side area," Bea said. She knew that she couldn't front the rent herself as a part-time photographer, so she talked to some friends about the possibility of renting the space as partners to showcase a variety of art talents, not just photography.
"I was originally thinking of a dozen partners," Bea said. She pitched the idea of opening one of the vacant storefronts to a small group of artists that she knew. Bea said that almost everyone she spoke with was receptive to the idea, but that no one could commit the time to keeping a shop open full time.
In April, over 30 artists attened the initial meeting at the Cedarhurst Community Center in Shady Side.
"It was all word of mouth," Bea said, surprised at the high turnout.
All became members of the newly formed nonprofit group - The Muddy Creek Artist's Guild. A board of directors was established along with a $30 annual membership fee. The only criterion for membership, aside from being an artist who creates original works, is that the artist must live south of the South River. Since that first meeting, the group has signed up additional artists.
Instead of renting a shop as a permanent exhibition space, they made their gallery a traveling one of sorts. They're hoping for four shows a year at different venues around south county. The Galesville show is the first, and they managed to make all of the arrangements for the show in just six short weeks.
"I've lived around here for 25 years," Bea said. She continued, "and there are a lot of talented people around here - incredible artists."
Bea hopes that the guild will become not only a way to expose art patrons to the original works created locally, but also as a way for the artists to get feedback from one another.
"That is another part of the mission, to get feedback and grow as an artist," Bea said.
One of the artists exhibiting on Saturday is Mary Bowen, a fine arts painter who paints in oil on canvas. She'll have a number of paintings at the show, ranging in price from $200 to $3,000. The theme of most of her work is the Chesapeake Bay. She has paintings of crabs, fish, oysters and corn, among other subjects. She uses vivid colors and thick layers. It is a mix of post-impressionism, realism and graphic art.
Mary's work can be seen in other locations around town as well. She painted the murals on the Sailing Academy at Herrington Harbour and at the Java Stop in Deale.
Other artists in the guild include Janet Goldberg (pottery), Ingred Gehle (painting), Betty Leppin (silk painting and quilts), Scott MacDonald (metal sculpture), Flip Super (stained glass), Michael Dennis (metal jewelry) and Kathie Bray (lampwork), along with over two-dozen others.
Aside from doing the shows, the guild would also like to sponsor art seminars and workshops, and bring in guest speakers. To learn more about the guild, visit www.muddycreekartist.org.
The Artists on the Half Shell Exhibit and Sale is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Galesvile Memorial Hall, 952 Main St. There will be judges' remarks and a reception from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Prices will start at $25.
Send your news to AroundSoCo@verizon.net.
No comments:
Post a Comment