Thanks to a grant won by the Oxford Museum, Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition WaterWays is coming to Oxford! In honor of the exhibit, The Oxford Museum will purchase a painting during the Fine Arts at Oxford Gala, which best reflects the WaterWays themes.
The awarded piece will be housed in the permanent collection of the Oxford Museum.
WaterWays explores the endless motion of the water cycle, water’s effect on landscape, settlement and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. It looks at how political and economic planning has long been affected by access to water and control of water resources. Human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways of protecting water resources and renewing respect for the natural environment. WaterWays is part of the Smithsonian’s Think Water Initiative to raise awareness of this critical resource through exhibitions, educational resources and public programs.
As part of its participation in the program, Oxford Museum has selected WaterWays as the theme for their exhibitions and programs this year. As such, the Oxford Museum Award will recognize the artist who best captures how water continues to shape the Eastern Shore’s unique culture and landscape. Special consideration will be given to artwork that reflects the urgency of preserving our natural and working waterfront.
“We are delighted to be hosting the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition WaterWays this summer. The exhibition will provide a springboard for the exploration of two critical regional issues – protecting our essential supplies of clean water, and strengthening our resilience to the rising tides that we will inevitably face. In partnership with the Oxford Community Center and others, the Museum will be offering a full menu of programs and presentations to investigate the central nature of water in our lives.” -Stuart Parnes, President, Oxford Museum
Locations identified in Oxford as significant for the WaterWays themes include:
– Ferry landing
– Strand beach
– Town docks at end of Tilghman Street
– Town Creek behind Cutts and Case boatyard
– Cemetery cove
– Town Park living shoreline
– Causeway head of Town Creek
– Marshes on Bachelor’s Point Road
The award winning piece of fine art will be selected during the opening preview gala Friday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 18th the show is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. culminating with a Happy Hour BBQ and Live Music by the Wyse Guys. Happy hour will begin at 4:00pm and the BBQ Buffet will begin on-site at 5:00pm. Sunday, May 19th the doors open again at 10:00 a.m. Raffle ticket drawings for the work of art donated to the OCC from our amazing artists will begin at 2:00pm and will until closing at 4:00pm.
Light lunch and refreshments will be offered including famous homemade strawberry shortcake both days. The juried artists are on-site and available during all open hours for conversation and demos. There are raffle drawings and poster sales throughout the day, with a toast of bubbly offered each afternoon.
“We are grateful to the Oxford Museum for adding such a meaningful award to this anniversary year. The WaterWays themes are important to our life and culture and to honor an artist who captures these themes with a place in the museum’s permanent collection is amazing!” – Liza Ledford, Executive Director, Oxford Community Center.
The exciting weekend of events generates critical revenue, which allows the Community Center to offer free and low cost programs throughout the year. Thanks to our generous benefactors and sponsors, whose support helps underwrite the event, the money raised over the weekend goes directly towards serving our greater community. We thank our sponsors, Doc’s Sunset Grille, 1880 Bank, FBB Capital Partners, Kinetik, WCEI, What’s Up? Media, Attractions Magazine, Talbot County Economic Development & Tourism, Oxford Museum, Go Glass, Easton Eye Care, McHale Landscaping, Preston Auto, Avery Hall, The Trippe Gallery, Shore United Bank, Wye Financial, Case Works Studio, Benson & Mangold, Mystery Loves Company, Eastern Shore Title, Teddy Bear Fresh, Booth, Booth, Cropper & Marriner, PC, Bay Light Candles and the Trujillo Family Trust.
Tickets to the Friday Preview Gala are $80 (open bar) – Saturday Happy Hour BBQ is $25 (cash bar) The Show Saturday and Sunday is $7 at the door. *Tickets to the Gala serve as VIP passes all weekend. To purchase tickets visit oxfordcc.org or call 410-226-5904
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