The Oxford Community Center welcomes the fifty (50) incredible artists juried into the 2021 show by juror Stewart White.
Joel Boches, Carole Boggemann-Peirson, Rob Brownlee-Tomasso, Cid Collins-Walker, Mary Ellen Daly, Erin Daniels, Nina Davidowitz, Jean Doran, Donna Finley, Elizabeth Fisher, Mary Ford, Teresa Grimes, Rae Hamilton, Joan Hart, Patti Lucas Hopkins, Carla Huber, Laura L. Kapolchok, Kim Klabe, Sara Koch, Kathy Kopec, Howard Lapp, Steve Lingeman, Maryellyn Lynott, Mary Ellen Mabe, Carol McClees, Deborah McFarlin, Laura McGowan, Nancy McIntyre, Kate Meyer, Diane DuBois Mullaly, Kathleen O’Connor, Elizabeth Peak, Stephanie Peters, Julia Purinton, Jose Ramírez, Jim Rehak, Neil Rizos, Steve Rogers, George Sass, John Schisler, Nick Serratore, John Sharp, Sharon Stockley, Karen Trimble, Stephen Walker, Nancy Richards West, Heidi Wetzel, Keith Whitelock, Barbara Zuehlke with Sheryl Southwick as the Featured Artist.
The artists hail from as far as the Cayman Islands and Arizona, to our Talbot County area. The show consists of many new artists and a few returning after years of absence. “It’s always amazing to see the variety of artists this festival brings to the region. Year after year, each juror adds their own eye to the show and we are thrilled with Stewart’s selection.” says Executive Director, Liza Ledford. Karen Walbridge, chair of the event says “I am very excited about our lineup of artists for this year’s Fine Arts Show. They are an incredibly talented group from all over the country, something that we have been trying to achieve for some time. Their work covers all mediums and genres. We have 3D art and fabric art, as well as work in watercolor, pastel and oil. The work is also diverse in subject matter. We have wonderful seascapes and landscapes, but we also have some more modern pieces.”
The featured artist is Sheryl Southwick. Her piece, entitled “View From the Porch” was named the featured piece to be this year’s poster image. Karen commented, “Sheryl Southwick brings her unique style as this year’s “Featured Artist.” I have seen her collage pieces and now that she has moved into this new medium, I can see bits of her collages in her painting. Her pieces exude warmth and feeling. You feel drawn into each piece.”
This year, an educational series of art demonstrations is coming back. The series is being arranged by Cindy Reed, the education coordinator who brings a deep knowledge of the art community to the event. The demos add a level of intimacy for the art enthusiast to connect with the material and the visiting artists. They will be pre-sold ticketed outdoor seats limited to twenty (20) attendees.
Oxford Fine Arts will be a virtual gallery opening Friday, May 14th at noon, and remaining open until Sunday the 16th at 4:00 PM. The LIVE demos will be both Saturday and Sunday on-site at the Oxford Community Center. with limited seating and strict Covid protocols in place. Virtual studio tours and workshops are offered online all weekend. The VIP experience is the ticketed event that includes a virtual happy hour meet and greet with the artists and early private access to the full gallery show. If the pandemic allows, a physical pop-up show with strict Covid safety rules and regulations will happen Saturday, May 15th.
The Fine Arts weekend is also famous for its homemade strawberry shortcake. This tradition will remain as a carry-out option both Saturday and Sunday!
For tickets to the Friday virtual VIP opening event and to find out more, please visit oxfordcc.org and click on the Fine Arts Logo. Proceeds from the VIP experience, the demos and 30% of the art sales support the Community Center’s mission to serve, educate and inspire. The Oxford Fine Arts Show is sponsored by What’s Up Media, along with support from Talbot County Arts Council with funds from Maryland State Arts Council.
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