Epicure: 1. “One with sensitive and discriminating tastes especially in food or wine.”  2. archaic : “One devoted to sensual pleasure and luxurious living.” (Merriam-Webster)

What gives you pleasure?  A glass of Chateau Lafite Rothschild?A garden of peonies, a silky scarf? Morning coffee in your favorite mug? Perhaps it is a plate of Fig Newtons and a glass of milk.

RiverArts invites all artists to express this in any medium, including textile, pottery, furniture, and woodworking. You do not need to be a member to exhibit. Artists are limited to one piece but may include sets. If item is exceptionally large, please contact RiverArts.

The Epicure exhibit opens August 5, with a reception from 5 to 7pm.  The public is also invited to an artist’s talk on Thursday, August 11, 5 to 6:30 pm.

Drop Off:  Sunday, July 31, 1 – 3:00 pm
Monday, August 1, 10 am – noon

Pick Up: Sunday, August 28, 1 – 3:00 pm
Monday, August 29, 10 am – noon

For more information and to submit, please visit https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/exhibit/epicure

The RiverArts office, Gift Shop and Galleries are located at 315 High Street, Suite 106, Chestertown, MD  21620 – (in the breezeway). https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/
[email protected] 410 778 6300.

The Board of Directors at Chestertown RiverArts is proud to announce the appointment of its new Executive Director, Chris Sade. Sade will assume the organization’s leadership in May 2022.

Sade is uniquely suited to fulfill RiverArt’s mission to grow community, creativity, and connection through the arts. A passionate music lover with deep expertise in the fine arts world, Sade is committed to serving the RiverArts community. “As RiverArts Executive Director, I would like to promote togetherness,” Sade said. “I want RiverArts to create even more diverse ways to connect with the RA members, volunteers, local artists, businesses, and local organizations.”

Sade brings 20 years of professional experience in the fine art moving, shipping, and storage industry to RiverArts. In addition to managing a large and diverse national team that provided services for museums, galleries, and private collectors, Sade also directed sales, marketing and business management.

In 2015, Sade and his wife, Marianne, moved to Chestertown. Here Sade continued to explore his passion for jazz with a position in curation and sales at the Listening Room, where he was welcomed by Chestertown’s musicophile community. It’s an experience Sade is committed to creating formally in his new role.

“Becoming the Executive Director of RiverArts provides me the opportunity to utilize my life skills in the arts while making connections with the wonderful people who live or travel here,” Sade said. “I believe this will be a very satisfying experience, watching people come together for art’s sake. I can see a bright future for the arts in Kent County, and I want to be part of it.”

Sade will begin his tenure at RiverArts on May 16th, 2022. A welcoming reception for members interested in meeting Sade is currently in planning by the organization’s Board of Directors in mid-June, 2022.

2022 marks Chestertown RiverArts’ 10th Anniversary Celebration. Since 2012, the organization has provided arts classes, workshops, exhibitions, events and outreach, serving its mission to grow community, creativity, and connection through the arts. For more information about RiverArts organization or about the upcoming 10th anniversary events, visit: https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/

Wait until you see what RiverArts has in store for 2022! You’ll enjoy unique exhibits, interesting classes, fun events, and so much more! We will celebrate & learn from our visionary founders. We’ll explore new topics & techniques with new instructors. And we’ll revisit favorite events from years past. Take a look at some of the 2022 plans on the RiverArts Online Calendar.

We have arts classes planned as far out as August, and you can sign up for winter classes in both the Clay Studio & ArtsAlive now at www.chestertown riverarts.org. Our Clay Studio has regular open studio hours for experimentation and creation. Clay Studio, ArtsAlive, & KidSPOT spaces are undergoing some much-needed renovation. Although most of what we plan to offer in 2022 will be in-person, we will continue to be flexible as needed with construction & the pandemic, and are thus planning indoor, outdoor, & Zoom classes.

Our exhibits committee has worked hard to come up with wonderful themes for our 2022 shows, including a September exhibition to commemorate our founding. Come by RiverArts’ Gallery Wednesday through Sunday (11 am to 3 pm) to see our wonderful monthly exhibit & peruse our gift shop for the perfect Valentine. In January, we are pleased to begin our 10th anniversary celebration with our annual Members’ Showcase, an exhibit of fine work from our talented community of member artists. In February, our Winter Blues exhibit will explore the many aspects of the color that make it simultaneously calming & mysterious. And in March, artists are invited to Take Another Look & explore a subject in different ways.

In anticipation of RiverArts’ 10th anniversary, our weekly Dose emails, a favorite during the pandemic, have been re-imagined and re-designed. We hope to appeal to the diversity of our community and provide creative ideas & engaging pursuits tailored to your different involvements & areas of interest in the arts. This Dose of inspiration, imagination, creativity, and art history will come out semi-weekly. On Mondays, the emphasis is on WHAT’S HAPPENING at RiverArts, including information on our programs and events, both short and long-term. It will also highlight featured member artists and provide information on art-related happenings in Kent County. Thursday’s editions will INSPIRE with virtual museum visits, hands-on activities for children, fascinating art history (courtesy of Beverly Hall Smith & The Spy), and works of artisans and artists in a broad range of media. If you are interested in signing up for our emails to find out all about our programs, events, & these fun extra happenings, add your email address to the box at the right side of this page on our website.

2022 will be a banner year for Chestertown RiverArts, and we look forward to sharing it with you!

While there is concern of late about availability of gifts for the holidays as well as the prices, you need not be concerned this season! RiverArts Holiday Show and Sale offers hand-made gifts at affordable prices created by local artists and artisans. The show will run November 18-December 31.

A broad range of gifts will surely bring joy to those special in your life, from grandparents to grandchildren and other special family members and friends.

Media include holiday décor, ornaments, wreaths, and cards, fine art including photography, practical and decorative pieces in clay and in wood, jewelry, knitted wear, silk scarves, quilts and paper art. As items typically sell quickly, they are replenished. In previous years there have been over 1000 items for sale; we expect as much this year. Many of RiverArts most popular artists are returning but also look for work by artists new to the show.

Join us for the show at the RiverArts galleries in Chestertown’s decorated breezeway. Important dates and times include:

Thursday, November 18 – Opening 11-7
First Friday, December 3 – 11-7
Xmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – 11-3.
Thursdays and Fridays – 11-6
Saturdays – 9-5
Sundays 11- 4

These hours have been extended to make shopping easier. By staying open later, visitors to the gallery may stop in before going to dinner in any number of Chestertown’s popular restaurants.

For more information go to www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/  or call 410-778-6300.