Community Arts Center in Gloucester, Virginia
The gallery is being refreshed for hanging the plein air art work painted during the Gloucester Arts Festival. But we’re still having a First Friday reception. Sculptor Jay Lagemann will be on hand to talk about his works placed on Main Street. We will have beer and wine for sale and complimentary snacks for our guests. Reservations are no longer required. Please join us to help kick off the Gloucester Arts Festival!
We see the Arts on Main staff around the gallery and know that they are surrounded by beautiful artwork day-in and day-out, but we don’t often get to ask them about their personal tastes and what they like to collect.
Using the current exhibit as the perfect opportunity, we asked each member of the staff to select a few of their favorite pieces from Shaped by Fire. Here they share a little bit about what they thought makes each piece so special.
Alisa Potter, Gallery Manager
Nature’s Bounty, Wood & Glass, Norma Geddes
Sea Glass Circle in Wood, Wood & Glass, Norma Geddes
“I like the grain and smoothness of the wood with the texture and color of the glass especially when the light shines through them.”
Sunrise on the East River, Copper & Glass, Shelley O’Connor
“I am also picking Shelley O’Connor’s copper and glass piece as I like the copper and glass being similar in color. I also like when the light passes through the glass as it highlights the copper color.”
Saraya Cheney, Assistant Director, Programs & Marketing
Resonance, Hand-Forged and Textured Steel and Burnished Copper, George Cramer
“What I really appreciate about this piece is George’s ability to beautifully balance textures, mixing metals to create the appearance of different materials; even using the metals to reflect light, and sound, in a variety of ways. It’s not at all what you might think would be produced by the hands of a blacksmith. Then again, George is a true craftsman, and he’s constantly challenging my preconceived notions of what it means to be a blacksmith.”
Bonfire, Metal, Patrick Andrews
“There’s something truly special about a piece of art that you can connect with emotionally as well as visually. Pat’s piece, Bonfire, struck me to the quick on all accounts. The title and silhouette conjure up something quite primal but the piece has a grace and elegance to it that is almost lyrical. Each strip of metal is perfectly cut and curled to create a single dancing flame. Texture has been applied, in free-flowing lines, to further accentuate the movement in the piece, creating a striking contrast between the coated metal and the raw material beneath. It’s the perfect marriage between Pat’s love of his chosen medium and his ability to work it in interesting ways.”
Betsy Henderson, Executive Director
Sunflower Rain, Repoussé, Harriet McGee
“Harriet McGee’s whimsical piece “Sunflower Rain” is a fine example of her metal repoussé work. The textures and colors are typical of Harriet’s luminous style and give the work her inimitable movement and fluidity.”
Southbound, Metal, Patrick Andrews
“Pat Andrew’s graceful piece, “Southbound” is a wonderful use of his medium to convey motion. By stripping it down to its essential lines he is able to create a work of power and grace.”
Kay Van Dyke, a retired architect, came to Gloucester from San Francisco in 1984. In late 2010, she purchased the Lord Botetourt Antiques Building, originally built in 1920, and immediately began renovations, creating a space “to meet the needs of the arts community”. Over its 100 years of existence on Main Street, the building had been used for a number of other purposes, from a Ford dealership to a scene shop for the local theater company. At the time, Kay planned for a 200-seat, multi-purpose space that could be used for theatrical performances, studio space for artists, and an art gallery. The space would eventually become a bustling gallery and educational space, hosting monthly art shows, concerts, and smaller theatrical events. With time, Arts on Main became known throughout the Middle Peninsula as a gathering place for the arts, artists, and art lovers.
In January of 2020, Kay was ready to set Arts on Main off on its most recent metamorphosis by selling the organization the building. Over the next year, under the artful eye of dedicated Board Members, volunteers and staff, and the architectural expertise of its Founder, the gallery space would grow to encompass a multi-gallery, educational space and shop.
Arts on Main has come a long way since Kay first opened the doors in January 2011. This month Arts on Main continued to celebrate its metamorphosis by featuring the work of many of the artists who have displayed here over the past ten years. The 10th Anniversary Exhibition opened in the new Main Street exhibition space on January 8th featuring work by twenty-six artists and, of course, our Founder.
We want to thank the many volunteers and Board Members, past and present, who have contributed so much to make Arts on Main the organization that it is today. We also want to thank the Gloucester community for your constant support over the past 10 years. You’re the reason why the arts live here!
Shop for creative, thoughtful gifts handcrafted by local artists and artisans while you listen to local music. Our annual holiday show featuring one-of-a-kind pieces that are perfect for gift giving! Shop this event for the entire month of December. Visit the event page for information on how to attend the opening reception on Friday, December 4th. Reservations are required!
New for 2020, we’ve included an additional exhibit called Selected Small Works. Each piece of art was created by a local or regional artist and handpicked for gift-giving this year. Selected Small Works runs from November 20th – December 26th.
Selected Small Works can be shopped in-person or online now!
Arts on Main has a few opportunities for artists who are interested in getting involved here:
Artful Giving is a holiday exhibit that runs from December 4th through the month, featuring affordable original artwork for giving and receiving. All media accepted including Jewelry, Ceramics, Fiber, Basketry, Metal Craft, Woodwork, and more!
This is a wonderful opportunity with great visibility!
It is commission only with no fee to exhibit.
Please email assistantdirector@gloucesterarts.org for additional details or to submit examples of your work.
Arts on Main has come a long way since Founder, Kay Van Dyke, first opened the doors in 2011. We want to continue to celebrate our metamorphosis by featuring the work of the many artists whose work has been displayed at Arts on Main over the past ten years.
Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Monday, December 14th.
Work will be reviewed by the gallery and acceptance notification will be sent Friday, December 18th by 8pm.
The 10th Anniversary Exhibit will open in January of 2021 with an opening reception occurring on Friday, January 8th at 5pm. Reservations will be required for the opening reception.
Submission Guidelines
-Name, address, website (if applicable)
-Artist statement (400 word max)
-CV
-8-10 JPG images of work and captions
Captions include title, date, medium, dimensions (h x w x d), retail price (if applicable). Please name all JPGs with the format: LastName_TitleofWork.jpg
For this show, the gallery will only consider entries by artists who have previously displayed their work at Arts on Main over the past ten years. All work must be cleanly finished or framed. Work does not need to be for sale. There are no size restrictions. The work can be recent or created within the last few years. Artists may also submit a work created ten years ago to be displayed alongside their current work, in a special Metamorphosis Exhibit, to show the progression of their skills as an artist. Artists may submit up to three works of art.
Only email submissions will be accepted (do not bring your work to the gallery) at the following address: assistantdirector@gloucesterarts.org
You will receive a confirmation email once your application is submitted.
We ask that you direct all inquiries via email: assistantdirector@gloucesterarts.org
Graphic designer, printmaker and painter Mensah Bey is known for artwork based upon his interacting with a new community. How, he wondered, had Gloucester’s Main Street fared during the pandemic’s shut-down? By focusing his residency on this question, Mensah created a video featuring Kelsick Specialty Market’s owner, Paige Drewery. He then painted a complementary narrative painting, which will be on display with his other Gloucester-based works at Arts On Main through August.
The Artist in Residence Program is sponsored by the Cook Foundation. For more information on the program please visit the Artist in Residence portion of our website.
Arts on Main is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
