A Guide to the Arts in Delaware 2016 issue
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Art Galleries & Studios Brews & Tastes Performance Art Public Art Workshops
A guide for travelers interested in finding local art in cities, small towns or hidden byways. Day Lilies at Woodland Park, Delaware © Rosemary Connelly
A Guide to the Arts in Delaware 2016 A guide published by Art Strolls
On the cover: Day Lilies at Woodland Park, Delaware by Rosemary Connelly
Publisher & Editor
and inside cover: Gallery 37 in Milford, Delaware
Anne Jenkins 302-393-6629 PO Box 433, Milford, DE 19963
Art Strolls makes every attempt to ensure the accuracy of its content. However, all dates, times and listings are subject to change.
All text, photos & illustrations by Anne Jenkins unless otherwise accredited. Š Anne Jenkins 2016 Anne Jenkins, the guide author, illustrator and photographer, retains sole copyright to her contributions to this guide. All rights reserved. No part of this guide can be used without the written permission of the author/illustrator. http://ArtStrolls.com
List of Contents 4. Map of Delaware 5. Feature: Take a Public Art Tour Through Delaware 9. Culture & History 11. Feature: Art Loop WIlmington – Art on the Town 12-15. A guide to art galleries & studios by county & town 17. Feature: First Friday in Dover 18. The Art of War
26. Feature: The Rehoboth Beach Gallery Collection 28-30. Shine the Spotlight on the Performing Arts 32-33. Feature: A trio of Art Museums 34-35. Feature: Rehoboth Art League 36. Learn. Live. Be ARTy 39. Feature: SE Delaware Artist Studio Tour – a rural treat 40. Historic Georgetown Art Crawl
20. Brewgrass Festival, Milford 41. Georgetown & Seaford 21-22. Breweries & Distrilleries 42. The Art of Farmer’s Markets 23. Feature: Milford Art Stroll 24-25. Explore. Taste. Be a foodie © John Mollura Photography
43-44. Contributors & the publisher 3
This guide offers a sampler of the arts in Delaware and gives a taste of how much there is to enjoy. Note about this Treasure map: The length of Delaware from North to South is about 90 miles‌ nothing is very far away. The roads are good. So ‌ go, get lost, and enjoy!
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Take a public art tour through Delaware Birdhouses by artist Thomas Burke based on Andrew Wythe paintings on the Wilmington Riverfront
One of the colorful dinosaurs outside the Children’s Museum in Wilmington Artstrolls.com 2016 Delaware
Public art offers a visual history lesson. Murals or statues convey the area’s story and bring history to life. Sometimes public art can cause controversy, sometimes lively discussion, but it can never be ignored. Wilmington has cheerfully decorated dinasours which pop up in unexpected places. The art birdhouses dotted along the Riverfront walkway beside the Christina River were created by artist Thomas Burke. They are made of reclaimed wood and are based on paintings by Andrew Wyeth. 5
Title: School scenes
The historic town of Smryna in Kent County has a dazzling series of murals from the Works Progress Administration painted by a number of renown Brandywine artists of the day such as Walter Pyle, Jr. located at The John Bassett Moore Middle School.
Please note, check first about visiting. They welcome visitors to see the murals but there is limited access and they ask visitors to respect the location. Call (302) 659-6297 for more information.
Images of the Smryna murals courtesy of Delaware Divison of the Arts
Title: The Shipping Industry
Title: Scenes of Agriculture
Public Art Tour in Delaware continued.
Milford, in central Delaware, has murals, statues, and trail markers throughout the town. The local Mispillion Art League completed five large scale murals on the side of the Salvation Army building on SE Front Street. The Library boasts a full wall mural focusing on the town’s history by the late Jack Lewis, a prominent Delaware artist.
A new mural celebrating the diverse community of the town will be in place mid April 2016. They also have the Art on the Riverwalk Tour (ART),18 boat sculptures along the 3-mile Riverwalk which meanders through the town, each one decorated by a local artist. There is a brochure, and an app, explaining the artist's design for each boat and showing their locations.
ART project – 18 replicas based on the yacht Augusta are spread around town and along the Riverwalk. Artist Kieth Steck painted this boat - all boats are decorated to the theme River Town, Art Town, Home Town.
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Public Art Tour in Delaware continued.
In Bridgeville in Southern Delaware the Dollar General store has the extraordinary luck of having a series of murals on their side walls by Jack Lewis, a renown and prolific Delaware artist. It is worth a trip to see these murals in Bridgeville and the one restored mural in the Milford LIbrary. They may be the only surviving Jack Lewis murals in the state.
Photos of Jack Lewis murals courtesy of Southern Delaware Tourism
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Culture & History
Don’t miss Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Hagley Museum and Library Nemours Mansion and Gardens
Delaware Symphony Delaware Chamber Music Festival OperaDelaware The Playhouse at Rodney Square Newark Symphony Orchestra Dover Symphony
Curtain Call Š Anne Jenkins
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Looking for a particular individual artist?
To find individual artists check the Delaware artists roster and also check the local art organisations for the listings of their artists.
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Art Loop Wilmington – Art on the Town
Photo Courtesy of Delaware Contemporary
Every first Friday of the month the city of Wilmington, over 25 galleries, studios, museums, exhibit spaces, artists and restaurants celebrate art.
Art on the Town lists all the galleries, studios, and exhibit spaces open for the event and what artist or art they are featuring for the month.
The art exhibits change out monthly. Featured artists are on hand to talk about their work or do demonstrations.
This is an excellent presentation complete with maps and the free shuttle route and schedule information in a downloadable pdf form. Website
It is definitely a much anticipated and well supported monthly art event. Artstrolls.com 2016 Delaware
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Art Galleries & Studios
New Castle County Arden Craft Shop Museum & Arden Artists Delaware State Folk Art Collection at the Blue Ball Barn Penn’s Place Yorklyn: Center for Creative Arts Wilmington: Art Loop Wilminton website lists all galleries and updates the event every month
Newark: Newark Arts Alliance,
Greenville: Somerville Manning Gallery
University Delaware Museums
Station Gallery
Middletown: Gibby Center for the Arts
Delaware City: Forged Creations Studio 118, Fine Art and Photography Photo Courtesy Penn’s Place
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Art Galleries & Studios Kent County Dover: Dover Art League Parke Green Galleries Arty Farty Milford: Angelucci Studios Blu Butterfly Studio Body Canvas Delaware Branding Gallery 37 Josephine Keir Ltd Live Cheap and Make Art Studios Milford Art Stroll Mispillion Art League Š James D Photography
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Art Galleries & Studios
Sussex County Milton: Federal Street Gallery & Espresso Bar Milton Arts Guild
Broadkill Beach Š Denise Dumont
Seaford: Gallery 107 & Nanticoke River Arts Council
Milton Historical Society & Art Gallery
Millsboro:
Studios on Walnut
Millsboro Art League
D&D Stained Glass 14
Art Galleries & Studios Lewes: Abraxas Studio Cape Artists Gallery 110 W. 3rd Street 302.644.7733 Kevin Fleming Delaware Art Gallery Josephine Keir Ltd Market Street Studio 302.645.9030 Peninsula Gallery The Studio on 24 Rehoboth Beach: Anita Peghini Raber Gallery
Ocean View:
Juleez
Antique Prints,
Rehoboth Art League
Ellen Rice Gallery
Rehoboth Beach Gallery Collective the complete list of RB art gallery collective’s monthly art walk
Gallery One A Good Read © Cathy Walls
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First Friday in Dover The First State’s capital, Dover, hosts a First Friday stroll from April through October. Galleries, the Biggs Museum of American Art, shops, and studios stage special events and often live entertainment from 5:00-8:00 pm. The route flows in a zig-zag sort of way. Dover Art League on W. Loockerman Street links to S. State Street to the Parke-Green Galleries, and the Biggs Museum is just around the corner.
Parke-Green Galleries is an intriguing blend of art and history. Owned and run by 2 well known Dover artists, Jan Crumpley and N. Taylor Collins, they also host select artists exhibits. Arty Farty is the new kid on the block. The Biggs Museum features excellent revolving exhibits and shows, plus it is a showcase for the Delaware by Hand group.
Inside Parke-Green Galleries
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The Art of War
The Air Mobility Command Museum
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is a hidden gem on the grounds of the Dover Air Force Base has a must see art exhibit of “nose art� on the Flying Fortresses of World War II. The walkway above the main hanger has an explanation of the art by one of the artists and an exhibit of reproductions donated by the artist. The display is a salute to history and to the brave airmen and the symbols that kept them going through a dark period of war. 18
Celebrate Delaware Craft Week all year long follow this facebook page for details
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Sunday, June 12, 1:00-6:00 pm. Bicentennial Park, Milford
Š John Mollura Photography
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Breweries & Distilleries
Need a Dogfish fix? Try this Don’t drink and drive - let the for a special weekend of Delaware Brew Bus do the Dogfish Head Craft driving Brewery - stay at the Dogfish Head Inn in You hop on... Lewes, tour the brewery & relax ... sample the beer ... tasting room in Milton, eat enjoy an exciting tour with a at Dogfish Head Brewpub knowledgeble guide. in Rehoboth Beach. website What’s not to like? 2118
Breweries & Distilleries
Where the food trucks are… Delaware has a number of food trucks around the state. A group of Wilmington area trucks have joined together as the Rolling Revolution to keep track of their locations or to book one. For daily updates: facebook Here’s a couple more: The Penalty Box Food Truck Dover; Mr Bar-B-Que, & ILovecalitaco.com, Milford; Jakarta’s Indonesian Curbside Gourmet & Po’Boys Creole Food Truck, Milton; Taco Reho Rehoboth Beach. Food trucks also frequent craft breweries, check breweries facebook pages for updates.
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Milford Art Stroll There is a lot of art in Milford their branding is River town, Art Town, Hometown, They have murals, boat sculptures along the Riverwalk and artists studios. Gallery 37, an up-market gallery, exhibits owner Marcia Reed’s art plus national artists. Live Cheap and Make Art Studio, offers paintings by Rosemary Connelly and photography. The Mispillion Art League has a light, airy showroom and practical workshop space. Blu Butterfly Studio with art by Lori and artist Danny at Body Canvas are off the main street. Delaware Branding features a monthly artist exhibit. There are a number of artists studios dotted around the town. The upstairs Studios & Shops on Park Ave, include Culture Eye and woodworker Scott Angelucci. The Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday from May-October in the park downtown, has a few regular local artists booths. The acclaimed School of Music of Delaware has a branch in town. The town also boasts the lively Milford Community Band.
Artist Marcia Reed working on the boat painted to reflect the view from her window
The Riverfront Theater, renovated to seat 198 and home of the Second Street Players, stages live theater regularly. They show movies once a month. Two dance schools. First State Academy of Dance and Diamond Dance Company offer studio schools in town. There are a number of restaurants, the award-winning Abbott’s Grill. Georgia House has patio dining and Arena’s has outdoor dining overlooking the river. Bibi’s and Sabor Latina offer excellent Central American cuisine. The Tavern, a local popular local bar, and Dolce coffee shop are always busy. Milford Art Stroll website for more information & businesses. 23
Explore. Taste. Be a Foodie. more wine & beer tasting Frozen Toes Brewing Wilmington
The art of pops‌ make your day sweeter at Petite Sweets
Ironhill Brewery Wilmington 16 Mile Brewery Georgetown Bacchus Wine Bar Milton Crooked Hammock Brewery Lewes Nassau Valley Vineyards Lewes Fenwick Wine Cellars Fenwick Island
Eat in the Street Milford, September, a sit down meal catered by local chefs using local produce. Local music and dance groups perform. Table set down the main street website
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20 Eat in the Street Š Cathy Walls
Explore. Taste. Be a Foodie. Keep an eye out for excellent cooking classes, gourmet meals with wine pairings and demonstrations by awardwinning chefs held at
Abbott’s Grill or
Nage
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Discover new cuisines
Eating Rehoboth This is a 3 hour guided walking tour with tastings at 5 of the city’s local restaurants. You experience diverse cuisines from a small local spot to fancy fine dining.
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Rehoboth Beach Gallery Collective Rehoboth Beach holds a monthly art walk every second Saturday from March-December. For an up to date guide check their website, or facebook page. On Baltimore Ave., Anita PeghiniRäber Gallery showcases the Swiss native’s bold, bright art.
Philip Morton Gallery is right next door. They represent various artists and the art is changed around regularly. Gallery 50 over on Wilmington Ave. is a long established icon of the town. Thunderbird Gallery is on Rehoboth Ave around the corner from Gallery 50. Further up Rehoboth Ave. away from the beach is the brightly decorated Kevin Fleming & Friends Gallery. Just further up on the other side of the road is Heidi Lowe Gallery, an innovative jewelry studio. A bona fide Rehoboth Beach local, Lowe was one of the founding members of Collective. Lowe creates unique jewelry plus she showcases 25 other local and international jewelry artists. The gallery specializes in designing and creating custom pieces.
Heidi Lowe’s studio in a small cottage Artstrolls.com 2016 Delaware
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The Spotlight on the Performing Arts
First State Ballet Theatre Wilmington Academy of the Dance Delaware Dance Company Newark Mid-Atlantic Ballet Newark Delaware Ballet Dover The School of Delaware Ballet Camden First State Academy of Dance Milford Diamond Dance Co. Milford Sussex Dance Academy Rehoboth Beach Š John Mollura Photography
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The Spotlight on the Performing Arts New Castle County Arden: The Candlelight Theatre Wilmington: Bootless Stageworks City Theater Company Delaware Childrens Theater Delaware Theater Company on the Riverfront The Grand Opera House Wilmington Drama League World Cafe Live at the Queen Delaware CIty: Reedy Point Players Newark: Chapel Street Players Resident Ensemble Players REP Middletown: The Everett 29
Kent County Smyrna: The Smyrna Opera House Dover: The Schwartz Center for the Arts The Children’s Theatre, Inc.
© John Mollura Photography
The Spotlight on the Performing Arts
Milford: The River Front Theater & Second Street Players © John Mollura Photographery
Sussex County Milton: Premier Centre for the Arts at Milton Theater Georgetown: Possum Point Players Rehoboth Beach: Clear Space Theater Millville: Dickens Parlour Theatre Selbyville: The Freeman Stage at Bayside The Music School of Delaware © John Mollura Photographery
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A Trio of Art Museums Delaware enjoys three top-class institutions, the excellent Delaware Art Museum (DAM), the edgy and innovative The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington and the charming Biggs Museum of American Arts in the Heritage Park in the state capital, Dover. DAM is 100 years old and is not owned by the state. It is a private, non-profit organization which shares its treasures within, hosts workshops in its studios, and extends outreach programs throughout the state for all Delawareans. While it has an impressive collection, it's mostly known for its collection of British Pre-Raphaelite art, works by renowned Delaware artist Howard Pyle and other American illustrators. In fact, DAM was built on the foundation of a collection of 100 Howard Pyle paintings back in 1912. It holds arts-related events like Art After Dark on Friday nights, has a delightful sculpture garden, and offers highly regarded workshops. Their calendar is full and locals are spoiled for choice.
The Delaware Contmeporary is located in an old tram factory
The Chihuly installation in DAM, a favorite with local sketchers The Delaware Contemporary on the other hand, is located in Wilmington’s inner city, part of the newly revitalized riverfront area. It explores the interplay of art, design and technology. It is in an old renovated tram factory and the modern meets old atmosphere of the building complements the art within. Unlike a traditional museum, the center has no permanent collection and entrance is free. They change exhibits in all the galleries regularly, offering as many as 30 exhibits a year. They have 7 galleries, 26 artists studios upstairs, auditorium, classrooms, and a small museum shop. One of the 7 galleries is reserved for the studio artists, showing the work of two artists each month. Special events are held throughout the month. The art is contemporary, edgy, and exciting but it is not intimidating. The whole atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
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Aloft, the sculpture at the entrance and in to the atrium was created by artist Erica Loustau.
Dover, the state capital, is located in the middle of the state and boasts a delightful Heritage Park, housing the state's government buildings. The Biggs Museum of American Art sits right in the middle of this historic park. The three floors are a treasure trove of Delaware history ranging from period furniture to modern art by the likes of renowned local painter, Jack Lewis. The first floor is reserved for their revolving exhibits with the second and third floors housing their permanent collection.
Upstairs the display meanders through small rooms into larger ones and then off around the corner into another hallway. They like to mix it up and keep things lively by interweaving exhibits such as the annual Award Winners show amongst the permanent collection. Events and workshops are part of their yearly calendar and recently the artists and artisans of Delaware by Hand joined forces with the Biggs.
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Rehoboth Art League The Rehoboth Art League (RAL) has been around for 75 years and has established a formidable reputation. The original campus is in the off-the-beaten-track Henlopen Acres neighborhood. In 2015 the league opened a satellite campus with new artist studios on Rte 9. On the old campus both the historic buildings – the 1780 Paynter’s studio, plus Chambers – are used for art classes. There is also a large pottery classroom and children's studios. A newer structure houses offices, four galleries for exhibits and the sale of art. The prominent structure is the town’s oldest building, the Homestead, an elegant 1743 farmhouse with a formal back garden. They hold exhibits in the Homestead and it also houses a permanent collection of well known Delaware artists work. One very fascinating feature is the three signed green doors housed in the Homestead.
One of the green doors now in the Homestead. Image courtesy of RAL
These doors literally tell the story of RAL. Each green door is signed by visiting and local artists – some well known, some obscure – and by notable visiting dignitaries, like Governors and various celebrities. This tradition started back in the 1930’s and the league published a book, “Doors to History,” chronicling the signers. 34
The Children’s Classroom Š Rosemary Connelly
They host a variety of art classes in all mediums throughout the year. RAL also has a visual arts outreach program sending artists out to rural areas with less access to the arts. RAL hosts exhibits for their membership, solo artist shows and juried shows. Their open air two weekend art fair on the grounds in August is always well attended and a regional summer feature. Artstrolls.com 2016 Delaware
Their annual Cottage Tour of Art is also a much anticipated event during the summer. Monthly salons were recently started as get togethers in limited numbers for art discussions and refreshments held in private homes.
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Learn. Live. Be ARTy. Get creative, meet people, have fun Some ideas for art workshops: Center for Creative Arts, the Mispillion Art League, Dover Art League, Rehoboth Art League, Studios on Walnut, Millsboro Art League. Try your hand at music lessons Music School of Delaware
Explore the exciting world of watercolor journaling with Rosemary Connelly at Live Cheap and Make Art Studios
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Chasing Squirrels Š Denise Dumont
Traveling with Fido? Check out these pet friendly accommodations
Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour (SEDAST) is an excellent rural tour held over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s been going for 19 years and is a well established and organised tour. A number of the original artists still lead the charge, new artists join, old ones leave, but the tour includes a solid 12+ studios. Tom Frey is a highly regarded award winning woodturner. His work is delicate and breathtaking. His daughter, Sonja, an abstract mixed media artist, joins him for the tour. The joint studio of husband/wife artists, Justin Cavagnaro and Kim Doughty, is usually a hive of activity. He is a glass artist and she does pottery and delicate silver jewelry. They do demonstrations which gives you a good insight in to how a piece is made. Well-known artist, Tara Funk Grim, has her studio alongside a peaceful canal. Her work draws you in with joy, exploration and reflection. SEDAST give good directions, the route is well marked and easy to follow.
Justin Cavagnaro demonstrates fused glass techniques
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An exciting new initiative to promote all the arts – culinary, visual, performing – in Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Delaware Arts Alliance is the unifying voice for the arts throughout the state, advocating for the central role of the arts and art education in advancing dynamic communities and a creative citizenry. Artists can join for free: be an arts advocate
Historic Georgetown Art Crawl The Historic Georgetown Art Crawl is held in September in conjunction with the Annual Farmer & Foodie Festival on The Circle. Local artists set up their tents and the foodies celebrate local farmers and their farm fresh foods. Proceeds from the Georgetown Art Crawl benefit local arts programming and arts education. The event was started by The Upper Crust but got too big for them to manage, and is now organized by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 302-856-1544 or email info@georgetowncoc.com
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Georgetown and Seaford: A Tale of Two Town’s Collaboration There may be empty buildings aplenty but there is a sense of renewal budding in the small town of Seaford. A banner hangs above a door of a restored building proclaiming “Gallery 107.” Around the corner the Nanticoke River Arts Council has taken up residence. In Georgetown, their bigger neighbor’s town center, is the tiny coffee shop, The Upper Crust. The businesses often collaborate to spread the word about local art. One of the most appreciated exhibits is artwork done by children from age 6 to teens. click here
Woodlands Ferry in Seaford, Delaware © Rosemary Connelly
The Art of Farmer’s Markets Delaware Farmer’s Markets discover local arts & crafts plus local foods Fifer’s Orchards holds Farm to Table events, festivals with live music & more Delaware agritourism listings of special events, tastings, tours
Photo courtesy of Causey Mansion
The Towers
Tempting Strawberries © Cathy Walls
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Art Strolls A Guide to the Arts in Delaware Contributing Artists & Photographers. Please visit their websites/facebook pages.
CMercedes Walls Studio
Denise Dumont
James D Photography
John Mollura Photography
Live Cheap and Make Art Studios
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About artist & publisher Anne Jenkins I am a local artist and writer. And I am a passionate arts advocate. I was honoured to receive the 2013 Established Fellowship, Visual Arts – Folk Art discipline from Delaware Division of the Arts. My 7-panel burlap installation art, created for my Fellowship, on “The Underground Railroad,” plus five of my paintings were in a 3month exhibit at the Biggs Museum in Dover. Two paintings from my ’ Women of Courage’ series were in an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta, GA.
© 2016 Anne Jenkins All rights reserved (302) 393-6629
I‘ve run my own galleries in Milford and in Georgia. I received a GA Producer of Distinction award and was honoured to be a guest speaker at the Georgia Governor's Conference on Tourism. I was an artist in residence in Colorado where I worked with a well known print maker. My full time art career started in New Orleans way back in 2002. Please share this guide often on all your social media, newsletters, websites, etc., and help spread the word about the Delaware art scene. Thanks & enjoy the arts
Anne artstrolls.com annejenkinsbooks.com annejenkinsart.com artramble.com
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Artstrolls.com 2016 Delaware