The Piedmont is home to some of the most talented artists and artisans in Virginia, and an exhibit sponsored by Piedmont Virginian magazine opens this Saturday (Oct. 5) at River District Arts in Sperryville to showcase that abundance of Piedmont-based talent.
A call for artists was made in the spring issue of Piedmont Virginian and 58 artists responded. An elite group of artists from outside the region (Maggie Siner, Gary Robertson and Donald Allen Mosher) juried the more than 250 pieces submitted for consideration, selecting 75 pieces created by 34 artists for the first-ever Piedmont Virginian Artist Showcase.
Best of show honors were awarded to Ramey Campbell for an oil painting called Retreating Snow. Campbell’s studio is in Orange County. Rappahannock County artists in the show include Barbara Heile, Nedra Smith, Libet Henze, Nol Putnam, Gerald Smith, Linda Tarry and Nancy Keyser. A complete listing of artists is at riverdistrictarts.org.
“I’m continually amazed by the diversity of expression found in, not only the art of the Piedmont in general, but that of Rappahannock artists, as well. This exciting show is testimony to that diversity,” said Greg Huddleston, Piedmont Virginian deputy editor and director of the magazine’s arts coverage.
There’s a reception for the artists Saturday, Oct. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m., concurrent with Middle Street Gallery’s reception next door for artist Kevin Adams.
“We were pleased to partner with Piedmont Virginian Magazine for the Artist Showcase. Since the inception of the magazine, they have been major supporters of the arts with regular features in the magazine and an annual arts guide that is published each fall,” said Jim Allmon, RDA’s art and marketing director.
River District Arts is open 10 to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The exhibit runs through Nov. 30.