Art in the ‘Burg
Bruce Day Fine Art by megan byrnes
New Year brings more artists to FCCA By lezlie cheryl
Scene:
Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA) starts the New Year with a newly elected Board of Trustees excited to continue progressive efforts
toward the success of its galleries, growth of its membership, and preservation of its historic home. Featuring new monthly exhibits in its Frederick Gallery and Members’ Gallery, FCCA maintains a national presence and its juried exhibitions are well subscribed, typically including artwork from nationally recognized artists as well as local and regional artists. New this year the Members’ Gallery will feature two artists each month rather than solo exhibits, doubling its offerings to the community. January presents the works of Michael Habina and Sandy Staley through 1/31/14. H a b i n a describes his early development as an artist: “My uncles and father were raised during the (untitled piece) Mixed media by Michael Habina depression era, and some went off to fight in WWII. Years later when I was born, they began to teach me things about life, family and how art grows like a virus inside your soul. I then began to study the masters at their suggestions. I have never lost that childlike vision we sometimes cast away as we get older. It has stayed with me all my life, and I use it to view the world.”
Watercolor by Sandy Staley
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January 2014
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Staley shares her artistic inspirations: “While visiting the Highland’s Festival in Abingdon, VA about 6 years ago, I met a gal who teaches plein air watercolor painting in Europe each summer. I loved her work and signed up for my first classes in Umbria, Italy. I have since traveled with the group to
Provence, France, and Andalusia, Spain, back again to Umbria and this year, Amalfi, Italy. Travel is only a part of my inspiration. My extensive perennial garden and my love of color and flowers are a great influence on the themes of many of my paintings. I truly enjoy the process of creating from start to finish.” 2014 brings new creative themes to the juried exhibitions of the Frederick Gallery, and expanded promotion of callsfor-entries brings even more artists to FCCA. Current exhibit is “It’s Small,” all works being 14” or smaller. Awards were announced by juror Rob McAdams; 1st Place: After the Snow oil painting by Ana Rendich, Fxbg; 2nd Place: Still I Rise mixed dried leaves by Karen Fitzgerald, Ft. Washington, MD; 3rd Place: Circus Pony mixed media by Teresa Blatt, North Hills, CA. McAdams said, “I am always filled with humility, awe, pride, and gratitude, when asked to jury an exhibition. For this show I was mostly filled with wonder though, and that wonder grew and expanded as I looked at over 173 submitted entries. I marveled at each artist’s decision-making; the marks, brushstrokes, and artist’s hand are right there on the surface, not hidden by a large format.” A non-profit, all-volunteer organization founded in 1963, FCCA is the area’s oldest art gallery and has evolved into a leading visual arts center committed to promoting the arts and enriching the community. Located at 813 Sophia in the historic Silversmith House (circa 1785), admission is free to all exhibits. Hrs: Wed.-Mon. 12-4pm, Sat. 11am-4pm. fccava.org
Always From Life
Congrats
Amber Hildebrand and
Original Oils Chamber), which honors the coolest, most inspiring local leaders around. This year’s Ben winners were (drumroll please!): Keddie, Scarlett Pons, Jessica Beringer, Chris Hornung, Quincey Garcia, Barry Waldman, D.D. Lecky, Shanna Boutchyard, Matt Armstrong and Mark Eid.
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Brandon Newton, one of our town’s most loved artists, on his latest local art show at Ross and Bistro Bethem! Debby Girvan braved the first bit of bad winter weather we got to support their talented friend on his opening night.
co. getting their first taste of Vivify Burger and Lounge on a recent visit to the ‘burg from Alabama; personal chef Drema Apperson doing some early A.M. shopping at Wegman’s for a client; Kysela Pere et Fils wine rep Jeremy Sutton doin his thing – also early morning, also at Wegman’s; Special B filmed by a super cool skateboarding mag in Baltimore; Danny and Gia McBride (right) enjoying downtown on an unseasonably warm December afternoon.
Heard:
Steve
Jarrell,
Happy happy December birthdays to Maura Scheinder, Michael Cowger (DJ Moog), Rachael Taylor, Laura Eubanks, Joanna Krenich, Austen Dunn, Jay Starling, Mia Mullane, and Andre Eglevsky!
the
Scene:
“music man,”, back in Fredericksburg from Tennessee to play a gig during the First Night Festivities. Pictured below (L) with buddy Lee Quesenberry.
Scene: Marstel-Day (one of the
Lezlie Cheryl is a regular Front Porch contributor. lezliecheryl@gmail.com
Betsy Glassie STUDIO: LIBERTYTOWN 916 LIBERTY ST. FREDERICKSBURG, VA
Have you ever been to a hair show? I hadn’t….until I had. I was invited to attend the first annual Carter Hair Design hair show at Weadon Studios last month and I must say it was quite a visual treat. Laura Craig, Seth Casana and James Coleman were all there to marvel at the hot pink hair, the crazy braids and the insane up-dos. Kybecca’s own Rachel Owen (above) was one of the evening’s models and looked particularly cool rocking a spiky, short look. The end of a year always brings with it lots of “best of” lists - best albums, funniest SNL skits, most Googled celebs, that sort of thing. One of the coolest “best” lists, though, is obviously the “Top Ten of the Next Gen” list, put together by The Next Generation of Business Leaders (an affiliate of the Spotsylvania County
Heard:
The USDA honored
Silver Ridge Farm in White Oak for its conservation efforts. USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack said of the farm: “This is the farm of the future.” You hear that, y’all? One of our current local farms is the actual farm of the future! That’s huge!
Scene:
Fredericksburg’s own
Abraham Lincoln, Don Mullen, getting stopped on the street for photographs with Honest Abe fans (even sans top hat!); Missy Colombo grabbing a drink downtown with friends Erin Martinelli and Troy Coghill; the Head and the Heart’s Tyler Williams at Bistro Bethem, Jay Starling (above) celebrating his birthday at J.Brian’s with friends Eric Carbaugh and Jimbo Gip. Sunken Well art show
featuring Jake Morgan, Joelle Gilbert, Bill Harris, Jeff Gandee, Grant Taylor, Michael Dean, Kirkwood Hall, Larry Hinkle, Patrick Rizer, Lindy Lynn, Kelley Drake, Mike Tschirn, Wendy Atwell-V Vasey, and Emma Chayefsky (whew! What a mouthful!) (There are a lot of creative and talented people in our town!).
greenest, coolest local companies around) held its 2013 Green Gala at The Old Silk Mill and attracted such luminaries as Foode’ Chef Joy Crump and Beth Black, and Jeremy Harrison (above) of Capital Ale House. Speaking of Foode, congratulations are in order for the beloved restaurant’s Joy Crump, (right) as she was just accepted into “10,000 Small Businesses,” a prestigious program funded by Goldman Sachs to help entrepreneurs grow their small businesses. Joy will head to Boston this month to take classes and generally become an even more awesome downtown biz owner.
Congratulations
to Susan
Glasser on her new position as the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center President and CEO!
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January 2014
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