Pick up unsold work from the Earth Day Art Show. For large pieces, you can pull into the entrance circle. For smaller pieces, please park in the lot across the street. If you cannot make this time, please arrange with another participating artist to pick up your work. Let the curators know of this arrangement so they can note the transfer.

Join us for our semi-annual social gathering where, as artisans, we share what we are up to, network, exchange ideas and physical paraphernalia of makers, and socialize. We will start with presentations by local artisans including artist, illustrator, graphic designer Will Ramirez. Also Shay Seaborne Cptsd will be presenting: "How We Treat Each Other Changes Who We Are; the Neurobiology of Connection and Community," a virtual Lapbook Gallery presentation. Afterwards enjoy light refreshments (CAKE!) and social time with fellow art enthusiasts and artists. Optional: bring a treat to share for the table. As always we will have our trading table. Artists, bring your artwork, books, materials, and tools to share or trade! This event is open to the public: All are welcome, whether you're an artisan or simply appreciate the arts. Bring a small donation for the Buzz Ware Village Center. We look forward to seeing you there! Shay Seaborne is leading the charge on this. (Thank you, Shay for taking this on!) Contact her at shaysails@gmail.com with any questions or a desire to help/participate.

The Biggs Museum is hosting an Awards Winners XXIV Opening Reception next Thursday, April 18, 5-9pm, 406 Federal St., Dover, De 19901. The Delaware Division of the Arts has curated this exhibit to celebrate Delaware's outstanding artists for 2024. AAC Member and 2024 DDA Fellowship recipient David Burslem will have have 2 sculptures and one Sculptural Abstract Landscape in the exhibit. The exhibition will run from April 18-July 28 with traveling exhibits at CAMP Rehoboth and Cab Holloway School of the Arts to be announced.

Unique handmade lamps and shades

Perfect for Mother’s Day!
Sunday, April 7, 11 AM-3 PM
2317 Loreley Lane Ardentown
Micah: 707-208-6221
Ardenlampworks@gmail.com

The Ardens Bloom Beyond Their Borders: An Earth Day Art Celebration

Step into a vibrant tapestry of creativity as the Arden Artisans Collective bursts onto the scene for the first time ever outside the idyllic confines of the Ardens! This special Earth Day exhibit, aptly titled "Rooted in Arden, Reaching the World," brings together the diverse artistic voices of the community in a collective ode to our planet's awe-inspiring beauty and the delicate balance of nature.

Nestled amidst the rolling hills and verdant forests of the Ardens, where 50% of the land is lovingly preserved as green space and a 75% tree canopy shelters the earth below, environmental consciousness is more than just a value – it's a way of life. This deep connection to the natural world is woven into the very fabric of the Arden Artisans Collective, a vibrant group of artists whose talents span a multitude of mediums.

Lose yourself in this sensory feast, which opens its doors in March and continues through April at the prestigious Delaware Center for Horticulture (1810 N Dupont St, Wilmington, DE 19806). Each piece, from forest scenes to sun-drenched collages crafted from recycled materials, is a unique expression of the artists' deep appreciation for the environment, inviting viewers to contemplate our interconnectedness with nature and inspiring us to become stewards of this precious planet.

Join the celebration! Mark your calendar for the special Art Loop reception on Friday, April 5th, 5:30-8 PM, where you can meet the artists, mingle with fellow art enthusiasts, and immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the Arden community.

"Rooted in Arden, Reaching the World" is more than just an art exhibition; it's a reminder that environmental consciousness and artistic expression go hand in hand. Come discover the boundless creativity that flourishes when a community lives in harmony with the natural world.

Remember:

• The exhibit is on display during from March 7th through April 28th at the Delaware Center for Horticulture.

• There's a special Art Loop reception on Friday, April 5th, 5:30-8 PM.

• Visit the Delaware Center for Horticulture at 1810 N Dupont St, Wilmington, DE 19806.

Monthly Meeting of AAC Steering Committee

Arden Artisan Janet Williams showcases her work in the "Art of the Flower" exhibit at the Philadelphia Sketch Club (235 South Camac St., Philadelphia, PA 19107) until March 24th.

Closing reception this Sunday, 1-3 PM.
See it in person or learn more: https://sketchclub.org/
#ArdenArtisan #ArtOfTheFlower #PHLArt

Have an art event coming up for April or later? A gallery opening, craft show, magazine article? Put it on our calendar. Submit your copy-ready description of event as well as all details to ardenartisans@gmail.com

Drop off accepted artwork for the Earth Day Art Exhibit. For Large pieces, pull into the circle at entrance. Smaller pieces, please park across the street. Artists may drop off business cards or cards for upcoming exhibits at the same time. Please provide small clear plastic stands for all cards.

Apply for our AAC group show at The Baby Grand. All information plus the application can be found here. You will be notified by April 1. The event is being curated by Megan King with the help of Jeanne Orr, Cookie Ohlson, and Shay Seaborne.

Have an art event coming up for March or later? Put it on our calendar. Submit your copy-ready description of event as well as all details to ardenartisans@gmail.com

LOVE. and ACSM

What's not to love about the Arden Craft Shop Museum!  Let's raise a glass of cheer in the spirit of love while we usher in Valentine's week and celebrate the marriage between the Craft Museum with the Arden Artisans' Collective.

Valentines's Day celebrates LOVE, and that's what's going on at the Museum on Sunday February 11th, when Clare Consavage, Ardentown resident, graces us with her unending creativity and love of all things handcrafted.   The event is from 1pm-3pm.  Meet Clare at 1:30 when she gives us her short talk in the Bernie Schwab Room with pink bubbles in hand!.  

Her are some of Clare's thoughts, to ponder in advance!

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” -Thomas Merton

I have always found this to be true as I work in many mediums to create fine, applied and wearable art. In recent years, I have gravitated to oil paint where I can take the time to lose myself in a painting with detail and realism. On the flip side, when I would like to create in a more abstract and loose manner, I use acrylic fluid art techniques. At times, I combine these two(or more) approaches into one piece of art which also creates a beautiful balance. Whether you would like to find something for your Valentine or if you just want to enjoy some art & culture before the Super Bowl, please stop by and say hello!

This month’s Art Loop at the Buzz features the work of 14 up and coming artists ranging in age from 9 to 18 years old. Come out and see what the youth art scene is all about in the Ardens. Refreshments provided. Donations accepted.

A day to relax, inspire, socialize, strategize, and open to possibilities. We will start the day with meditation and journaling. After that we will have a breakfast welcome and an AAC meeting to determine our agenda for 2024 and beyond. After the meeting we will hear from the Delaware Division of the Arts about what opportunities the state has for artists and artist groups. The day includes lunch and a choice of speakers after lunch to inspire further. For more details see our web page and FAQ’s on the event. Then fill out an application because spots are limited.

Our objectives for the event:

*Set our intentions for our individual creative practices and set an agenda for collective initiatives for 2024… and beyond.

*Define leadership and support roles for the AAC

*Hear speakers that will inspire us and/or help us as artisans grow in our practice.

*Best of all…an opportunity to socialize and network with other artisans in your community

Arden’s stop on the Wilmington Loop is the Buzz Ware Village Center as both gallery and market. The gallery features the AAC/Arden Artisans Collective's smaller works priced for holiday giving. The market proffers a variety of AAC/local art. This is a great opportunity for Art Loopers to peruse and purchase unique works and gifts made by Arden Artisans and support the local art scene. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

Afternoon with the Artist—Sadie Somerville presents “A Personal Journal Through Art- Paintings, Linocut Prints and Photographs”

Sadie Somerville is the featured artist. Her work is a mixed media showcase of prints, photography and fine art paintings, along with lovely print cards for sale.  Perfect for the Holidays!  

Afternoon with the Artist is a quarterly event featuring local talent that is hosted by the Arden Craft Shop Museum whose mission is to collect and exhibit materials and artifacts related to the Ardens, which include the villages of Arden, Ardentown, and Ardencroft. The Arden Craft Shop Museum seeks to educate the community on the Ardens’ history as single-tax communities in addition to how the roles of theater, craftsmanship, art, and other aspects of life have affected the development of the Ardens as a close-knit community.

Sadie Somerville Artist Statement:

Having always had a love for art, I continue making it an important part of my life.

I enjoy working with my hands and being creative in a number of different mediums and processes: painting, printmaking and photography.

My career working with 20th and 21st century Fine Art and Sculpture has exposed me to a wide range of artistic inspiration.

I moved to Arden in 1993, where I have a small cottage as my art studio. After retiring, I can spend more time on my own work.

The process of creating is what I love most; making my vision into a work of art. Light, flowers, nature and landscape are themes I am repeatedly attracted to.

In Arden, I am a member of the Arden Artisan’s Collective. I have also been involved in the Arden Craft Shop Museum and Archives Committee, The Arden Georgists, the Arden Fair Art Show, Arden’s Centennial Pageant, and restoration of an early Will Price designed cottage.

In this collection of new paintings, female figures take center stage, unapologetically transcending the traditional gaze. Artist, Jill Althouse-Wood, harnesses the language of color, pattern, setting, and scale to immerse you in the rich tapestry of her subjects’ inner lives. Each canvas is a testament to the indomitable spirit of women who have faced the challenges of a pandemic, family dynamics, shifting work landscapes, and the loss of reproductive autonomy. The exhibit opens on Friday, November 3, 2023, will remain through November 27th.
Jill Althouse-Wood lives in Arden, DE. She is a founding member of the Arden Artisans Collective and has been awarded a 2023 Delaware Division of the Arts fellowship in painting.

The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents 2023 Established Fellow Ron Meick’s exhibition, “Encaustic Constructions,” on view between November 3-24, 2023. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, November 3 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Meick’s latest series of artworks, abstract wooden sculptures called “constructions,” are painted with encaustic (wax) pigments. The work is informed by both Russian constructivist art of the 1920s and the natural world. “I was a beekeeper for over ten years, which is how I got interested in encaustic sculpture/painting,” finding that the accumulation of wax provided him with “an enticing material.”

Meick creates wooden constructions that range in size from miniscule (8 inches) to monumental, some as tall as 6 feet. After they’re built, he paints them with a veneer of hot encaustic paint composed of beeswax, damar resin and infused with pigments. This wax application softens the hard-edge structures and presents color references to connection points, elements in the composition, ending points, weighting of mass, balance, and reflection of color. The counterpoint of color and space increase the layers of meaning and emotional content.

His recent work is strongly guided by contemporary current events or relevant political issues.  The war in Ukraine, a country “being dismantled by destruction,” is the visual basis for this latest sculptural series.  Meick finds his biggest challenge to be “making objects that are relevant in concept, visual, and emotional terms.” As well, he finds challenges in “the physical effort of making objects.”

Originally born in Sidney, Nebraska, Ron Meick received his BFA in sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design. Ron Meick is currently an artist with the Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, DC, and in October 2023 he had a solo show featuring large scale prints. He has also shown his work throughout the U.S. and is in many private collections along with The Library of Congress. He currently resides and works in Arden, Delaware.

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

Ceramic artist Alan Burslem will showcase his work at the Buzz Ware Village Center, 2119 The Highway in Arden, DE, for the May Wilmington Art Loop.

Integrating art into everyday life whether functional or decorative, can speak to your soul. Clay is an adaptable medium that can be reproduced in a multitude of ways. Clay allows art and function to coexist

Arden Artisans Collective is hosting a social for artists and the community. This is a time for artists/artisans to share what they are working on with members of the community. A Coffee House for the visual arts, so to speak. If you are an artist, you can bring along samples of your work (finished or unfinished) to discuss. Or you can send up to 5 images (optimal image size is 1920 x 1080 px for projection) by Dropbox to Jill Althouse-Wood at ardenartisans@gmail.com by January 17th, to include in a slide show. We are asking for current or recent work so that we can inspire each other in our goals for the new year. Artists will have an opportunity to briefly describe slides. We will provide cake. We welcome other snacks, drinks to add to the buffet table, but it isn’t required. This event is open to the public—artisans and non-artisans alike. We will be collecting donations for the Buzz Ware Village Center who is providing us with the space to gather.

"New Works, Mostly Maine" Ardentown resident Hugh Phibbs introduces innovative media, supports, and presentations. These works, in case-like settings, appear as watercolors & are created with a novel medium + methylcellulose, used as a paste adhesive or varnish --so they can be displayed without glazing.
Reception immediately followed by Coffeehouse Open Mic in Rooms 1&2 ($5 cover).