In this Newsletter:

📌 Arden Fair: No Booth, But Lots of Spirit

📌 A Living Legacy: 2 Exhibits Launching This Fall

📌 State of the Arts Podcast Preview

📌 Autumn Artisan Social – New Format Returns!

📌 Big Little Art Show at Talleyville

📌 January 2026 Meeting: Help Shape Our Future

📌 2026 Workshop with Jester Artspace

📌 Delaware Arts Summit – Oct 27

Arden Fair: No Booth, But Lots of Spirit

While AAC won’t have an official booth at the Arden Fair this year (Saturday, August 30), we’re still showing up with spirit. Members with their own booths are encouraged to display their AAC oval decal—if you need one, text Jill at 717-799-7286 and she'll make sure you're covered.

We’re also supporting the Fair with signage promoting our upcoming shows.

Here’s where we could use your help:

• Decorating Crew – Show up Friday morning (August 29) to assist Linda Toman with banners. Help take down decorations on Sunday, August 31.

• Face Painting Booth – Email Megan King to volunteer. A practice night is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30, from 7–9 PM at the Lower Gild Hall.

A Living Legacy: 2 Exhibits Launching This Fall

This autumn, we honor 125 years of creativity in the Ardens with a landmark two-part exhibition series: "A Living Legacy." These shows are more than just a retrospective—they're a chance to showcase our past and present to the greater Wilmington arts community.

We hope all members—whether exhibiting or not—will attend and consider bringing a treat for the refreshment tables. 
**NOTE TO PARTICIPATIING ARTISANS and ALL AAC MEMBERS. I have created graphics to use on social media. Please spread the word. You can find them here.

Part I: 2D Exhibition at The Baby Grand

• Dates: October 1–November 2

• Location: The Baby Grand, Wilmington

• Opening Reception: Friday, October 3, 5–7 PM

• Installation: October 1, 9–10 AM

• Deinstallation: November 3, 9–10 AM

Part II: 3D Exhibition at the Blue Ball Barn

• Dates: November 4–30

• Location: Blue Ball Barn, Wilmington

• Opening Reception: Friday, November 7, 5–7 PM

• Installation: November 3, 10 AM–12 PM

• Deinstallation: December 1, 10 AM–2 PM

Let’s show up strong and remind the region how vibrant our community really is.

State of the Arts Podcast Preview

Sadie Somerville and Jill Althouse-Wood will be featured on an upcoming episode of the "State of the Arts Podcast" to discuss the 125 Year Legacy Exhibits. Keep an eye on your inbox for the air date and how to listen in.

October Artisan Social – New Format Returns!

We’re looking at Tuesday, October 28, from 7–9 PM for our next Artisan Social at the Buzz—pending approval. We're keeping the new format: a featured presenter to kick off the evening, followed by an open call for others to share new or in-progress work.

Jennifer Borders, who missed our spring event due to illness, will be our featured speaker. Her multidisciplinary work explores themes of environment, politics, and personal expression through drawing, installation, and sculpture. Visuals are encouraged, and conversation is guaranteed.

Come for:

• Artist Presentation by Jennifer Borders

• Open Show-and-Tell – Bring a piece to share

• Trading Table – Swap tools, books, or materials

• Light Refreshments – Feel free to bring something sweet or savory

Whether you make art or just love being around it, you’re warmly welcome. Contact Shay Seaborne (ShaySails@gmail.com) with questions.

Big Little Art Show – Talleyville Gallery

With no AAC-hosted Small Art Show this year, we’re directing our creative energy to the Talleyville Frame Shoppe and Gallery’s "Big Little Art Show." Every piece must be 6x6 inches, so now’s the time to start crafting small. They have offered to give us a presence there. It is a way to broaden our reach and take part in a fun event. 

• Opening Reception: Saturday, December 6

• ALL 6"x6" Artwork Due: Saturday, November 22 

• Participant Info Due: Early November

• Contact: Talleyville Frame Shoppe (302) 478-1163 or info@talleyvillefsg.com

Let’s get AAC artists in the mix and make our presence known!

January 2026 Meeting and Website listing fees

We’re at a turning point. Burnout is real and leadership succession is uncertain. If we don't have the support for marketing and events, we are going to have to scale back. Do we want to be a loose membership that has a website and a couple of Arden Socials a year? (Honestly, that might be fine.) Or do we want to formalize membership and  continue to push our boundaries like we have been the past several years. 

Normally, we collect website listing fees for our November 1- October 31 year starting in the fall. This year, we will push the collection back until January. We need to decide whether to change to a membership model with a modest yearly fee (which will include a website listing among other decided upon member benefits) or if we will scale back expectations of what this group is and continue in our current mode of collecting for listings only. Mark your calendars because this conversation is going to be crucial to determine our future. 
 

• Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 (tentative)

• Time: 7–9 PM

• Location: Buzz Ware Village Center

Possible 2026 Workshop with Jester Artspace

Susan Benarcik of Jester Artspace and  Jill Althouse-Wood are looking to develop a 2026 workshop  focused on Emerging Artist Practices. Topics may include:

• Writing artist bios and statements

• Show prep and submissions

• Photographing work and formatting images for publication and submissions

• Navigating grant writing

Email Jill  with ideas of what you would like to see covered at althouse.wood@gmail.com

Delaware Arts Summit – October 27

Agents of Change: Advancing New Ideas and Practices

The Arts Summit brings Delaware’s arts community together for a day of speakers, workshops, performances, and networking opportunities, and timely conversations about the future of the arts.

As Agents of Change we can enable change to happen within our work, our organizations, and our communities. The 2025 Delaware Arts Summit will explore ways to identify the need for change and how to achieve it with new ideas and practices that address challenges, recognize opportunities, and promote future sustainability in the arts.  For more information.

• Date: Monday, October 27, 2025

• Location: Hotel Du Pont, Wilmington

• Cost: $65 (includes sessions, meals, and parking)

• Registration Deadline: October 14 at 4:30 PM

• Contact: Dana Wise, 302-577-8278
   

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." — Twyla Tharp

Warmly,
Jill
AAC Steering Committee Member
 

The Arden Artisans Collective Steering Committee:

Annette Hearing, Shay Seaborne, Betty O’Regan, Linda Toman, Megan King, Cookie Ohlson