REHOBOTH BEACH, DE – The first weekend of the Rehoboth Art League’s 45th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show brought a steady stream of art lovers, who had a unique opportunity to watch some of the more than 125 artists and artisans of the show create their work on site. This show, which takes place annually on the nonprofit organization’s picturesque, historic campus in Henlopen Acres, brings together artists from all over the country who are showcasing and selling their original creations—from ceramics to painting, and from photography to jewelry. Artists’ booths are located throughout the league’s wooded campus, and exhibitions continue in several of the buildings. The final two days of the 2018 Outdoor Show are August 11th and 12th, and will be the last chance this year to see such an amazing collection of creativity.
The Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show always draws a wide variety of artists. While some are trying new approaches such as photographs printed on metal, others represent some of the best in the traditional fine arts. Returning exhibitor Zu Sheng Yu, a resident of Long Island, NY, presents a booth full of large paintings and also treats guests to live demonstrations throughout each day of the Outdoor Show. Zu’s work, in oil and acrylic, takes on the classic still life, but also expands to landscape and portraiture. His figure model over the course of the first weekend of the event allowed passersby to watch him work on campus and develop the piece into a completed painting.
Event attendees of the Outdoor Show will also be able to see longtime participant Alan Burslem work his magic on a pottery wheel. Burslem, who has been an exhibiting artist at the Outdoor Show for more than twenty years, creates on the art league campus while manning his booth next to the historic Paynter Studio. Burslem, a professional ceramic artist and active exhibitor, is a longtime RAL member artist and teacher, and is the first Delaware potter to have his work purchased by the Delaware Art Museum for its permanent collection. Event visitors can find this master potter at his wheel, shaping new stoneware pieces and answering questions about how things are made. See Burslem start something new, and marvel at his rustic finished pieces lined up at the Paynter Studio, ready for sale.
With a wide variety of artwork to be seen on campus, the second and final weekend of RAL’s Outdoor Show promises something for everyone. In addition to live demonstrations, the event offers food and drink from The Point and Chesapeake & Maine, as well as Dogfish Head Beer Garden, the proceeds of which support the preservation of the league’s historic Peter Marsh Homestead, built in 1743. Musicians will be performing each day and face painting is available for the young, and young at heart.
Show hours are Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person for the weekend. Children under 12 are admitted free.
There are two free off-site parking locations and Jolly Trolley shuttle to make it easier to travel to the show. The shuttle can be picked up at the Rehoboth Gateway Shopping Center (between Bed, Bath & Beyond and Fresh Market) and The Rehoboth Beach Elementary School at 500 Stockley Street. Shuttle service begins at 9:45 a.m. each day and makes continuous circuits during the day. The shuttle is provided by RAL.
For all the schedules and additional information about the show, including information about exhibiting artists, visit the RAL web site at www.rehobothartleague.org or call 302.227.8408.
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~ Rehoboth Art League
RAL thanks this year’s event underwriter, Jack Lingo, REALTOR, whose support makes the 2018 Outdoor Show possible. The event is also supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.