The First Wilmington Art Loop of 2024 Opens Friday, January 5

Wilmington’s Redding Gallery, located at 800 North French Street, is pleased to present the annual Expressive Creative Soul art exhibition, which each year highlights new and emerging African-American visual artists. The Redding Gallery will host an opening reception with light refreshments on Friday, January 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..
 
The other featured establishments in January include the Chris White Gallery, the Grand Opera House and Baby Grand Galleries, Huxley & Hiro Booksellers, and Blue Streak Gallery at Piccolina Toscana.

The Chris White Gallery, at 701 North Shipley Street, concludes its presentation of Group Configuration, an exhibit of contemporary realism by local artists Lisa Bartolozzi, Mark Bockrath, Yolanda Chetwynd, Harold Kalmus, E.M. Saniga, Stephen Tanis, and Eric van der Vlugt, curated by Rebecca Howell. The group that draws together, stays together. What began as a life drawing session between a professor and students at the University of Delaware turned into a decades-long drawing club where artistic careers sprouted and flourished. Students graduated, professors retired, new artists joined, and pencils wore down. Thirty years of drawing together has created connection and companionship through art for this community of artists who call themselves “The Group.”

Building on a tradition of life drawing, each artist has developed his or her brand of contemporary realism. Ranging from classical, bold, or transitory, these sometimes sensitive, colorful paintings and sculptures all hold a figurative sensibility as a common ancestor. Relying on authentic experiences that sometimes verge on magical realism, these artists masterfully depict mystery, politics, and humor through their work.

The public is invited to a closing reception on Friday, January 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Grand Opera House Galleries are happy to support Art Loop’s 36^th year in 2024!

The Grand Gallery, at 818 North Market Street, presents the Walking Through Nature – Near and Far by Jeffrey Riddle. An emerging, self-taught artist, Jeff Riddle specializes in subjects from nature, through both close-up and panoramic lenses. “When I’m looking at my subjects to paint,” says Riddle, “I experience them emotionally as well as visually.” Though his work continues to evolve, Jeff finds that the art and culture of Europe have particularly influenced his vision.

Recently retired, Jeff now has the time to devote to his art. Though oil painting is his primary medium, he enjoys experimentation with acrylics, watercolor, charcoal, and pencil. His works have been selected for juried exhibits and won awards through the Rehoboth Art League.

For this exhibition, Jeff shares a series of oil paintings representing Walking Through Nature – Near and Far. All of the subjects reflect his travels with his wife, Audrey.

Meanwhile, the Baby Grand Gallery next door once again hosts the Pacem in Terris Traveling Peace Youth Art Exhibition.

What is your vision of a peaceful world? What does peace mean to you?

Over 500 students from more than 30 Delaware schools and community organizations answered these questions by submitting inspiring artwork and descriptions for the Pacem in Terris 7th Annual Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition. Local leaders selected the strongest messages of peace to travel throughout Delaware as part of this year’s exhibition, which showcases a diverse collection of beautiful, original, inspiring visions and messages of peace. The young artists, all between 5 and 18 years of age, submitted their artwork from public, private, and charter schools or community organizations. Ten additional collections of Traveling Peace youth artwork are concurrently exhibited at galleries and locations across the state. For details, see the Pacem in Terris website at depaceminterris.org.

We are grateful to the young artists and their art teachers, along with the volunteers, generous sponsors, and donors for their support. Special thanks to Jerry’s Artarama and our partners, The Wilmington Public Library and Delaware State Parks. This exhibition is supported, in part, by grants from the Laffey-McHugh Foundation and The Delaware Division of the Arts. The Delaware Division of the Arts is a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware Art events on DelawareScene.com.

There will be an Art Loop reception In both galleries from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Huxley & Hiro Booksellers, at 419 North Market Street, proudly presents the work of artist Matthew Borgen. Borgen’s art, which takes inspiration from comic books produced during the mid-20^th century, highlights moments where the original works fail to support the ideas or status with which they have been weighted. Through his compositions, Borgen explores content that prioritizes the European patriarchal experience – either deliberately, to increase the political or financial influence of a particular person or group — or unintentionally, as the result of an unrecognized position of privilege. Borgen holds an MFA in painting from the University of Minnesota, and his work has been featured in museums, galleries, and art institutes throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as in Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts, California, and Virginia.

The public is invited to enjoy music, wine, snacks, art – and books! – between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Blue Streak Gallery at Piccolina Toscana, located at 1412 North Dupont Street in the Trolley Square neighborhood, will present the paintings of artist Tracey Landmann and her magical interpretations of various regions of Italy in oil. Tracey shares her perspective on the vivid culture while animating still scenes through the use of color. The public is invited to an Art Loop reception with refreshments on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

COVID GUIDELINES

All visitors are expected to confirm and follow COVID guidelines determined by individual galleries.
 
Patrons are reminded that the Art Loop shuttle will leave the parking lot of The Delaware Contemporary, located at 200 South Madison Street, at 5:45 p.m. The shuttle provides round-trip transportation to Art Loop venues until 8:30 p.m. and is a convenient way to meet other art lovers. The shuttle driver can answer questions and help art enthusiasts navigate the many offerings of Art Loop Wilmington. Reservations are NOT required.

The Wilmington Art Loop is a self-guided visual art exhibition displayed at galleries, studios, museums, and alternative spaces in and around Wilmington. The FREE event draws local and regional art lovers to the Downtown District and greater Wilmington area on the first Friday of the month except for Independence Day Weekend in July. Many venues offer opportunities to meet the featured artists while patrons enjoy refreshments, and, in some cases, live entertainment is scheduled.
 
Art Loop Wilmington’s website – a hand-held guide to the Loop that is easily navigable by gallery location, artist, or type of venue – is mobile-friendly and is updated with the monthly lineup the week of each Art Loop. The site can be accessed at www.artloopwilmington.org.

People can also join the conversation on social media by using #ArtLoopWilm or visiting the Facebook Page. The next Art Loop will take place on Friday, February 2, 2024.