City News | Wilmington, DE
Multiple galleries in and around Wilmington will participate this month
Life Wreath Gold by Donna Usher
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, City Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz, and Jerry duPhily of Out & About Magazine invite City residents and art lovers from around the region to the next Art Loop Wilmington, Friday, July 8. The popular FREE art exhibition, now in its 34th year, is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Out & About. Multiple galleries in and around Wilmington will participate in this month’s Art Loop. A complete list can be found in the July issue of Out and About.
Wilmington’s Redding Gallery, located at 800 North French Street, continues to present the work of painter Donna Usher, a graduate of the Moore College of Art & Design and the University of Delaware who was an Associate Professor of Art at West Chester University for 25 years. In 2021, Ms. Usher was awarded the Honors College Emerita Designation by the West Chester University Council of Trustees. In addition, in 1999 Professor Usher received the Faculty Merit Award for Creative Endeavors and Collaboration with Students.
Donna Usher’s artwork is influenced by the commonalities of patterns, shapes and forms found in nature, such as circles, spheres, organic shapes, microscopic cells, aquatic life, deep space planets, and wind patterns seen from above the earth. Her frequent use of dots is inspired by a trip to Australia to study ancient Aborigine Dot Painting.
Ms. Usher’s artworks have been exhibited in over 70 national and international juried and invitational exhibitions. Her artworks are in the Permanent Collections of the National Centre of Fine Arts, Cairo, Egypt; The Museum of Cozumel, Mexico; Reading Public Museum; Verizon Corporate Offices; Franklin Mint, Hercules Chemical Corporation; West Chester University; Moore College of Art & Design; Regional Center for Women in the Arts; Downingtown Public Library; American Restaurant Association Corporate Offices, and numerous private collections.
There is no reception in July, but all are Invited to view Donna Usher’s continuing exhibition at the Redding Gallery. For more artist information visit: DonnaUsher.com
Other featured establishments in July include The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery, The MKT Gallery, The Grand Opera House, The Christina Cultural Arts Center, the Chris White Gallery, and Bridge Art Gallery.
Jester by Forest Z. Allread
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building at 820 North French Street, is pleased to present Lewes-based Forest Z. Allred’s “Smorgasbord,” a playful exhibit of large scale, mixed media paintings and small works derived from digital illustration, photography, and animation techniques. The term “smorgasbord” typically refers to a celebratory buffet of various foods, both hot and cold. Allread explains, “I have cooked up a variety of ingredients and churned out each work of art for Smorgasbord; so, feast upon your eyes and indulge in the pleasure of viewing.” The Delaware Division of the Arts invites you to an Art Loop reception on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. The show runs through Friday, July 29.
MKT Place Gallery, at 200 West Ninth Street, proudly presents Ice Box’s Icee Summer Art Exhibition. Ice Box clothing brand is introducing a unique pop-art and art exhibit highlighting the Ice Box brand as well as local artists James Wyatt, Danny Cortes, and Rumkake Universe. Come and experience 1- and 3-dimensional artistry and shop the Streetwear-inspired brand. The exhibition, which opened last week, continues until Friday, July 29. You’re invited to an Art Loop reception from this Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Victor Bloise’s The Masks We Wear
The Grand Opera House, located at 818 North Market Street, will present the work of two artists, Victor Bloise and Theresa Angela Taylor. The Grand Gallery will present “Unregulated,” an exhibition of works by artist Victor Bloise, whose work represents his personal experience in line with his belief that art “should be an original and unique expression of the artist.”
Cuban Cigars by Theresa Angela Taylor
Meanwhile, the baby grand Gallery will feature works by Dover resident Theresa Angela Taylor in an exhibition entitled “The Circumstances of Building an Honorable Life.” For Taylor, art is a family tradition. Raised in a creative Harlem family, Taylor’s father, himself a painter, taught her to draw when she was just three. Her grandfather was a jazz singer with the Cab Calloway. As a high school student at Laurinburg Institute, a fabled North Carolina boarding school, Taylor discovered she was dyslexic and was diagnosed with ADD. The school was instrumental in instilling confidence and the sense of possibility that led her to work in business and graphic design in the Washington D.C. area. As an adult, Taylor studied at the Art Institute of Washington, and throughout her long business career, she painted every day. Show hours are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Get Your Coin Sis by Rising Phoenix
Christina Cultural Arts Center, at 705-707 North Market Street, presents Emerging Young Artists – a celebration of young, up-and-coming artists who seek to make a positive impact on the Arts Community of Delaware – featuring themes such as social justice, pop culture, identity, relationships, and ore. There will be a reception on Friday, July 8 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Black Back by Yonnie
Chris White Gallery, at 701 Shipley Street, will present “The Floating Stinging,” a solo exhibition of the latest multi-media works by visual artist Yonnie, who uses photography, cinematography, digital design, and music to create intoxicating imagery. Real life is her boxing ring, and her camera is her weapon of choice. Much like Muhammad Ali, she calmly floats throughout life while strategically stinging with a picture, photoshoot, video, design, or other art project. Her work is life itself, living experiments and experiences. There will be an Art Loop reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bridge Art Gallery @ New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, 920 Justison Street, presents “Urban Surrealism” featuring the art of Martryce Roach and Christopher Mack. Roach first introduced her work at The House of Art in her hometown of New Brunswick, NJ, in 2014. With an unconventional approach to pastels, she has since delivered thoughtful and energetic drawings that make your eyes dance as they move across her landscapes of color. Her works are bright, fresh, current, and cultured. Martryce playfully incorporates elements of music, education, geometric shapes, and environment to construct art stories that speak to the human experience, particularly as it relates to African American culture. Christopher Mack is the co-owner of The Bridge Art Gallery.
Gallery owners Cheryl and Christopher Mack are dedicated to advancing artistic activities through public engagement. As the Curators of the Riverfront Office’s for the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, the Macks present monthly art exhibitions that include light refreshments and live entertainment. You are invited to a reception on Friday, July 8 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. presented by the Emerging Enterprise Center (EEC) and The Bridge Art Gallery that will feature art, live entertainment, food and drink. The event is free, but registration is appreciated.
COVID GUIDELINES
All visitors are expected to confirm and follow COVID guidelines as determined by individual galleries.
Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the Art Loop shuttle, which will leave the parking lot of the Chamber of Commerce’s Bridge Art Gallery, located at 920 Justison Street, at 5:45 p.m. The shuttle provides round-trip transportation to either Downtown Art Loop venues or locations in Trolley Square and venues north of Downtown and are a convenient way to meet other art lovers. The shuttle driver will be on-hand at The Contemporary to 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 exhibition of visual art 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 features the monthly lineup at least two weeks prior to the start 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 visit the Facebook Page. The next Art Loop will take place on Friday, August 5, 2022.
COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES:
John Rago
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of the Mayor
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: j[email protected]