Mosaic—A Kaleidoscope of Color
Rehoboth Beach’s art scene is shining a
little brighter and dazzlingly more colorful with the newly formed
collective Mosaic. Not simply another gallery, Mosaic is a partnership of
a dozen Fine Art galleries organized with a mission—promoting art
awareness in Rehoboth Beach—while in true Rehoboth Beach style mixing a
little business with pleasure and, a lot of fun.
Is there anything better than strolling our
streets (maybe even while using that one hour wait for your table to open
up at a local eatery) and wandering into a gallery filled with treats for
your stomach and feasts for your eyes? Mosaic members certainly hope not.
Beginning May 10th, Mosaic began an art-walk event called “Second
Saturdays: Destination Art.” Aptly named, this event will commence on
the second Saturday of every month from 6-9 pm. All one dozen galleries
will be open during these hours and serving varied refreshments
interspersed with conversation and well, art.
Like so many successful ventures in
Rehoboth, Mosaic grew out of a cup of coffee and conversation between two
recent transplants to our town. Jay Pastore (Gallery 50) and Jeanne Lucas
Ponko (Amandeline Gallery) were chatting about the art scene in their two
former home cities. Jay spoke of how in DC, they began Capitol Hill’s
First Fridays. Jeanne spoke of the frustration she faced in the Pittsburgh
art scene as cooperation between galleries was exceptionally difficult
because there is simply no “arts district” and the distance makes for
very individual approaches to find and establish clients rather than
focusing on building a cohesive community.
As one gallery owner retold this
conversation to another gallery owner, this small chat began to grow and
over the course of one winter, a brand new arts district was being
birthed. As the number of local galleries has grown, it became apparent is
was time for Rehoboth Beach to step into those big shoes and evolve into a
destination for art—for great artists and for great artwork.
Every two weeks, the gallery owners met,
miraculously keeping to one agenda. Mosaic would be created to join forces
and showcase art both individually to each gallery and in unison as a
collective arts district. As Jay Pastore explains, “There is no need for
our gallery owners to think of themselves as competitors. A person buys a
certain piece of art because they make an individual, emotional connection
to the work. Our galleries all carry not only different artists, but
different mediums as well and by working together we can facilitate a
buyer to a piece of art that is right and special to them and for them.”
And as you head out on a Second Saturdays:
Destination Art feast, the diversity of the arts district of Rehoboth
Beach is what you can explore. From the well-established AerieArt Gallery
to the brand new, never-before-seen-by-the-public arrival of Ward Ellinger
Gallery, the district will be easily identifiable by its distinctive flag,
a bold mosaic pattern with a black background. Group J Designs, led by
Giancarla Churchman, understood more than what the group wanted, she
understood the strength behind success. She and her team first designed
the striking logo to represent their sum total of different parts and have
now incorporated their vision into walking maps, which are available to
the public. There is also a Mosaic website. This has not been an easy task
for Group J, when you have to provide art for a group of eleven specific
and diverse critics!
If by chance you’re reading this and
thinking that wall space might be at a premium for you, let’s remember,
Mosaic is building an arts district. Art doesn’t only hang on walls. If
you stop by Mosaic member Heidi Lowe’s Jewelry Studio, you might wear
your new art home. If you stop by Panache Gallery, you might fall in love
with a magnificent piece of glass art for your coffee table. And, if you
like to meet the artists whose work you buy, members will be showcasing
different artists all the time.
And so, while strolling about, perhaps
latte in hand, remember that this is merely a first stage in building an
arts district. The collective members are laying groundwork for waking
those of us who have settled into long winter naps with thoughts for
showcasing emerging artists, student art competitions and perhaps inviting
in an apprentice artist or two for our often very quiet off-season months.
In an ideal world—in the not too distant future—Mosaic will have moved
its art from behind closed doors to be embraced by public eyes and
consciousness. As our community supports their endeavor, they will look to
take a simple Saturday night stroll, spill it over into the streets and
maybe, finally into a festival that will stand shoulder to shoulder with
the best. It may seem far away, but then again, Taos was once nothing but
someone’s dream.
Michael Muller, (co-owner with Tom Boeke of
Detail—A Gallery for the Home), summed up the future well, “We have a
growing, “destination Rehoboth Beach” Jazz Festival, Film Festival,
even a Chocolate Festival. Why shouldn’t there be an art festival?”
Why indeed.
Current Mosaic Gallery members include
AerieArt Gallery (with two locations), Amandeline Gallery, Coastal
Frameshop & Gallery, Detail, Gallery 50, Heidi Lowe Jewelry, Kennedy
Gallery, Panache Gallery, Philip Morton Gallery, Thunderbird Shop &
Gallery, and Ward Ellinger Gallery.
For more information on all Mosaic events,
visit www.mosaicrehoboth.com.
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