Tag Archives: North Carolina

Sunset River features group show, Beach Dreaming

Artist Nancy Hughes Miller, Beach Cloud Colors, oil, 40×40

Sunset River Marketplace, the eclectic art gallery in Calabash, NC will feature Beach Dreaming, a group exhibition of Summer-themed paintings from Wednesday, July 13 through Saturday, August 6. The show includes works by oil painters Connie Winters, Janet Sessoms, Carol Iglesias, Sharon C. Jones, Ruth Cox, and Nancy Hughes Miller; acrylic artists Rachel Sunnell, R.L. Thomas, Vicki Neilon, Ortrud Tyler and Linda Karaskevicus; and watercolorist William West.

Artist Connie Winters, Sunny Day At the Beach, oil, 24×30

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

Artist Sharon C. Jones, Beach Passage, oil, 18×24

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.

Day of ‘Creativity Unleashed’ Scheduled for June 15

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery will celebrate creativity with a day of artists at work on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Refreshments will be served throughout the day. There is no charge and reservations are not necessary.

Gallery owner and artist Ginny Lassiter is one of the participating artists at Creativity Unleashed on Wednesday, June 15.

Gallery owner Ginny Lassiter explains, “We want to share our love for the arts and invite visitors to come and watch some local artists at work.” Lassiter, an artist herself, works in acrylic and will be one of the artists found at her easel throughout the day.

Ice-dyed cotton fabric

The day will begin at 11 a.m. with an ice-dying fabric demonstration by Dariel Bendin. It will include both the process and finished cloth. Throughout the afternoon, clay artist Betsy Parker will be hand building and answering questions about her art. Watercolor artist Brenda Riggins will also be on hand as she creates one of her sought-after portraits.

About Sunset River Marketplace

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The Frame Center, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.

Sunset River Marketplace opens DiGiulio exhibition at gallery’s 20th anniversary reception

The year 2022 marks 20 years of business for Sunset River Marketplace, the eclectic art gallery located in Calabash, NC. According to owner Ginny Lassiter, the gallery has been celebrating throughout the year with special exhibits, events, and charity benefits. On June 3, from 5 – 7 p.m., Sunset River Marketplace will host its official anniversary reception. “We hope our artists, friends, community partners and visitors will all come by to share in a very special evening for us,” said Lassiter.

Artist Joe DiGiulio, Weathering the Storm, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 48×60

The anniversary reception will mark the opening of Dynamic DiGiulios, showcasing works by Raleigh, NC artists Joe and Sharon DiGiulio. Joe DiGiulio is a well-known abstract artist and instructor. A cancer survivor, his work reflects a passion for color and energy exhibited in the many layers of each piece. Originally a sculptor, his love for texture and shape is a consistent theme in his art.

Sharon DiGiulio is a graphic designer by trade and works joyfully in acrylic, collage, oil and resin. She often creates her own stamps, papers and fabrics for her projects. Dynamic DiGiulios opens June 3 and runs through July 4. Both artists will be at the reception on June 3.

Artist Sharon DiGiulio, Hang Ten, oil & resin, 12×12

Since May 20, Sunset River Marketplace has also been hosting a silent auction and exhibition for Birthday Wishes Ministry, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to present underprivileged children with school backpacks and birthday gifts. The fine art and crafts auction includes work by Jill Leach, Roger Tatum and several other acclaimed artists. Bidding will end during the anniversary reception. 

The Afterhours band, a jazz group that performs at the gallery every third Thursday for Jazz Night will provide entertainment during the reception. There will be light hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and drawings for free gift certificates.

Sunset River Marketplace presents group show “Renewal”

“Renewal” is a celebration of the rains that bring Spring Fever, new growth, and outdoor activities. The group exhibition includes oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, and photography. Subject matter ranges from Paris in the rain to children in yellow rain slickers, local wildlife, bicycling, garden bouquets and more. Umbrellas abound!

Featured artists are Lee Mims (oils), Donn McCrary (acrylics), Brenda Riggins (watercolor and acrylics), Vicki Neilon (acrylics), Judi Moore (acrylics), Louis Aliotta (photography), Linda Karaskevicus (watercolor), Roseann Bellinger (acrylics), Gary Baird (photography), Janet Sessoms (oil), Ortrud Tyler (acrylics), Roberta Rotunda (acrylics), Marcus McClanahan (acrylics) and Hank Pulkowski (watercolor).

Roberta Rotunda, Remembering, acrylic, 36×48

The show is hanging now and will remain through Saturday, May 14. There is no charge to the public. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For information, call 910.575.5999. Sunset River Marketplace is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in the historic coastal fishing town of Calabash, NC.

Judi Moore, After the Rain, acrylic 

Ornithology expert Holly Merker to speak

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, NC is set to feature Holly Merker, who will speak about her book, Ornitherapy: For Your Body, Mind and Soul, on Thursday, April 28 from 11 a.m. – 12 noon as part of the gallery’s ongoing Coffee With the Authors series.

Merker, who co-wrote the book with Richard Crossley and Sophie Crossley, has a background in art therapy, but today uses birds and nature toward the same goals of well being in her work as an environmental educator and birding guide. She has worked as a professional birding instructor for National Audubon and many other organizations. Passionate about connecting young people to birds, she co-founded the Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium and has facilitated many young birder groups and teen birding camps.

According to the author, “Ornitherapy, or a more mindful approach to the observation of birds, benefits our mind, body, and souls. We’re pushed and pulled in many directions, no matter our age. If we allow birds and nature to slow us down, we are practicing a form of ‘selfcare.’ Research shows that exposure to nature actively reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while helping build a stronger heart and immune system. Through observation, we can learn not only about birds, but gain insight into our own lives while exploring our connection to the world around us.”

This is a free event, but seating is limited so reservations are required. Call the gallery at 910.575.5999 to hold your spot. Sunset River Marketplace is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in Calabash, NC. Information about upcoming events may be found at the gallery’s website (www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com) and on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Prayers For Ukraine show at Sunset River Marketplace nets $8,569 for Ukraine charity

L-R are Studio 8 artist Vicki Neilon and gallery owner Ginny Lassiter.

From March 17 through March 31, 2022, Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, NC hosted Prayers For Ukraine, a show and sale that donated 100% of proceeds to Project Hope/Crisis In Ukraine. Studio 8, a group of painters at the gallery spearheaded the event. Sixty-three artists donated over 130 pieces of art, culminating in donated sales of $8,569.

Gallery to present Baird’s Birds slide show and talk

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, NC will host Baird’s Birds as part of the gallery’s yearlong 20th anniversary. Wildlife photographer Gary Baird and his wife Sue, often known as Spotter Sue, will present a talk and slide show on Monday, March 21 from 2 – 3 p.m. They will share stories and knowledge about local seabirds and other backyard species that can be found in Coastal North and South Carolina. The event is free, but seating is limited, so the public is encouraged to call the gallery at 910.575.5999 ahead and reserve a seat.

Gary’s love affair with nature began when he started backpacking in the Sierras while a high school student in Southern California. Photography became a natural extension of wanting to capture the beauty of what he was seeing on those trips with others. His passion for photography and nature continued to grow.

As a teacher he was able to pick where he wanted to work, so he chose great places for photography. Gary lived in Colorado, Seattle, New England and for the last 30+ years, North Carolina. After retiring from a career as an educator, he and Sue moved from Raleigh to Carolina Shores.

This has been an amazing gift in that he is living in a wonderful area for photography with the time that retirement offers to fully engage his passion. His roots are as a mountain photographer in the West, but he has fallen in love with the vast array of birds to photograph on the Carolina coast.

Rather than just trying to check off birds he has captured digitally, Gary tries to capture them in dramatic poses or unique light. Gary says, “The nice thing about being a nature photographer is that every time you go out to shoot you are almost guaranteed to see something new or amazing. There are awe-inspiring events taking place every day in nature. It is up to each photographer to bring his or her vision and skill to capture those moments.”

Photography by Gary Baird: painted bunting

One of the most sought-after prizes for bird watchers in the area is a photo of the brilliantly colored Painted Bunting. Gary and Sue find them every year. “Mid-April we start looking for one of the most beautiful birds in this area,” Gary says. “The Painted Bunting is a frequent visitor to Vereen Gardens. One April we were watching them play hide and seek in the thickets to vex my photo attempts. Then one beautifully colored mail, obviously feeling sorry for me, flew onto the rail of the boardwalk and posed for me until I was able to capture him in all his glory.

About Sunset River Marketplace

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351 (this number for framing only).

Calabash gallery features Cape Fear Perspective in January 2022

Sunset River Marketplace, the eclectic art gallery in Calabash, NC, will showcase works by Wilmington, NC artists Janet B. Sessoms, Sharon Jones, Sandy Nelson and David Starbuck in its upcoming exhibition, Cape Fear Perspective, which opens Wednesday, January 12 and runs through Saturday, February 26. A public reception is set for Friday, January 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the gallery.

The exhibition marks the first event of the gallery’s celebratory 20th year in business. According to gallery owner Ginny Lassiter, “We will be celebrating all year with special exhibits, charity events, artist demonstrations, gallery talks, live music and more. I’m thrilled to open the year with this exhibition of oil paintings by these renowned artists.”

Sun Breaking Through, oil by Janet B. Sessoms, 30×24 inches

Janet B. Sessoms is known for her lush oil paintings and has had her work featured in many local and regional publications. She has been honored in many shows, including, most recently, the 2021 Yadkin Art Council Show, 2021 Wilmington Art Associates Spring Show, and was accepted into the 2020 Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s 1st Online Associate and Non-Member Show, New York, NY.

By the Light of the Moon, oil  by Sandy Nelson,  24×24 inches

Sandy Nelson has been named one of the top 200 artists by Artist Magazine. Her landscapes have been accepted to national juried competitions from Main to California. Nelson’s works are also included in two prestigious art books, Best of America: Oil Artists and 100 Southern Artists.

Waiting On the Tide, oil by Sharon Jones, 36×24 inches

Often honored for her sensitive portrayals of coastal wildlife and landscapes, Sharon Jones has been featured in local exhibits and publications including the Official Cape Fear Resource Guide 2021.

Birds of a Feather, oil by David Starbuck, 40×30 inches

A transplant from Silicon Valley, CA, David Starbuck is a full-time, award-winning, and published wildlife artist. He has been featured on the cover of Wrightsville Beach magazine and has had his work juried into the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Calendar.

About Sunset River Marketplace

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.

Special Covid 19 Notice: To meet North Carolina State guidelines, Sunset River Marketplace requests that patrons who are not fully vaccinated wear face coverings and requires the use of hand sanitizer plus six-foot social distancing between gallery visitors and at the cash register.  The gallery staff conducts thorough cleaning of surfaces upon opening and closing and during the day and has placed complimentary hand sanitizer throughout the gallery for visitor use. Depending on alerts from the Governor’s Office, this advisory may change.

Holiday Art Market in Calabash

Sunset River Marketplace, the eclectic art gallery in Calabash, NC will hold its annual Holiday Art Market from Friday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 14. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Mary Cross creates her mussel trees and Christmas gnomes only during the holiday season.

The 10,000 square-foot gallery will be showcasing its wide range of original art, including much that has been designed and created especially for holiday gift-giving: clay sculptures and pottery (including Christmas platters and serving pieces), hand-blown and fused glass, oil paintings, artisan made jewelry, Christmas ornaments and cards, turned wood, baskets, hand-crafted dolls, wood furniture, fiber art, garden art, and more.

There will also be Holiday treats, hot mulled cider, wine and free gift certificate drawings all three days.

Featured artists, many of whom will be on hand during the event, include Gary Baird (wildlife photography), Ruth Cox (oil paintings), Jewel Simmons (silver jewelry), Sherry Godfrey (Kokedama and pottery), Mary Cross (pottery and mussel trees), Betsy Parker (clay sculptures and pottery), Pat White (watercolors and Holiday gifts), Donna Michaux (pottery), Kathie Wolk (pottery), Laura Johansen (fiber art dolls), Vicki Neilon (acrylics), Brenda Riggins (acrylics and ornaments), Ardie Praetorius (pottery), Wes Wagner (wood furniture and other items); Bob Monthie (wood trays and boxes), Marlene Cassidy (jewelry), Kathy Joyce (clay sculptures and pottery), Linda Thomas (miniature paintings), Barbara Bryant (fiber baskets, coasters and ornaments), Leo Dwyer (gourd art), Kakie Honig (fused glass Christmas trees), Rachel Sunnell (acrylic paintings and ornaments), Judi Moore (acrylic paintings), Roseann Bellinger (Holiday miniatures and paintings), Bob Moffett (turned wood), Kathy Duckworth (acrylic paintings), and Sharon Dodge (pottery).

About Sunset River Marketplace

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.

Special Covid 19 Notice: To meet North Carolina State guidelines, Sunset River Marketplace requests that patrons who are not fully vaccinated wear face coverings and requires the use of hand sanitizer plus six-foot social distancing between gallery visitors and at the cash register.  The gallery staff conducts thorough cleaning of surfaces upon opening and closing and during the day and has placed complimentary hand sanitizer throughout the gallery for visitor use. Depending on alerts from the Governor’s Office, this advisory may change.

Renowned clay artist Mark Gordon featured at Sunset River Marketplace

Mark Gordon, formerly the associate professor of art and design at Barton College in Wilson, NC, will be the featured artist at Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC from Wednesday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, January 9, 2021, gallery owner Ginny Lassiter has announced.

“Mark’s work is exciting, organic and I’m thrilled to show it here at the gallery,” Lassiter recently noted. “Included in the show will be a number of Mark’s innovative ‘cube spheres,’ which are assembled ceramic sculptures made in a unique clayworking technique that Mark calls ‘dry-wet-dry.’ “

According to Gordon, “ the bone-dry modules and inner matrix form are united with a ‘mortar’ of wet clay, and then quickly dried. The clay mixture includes a large percentage of sawdust to decrease shrinkage, as well as to provide a rough surface for adhesion. The finished clay piece is fired to 2300 F and then fired again to 2100 F with the glaze.”

Gordon received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Physical Education from Oberlin Collect in Ohio and an MFA in Studio Art from Ohio State University. He has worked in clay for 45+ years and his work is exhibited regionally and nationally in galleries, universities and museums.

The artist has traveled to 24 different countries to document pottery-making traditions throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Fluent in Spanish, he was a 1991 Fullbright lecturer at the Universidad Nacional in Obera, Argentina. He has given claywork demonstrations in Caracas, Cairo, Madrid, Amakusa (Japan), Jerusalem, and La Romana (Dominican Republic).

Photographs of Gordon’s work have appeared in American Ceramics; Ceramics Monthly; the New York Times; American Craft; Clay Times; The Journal of Ceramic Trends and Technique; Revista Internacional (Spain); and Ceramics: Art and Perception. He was featured in a career interview and images of his work were included in the 2010 Davis Publications textbook Experience Clay by Maureen Mackey. His work a also featured on a 2009 cover of PotteryMaking Ilustrated with the article “Pushing the Envelope” on his process of wet/dry assembly.

Other selected honors include the Lincoln Financial Excellence in Teaching Award, Barton College, 2018; lecture-demonstration, Amakusa Maruo Pottery, Kumamoto, Japan, 2018; Core Grant Review Committee, Fulbright Commission, Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 2013-present.

Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the eclectic gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

Special Covid 19 Notice: To meet North Carolina State mandates, Sunset River Marketplace requires that patrons wear face coverings and requires the use of hand sanitizer plus six-foot social distancing between gallery visitors and at the cash register.  The gallery staff conducts thorough cleaning of surfaces upon opening and closing and during the day and has placed complimentary hand sanitizer throughout the gallery for visitor use.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467.  Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.