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Fri, Aug 15, 2008
Outdoor Rehoboth Art League show celebrates 30 years
By Georgia Leonhart
There’s something magical about the Rehoboth Art League’s outdoor shows where more than 100 artists present their works on three and a half beautiful acres surrounded by tall trees and flowering gardens. Drawing thousands of people annually, the two-weekend event is a highlight of each summer season.
If the first weekend is any indication, this year’s 35th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Exhibit will be among the most successful ever, said Chairwoman Dolores Andrew.
“We had a smashing first day,” said Andrew of the show’s Saturday, Aug. 9 opening. “It was like one of those old Mickey Rooney movies where everything in the world is fine.”
Sunday started out beautifully but thunderstorms and hail interrupted things for a couple of hours. “A few tent calamities led to some early departures, but almost everyone decided to hang in there,” Andrew said later in the afternoon, as cool breezes caressed exhibitors and their many visitors under an almost cloudless sky.
Though some of the artists may change from year to year, the quality of work presented does not. The arts and crafts on display delight the senses. In addition to fine paintings, drawings, photographs and prints, the show features excellent sculpture, glassworks, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, fabric art and more.
Regular visitor Robin Smith, who said she tries to schedule her family’s week-long visit from Baltimore, MD to Rehoboth to correspond with the outdoor show, especially appreciates the show’s setting. “I like how the show meanders around the grounds and encompasses the buildings. I like seeing where the art classes are held and the restored gardens at the Homestead,” Smith said. “I admire how the people here support the artists in their community.”
Andrew, who has chaired the show for the past 15 years, agreed that strong community support and the show’s location make it unique among other shows.
The show also features music, refreshments and entertainment for children.
The Rehoboth Art League’s 35th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Exhibit continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16 and 17, rain or shine at the art league grounds at 12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres. It will include works by many artists who did not exhibit the first weekend.
Parking at the site is limited but free shuttle parking is available at the Holland Glade Road little league field. More information is available by calling 302-227-8404 or online under the calendar of events at www.rehobothartleague.org.
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