Spring has sprung at the Rehoboth Art League, and the organization will exhibit lush landscapes, beautiful florals and historic sketches during April.
Three new exhibitions with opening receptions set for 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 31, are Ephemeral, featuring works from Frank DePietro in the Corkran Gallery; Vanishing Landscapes of Sussex County with paintings from Michelle Marshall-Johnson in the Tubbs Gallery; and Past and Present, pieces from Howard Schroeder and members of the RAL sketch group in the Ventures Gallery. These shows will be on display to the public through Sunday, April 30.
DePietro’s striking floral oil paintings on display for Ephemeral focus on nature and its organic composition. The flowers DePietro paints explore the colors, lines, forms and shapes that create these natural blossoms. “This body of work is a quiet contemplation on the observations of the perennial nature of plants, in correlation to emotional and intellectual bonds we cast upon them. My appreciation and respect for each visible transition in the life cycle have evolved and grown throughout my paintings, with each element serving a distinct role essential to an ultimate purpose,” said DePietro.
Marshall-Johnson explores the ever-changing landscape of the local beach region. “As you drive through our beautiful landscape, another swath of farmland has morphed into a grand housing development, permanently replacing the seasonal crops of green and then gold, as well the majestic cows and livestock, with vast acres of identical homes at the beach. The classic (and rich in history) architecture of barns and outbuildings eliminated. Marshlands and their ecosystem filled in and replaced with retail,” she said. “Vanishing Landscapes of Sussex County illustrates and preserves some of these lost and disappearing landscapes in contemporary paintings.”
The Rehoboth Art League’s 85th Anniversary celebration continues this month with the show Past and Present: Howard Schroeder Sketch Group. In 1949, Schroeder started the Open Studio Sketch Group at RAL to give artists an opportunity to gather once a week to sketch or paint live models. This group, which continues to this day and has been renamed the Howard Schroeder Sketch Group, has been an outlet for artists to practice their skills in drawing and painting, and also share ideas and help one another. The Ventures Gallery will feature drawings created by Schroeder during the open studio sessions as well as works from current participating artists.
The exhibitions are free and open to everyone during the regular gallery hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday.
For more information, go to RehobothArtLeague.org or call 302-227-8408.