ABOUT FACE: River Walk hosts March portrait exhibit

Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 26, 2014

VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS A THOUSAND SHIPS: “Just Ahead,” a ceramic bust by Candace Young of Bay River Pottery, is one of the pieces that will be on display for River Walk Gallery’s portrait exhibit. The downtown Washington gallery’s latest exhibit will be on display from March 1 to March 24.

VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS
A THOUSAND SHIPS: “Just Ahead,” a ceramic bust by Candace Young of Bay River Pottery, is one of the pieces that will be on display for River Walk Gallery’s portrait exhibit. The downtown Washington gallery’s latest exhibit will be on display from March 1 to March 24.

 

Each one is unique — as time and life pass by, every face becomes a reflection of the individual. And just as each face unique, so are the portraits that recreate them.

During the month of March, River Walk Gallery and Arts Center will be hosting a portrait exhibit: using any medium, created by any artist, portraying any subject. Show entries are being collected until Friday. Saturday, they’ll be hung in the Main Street Washington gallery for the public to view.

“Part of our aim is to give local artists a place to display their work and try to open it up to our local public,” said Jane Wall, a River Walk artist-member. “It’s really about supporting each other.”

River Walk has approximately 15 artist-members on display in the gallery. Watercolors, oils, acrylics and textiles line the walls; ceramics and jewelry line display shelves and cases. From the ceiling, hang pressed glass and stained glass works. Members donate one or two days a month working the gallery where their work hangs.

“This will sound hackneyed, but it’s a labor of love for all of these people,” Wall said, gesturing to the work lining the walls.

Not all of the work displayed in the gallery is by member-artists — some is on consignment, some might be part of traveling shows that make a stop in Washington. In the case of the portrait exhibit, River Walk members have invited any artist who’d like to participate.

“A lot of people, if they don’t hang anywhere, would like to hang somewhere,” Wall said.

For local artists, the March portrait exhibit is an opportunity; for art lovers, it’s a unique exhibit; for River Walk Gallery members, it’s another way to showcase their “labor of love.”

River Walk is located at 139 W. Main St. Washington. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The portrait exhibit will be on display from March 1 until March 24.