Revving it up for the holidays: Magic of Metal Show and Unionville Art Gala

You know the holidays are around the corner when the art and artisan shows start popping up on the weekends. Art is always the best gift, and there are so many places to buy that special hand-made work of art every weekend during the month of November.

The big must see art events of the month are: The Unionville Art Gala, Nov. 17-18, at Unionville High School, The Magic of Metal art show of metal sculptors at Rob Sigafoos’s art studio, and the Haverford Guild of Craftsmen Fine Arts and Crafts Show at Agnes Irwin School Nov. 18-19. There are also terrific new weekendlong art shows at Galer Estate Winery every weekend in November, great new art openings in galleries and museums, and of course, everything revs up for the month on First Friday, Nov. 3.

First Fridays every month are always a frenzied and fun art event throughout the county, but November’s First Friday is particularly packed with art as it kicks off the holiday gift giving season. This Friday, start in Kennett Square with the First Friday Art Loop, in Kennett Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Most every store in Kennett Square will highlight the work of a local artist, with food, wine and music.

Mala Galleria has its First Friday artist opening for Lynnette Shelley and the remarkable abstract paintings of local artist Torrey Kist will be showing at Philter Coffee this First Friday. With the best coffee and ambiance around, Philter is a great place to grab a delicious coffee or hot chocolate and start your art adventure through Kennett Square. Also of note are the “Pop up Salons” where various chosen apartments are turned into mini galleries. Go to the Historic Kennett website to find details about the pop-up salons and artists of November’s Art Loop Kennett Square (www. Historickennettsquare.com).

The 2nd Annual Magic of Metal Show is Nov. 10 from 6-9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This exciting metal sculpture show features the work 9 local artists who work with metal to create their art, including: Rob Sigafoos, Dave Beck, Laurie Murray, Lele Galer, Hattie Weselyk, Jeff Bell, Ellen Durkan, Karen Delaney and Stan Smokler. The art show is located at Rob Sigafoos’s studio location, Vinewoods Forge Studio at 376 West Street Road in Kennett Square. Inside his studio you can climb up and down the wondrous hand-forged tree-spiral staircase that took 7 years to complete, and chat with each of the artists who will be there with their newest works. Rob Sigafoos says that he “is honored to have these eight spectacular metal artists showing their work at the Vinewoods Forge studio this weekend.” Rob is famous for his beautiful public art sculptures in Kennett Square, and Stan Smokler is an internationally famous steel sculptor who has taught, mentored and inspired most of the new metal artists on the East Coast. This is an exciting sculpture show for anyone who loves metal sculpture.

The Annual Unionville Art Gala at Unionville High School in Kennett Square is Friday Nov. 17 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday Nov.18 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. A percentage of the proceeds from the art sales goes to support the academic programs and projects for student at the high school, and this year’s featured artist is the delightful painter MaryAnn Weselyk. What is most unusual about this large artist show is that half of the show is devoted to student art — many student artists showing for the very first time, alongside established career artists - how cool! I ran this show for many years and was always amazed at the artwork that came from both the young students and the local artists of our area.

Unlike many established shows, this is a place where many artists have their very first show — a fantastic encouragement to creativity and the local arts. There are almost 100 artists displaying their art, students artists, a silent auction and also a big shindig of an event with free catered food, live music and a great party atmosphere on Friday. Saturday is a great time to bring the whole family and figure out what artwork you would like to purchase. Go to www.unionvilleartgala.com or www.facebook/UnionvilleArtGala for a listing of the artists and a description of the big art event.

Another terrific multiartist event is The Haverford Guild of Craftsmen Fine Arts and Crafts Show at the Agnes Irwin School is Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov.19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are too many artists to list, but here is a sampling: paintings by Madeleine Kelly, Sue Stefanski, and Deena Ball, fiber arts by Kathryn Pokalo and Patrick Carrow, jewelry by Caryn Hetherston, Carol McGarvey, Sharon Morse, Maxine Burkholder, and Elizabeth Coats, ceramics by Phyllis Aaron, Peter Cunicelli, Annette Debevec, and Marsha Dowshon. Go to the website www.haverfordguild.org to see a complete listing of the artists and examples of their beautiful work.

At Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, at 700 Folly Hill Road in Kennett Square (just behind Longwood Gardens) art shows are scheduled for every weekend in November — Starting with one-of-akind jewelry by Estelle Lukoff on Sunday, Nov. 5, to the delightful and eclectic Blue Streak Gallery of Wilmington Delaware which will set up shop for the entire weekend of No. 10 through12. From paintings to the most amazing jewelry, scarves, pottery and sculpture, Blue Streak Gallery owner Ellen Bartholomaus will recreate the winery tank room into a pop up gallery store with something for everyone! The Galer Estate Anniversary weekend is Nov.17-19, when John Hannafin will set up a show all weekend long that includes many new images of the vineyard and winery. The last weekend in November, “Lele Galer and Friends” will have a fun mix of paintings, sculpture, jewelry and ceramics for a celebration art party and show to finish off a very busy November month.

Friday Nov. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. is the Annual Open House and Holiday Sale at Heron Studios, located at 3100 Mount Road in Aston, Pennsylvania. This is always a very popular show, so I am very glad that they offer such ample parking. The show continues through the weekend of the 10th as well as the 18th, with another festive art party Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, food trucks and more. The seven resident artists of Heron Studios, including: Lorri Primavera, Mary Gordon, Melanie Errico, John Moser, Jane Porter, Amy Ralston and Sean Roach. For the two weekend Holiday Sale, 9 local artists will join the resident artists, including well-known painter Sarah Baptist and ceramic artist Bob Deane.

Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., is the 4th Annual Artisan Fair at the Church of the Advent, located at the Episcopal Church of the Advent at 401 North Union Street in Kennett Square. Twelve unique artisans will sell their artworks, that range from fiber arts, ceramics, glass fused pieces, wood turned bowls and paintings. The holidays are closer than we think, and this may be a great opportunity to find that oneof-a-kind gift. It always helps, I think, to be able to talk to the artist who has made a piece; you can learn about the care and attention paid to creating each work of art, and it make the piece more special for you to keep in your home or give as a gift.

Sending out a “Cheers” to Kennett Square’s most celebrated artist, Robert Jackson, who has an important one man show in Gallery Henoch in New York City through the month of November. In all, 22 large scale Robert Jackson paintings will be shown, featuring his lively animated still life creations of balloon animals, gumballs, vintage crates and interactive vegetables. A visual delight that brings a smile; rekindling childhood memories and setting a stage with juxstapositioned pop imagery, toys and iconic graphics, Bob Jackson’s works are internationally collected and we are lucky to have his base camp right here in Kennett Square. In his new studio location, he has set up an ever changing window display that mimics his paintings, sure to delight every passer-by.

Stay tuned on Nov. 15 from 1-1:30 p.m. when I will be interviewing Robert Jackson, artist Mark Dance and Mala Galleria owner Stella Scott on Art Watch Radio, WCHE 1520, to chat with them about their new shows. Also on Art Watch Radio, Wednesday Nov. 8, Margaret Winslow, Curator of Contemporary Art at The Delaware Art Museum will be interviewing Heather Campbell Coyle and Philip Koch about their new blockbuster “An American Journey: The Art of John Sloan” retrospective exhibition showing through Jan. 28. Art Watch Radio in November also interviews Vickie Manning of Somerville Manning Gallery inGreenville with artist Greg and Jon Mort on Nov. 29, and discusses the Wayne Art Center’s important “Craft Forms” show on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Check out Art Watch radio every Wednesday when various guest hosts interview and chat with the movers and shakers in our local art world, WCHE am radio 1520 form 1-1:30 p.m.. For past broadcasts go to www. lelegaler.com.

The Station Gallery at 3922 Kennett Pike in Greenville Delaware opens its newest show this Friday Nov. 3, and ending Nov. 25. The First Friday artist reception is 5 to 8 p.m. this Friday. The featured artist is painter Laura McMillan, who paints brightly patterned, whimsical furniture and framed paintings. Working in a variety of media on a variety of surfaces, the artist has a light touch, with lyrical swirls of paint in pleasing colors. Just a few minutes from Station Gallery is the famous Somerville Manning Gallery which featured the paintings of Jon Redmond in “Recent Paintings” through Nov.11. Jon Redmond is a revered local painter of everyday scene, with the quiet of a still life, drawing attention to the minimal objects in a scene, the angles and the light, Jon Redmond is “an artist’s artist” with admirers and students throughout the art world. Somerville Manning Gallery is located at 101 Stone Block Road in Greenville Delaware, open until 5 p.m. on Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Also remember to check out Blue Streak Gallery in Wilmington which opens two gallery shows in November, Paul Simon’s pastel portraits “Let’s Face it: Portraits from Volunteering” and “Just What is it That Makes Art So Appealing?” curated by Dr. Susan Isaacs. Blue Streak Gallery is located at 1721 Delaware Ave. in Wilmington, Del.

If you would like to hear some very interesting artist talks this week, check out The Brandywine River Museum of Art where on Nov. 1 video installation artist Dylan Gauthier discusses his amazing wall to wall ongoing museum video/audio installation at 6 p.m., and Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. Join Ana Vizcarra Rankin for a chat with Patricia Guardiola, Assistant Head of the historic Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania. If you have not been to the recent shows at the Brandywine you really must check them out. These are exhibits never before seen in our area, nor in our own Brandywine River Museum of Art. It really is quite exciting. The top floor has a wonderful small exhibition space devoted to new gifts and acquisitions by the museum. The works are hung beautifully and there are some major stunners, including an image of Andy Warhol and one of Frolic Weymouth, both by Jamie Wyeth, as well as two mesmerizing NC Wyeth paintings and “Queen Anne’s Lace” by Frolic Weymouth that is exquisite. On the lower floor is a pop up painting installation by contemporary painter Ana Vizcarra Rankin, where large unstretched canvases are painted with circles and notations with a nod to the heavens. Contemporary living artists — whether you like the work or not — make you think and react, and gives us all a needed nudge in the ribs that the arts are alive and happening all around us.

Lele Galer is a painter, sculptor and teacher. She co-owns and manages Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery in Kennett Square, manages The Brandywine Artisan Wine Trail, writes a weekly newspaper art column, runs local art shows, weekly pop-up art shows featuring local artists, and more.