River District Arts expands

Saturday (March 2) marked the grand opening of River District Arts’ new Artisan Market, which features Virginia-made fine handcrafts, including jewelry, stoneware, wearable art, wooden accessories and photography. The market, like River District Arts, is open 10 to 5 Friday-Sunday.

To celebrate the opening, a pairing of artisan wines and food by Madison County's Early Mountain Vineyards runs from noon to 4 this Saturday (March 9). Sommelier Michelle Gueydan and assistant Jacob Lyon are pouring wines from select Virginia vintners as well as from Early Mountain, and pairing them with tasty morsels. The same day, there’s also a vintage button jewelry-making workshop from 2 to 3 with fiber artist Mary Kenesson, who’s having a trunk sale from 10 to 5 at RDA of her fiber jewelry, purses and clothing. She will be demonstrating throughout the day. ( The 2 p. m. workshop is $ 35; email holly@riverdistrictarts.org to reserve a spot.)

Also opening at RDA in March is Oak Shade Farm Artisans. A local fixture for almost 30 years, Oak Shade Farm is a Mello family venture: Jim Mello is a weaver, Sally Mello creates woodcuts and paints, and she and her daughter, Jeanne Day, hook rugs. Their son, Frank, is a blacksmith and has a forge at the farm. Other family members also felt and weave, and the family grows and sells Christmas trees at the Rectorsville farm. In spring, the Mellos can be found at local farmers markets selling honey, jams, shiitake mushrooms and other organic vegetables.

Oak Shade Farm has rented Studio 9 at River District Arts to display their craft and farm products. There’s an open house for Oak Shade Farm Artisans from 1 to 4 p.m. March 23; a weaving and rug-hooking demonstration will be part of the activities.