Art Watch: Live in and wear your art!

Posted by Lele Galer on November 12, 2015

Bodywork by Ellen Durkan

In Kennett Square, The Episcopal Church of the Advent is hosting their second annual Artisan Fair on Saturday, November 14. It’s being held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church’s Parish Hall, 401 North Union Street, in Kennett Square. Many local popular artists will be participating, including Sarah Dinsel with her lovely hand- painted furniture, Patsy Keller's fused glass, David Lichter's photography, Kat Reitz mixed media works, jewelry by June Sitko and Hattie Weselyk and many more! Find original art for pre-holiday shopping with free parking available at the church.

Also in Kennett Square, from November 14th to the 30th, local galleries and studios will pair with 5 home designers to create art-filled rooms and rug-pairings in the Holly Peters Oriental Rugs and Home building. Have trouble matching art to your bright oriental rugs? Local designers Kate Poole, Francesca Rudin, Renee Biery, Andrea Petrillo and Zoe Hewitt, will help how us to cleverly bring together art and rug statement pieces to create a vibrant home environment. Each of the designers chose art to complement their home designs from the studios of Peter Willard, Carol Lesher, Mala Gallerie and The Longwood Art Gallery. It is often difficult for people to choose the right piece of art for their home, and this fun installation will provide an inspiring selection of possibilities that will encourage us to all have original art in our homes.

Pop up Art Shows are back at Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery in Kennett Square, with Susan Heaver's fantastic one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces for sale on Sunday November 15th. The pop up art shows are always on Sundays, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and offer a delicious taste of wonderful local art for customers to enjoy while sampling their wine. Every time I wear a Susan Heaver necklace I am asked, "Where did you get that? Where can I buy one?" Susan shows often at Wilson Gallery at Wilson Vineyard, The Chadds Ford Art Show, and numerous other local venues in Chester County. I don’t know how she can keep up with the demand for her work!

If you are looking for a very fun and interesting art evening, consider buying tickets for the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts Gala, on Saturday November 14th from 7-10 p.m. From 6-7 p.m. there is also a patron pre-party which includes a gallery tour with the Delaware Governor and First Lady. There is live music by the Bullets, an open bar, catered food, live auction, and best of all, a unique runway show of the out-of this-world "Forged Fashion" by Delaware artist Ellen Durkan.

I first saw Ms. Durkan's work at a blacksmith convention in Maryland. I was so entranced by the display that I crossed over the barriers, and ignored the guards just so that I could examine the work up close. Her work is a marvel of steel welding, cutting and forging that reminds one of comic book fantasy/science fiction and Princess Leia all rolled into one. I am sure that the party will be a blast, and a great fundraiser for this wonderful art institution, but I would pay the price just to see Ellen Durkan's work up close again! Tickets are available online at www.dcca.org starting at $75.

About Lele Galer

Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.