A visit to Somerville Manning Gallery (SMG) in Greenville, DE, in its idyllic setting along Brandywine Creek, can be soothing for the soul. Gallery Director Rebecca Moore loves working in such a richly historic setting, “I look out my office windows and see nature every day. Sometimes we get jaded having so much history in this area. The Henry Clay village is filled with what used to be mill workers houses for gun powder mills on the Hadley property. This building was home to a theater and playhouse, for The Brecks Mill players on the third floor, where sculptor and Pocopson native Andre Harve later had his showroom until he passed in 2018. The tower still holds the original shift bell, used when it was a mill. We are a destination. We’re this hidden gem that people seek out, not only in this area but nationwide and internationally.”
Moore studied art conservation at the University of Delaware with a focus on curatorial practices. “After college I took a job with the Delaware Division of the Arts running their gallery space and managing their grant programs. While there I met SMG co-owner Vicki Manning. I eventually joined SMG and have been here 10 years now. About six years ago, co-owner Sadie Somerville retired and I became Director. Vicki is still very much involved and I run the gallery for her."
Moore talked about 2020’s impact saying, “We rode out the summer with enough sales to keep us afloat but when fall hit, things started booming. My theory has three parts. One, the stock market continues to do well. Two, everyone is home and looking at empty walls or re-decorating. Three, there’s been a shift towards having experiences over buying things but that stopped when we stopped traveling. When you take away the experiences, people have more disposable income and spend it on things again.”
It’s a concept that also has something to do with the age of their patrons. About the demographics, Moore said, “Those under 40 love art but can’t afford it. Over 60 is our biggest client base. The in-betweens are the generation that wanted that experience over things. Now that they are buying, we’re here to help. It’s becoming an educational, fun experience. They’re getting that good feeling you get when you support artists and recognize that art isn’t a commodity; it is about culture and history and I love that people are starting to realize that.”
Political art’s been making the rounds given recent events but some folks are over it and want a break. Enter artists who are making light and airy paintings filled with pretty hues. Moore is aware of the trend. “People want joy and color and happy pieces have been selling like crazy.” When asked how this is happening without preview parties and openings, Moore said, “It’s the internet. Everyone’s on Instagram and are online shopping, it’s opened up a new client base for us. They aren’t in this area, and they don’t know the artists either. They are buying sight unseen, and in greater numbers than ever before. The usual is, they know the artist and they know what to expect. But not with this new show of first timer Elizabeth Endres’ work. I’ve been blown away by the excitement around it.”
Endres is an emerging artist. It’s rare for SMG to take on someone so early in their career. But she’s bringing in a fresh energy. Her paintings are bold yet loose and somewhat surreal. She graduated from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art (PAFA) where Moore discovered her. Every year she attends the student show. “I take everyone’s cards, I take pictures and I follow them to watch how they progress. Elizabeth is the first artist in a long time we felt strongly enough to bring on. Some of my clients who buy Wyeths’, were buying her work out of those student shows. We took it as a sign and decided to give her a try. This is her first gallery and her first solo exhibition. It’s huge for her.”
It’s an exciting time for SMG too. Moore said, “I love to be an advocate for our artists and help them build their career. Over the years we work to help them get catalogs and museum shows, it’s not just about showing the art for us. So, it’s exciting for us to be able to help Elizabeth with that from the ground level. She’s new to it all and it’s a special experience. I hope this show gives her confidence that she’s doing something really good and she should keep going with it.” The show opens on March 12th and runs through April 3rd. Visit here for all the details.
In Haverford, Main Line Art Center’s 17th Annual Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition is on view now through April 30th. The virtual show is in partnership with The Colored Girls Museum (TCGM). MLAC Co-Directors Ariel Edwards and Lisa Getz along with TCGM Executive Director, Vashti DuBois are hosting award recipients Celestine Wilson-Hughes (stained glass), Toni Kersey (mixed media fiber) and Patricia Renee’ Thomas (painting). The virtual reception is this Thursday evening, March 11th. To register for the Zoom event, visit here.
Whatever you do this week, support the arts!!
About Constance McBride
A native of Philadelphia, Constance McBride lived in Arizona for 16 years, where desert observations made a transformative impact on her work as a research based visual artist. Passionate about contemporary art, she was actively engaged in the local arts community. She served as a board member for several art organizations, managed an artist collective/gallery space, curated and juried several exhibitions and wrote for two arts publications in Phoenix. She taught ceramics at Shemer Art Center and Museum and exhibited her work both locally and nationally. McBride returned to Pennsylvania in 2018 and resides in Chester Springs with her husband and two dogs. In West Chester, she serves as a board member at The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank and teaches ceramics at Chester County Art Association. She also teaches at Clay on Main in Oley, PA. She is a member of American Craft Council, Philadelphia Sculptors, and Women’s Caucus for Art, Philadelphia Chapter.
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