May arts and events - Chadds Ford Live

Some of the biggest art events on the Brandywine Valley calendar are ready to get into full swing! This includes the highly anticipated return of the Spring Gallery Walk in Downtown West Chester the evening of May 6^th. Businesses around town turn into art galleries for the evening, each with a different artist or exhibit on display. And don’t forget to save the dates for the Chester County Studio Tour, Saturday, May 14^th to Sunday, May 15^th. Expect a full preview next week of what to expect from the tour which features open studios, gallery, and artist spaces throughout Chester County.

John O’Brien, Executive Director of the West Chester BID, Business Improvement District, notes they are excited to bring the Spring Gallery Walk back this year: “We are excited to showcase the great local artists in West Chester! The Gallery Walk is a self-guided art tour that features art galleries and special one-night shows at select retail stores. This is a marquee event in West Chester and we cannot wait to see everyone!” The Spring Gallery Walk is Friday, May 6^th, from 4 to 8 pm in Downtown West Chester. Free on-street metered parking is available. Information, including participating businesses and locations, is available at DowntownWestChester.com.

One of the most popular spots on the Gallery Walk is always the welcoming David Katz Gallery, and this year, Katz is premiering new artwork based on a unique collaboration with West Chester Views. Joining will be Jennifer Domal, who will be showing a selection of her traditional and modern takes on Pysanki/Pisanki Painted Eggs. The breathtaking delicate and detailed pieces set among the large-scale painting of the gallery are not to be missed! The David Katz Gallery is located at 128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at DavidKatzGallery.com.

At the other end of the Brandywine Valley, Chester County artist Lele Galer will be among the artists shown at the May Art Loop on May 6th in Wilmington, DE. Galer will exhibit her new show, Petal and Metal, at the Blue Streak Gallery. More than twenty other spots on the tour will feature local and new artists alongside longtime favorites and traditional exhibitions. The Wilmington Art Loop is held every First Friday in Downtown Wilmington. This month’s Loop will be held Friday, May 6^th, from 5 to 9 pm. A complimentary shuttle will run between the stops from The Delaware Contemporary, 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE, DEContemporary.org. More information, including all the stops and featured artists and shows on the Loop, can be found at ArtLoopWilmington.org. The Blue Streak Gallery is located at 1721 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE.

Seven artists come together to reflect on what it has meant to be an artist through the pandemic in a new show, Reflections, at The Art Trust, on display through June 10^th. The show includes an exhibit-specific piece, and the Opening Reception will be held during the West Chester Spring Gallery Walk on Friday, May 6^th from 4 to 8 pm. An Artist’s Talk will be held on Thursday, May 19^th, at 7 pm, and the Closing Event will be held on Thursday, June 9^th from 5 to 8:30 pm. The Art Trust is at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.

Audiences are invited to take a closer look at The Natural Sublime, the new show by Charles Schmidt at the Church Street Gallery. The show opens with a Cocktail Reception Thursday, May 5^th from 5 to 8 pm and the show runs through May 28^th. You can also stop by during the Spring Gallery Walk in Downtown West Chester. The Church Street Gallery is at 12 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChurchStreetGalleryWC.com.

Get a sneak peak of what to expect at the Chester County Arts Association in its new show View: Experience the Art of the Chester County Studio Tour. One of the highlights of the art year, the Chester County Studio Tour features over 165 artists in over 65 studios throughout Chester County, all of which open their doors to the public for one weekend, Saturday, May 14^th to Sunday, May 15^th. See a preview of artwork from some participating artists and galleries at the CCAA and plan your stops for the next weekend. An Opening Reception will be held Thursday, May 5^th from 5 to 8 pm, and the exhibition runs through May 27^th. The CCAA is located at 100 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org.

Stop and smell the roses—or see them in vivid detail at least!—at Beautiful Blossoms at Square Pear Gallery, opening with a reception on Friday, May 6^th, from 6 to 8 pm. Featuring gorgeous still life landscapes and close perspectives of all types of florals from nineteen local artists, this show runs through July 3^rd. The Square Pear Gallery is located at 200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at SquarePearGallery.com.

The Howard Pyle Studio will show artwork by Members of the Studio Group during the May Art Loop in Wilmington, DE on Friday, May 6^th from 5 to 7:30 pm. The Howard Pyle Studio is located at 1305 North Franklin Street, Wilmington, DE. More information can be found at HowardPyleStudio.org.

The Three J’s join together for a group exhibition at the Oxford Arts Alliance. Featuring the work of John Sauers, Jonathan West, and Justin Woytowitz, all local artists, the plein air landscapes bring emotion to the natural world. An Opening Reception will be held on May 6^th from 5 to 8 pm, and the exhibit is on view until May 27^th. The Gallery will also be open for the Chester County Studio Tour. The Emerging Artist Gallery will show the work of Oxford Area High School Art Student Rebecca Sharadin with A Collection of Silly, Little Drawings from May 6^th through June 24^th. The Oxford Arts Alliance is at 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA. More information can be found at OxfordArt.org.

Darlington Art Center will display their Teaching Artist and Member Gallery from May 14^th through June 3^rd. There are events ongoing at the 4 Arts Festival from May 14^th through June 11^th, featuring Music, Visual Art, Dance, and Drama. This family friendly event supports young artists and the community. The Darlington Arts Center is at 977 Shavertown Road, Garnet Valley, PA. More information can be found at DarlingtonArts.org.

Familiar artists return to The Station Gallery from May 6^th to the 27^th for the New Paintings, Gallery Artists show. Meet artists Terry Anderson, Rosemary Castiglioni, Sue Ciccone, and Frank DePietro at the Opening Reception Friday, May 6^th from 5 to 8 pm. The Station Gallery is located at 3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE. More information can be found at StationGallery.net.

Artist Stefanie Lieberman adds her vibrant landscapes to Spring Collections at Gallery 222, curated with styling vignettes throughout by Andrea Cummins-Disbro. An Artist Reception will be held Thursday, May 5^th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.