December art roundup - Chadds Ford Live

The workshops of artists and crafters throughout the Brandywine Valley have been bustling all year to make sure they are ready to celebrate the holidays in grand style! The results are on view in galleries and at holiday markets throughout December. Bundle up, get inspired, and support local artists this season!

The famous Brandywine Railroad returns to the Brandywine River Museum of Art through January 8^thfor its Fiftieth Year! Find out more in this article on the history of the exhibition in this article: "50 Years of Wow! at the Brandywine Railroad." Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art is on view in two galleries through January 8th. This exhibition examines the fragility of the environment and our relationship with it through works by Mark Dion, Courtney Mattison, and others. It includes a site-specific installation and a commissioned mural that relates to the native flora and fauna of the Brandywine Valley. Also don’t miss the annual Critter Sale, held offsite at the Chadds Ford Historical Society from December 1^st through the 4^th. The Brandywine River Museum is located at 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA. More information can be found online at Brandywine.org/Museum.

Stained Glass, Galer Estate Winery, Jeremy McGirl at Gallery 222

The Christkindlmarkt is back at the Chester County Art Association Friday, December 2^nd from 4 to 8 pm and Saturday, December 3^rd from 10 am to 5 pm. Over 40 stalls will showcase art, ceramics, jewelry, homewares, and more. There will also be food available and live music. Then the $300 and Under Members Show starts with an Opening Reception Thursday, December 8^th from 5 to 7 pm and is on view through January 3^rd. The Shop Art Gift Store is also refreshed with all types of gifts perfect for everyone. The CCAA is located at 100 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org.

The wonder of Yuletide is on display at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library this season! This year, a new toy train display presented by the Standard Gauge Module Association joins the festive décor, along with a large-scale gingerbread version of the Winterthur mansion, along with trees inspired by those seen at the White House during the Kennedy years. This is in conjunction with the current exhibition, Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House. Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library is located at 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE. More information can be found at Winterthur.org.

While you are in town, don’t forget that the West Chester Christmas Parade is back in town, starting at 6:30 on Friday, December 2^nd! Check out DowntownWestChester.com for all the details.

Gifted returns at The Art Trust with 200 works of art by 20 artists in various mediums. On view through January 6^th. The Art Trust is located at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.

Snow Day Doves, Kathy Ruck, Howard Pyle Studio

The Oxford Arts Alliance brings back the Artisan Pop-Up this Friday, December 2^nd during Country Christmas First Friday in Oxford. There will also be a petite painting sale that benefits the Richards Beards Scholarship. A solo show by Lillie Spotts in The Emerging Artist Gallery is on view until December 16^th. The Oxford Arts Alliance is at 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA. More information can be found at OxfordArt.org.

Don’t miss The 2022 Kennett Square Holiday Village Market presented by Kennett Collaborative at The Creamery. Stop by from 11 am to 5 pm on December 3, 4^th, 10^th, & 11^th. There is a free shuttle available to Downtown Kennett Square. The Creamery is located at 401 Birch Street, Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at KennettHolidayMarket.com.

Robert Bohné brings their solo show Appreciations to the Church Street Gallery. On view starting December 2^ndthrough January 7^th, a Cocktail Reception will be held on Friday, December 9^th from 5 to 8 pm. Explore this gallery and others during First Friday in West Chester. The Church Street Gallery is at 12 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChurchStreetGalleryWC.com.

Favorite local artists return to Gallery 222 in the Small Works Show. Each piece was chosen with art lovers in mind. The show is on view through December. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.

The Magic of Ferns, a solo exhibition by Emie Hughes, will be on view at The Jeweled Warrior through December. An Opening Reception will be held Friday, December 9^th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The Jeweled Warrior is located at 110 Pottstown Pike, Chester Springs, PA. More information can be found at TheJeweledWarrior.com.

Check out the MAC Holiday Art Show at Media Arts Council, which opens with a reception Friday, December 2^nd from 5 to 7 pm and is on view through December 31^st. The MAC Arts Center is located at 11 E. State Street, Media, PA. More information can be found at MediaArtsCouncil.org.

The Main Line Art Center shows INTRICACY: The 19^th Annual Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition, on view through December 22^nd. Featuring artists Becca Barolli, Agathe Bouton, and Eric Stanley, all presenting works in different mediums, the visually stunning show is juried by Susanna Gold. The Main Line Art Center is located at 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA. More information can be found at MainLineArt.org.

Beauty in Abstraction, Nilanjan Bhowmik, Gifted at The Art Trust

Take a walk around campus to see the art exhibitions at West Chester University. The Knauer Art Gallery is showing the WWII Poster Show through December 19^th. In the John H. Baker Gallery in the E. O. Bull Center for the Arts, Not That Brandywine Tradition shows a new perspective through December 9^th. The E. O. Bull Center for the Arts is located at 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA. For more information, check WCUPA.edu/arts-humanities/artdesign and on Instagram @artsatwcu.

Wrap It Up! returns to the Square Pear Gallery, with works by over twenty local artists in various mediums. The Square Pear Gallery is located at 200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at SquarePearGallery.com.

The Station Gallery has Art Works for the Holidays! December 2^nd through the 24^th. It starts with an Evening of Art & Holiday Cheer on Friday, December 2^nd from 5 to 8 pm. The Station Gallery is located at 3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE. More information can be found at StationGallery.net.

Drop by the David Katz Gallery during First Friday in Downtown West Chester from 5 to 9 pm to see new works, including from their popular Cloud Formations series. The David Katz Gallery is located at 128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at DavidKatzGallery.com.

The Howard Pyle Studio showcases artwork by members of the Studio Art group in the Special Holiday Show! Live music and refreshments will be provided Friday evening during the monthly Wilmington Art Loop on Friday December 2^nd from 5 to 7:30 pm, and the show is open all month. The Howard Pyle Studio is located at 1305 North Franklin Street, Wilmington, DE. More information can be found at HowardPyleStudio.org.

The Wilmington Art Loop is held every First Friday in Downtown Wilmington. This month, it will be held on Friday, December 2^nd, featuring galleries throughout the city including The Bridge Art Gallery and the Christina Cultural Arts Center. 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.

Celebrate The Art of Gifting at Ginkgo Arts in Downtown West Chester. Ginkgo Arts is located at 21 S. High Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at GinkgoArts.com.

Looking for more events happening through the month? Check out @BrandywineArtGuide on Instagram and Facebook!

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.