American Masterpieces of Southern Craft & Traditional Art

A celebration of 30 master craftspeople and traditional artists from the South. The exhibit introduces visitors to a surprising range of artwork, from a Mardi Gras Indian costume and contemporary glass to baskets, quilts, ceramics and books. This exhibit examines connections and differences between traditional arts and contemporary craft, and the actual stories and voices of living master artists whose work continues an ongoing tradition and whose mastery of the process and materials invites a deeper appreciation of their craft.

Darryl Montana's work is tied to a rich cultural tradition unique to New Orleans. As Chief Darryl Montana, he comes from a family and community intimately involved in the Mardi Gras Indian tradition that dates back to the 1880s. Each year, Montana pushes himself to make his suits "bigger and better" to the point that they now comprise up to five hundred various sized pieces of sequined and/or beaded fabric. Other notable artists include Eastern Kentucky artist, Minnie Adkins, best known for her carved and painted animals, who has been carving since she was old enough to hold a knife. Billie Ruth Sudduth of Bakersville, North Carolina is a self taught basket maker whose baskets are inspired by Shaker and Appalachian baskets. Nicario Jiménez was born into a peasant family high in the Peruvian Andes and now resides in Naples, FL. His compositions, adapted from the Retablos folk art traditions passed down through the centuries from portable shrines carried by Spanish priests; depict religious, historical and everyday events.

Virginia artists who explore traditional art forms have been invited to participate in the exhibition. Their work ranges from embroidery and hat-making to floor cloths, hand-painted furniture and carvings.

TAA Artists & Guests

This juried exhibition is coordinated by the Tidewater Arts Alliance members. This is an open invitational exhibition where artists from the region and beyond are invited to participate. The juror for the 2013 exhibition is the award-winning artist Robert Sites.

For information on TAA, visit their website

On display in the Courtyard

Ten new sculptures go on display in the historic courtyard for the eighth annual juried outdoor sculpture competition. Selections were made by Amy Brandt, the McKinnon Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Visitors are invited to cast their ballot to vote for their favorite sculpture for the People's Choice Award, a monetary award for the winning sculptor. Additional awards include a Juror's Choice, Seawall Art Show Award and Brancusi Merit Award.

This year's exhibit features works by Matthew Amante, Jeff Chyatte, Pattie Porter Firestone, Thomas Givens, David Hubbard, Charles Pilkey and Bill Wood.

Portsmouth's Civil War Home-front

In commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. Drawing from regional history and local collections My Heart Beats for Peace explores the impact of the war on the homefront of Portsmouth, Virginia. The exhibit examines Portsmouth in the early days of the war, when Virginia seceded and became part of the Confederate States of America. The exhibit then concentrates on the Federal occupation of Portsmouth and the area, and how occupation affected the community from 1862 to 1865. Through artifacts such as daguerreotypes, carte-de-visites, letters, camp goods, tools, military equipment, uniforms and dresses the exhibit offers to take you back into wartime Portsmouth. My Heart Beats for Peace also offers a historical glimpse across time into the lives of its people, who despite their differences in race, gender and social status were forever changed by the Civil War.

Wood Engravings of the Civil War by Winslow Homer

At the beginning of his career with Harper's Weekly, Winslow Homer had no formal art training. His early lithographs were taken from Mathew Brady photographs that he then carved onto large wooden blocks. These images were "stamped" onto the pages of Harper's Weekly. During 1861, Homer transitioned from transcribing photographs of important events to making field sketches, and as the war continued, his distinct drawing style emerged. This exhibition of original Harper's Weekly prints was organized by the Peninsula Fine Art Center.



For these three featured artists, their paintings are about the journey and act of creation. Their joy for color, texture and paint exudes from their canvases no matter what the subject. Featuring works by Karen Blair of Charlottesville; Delmon Hall IV of Lyndhurst; and Rob Vanderzee of Alexandria, VA.



Sumi-e Society of America

Featuring 120 juried works in painting and calligraphy from across the nation in celebration of the organization's 50-year anniversary. The Sumi-e Society of America was founded in 1963 to foster and encourage an appreciation of East Asian brush painting. Over the years, the Society has grown to include chapters in the United States and Canada. The Blue Heron Chapter, located in Hampton Roads is organizing this exhibit, workshops, lectures and demonstrations of East Asian brush painting.





Our kick-off of the holiday season. This annual exhibition now in its tenth year, is on view at two sites, features new exhibits and selected displays from the Coleman Nursery Collection, which became a tradition for families from across the Hampton Roads region and beyond.