The Lusty Month of May!
Yes, fellow residents of Rehoboth Beach and surrounding communities, it’s that time of year when the season really starts to kick into high gear. It’s your own fault if you can’t find something to do with your abundant free time. Find a way to spend that tax refund by supporting the arts! All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
PERFORMING ARTS
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270) It’s time for spring cleaning! As you find things about your house, garage, attic, or basement that you no longer wish to own, consider donating them to Clear Space’s Encore Thrift Shop, located on northbound Route 1 next to Arby’s in Lewes. The pop-rock musical Little Shop of Horrors runs May 11-27—who doesn’t love a musical with a man-eating plant and a sadistic dentist? Starting June 28 Clear Space has three shows in rotation six nights a week (Tuesday-Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. Annie, Broadway at the Beach, and Cabaret. All tickets are on sale now. If you have children or grandchildren in need of summer entertainment, check the website for their Musical Theatre Summer Intensives. This year students will perform truncated versions of Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, as well as a new camp for young actors. Clear Space Acting Company members Michael Matthias and Lorraine Steinhoff (accompanied by yours truly) are collaborating with their neighbor Mixx on the “Food and the Arts” theme for Rehoboth’s Restaurant Week! June 8-9.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-45600
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220)
VISUAL ARTS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC. Join participating galleries for Second Saturdays: Destination Art Walk, May 12 from 6-9 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376/302-584-6402) On display for the Mosaic Second Saturday Art Walks May 12 and June 9 is an expanded selection of original fine painting, past and present. Open weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and by appointment any time.
*Amandeline Gallery (1 North First Street; 302-226-03300) Representing nationally and internationally acclaimed artists Anne Packard and Sergey Cherep, original Romanian glass, canvas floor cloths, unique ceramics, and Rosanna tableware. They feature original oil paintings on board by award-winning artist Elaine Hahn and new original acrylics by Amanda Ponko. Please note their new location.
*Anita Peghini-Räber Gallery (49 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2888) Local and regional art; Thursday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-10 p.m. and Monday 10 a.m. to noon, with additional hours available by appointment.
*Gallery 50 and G-50 Fine Art Photography (50 A-B Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050) New Infrared Photography works by Mickey Freed; Constance Costigan New Works on Canvas; Mixed Media works by Brian Petro. All on view from May 25-June 14 with an artist’s reception for the above events on Saturday, May 26 (6-8 p.m.)
The Happyrock Pottery (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 410-375-7120) features the work of potter Susan Gladstone through an assortment of handmade Raku, and functional pottery. Just in time for Mother’s Day, they are featuring beach decorated ikebanas (flower arrangers).
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203) hosts the annual Earrings Galore exhibition—earrings in all their forms, shapes, sizes, and colors through the summer. The gallery always features handmade, contemporary jewelry by studio artists from around the world.
*Juleez (1 North First Street; 302-227-3792) features the unique and vibrant works of Julie Borden including hand-painted cellos, violins, miniature pianos, giclee prints, dichroic glass sculptures of MAD Creations and art work of Amandeline Gallery. Please note new address!
Midge Smith Fine Art Gallery (135 Second Street, second floor, in Lewes; 302-245-4528) Art for a Purpose assists tax-exempt organizations by turning donated art into cash for their use. Gallery hours are 2-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday.
Packard Reath Gallery (Located in The Hotel Rodney, 142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513) Specializing in Fine Art Photography
*Paintiques (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-258-4203) offers Sherry Biele’s unique and artfully-painted vintage furniture and accessories as well as glass art by Connie Ballato, silver jewelry by Sue Bartley, and handbags by Linanz. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551)
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905) New Works by Aina Nergaard. Opening reception Friday, May 11 (6 p.m.- 9 p.m.)—through May 24.
Proud Bookstore (Baltimore Avenue in Village By the Sea; 302-227-6969) featuring the artwork of Geri Dibiase, Jeffrey Todd Moore, David Kraft, Lynn Finaldi, Michael Gardner, Patrick Keating, and John Gress, as well as books and cards.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408) Orbs: photography by Heather Siple in the Homestead Gallery, and For The Sake Of Art: Paintings and Sculpture by Alan B. Tuttle in the Corkran and Tubbs Galleries through May 27. Plein Air Coastal Delaware: In collaboration with the Children’s Beach House and the Food Bank of Delaware—May 7-12. Gala opening reception and art sale, Friday, May 11.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095) Monthly Screenings: A Separation Thursday, May 24 (7 p.m.) at DiFebo’s in Bear Trap Dunes and Friday, May 25 (7 p.m.) in the upstairs screening room at Movies at Midway. Admission: $4 for RBFS Members and $6 for future members.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; 511 Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal) announces its Second Annual Needlework Exhibit. In conjunction with the exhibit are presentations on barn quilts, a lecture on an exhibit of 18th Century wedding gowns, and demonstrations on needlework techniques for children and adults.
Surrattsart (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-3522) continues to show abstract and realist paintings as well as local photography at her studio. Open Thursday through Sunday or by personal appointment.
*Thunderbird Gallery (200 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-1900) presents original oils by John Powell (johnpowellfineart. com), an artist who lives in the hills of southern California and Maine.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard - 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710) features the work of Ward Ellinger, Sondra N. Arkin, and others. Come in and see the ever-popular Spiritiles (molten glass on copper) by Houston Llew, beautiful contemporary blown glass menorahs by Shardz Glass, recycled farm equipment transformed into contemporary side tables, hand blown glass, pottery, and metal works by various American artists.
*WibergArt (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-226-0206 or 302-245-3615) features renowned marine artist, Jack Wiberg, and his original oils of sailing vessels and ships.