Make Our Garden Grow…
Having grown up in a place with only two seasons—Winter and the 4th of July—it’s such a joy to see the slow awakening of my garden, instead of watching my lilacs broken under yet another heavy spring snow. And just as apparent and exciting as the promise of spring in my garden, the level of activity around town points to signs of new life as well. While we may have lost an art gallery or two over the winter, there are several new artists taking root at 20 Baltimore Avenue—check out Artworx19971, Paintiques, Wiberg Art, Surrattsart, and Juleez below—also home to the first year-round theatre at the beach. Drop by one of the many galleries for Second Saturdays on March 12 and April 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. both days. There’s a few great musical events coming up as well as lots going on with the Film Society. Get out there and let your roots get warm. All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
THEATRE
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-2270; ClearSpaceTheatre.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional troupe presents Ballet Folklorico—Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 13 at 3 p.m. performing the historic folk dances of Mexico. Their spring musical, The Secret Garden, opens March 31 and runs through April 17. The timeless family classic is combined with one of the most beautiful scores in the history of Broadway. Interested in seeing Follies (starring Bernadette Peters) at the Kennedy Center? Clear Space hosts a bus trip on Saturday, May 7th. Call the box office for details.
Delaware Comedy Theatre (delawarecomedytheatre.com)
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) will present the drama Doubt from March 25 through April 3.
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220; secondstreetplayers.com)
MUSIC and FILM
Coastal Concerts (in residence at Bethel UMC Hall; Fourth and Market Streets in Lewes; 888-212-6458; coastalconcerts.org; P.O. Box 685, Lewes, DE. 19958) presents 2005 Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist David Russell, Saturday, March 26 at 8 p.m. with a program that includes music by Bach, Handel, and Isaac Albeniz.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) Delmarva Roots series: Mayor Cupcake; written and directed by Alex Pires; Friday, March 18, 7 p.m.; Milton Fire Hall, 116 Front Street, Milton, DE. Monthly Screening: Lovely, Still; Friday, March 25, 7 p.m., upstairs Movies at Midway. Cinema and Art: Picasso and Braque Go To The Movies; March 31, 6:30 p.m.; The Inn at Canal Square, downtown Lewes. Around the World: Nurse. Fighter. Boy; Wednesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m., upstairs Movies at Midway.
Southern Delaware Choral Society (PO Box 444; 302-645-2013; southerndelawarechoralsociety.org) will perform with the Delaware Choral Society in a collaborative concert Gabrielli to Gospel on Saturday April 9 at Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach, and Sunday, April 10, at Wyoming United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Delaware. Tickets are available online or by phone.
ART GALLERIES and MUSEUMS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC (mosaicrehoboth.com). Join participating galleries for the Second Saturdays: Destination Art Walk, March 12 and April 9 from 2-5 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376; rehoboth.com/aerieart)— Almost Alive, an exhibition of the original fine art bronze, stone and wood sculpture of Charles Allmond. Also always on display are paintings from the 19th Century to the present. The gallery is currently open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment at 302-584-6402.
Artworx19971 (20 Baltimore Avenue at The Celebration Mall; 302-727-1517) features quality, original art by Rehoboth Beach area artists at affordable prices. The collective is owned, operated and staffed by eight local artists. Stop by the studios and visit with an artist and view the constantly changing displays or works in progress. Winter hours are Thursday—Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., as well as when Clear Space has a performance. The Buttery in Lewes is featuring works by Artworx19971 artists through May 31.
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) continues to offer revolving exhibitions by more than 25 artists. Gallery reception Saturday March 12 from 2-5 p.m.
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; heidilowegallery@gmail.com)
*Juleez (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-3792; juleez.com) features the unique and vibrant works of Julie Borden including hand-painted cellos, violins, miniature pianos, beautiful acrylic on canvas originals and giclee prints. They also carry dichroic glass sculptures of Mary Ann Borden.
Packard Reath Gallery (Located in The Hotel Rodney -142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; packardreathgallery.com) Specializing in Fine Art Photography
*Paintiques (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-258-4203) has a new, fresh look but still offers Sherry Biele’s unique and artfully-painted vintage furniture and accessories and glass art by Connie Ballato; Silver jewelry by Sue Bartley and handbags by Linanz. Midwinter hours are Thursday-Saturday noon to 6 p.m. or by appointment.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com)
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905; philipmortongallery.com)
Proud Bookstore (Baltimore Avenue in Village By the Sea; 302-227-6969) featuring the artwork of Gerri Dibiase, Jeffrey Todd Moore, David Kraft, Lynn Finaldi, Michael Gardner, Patrick Keating and John Gress as well as having great books, cards, and calendars
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org)
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; M-F 10-4 / Weekends 11-3; Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal) presents Captain John and Sarah Avery: A 17th-Century Family on Delaware’s Frontier through April 8. The Museum will host a judged needlework exhibit April 15-May 8. Entries must be brought to the museum by April 1. No fooling. Visit the Museum’s website for information and an application. Contact the museum if you have surfed the Delmarva Peninsula or are surfing now and have photos or memorabilia to share for their upcoming surfing exhibit.
Surrattsart (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-3522; surrattsart.com) featuring the work of artist Sherry Surratt. Specializing in oils, acrylics and gouache.
*Thunderbird Gallery (200 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-1900; thunderbirdshop.com) featuring works by southern California artist John Powell. John’s work is greatly influenced by his love of flowers, pottery, and water.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard - 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.com) featuring new works by Ward Ellinger and others.
*WibergArt (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-226-0206 or 302-245-3615; wibergartataol.com) features renowned marine artist, Jack Wiberg, and his original oils of sailing vessels and ships.