Spring Cleaning
I’m completely obsessed with Marie Kondo and her Konmari organizing method, and have likely crossed that fine, fine line into total lunacy. For the two of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Kondo is the Japanese Martha Stewart—only better. Saturday was miserable (as most of our weekends have been), so I decided it was “nostalgia is not your friend” day.
I tore into the closet in the spare room and was soon ankle deep in my 50-year-old elementary school art projects. No, I am not a hoarder, but my mother was, and when she passed in 2002 it was all shipped to my less-than-spacious Manhattan apartment, then moved (without review) to my less-space-than-I-had-in-Manhattan beach cottage.
Four boxes later I found a weathered newspaper clipping that first made me smile, then shed a few tears. “Photo credit by Emil Miller”—my great-grandfather, a staff photographer for the Daily Plainsman in Huron, South Dakota. Winters there are brutal, but that feisty old Swede faced them with an indomitable sense of humor.
Sometime close to the first day of spring, Grandpa would trek down those steep basement stairs to his darkroom, pull his box of seasonal props from the top shelf, and dust off his stuffed robin. He’d plow his way through snowdrifts, wire that damned bird to a fencepost, and take his annual “First Robin of Spring!” photo to buoy the spirits of the “old folks” and pray they’d all make it to Easter.
Winters are a lot easier here, but everyone can use a little hope, and I sure hope you find a few things to do in this column that will make you smile or bring a tear to your eye. All locations are in Rehoboth Beach unless otherwise noted. ▼
2019 Women’s FEST Art Show
April showers CAMP Rehoboth with this juried community art show featuring the work of 25 artists in a variety of mediums and styles.
The juror—Liz Bradbury—holds an MFA in Fine Arts and Design from Indiana State University and is celebrating 50 years of exhibiting her art work in juried art shows and galleries. Join us for the Artists’ Reception to meet the artists on April 12 (3-5 p.m.). The exhibition may be viewed through April 28.
HeART & Soul
CAMP Rehoboth is thrilled to announce their 2019 art auction fundraiser—HeART & Soul. CAMP Rehoboth is the heart of the community, and the artists who share their amazing talents are all part of its soul. Get ready to support the arts by making your bids and building a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community through the arts. On display May 4-June 1, with a Closing Bid Reception on June 1 (4-7 p.m.). ▼
CAMP Rehoboth Gallery Hours:
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.-Friday
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m-4 p.m. Sunday
Do You Know?
If April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring pilgrims, then it’s high time to plan a few pilgrimages this summer. For those of you who know where you’re going to, and like the things that life’s been showing you, then you can just skip the rest of this section, but for those of you who don’t—let me make a few suggestions:
Let’s start in town: The Clear Space Theatre Company will dive into their Summer Repertoire with Hello, Dolly!, The Wedding Singer, and Mamma Mia!—the festivities begin June 25 and run through August 31, with each of the three shows playing two nights every week.
The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand hasn’t announced its 2019 season as of this writing but based on past history it will be chockful of wonderful family entertainment. It’s always a great mix of the specialty groups from our armed forces, tribute bands, and local entertainers—and it’s FREE!
Fourteen years ago, Josh Freeman shared with me his vision of creating a performing arts space in the image of Vienna, Virginia’s Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Even though we lost Josh in a tragic accident a few years later, his dream continues to grow and flourish in Selbyville.
The Freeman Stage 2019 season has local bands and entertainers, the First State Ballet, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Beatles and Led Zeppelin tribute bands, Boz Scaggs, Lyle Lovett, and the “supreme” Diana Ross! Now that’s a season! So if you want to hear a symphony, then don’t stop in the name of love—check the full schedule at freemanstage.org, and see if you like the things they’re showing you. ▼
PERFORMING ARTS
CAMP Rehoboth Chorus (37 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-5620) celebrates their first decade of music with “Seasons of Love” at Sussex Academy (21150 Airport Road in Georgetown)—Sunday, April 28. This retrospective concert features the 90-voice chorus—accompanied by the David Zipse Orchestra—performing medleys of Broadway hits, spirituals, rock, disco, love songs, a patriotic salute, and dueling Elvises!
Capital Ringers presents “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”—a journey round the world, here and there! Concerts run through Sunday, May 5. See website for locations.
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270) presents their Spotlight on Young Performers as they bring the creepy and kooky Addams Family to life April 12-14, followed by Sondheim’s Into the Woods May 3-17.
Coastal Concerts (in residence at Bethel UMC Hall; Fourth and Market Streets in Lewes; 888-212-6458) has but one concert remaining in their season—”Time for Three” with violinists Nick Kendall and Charles Yang, and Ranaan Meyer on the double bass (April 13; 8 p.m.).
Lewes Chamber Players (St. Peter’s Episcopal; 211 Mulberry St. in Lewes; 302-645-8479) concludes their season with guest flautist, Susanna Loewy in works by Ibert, Bach, Bozza, and a world premiere by Giovanni Piacentini.
Mid-Atlantic Symphony (P. O. Box 3381; Easton, MD. 21601; 888-846-8600) brings their season to a close with “Ode to Humankind, to Country, and to Joy!” featuring Irish pianist Michael McHale playing Ravel, and the Southern Delaware Chorale and Carter Legacy Singers singing Beethoven’s 9th—April 28 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City.
The Milton Theater (110 Union St. in Milton; 302-684-3038) “keeps Milton weird”! APRIL events: 12: Delaware Comedy Theatre; 13: The Rockstar and the Stand-Up Comic: Paul Cullen & Laurie Forster; 19-21: Jesus Christ Superstar (A Milton Theatre Production); 25: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; 26/27: Assisted Living the Musical; 28: Frozen Dress-Up and Sing-Along. MAY events: 2: The Matrix; 4: Joey and Gina’s Italian Comedy Wedding; 5: Sirens of Spring Tour; 9: Tea with the Dames; 10: He Said…She Said Stand-Up Comedy; 11: Rosemary Loar tours Broadway; 12: The Amazing Bird Show. Check their website for details.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560) has one more weekend of Frank Loesser’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway comedy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying—through April 14.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (17701 Dartmouth Drive in Lewes; 302-313-4032) screens the best new independent films at their Cinema Art Theatre. Met Live in HD: John Dexter’s production of Poulenc’s devastating story of faith and martyrdom, Dialogues des Carmélites—May 18 & 20. Journeys in Art History: Rembrandt—April 30. Check their website for updates and show times.
Rehoboth Concert Band will be the grand finale of Delaware Goes to War—April 27 (5 p.m.). This is an all-day living history commemoration of the efforts and sacrifices made during WWII at Ft. Miles. (10 a.m.–6:15 p.m.)
Southern Delaware Chorale (P.O. Box 444; 302-260-7022) presents “For the Beauty of the Earth”—May 5 (3 p.m.) at Epworth United Methodist (19285 Holland Glade Road).
VISUAL ARTS
Abraxas Studio of Art (515 Federal Street, Lewes; 302-645-9119) features the oil portraits and landscape paintings of Abraxas, as he seeks to honor the beauty of this world through his own style of illuminated reality.
Anna Hazzard Museum (17 Christian Street, 302-226-1119) is a captivating look at the early history of Rehoboth Beach as a religious retreat. The museum is housed in one of the original “tent” houses from Rehoboth’s 1870s camp-meeting era.
The Brush Factory on Kings (830 Kings Highway, Lewes; 302-745-2229) houses a co-op for 50 local artisans and merchants.
CAMP Rehoboth Gallery (37 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-5620) features the 2019 Women’s FEST Art Show—through April 28. (See listing elsewhere in this column).
Cape Artists Gallery (110 W. 3rd Street, Lewes; 302-644-7733) is a half block from the Zwaanendael Museum and represents two dozen artists, with much of their work focusing on beach scenes.
Delaware Art Gallery (239 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-853-5099) offers new and classic Delaware photographs by Kevin Fleming.
Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203) has beautiful and unique hand-made pieces (including wedding rings!) and offers classes in jewelry making. Check out the “Jewelry for a Cause” link on her website—fantastic pieces with a substantial percentage going to charities.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Road, Lewes; 302-645-0551) is one of the largest fine art galleries in the state, with over 3000 square feet of display and custom framing space. Spring Mix—an exhibition by the Washington Society of Landscape Artists—through April 30.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane, Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408) has a fantastic schedule of classes—pottery to pen and ink technique to jewelry making…something for everyone. Current exhibitions: Recent Acquisitions: The Permanent Collection—through June 9; Contemporary Miniatures, Dissolution (works by Bill Wolff), Pours (works by Kim Klabe)—through May 5; Coastal Living (Juried Members’ Showcase Exhibition)—through July 14.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (511 Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal, 302-227-7310) has new exhibits on their newly-renovated second floor for you to enjoy, as well as lots of Rehoboth Beach history on the first floor.
Tideline Gallery (111 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-4444) offers unique gifts, Judaica, jewelry, pottery, lamps, and art glass.
Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710) features art in different mediums by abstract expressionist Ward Ellinger and Sondra N. Arkin.
Zwaanendael Museum (102 Kings Highway, Lewes; 302-645-1148) commemorates Delaware’s first European colony, established by the Dutch in 1631, and serves as a showcase for the Lewes area’s maritime, military, and social history.▼
Doug is the Artistic and Musical Director for CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, Director of Music Ministries at Epworth UMC, and co-founder and Artistic Director emeritus of the Clear Space Theater Company. Email Doug Yetter to add events to the calendar.
Images: Pineapple Papaya by Rita Poore, Pink Nude by Jane Knaus, Surf on the Jetty, Mick Williams, Early Spring-Hellebore by Lani Browning and They're not Cages by Kim Klabe
CAMP Rehoboth Arts Programs are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com
