CURRENTS  This page was updated on Tuesday June 16, 2009  If haven't renewed your membership, you are technically overdue.  The July/August of Artline may be your last. GALA The third annual Patron's Gala is coming on June 28.  Mark your calendars and call or come by the Gallery to reserve your ticket and number.  Ticket sales are going well, but there's still time to get yours. Kids Summer Workshop Registration Has Begun.  To get the schedule, registration and permission form, click Labor Day Show is Coming! Jim Peed and Larry Rickard have selected a great judge and preparations are in full swing.  If you can help them put on the show, call 580-2345 to volunteer. And GET BUSY finishing your Labor Day entries!!!!! Prospectus and Entry Form are available at the Gallery, or click here and here.  Click on the RAL Newsletter Link above-right for more information on important events.

Fine Arts & Crafts in Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Region The Rappahannock Art League was originally organized in 1949 in the Irvington Community Center by a few artists desiring to improve their art skills. Now the League has grown to an organization of more than 400 members. The purpose of the Rappahannock Art League is to organize, sponsor and encourage educational and cultural activities in the visual arts and crafts. The League’s activities are focused in the lower Northern Neck and lower Middle Peninsula of Virginia.  The League is incorporated as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. RAL is a proud affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is partially supported by grants from the Virginia Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rappahanock Foundation for the Arts  and the River Counties Community Foundation. Gallery Corner By Charlotte Budding, Gallery Manager So many comments are made about Ann Vliet’s front window displays, I thought some background about artists displaying during May and June might make the windows even more interesting. The two artists featured in May were Cheryl Mihills and David Jett. Cheryl’s artwork always draws comments of wonder from onlookers especially after they hear that it takes 1200 stitch punches for each square inch of her punch needle embroidery. She creates her own designs and makes her own frames, too. Before assuming his position as curator with the Richmond County and Essex County Museums, David Jett held many interesting positions in the Tidewater area including considerable time with NASA as an illustrator. He is knowledgeable about art conservation, and writes articles about the subject. David grew up in Northumberland County where the family name of "Jett" is well known. His window display captured places and times in local history very nicely. During June, Susan Sills’ display will feature large paintings of vegetables and animals. Quite a contrast to what she is displaying in the Gallery. Kevin Stepko’s art will have a nautical theme. In mid-May, I attended an all day conference in Fredericksburg titled "Building Arts and Cultural Districts" sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Tourism is a very popular subject in the state of Virginia and much was said about how to attract more tourists to "Main Street". Statistics show that "out of the area" audiences spend twice as much on cultural activities than local audiences. Out of town quests visiting RAL members are some of our best clients. And it seems "Great Customer Service" is still the golden rule. Sales in April were very good. Nine hundred and nine visitors were tallied. Thank you to all those that are working to keep our Gallery looking fresh and inviting. And there are a lot of you. Many artists are changing out their artwork frequently, which is good for the Gallery. That creates more interest and excitement. 19 N. Main Street      Kilmarnock, Virginia 22482      804-436-9309 The Schedule for the Studio Gallery of the Rappahannock Art League - The Gallery hours are 10 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday