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Art in the AM set in Rehoboth May 3

April 30, 2017

Three local artists, nine writers and a musician will present a unique collaborative performance, Art in the AM, from 10 to 11:15 a.m., Wednesday, May 3, in the clubhouse of The Glade in Rehoboth Beach. Hosted by the Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild, the event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. To reserve a space, email fischer.maribeth@gmail.com.

Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild Executive Director Maribeth Fischer says, "Think of it as a three-act play with each act featuring one artist. While a painting by artist A is being displayed, three writers will read the short (300 words or fewer) original poem, memoir excerpt or flash fiction that the painting inspired. This will be followed by a live song performed by musician Stuart Vining, who will explain what in the painting prompted his choice of song, and finally, the artist will speak about his or her own inspiration for the work."

The goal is to get people talking and thinking about the different ways people express themselves and to use one art form (writing or music) to talk about another (painting). Can writing about art inspire writers to delve deeper into their imaginations? Does hearing a song inspired by a painting change the way one views that painting? "Each month the writing, art and music intersect in surprising ways," says Cape Gazette columnist Lisa Graff, who will emcee the event and who led the guild's art-inspired Free Writes for four years.

The May artists include Rehoboth Beach artist John Cmar, who when asked how long he has been working as an artist, answers, "Since the second grade." Although his medium these days is mostly acrylic paintings, which are on display at the Shoppes at the Pearl on Rehoboth Avenue, Cmar has worked in a variety of mediums. These include large-scale commissioned sculptures, such as the Sidney J. Brooks Memorial, which Cmar completed in 1987 and is still on display in downtown San Antonio. The sculpture commemorates the first San Antonio resident to lose his life in World War I. Cmar, who is a member of the Rehoboth Art League, says he often finds his inspiration for art in nature, where he spends time biking and kayaking.

Also participating in this month's event, and also an artist with experience in a wide range of mediums, is Patricia Cassidy, who came to Rehoboth Beach just 18 months ago. A lifelong artist, Cassidy has also worked in publishing as a researcher and illustrator, and taught art for eight years in the Virginia public schools. Recent projects include a large painting for the Pediatric Unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, and stained glass window designs for a church in Arlington, Va. Cassidy also takes pottery classes and attends sketch groups at the Rehoboth Art League - more evidence, perhaps, of her curiosity about all forms of art. For more information about her work, go to www.cassidystudio.com.

Finally, Ken Catterton is back at Art in the AM for the second time. Catterton, who retired to Rehoboth Beach after practicing architecture in Washington, D.C., and neighboring states for nearly 30 years, is a member of the Rehoboth Art League, the recipient of the Village Improvement Association's Local Artist Award presented at the 70th Annual Members' Fine Arts Exhibition, and a founding member of a local artist group, Delaware Shore Artists.

It was Catterton and his wife Judy, who also participates in these events, whom Fischer credits with the collaboration between artists and writers. Years ago, the Cattertons volunteered to bring their artwork to one of the guild's Free Writes, allowing writers to write spontaneously about paintings, using the works as prompts. This evolved into the guild's monthly art-inspired Free Writes at the Rehoboth Art League, which in turn led to Art in the AM, an event that will celebrate its one-year anniversary this June.

"We want this to be casual and fun, igniting conversations and ideas," says Fischer. "Writing and painting are often such solitary activities. Even the reading of literature in public or the viewing of art can seem such serious and solemn endeavors. That's not what this is."

Coffee and pastries will be served. For more information, go to rehobothbeachwritersguild.com. For specific questions about Art in the AM or to RSVP, email fischer.maribeth@gmail.com.

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