59th St. Peter’s Art Show draws big crowd to Lewes

Carla Bessette said she’s inspired to paint the world around her.

“A fox in my backyard, the Indian River Inlet where I camp, a ferry ride, so everything where I live,” she said.

Bessette was one of about 120 vendors at the 59th annual St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Art Show held July 5 in Lewes. The slogan is Art That Gives.

The show raised money for the Community Resource Center and Primeros Pasos Early Childhood Learning Center. The St. Cecilia Music Guild sold raffle tickets to support a scholarship for a high school student who plans to major in music.

Proceeds from the concession stand go to the Little Cupboard, the church’s food pantry in front of the campus on Second Street.

Some of the artists contributed to the silent auction, which was held inside the rectory.

The art show attracts artists who paint, craft jewelry and ceramics, and work in metal and wood.

Justin Cavagnaro is a glass blower whose work includes custom golf putters.

“Initially, they were offshoots of other pieces I was doing,” he said. “I was flattening the edge of the glass while it was still hot. I called them jelly beans. I was playing a round of golf and saw mallet-style putter heads in the pro shop that looked like the jelly bean things I was making. I made three, gave one to my father, and took the other two to a show and they sold.”

He said the putters conform to United States Golf Association standards and, best of all, they work.

Scott Samples, one of the show organizers, said it is always good to get a variety of artwork.

“We have 10 to 15 new vendors every year, because we have people who just age out,” Samples said.