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Odessa to host stone sculpture exhibit through October

Works by award-winning Delaware artist Richard H. Bailey
September 25, 2018

The Historic Odessa Foundation of Odessa is presenting an exciting two-month-long exhibit of over 70 one-of-a-kind realistic and abstract stone sculptures by award-winning Delaware artist Richard H. Bailey. The September and October exhibit is being shown within two beautifully appointed 18th century homes, the Corbit-Sharp House and the Wilson-Warner House, which are part of the Historic Odessa Foundation. Exhibit curator Brian Miller is the HOF’s assistant curator  and a noted retired art educator. He is also a leader in the arts, an artist and was previously associated with Winterthur’s preservation efforts in Odessa.

Bailey’s large and small stone sculptures are placed amid the two homes’ historic period furnishings. The Wilson-Warner House was built in 1769, and the Corbit-Sharp House was built around 1774. Both are across the street from the former Odessa Bank, built in 1853, which is now the Visitors Center for the Historic Odessa Foundation. Visitors can buy admission tickets there and visit the public restrooms. One of the homes is a rare documented site of the Quaker owners’ role in protecting a fleeing slave and providing transportation for the fugitive to Pennsylvania.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, closed Monday. The admission price is adults $10; group members, seniors and students are $8 each. Children under 6 years of age enter free.

Odessa is located between Wilmington and Smyrna, adjacent to Middletown. In the 18th century, the village was a successful grain shipping port along the Delaware River, and was called Cantwell’s Bridge.  It was later renamed Odessa after the Russian grain center. Members of the du Pont family adopted and preserved several buildings in this pristine village, which was under the care and management of Winterthur Museum for many years.  

Bailey has been a mentor for many Delaware stone sculptors for decades. This expansive exhibit of his work documents his 50-year legacy as a sculptor who studied in Delaware, New York state and Italy. His website is www.richardhbailey.com. Bailey has written an autobiography, “A Sculptor’s Miracles.” The sculptures included in this exhibit are for sale through the artist. He can be reached through his agent and wife, Kay Wood Bailey, at kaywbailey7@gmail.com.

 

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