Raffle donors announced for St. Peter’s Art Show July 1

St. Peter’s Art Show Committee has announced this year’s generous donors to the show’s Featured Artists Raffle: painter Renata Price, potter Susan Gladstone, and jewelry artisan Sharon Livesay have each contributed a unique piece for the show, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 1.

The three will be among 140 fine artists and artisans exhibiting at the 51st annual Art Show sponsored by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and held on St. Peter’s Square at Second and Market streets, Lewes, and the nearby M&T Bank parking lot. Admission is free, and the event will be held rain or shine. Proceeds from the Art Show benefit organizations helping those in need in the Cape Henlopen School District.

Rehoboth Beach painter Renata Price says art has been a lifelong passion, as both her mother and grandmother were artists. Her work is very detail oriented, reflecting her background as an engineer. She is also fascinated by complex shadows and reflections, which are often a central characteristic of her work. Price works in both watercolor and oils. “I enjoy painting different types of subjects,” she says. “Generally, my paintings are quite representational, that is, they look as much like the subject as I can manage. Still lifes are a favorite, and I generally try to do them in a traditional ‘old masters’ style.” 

Price describes the oil painting she donated to the art show, “Joyful Flowers,” as “a little looser and more contemporary” than her usual style. “I was struck by the beauty of the flowers and the complexity of the reflections and different colors in the glass of the pitcher. For this one I restricted myself to three colors - one red, one blue, one yellow - plus white, as a challenge. I do not always paint with such a limited palette, though I do try to restrict the number of colors I use. This helps ensure harmony in the colors of the final painting.” The painting measures 16-by-20-inches; framed, it is 20-by-25-inches.

Seven years ago, Susan Gladstone moved from Baltimore, Md., to Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, where she opened Happyrock Pottery. She has been a potter for over 40 years. “I started taking a pottery class at night after college to release the stress from my day job as a kindergarten teacher,” she explains. “Making pots has been cheaper than going to the psychiatrist or taking prescription drugs.” 

The vase Gladstone donated to St. Peter’s is a one-of-a-kind piece, made from porcelain clay that she high fired in a reduction kiln at the Art Armory in West Palm Beach, Fla. It is roughly 11 1/2 inches tall, in a deep brown color, highlighted by three vertical white stripes running down each side.

Wilmington resident Sharon Livesay says her interest in art began in childhood, when she made creations from things found in the household junk drawer. She has worked in many mediums, including oils, pastels, and inks, and has also been an art therapist, “using table art to help others find their inner spark and express their inner voice,” she explains. Most recently, under the name Metal Away by Mimi, Livesay has worked with metals such as copper, silver, and brass.

For the Art Show raffle, she has created a necklace of copper and sterling silver, featuring a hand-cut hummingbird. The silver chain on the necklace measures 20 inches. Both the necklace and matching cuff bracelet have a blue and green patina, giving them what Livesay calls an ocean look. 

A special display in the window of Citizens Bank on Second Street will feature photos and information about the raffle items. Raffle tickets are $2 each or a book of six for $10. They can be purchased in the church office Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or on the parish lawn the day of the Art Show. There will be separate drawings for each item at 2:30 p.m., and ticket holders do not need to be present to win. 

For more information and times for all Art Show activities, visit www. stpeterslewes.org, email artshow@stpeterslewes.org, or call the church office at 302-645-8479.