Photos, glass, metal and more sizzle at St. Peter’s Art Show

58th annual event benefits local non-profits

People packed the streets around St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes for its 58th annual art show July 6. More than 100 vendors were part of the show this year. BILL SHULL PHOTOS

Bill Shull

July 11, 2024

Jenn Wagner of St. Michael’s, Md., talked to some potential customers about her mosaic art at her booth on Market Street, in the shadow of Lewes’ St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

“I do a little bit of everything: glass on glass, pieces that can be on the wall or on a board. I’ve got huge murals,” Wagner said.

She was one of more than 100 artists who took part in the 58th annual St. Peter’s Art Show July 6. The vendors were spread out on the streets around the church in downtown Lewes and in the M&T Bank parking lot.

There were artists who work in all types of media: paint, metal, glass and photography, to name a few.

Deborah Grange and Joe Benshetler strolled around the booths looking for something to catch their eyes.

“We come every year. We’ve gotten some beautiful pieces here,” Benshetler said.

Annie Gudis paints bikes at the beach and said she is inspired by what she sees at Cape Henlopen State Park. “I paint them in my studio in North Shores. I see all these clouds. I love bikes. I love birds. I’m lucky to be able to do what I love to do,” Gudis said.

St. Peter’s gives 100% of its proceeds to its beneficiaries, Community Resource Center and the Primeros Pasos Early Child Learning Center. This year, they will split $22,000.

The church also pledged $1,500 to the Lewes Fire Department toward the purchase of a new truck. Fire department members had a table where people were encouraged to fill a boot with donations.

“What better organization to give to that could benefit everybody in the community as well as visitors?” said Ray Quillen, who manned the fire department table with Tom Engle.

St. Peter’s provided refuge from the heat with shade and children’s activities in the churchyard.

A silent auction was held inside the parish hall. Organizer Jeff Whipple said about 90% of the vendors donated pieces for the auction.

Bill Cantwell of Pennsylvania sits among his paintings.

Mosaic artist Jenn Wagner, center, of St. Michael’s, Md., talks with some prospective customers about her work.

Annie Gudis sits in front of her original oil paintings of bicycles at the beach. She said she is inspired by the view from her studio in North Shores. It was Gudis’ first year doing the art show.

Yvonne Torelli poses between some of her paintings.

Annie Freeman, a volunteer with St. Peter’s, left, and Casey Christofel, executive director of Primeros Pasos Early Childhood Learning Center, let people know what the center does. Primeros Pasos is one of the beneficiaries from the art show.

Tom Engle, left, and Ray Quillen man the Lewes Fire Department table, where people could fill a boot to donate. St. Peter’s pledged $1,500 to the fire department for its new truck fund.

Watercolor artist Keith Mountford has a spot right on the corner of Second and Market streets.

A silent auction is held inside the parish hall. Organizer Jeff Whipple said 90% of the vendors donated to the auction this year. The indoor location also gave people welcome relief from the heat.

Maryfrances Berger is surrounded by her landscape photography.

People walk past one of Bud Broda-Knudsen’s glass orbs in front of his booth in the M&T Bank parking lot.

Joe Benshetler, left, and Deborah Grange of Lewes look at some stained glass and metal pieces.

Greg Deming of Middletown shows off an old Army helmet, gas mask and ammo box from World War II that he repurposed into a lamp. Deming said he tries to marry the Industrial Revolution to the machine age to create the lamps.