Larry Edwards featured artist for 40th Members Craft Exhibition

The Rehoboth Art League will kick off the fall season with the 40th Annual Members Craft Exhibition beginning Friday, Aug. 30. The Craft Exhibition, along with Joanne Alsruhe: Life’s Reflections and Three Views: Jean Doran, Steve Rogers, Laura Hickman, will run from Aug. 30 through Sept. 29. The opening is 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30. Larry Edwards has been named the featured artisan for the Craft Exhibition.

Edwards, a fine craftsman in domestic and exotic hardwoods, joined the art league a year ago and lives in Lewes. He credits his grandfather for instilling an interest in working with wood, and Edwards has been creating wood pieces since he was a child. He called it just a hobby, but from one look at his intricate and exquisite pieces, one can tell it is also a deep love of creating with wood. His main profession was education, and through the years he has taught himself more and more wood techniques. He became fascinated with the many exotic woods and each piece is a showcase of complimentary woods.

“Noah’s Grand Ark” features the natural colors of domestic and exotic hardwoods in more than 30 separate, moveable parts. The snakes are made of ebony, the zebras of zebrawood, and elm burl of Wych elm from England was used to mimic the giraffes' beautiful markings.

The Members Craft Exhibition in the Corkran and Tubbs galleries will showcase fine crafts including baskets, ceramics, fiber, glass, handmade paper, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media and wood. Eight cash prize Awards of Excellence, as well as the Mary Trimble Lynch Award and the Elizabeth N. Bingham By Dam Award for excellence in pottery will be presented at the opening reception. The judge for the Craft Exhibition will be Marisa Sage, who is currently the galleries manager of the Salisbury University Art Galleries, as well as the owner, director and head curator of Like the Spice Gallery.

Joanne Alsruhe: Life’s Reflections will be showcased in the Ventures Gallery. Of her work, Joanne Alsruhe says, “I am always looking for that perfect subject with just the right quality of lighting.”

Three Views: Jean Doran, Steve Rogers, Laura Hickman features the work of three artists who often work on location together. Steve Rogers describes it as three artists - one location - three perspectives. This exhibition will be in the historic Homestead on the Rehoboth Art League campus.

The galleries are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday.

The Rehoboth Art League is a membership-based nonprofit arts organization dedicated to teaching, preserving and inspiring the arts in the region. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the league provides art classes, exhibitions and engaging art events throughout the year. For more information, visit rehobothartleague.org or call 302-227-8408.