Celebrate the new year with new art

BY LINDLEY ESTES

FREDERICKSBURG’S ART GALLERIES are ringing in the new year with new shows featuring work from guest artists, students and those who specialize in the very, very small.

Meet the artists and see their new, local work this Friday at 2013’s inaugural First Friday gallery openings.

BRUSH STROKES GALLERY

Brush Strokes is having its artist invitational in January.

Each artist invited a fellow artist to display work at the gallery.

“There are a lot of wonderful artists in the area and nota lot get a chance to show regularly,” artist Nancy Williams said. She said the artists at Brush Strokes wanted to do this because it was a show they hadn’t heard of before and each knew and admired different artists.

Each of the approximately 20 artists featured are local. The artists will be present at the First Friday reception from 6 to 9 p.m.

The show lasts until Jan. 27.

ART FIRST GALLERY

Art First’s January show will be an all-member event featuring new work from each of the gallery’s 34 artists.

Leah Comerford, who works with gourds, jewelry and illustration there, said the show is a chance to see “fresh, local art.”

She described the exhibit as a chance to see something different and new from the gallery’s artists.

“You can see paintings and jewelry that weren’t here in December,” she said.

The show runs through Jan. 27 and will be followed in February by a show called “Undressed Art” in which all paintings will be without frames and for sale.

Art First’s First Friday reception lasts from 6 to 9 p.m.

LIBERTYTOWN ARTS WORKSHOP

LibertyTown’s annual student art show returns this month.

This year’s show represents work from 50 students of 10 different LibertyTown teachers.

Gallery assistant Aline Fisher said the student art show is always fun.

“Students bring family and friends and there’s such a variety of media,” she said. “The really thrilling part is for them to see their work displayed.”

The youngest of LibertyTown’s featured student artists is 5 years old.

The show runs from the Jan. 4 First Friday reception

(5 to 9 p.m.) to Jan. 27.

FREDERICKSBURG CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS

While some of LibertyTown’s artists are small, it’s the art featured at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts this month that’s miniature.

The juried exhibit “It’s Small” features more than 70 small-scale artworks, measuring from 3 inches square to 14 by 12 inches in size.

While most of the works are local, some submissions hail from California, Texas and Iowa.

The exhibit began Dec. 2 and lasts until Jan. 25.

Collette Caprara, a Free Lance–Star arts reporter, will have a solo show titled “Into Africa” in the Members Gallery.

Her paintings of people and animals were inspired by four service trips to Kenya and South Africa.

“In these journeys, I was struck not only by the power and beauty of nature throughout the continent, but also by the resilient joy and sense of community among its people, who have suffered some of the greatest hardships,” she said.

A portion of all proceeds from this exhibit will be donated to E–3 Kids, an organization dedicated to empowering orphans and impoverished youth. Funds will help sponsor a school for children in Kenya.

Her exhibit lasts through Jan 27.

PONSHOP STUDIO AND GALLERY

Ponshop’s January show has a little bit of everything.

The gallery will be featuring the latest works by featured artists including new pieces by Crystal Rodrigue, Nicholas Candela, co-owner Gabriel Pons, recent photographs by Stephen Graham and new ceramics by co-owner Scarlett Pons.

“I hope people see the most contemporary and innovative work we have to offer in the region,” said Gabriel Pons.

“And that they see the variety of mediums including ceramics and mixed media painting.”

Pons said the breadth and scope of the artwork makes for a different gallery experience.

The works will be on display from Jan. 4 through Jan. 27.

Ponshop will also continue their December jewelry show, which Pons called “a great hit.”

Meet all of the artists at Ponshop’s First Friday reception from 6 to 10 p.m.

Lindley Estes: 540/735-1976

lestes@freelancestar.com

WANT TO GO

Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St.  “All-Member Exhibition,” through  Jan. 27. First Friday reception, 6–9 p.m. 540/371-7107;    artfirstgallery.com.

Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline  St. “Artist  Invitational,” through Jan. 27. First  Friday reception, 6–9  p.m. 540/368-0560; brushstrokesfredericks burg.com.

Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, 813 Sophia St. “It’s  Small” and “Into Africa,” through Jan. 25. First Friday reception,  6–8 p.m.  540/373-5646;  fccava.org.

LibertyTown Arts Workshop, 916  Liberty St. “LibertyTown Students’  Show,” through Jan. 27. First Friday reception, 5–9 p.m.  540/ 371-7255; libertytown arts.com.

Ponshop Studio and Gallery, 712  Caroline St. January Group Show and Second Annual Jewelry Show.  First Friday reception, 6–10 p.m. 540/656-2215;  ponshopstudio. com.

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