KILMARNOCK—This weekend the White Stone Firehouse, 578 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone, will be filled with paintings, carvings, sculpture and photography from artists, carvers and photographers for the 38th annual Rappahannock River Waterfowl Show.
Original paintings, prints, decorative carvings, working decoys, folk art carvings, bronze sculpture, photography and antique decoys will showcase a variety of wildfowl in many mediums and prices, reported co-chairman Pat Bruce.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8, children under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit the show sponsor, White Stone Volunteer Fire Department.
Special business sponsors include W. F. Booth and Son, Inc. for the show prints, Bank of Lancaster and Bay Trust, Rappahannock Rentals, Lawler Real Estate, B. W. Wilson Paper Company, Paul Sciacchitano and Welby Saunders of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Coloryn Studio, Currie Funeral Home and Willaby’s Catering.
Artist of the Year
The 2017 Artist of the Year is Grover Cantwell of Salisbury, Md. Color prints of his new painting will be given away each day at the show. The “show print’ is sponsored by W. F. Booth and Son, Inc.
Cantwell is a self-taught artist whose goal is to capture the mood of the marshes, beaches and wildlife through the changing seasons of his native Eastern Shore of Maryland. Watercolor is his most frequently used medium, but he enjoys oils, pen and ink, and pastels as well, said Bruce.
Cantwell has had many careers including journeyman bricklayer, professional picture framer, certified building inspector and most recently elected judge of Orphans Court Wicomico County. He served as chairman of Wicomico County Ducks Unlimited for 20 years. He is a past president of the Wicomico County Art League and co-chairman of the Salisbury Wicomico County Arts Council. He is a past board member of the Ward Foundation, Arts Council and Art Institute and Gallery. He has been the Sponsor Artist for Maryland Ducks Unlimited twice and has been Artist of the Year for five Maryland and Virginia Ducks Unlimited chapters.
He cites his painting as one of his greatest achievements and his wife of 51 years, two children and grandchildren as the most important things in his life. This is Grover’s 19th year as an exhibitor at this show, said Bruce.
In addition to receiving a free copy of this year’s show print, copies of the prints from previous years are available for sale, she said.
The Preview Night door prize is a carving by David Davis of Williamsburg, The weekend door prize is an original painting by Janet Hong of Chesapeake.
Show features
The Virginia Waterfowler’s Association will conduct “painting a decoy” activities for children ages 6 and older on Saturday and Sunday.
The Rappahannock Carvers Guild will conduct its annual carving contest on Saturday at the Woman’s Club of White Stone Clubhouse, 560 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone. Stop by to see the entries or watch the judging, which begins at 11 a.m., said Bruce.
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have an exhibit along with the 2016 Federal Junior Duck Stamp finalists.
The Old Dominion Retriever Club will conduct retriever demonstrations at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday on the open area behind and to the right of the White Stone Baptist Church, 517 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone. The club also will have an exhibit at the show.
The Virginia Ducks Unlimited display will feature the 2017 first-, second- and third-place winners in the Virginia Duck Stamp contest, on display for the first time.
The Audubon Society of the Northern Neck will have an informational display and will sell blue bird boxes.
The raffle is always a popular event during the show, said Bruce. Over 50 items donated by the exhibiting artists will be raffled at the end of the show. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing.
A variety of food will be available to eat under the tent at the show or take home.
