Wilmington Art Loop returns after nearly 2 years

Charlie MegginsonCulture, Headlines

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Artist Siobhan Duggan’s Fleeting at the Mezzanine Gallery

City officials are inviting residents and visitors to the first in-person Wilmington Art Loop event in twenty months. 

Shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wilmington Art Loop is a self-guided exhibition of visual art displayed at galleries, studios, museums, and alternative spaces in and around Wilmington. 

The free event draws local and regional art lovers to the Downtown District and greater Wilmington area on the first Friday of the month except for Independence Day Weekend in July. 

Many venues offer opportunities to meet the featured artists while patrons enjoy refreshments, and, in some cases, live entertainment is scheduled.

The popular art exhibition, now in its 33rd year, is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Out & About magazine. 

Sixteen galleries in and around Wilmington will participate in this month’s Art Loop. A complete list can be found in the December issue of Out and About.

Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery

The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, at 820 North French Street, will present artist Siobhan Duggan’s exhibition, Fleeting, from Dec. 3, 2021, through Jan. 7, 2022. 

Named a 2021 Emerging Artist Fellow in the category of Works on Paper by the Delaware Division of the Arts, Duggan will host a free opening reception on Friday, Dec. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Duggan’s work can be described as a visual love letter to Coastal Delaware, the city said in a press release announcing the return of the Art Loop.

“My work is inspired by the varying landscapes and inspiring world that is Coastal Delaware,” Duggan said in the release. “I’ve always enjoyed drawing in quiet, open spaces, recording places I’ve been, connecting with my local community. I find it rewarding to notice those brief moments when the color changes in the landscape around me.”

Other featured establishments in December include the City of Wilmington’s Redding Gallery, the Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery at Delaware College of Art and Design, Milk and Honey Café and Gallery @ LOMA, and The Delaware Contemporary.

Wilmington’s Redding Gallery
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Artist Terron Mitchell at The Louis L. Redding Gallery

Wilmington’s Redding Gallery, located at 800 North French Street, presents the work of Terron Mitchell, a sculptural painter who primarily creates abstracts from wooden sheathing boards. Mitchell intricately carves each piece and layers the materials in a three-dimensional fashion. 

To add color, Mitchell creates oil stains by mixing oil pigments with thinning agents and applying them to the wood thinly to assure that the natural wood grain design remains exposed. 

Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery at Delaware College of Art and Design
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It’s the Journey by Bronwen Hazlett

The Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery at Delaware College of Art and Design, at 600 North Market Street, will present “Experimental Reality” by photographer Bronwen Hazlett, which will be exhibited through January 22, 2022.  

The works featured in this exhibition embody an experimental process that invites the viewer to be both captivated by Hazlett’s imagery and intrigued by her process. 

Inspired by an early nomadic journey in life, her work is rooted in concepts of home, place, memory, and self-healing. While exploring philosophical alchemy – understanding your true nature, purging negativity, and living your life – Hazlett exposes her lived experiences by pushing traditional darkroom techniques in new directions. 

Photography lovers are invited to view the exhibition and meet Bronwen Hazlett, with Artist Talk and Demonstrations at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3.

Milk and Honey Café @ LOMA
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Artist Anthony Sealey at Milk and Honey Café @ LOMA

Milk and Honey Café @ LOMA, 239 North Market Street, is “brewin’ up something hot in December with the work of contemporary abstract artist Yakime Akelá Brown and photographic artist Anthony Sealey,” the release says.

The pair has teamed up for an “intimate exhibition of new paintings and stunning photography.” 

The presentation will feature complimentary lite bites and beverages beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3. 

Delaware Contemporary

The Delaware Contemporary, at 200 South Madison Street, will host its Annual Holiday Craft Show on Friday, Dec. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. 

The festive shopping experience is dedicated to contemporary American craft showcasing emerging and established artists. 

COVID-19 precautions and other important information

Because of COVID-related health and safety precautions, Taste of the Holidays will not take place during this event. There will be a cash bar with holiday specialty drinks, and vendors will be spread out in the lobby and auditorium to avoid crowding.

Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of two shuttles, which leave the parking lot of The Delaware Contemporary, located at 200 South Madison Street, at 5:45 p.m. 

The shuttles provide round-trip transportation to either Downtown Art Loop venues or locations in Trolley Square and venues north of Downtown. Shuttle drivers will be on-hand at The Contemporary to answer questions and help art enthusiasts navigate the many offerings of Art Loop Wilmington. Reservations are not required.

Art Loop Wilmington’s website – a hand-held guide to the Loop that is easily navigable by gallery location, artist, or type of venue – is mobile friendly and features the monthly lineup at least two weeks prior to the start of each Art Loop. The site can be accessed at www.artloopwilmington.org. People can also join the conversation on social media by using #ArtLoopWilm or visit the Facebook Page.

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