Venues in and around Wilmington will participate in the popular monthly art exhibition, now in its 36^th year

 

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, City Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz, and Jerry duPhily of Out & About Magazine invite City residents and art lovers from around the region to the next Art Loop Wilmington of 2024 tonight, Friday, August 2. The popular FREE art exhibition, now in its 36^th year, is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Out & About. Galleries in and around Wilmington will participate in this month’s Art Loop. A complete list can be found in the August issue of Out and About.
 
Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the Art Loop shuttle provided by the City of Wilmington Parks & Recreation Department. The shuttle will leave the parking lot of The Delaware Contemporary, located at 200 South Madison Street, at 5:45 p.m. In addition to the featured venues, shuttle riders vote for their choice of galleries to visit.

 

 Jon Batiste by Pim Kooper

Wilmington’s Redding Gallery, at 800 North French Street, continues to present Destination Jazz – A Photography Art Exhibition – a captivating photography art exhibition showcasing vibrant images from international jazz festivals. This collection, featuring dynamic performances by renowned jazz artists complemented by the unique charm and cultural essence of the host locations, continues through the end of August. Each photograph tells a story of musical passion and the rich tapestry of global destinations, celebrating the harmonious blend of jazz and its diverse cultural backdrops. Featured photographers include Ernest Gregory, Pim Kooper, Maurice Evans, and Christopher Mack.
 
Join us for an Art Loop reception this evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
 
The other featured establishments this month are Blue Streak Gallery, Chris White Gallery, Huxley & Hiro Booksellers, the Delaware Center for Horticulture, Lumen Studio & Gallery, Bellefonte Arts, Finist and Owl, and the Delaware Contemporary.

 

Aztec_Cindy Diaz Gantes by Hikmatullah Kharoti

Blue Streak Gallery, at 1721 Delaware Avenue, is proud to present Through the Native Lens by Hikmatullah Kharoti, an Artist Protection Fund Fellow in residence at the University of Delaware and The Delaware Contemporary. This exhibition is made possible through a partnership with the Delaware Art Museum. The public is invited to an Art Loop reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Q-pon’s Laptop by Q-pon

Chris White Gallery, at 701 North Shipley Street, is pleased to present XYZ Bananas! a multimedia group show by the Church of LOL and curated by Q-pon. The show’s universal themes are humor, surrealism, and clowning, asking questions like What are the spiritual and biological functions of humor and clowns? What do What do they have in common, and how do they serve the communities from which they emerge? The Church of LOL is a fictional, theoretical church for clowns and tricksters, where Gxdness is the primordial laugh, and every joke is a prayer. Artist include Nome Poem, Zejian Shen, Liz ’n’ Bow, Erwin Ong, Andy Vible, Kevin Perez, Jin Kwak, Frog Wing/ Q-Pon, Ray Mak, Cosmiknots/KK de la Vida, Ori Alon & Rachel Ray, Mugen, Moon Mansion, Sal Ayala, Jee-shaun Wang, Father Figure, and Bouwe Ty & Nadja Rachel Johnson.

Art Loop patrons are invited to attend an opening Art Loop this evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with live sets by DJ Slenderflex and K.E.P. and a slideshow presentation by Q-pon. More live acts TBA.

  

Psychedelia by Geraldo Gonzalez

Huxley & Hiro Booksellers, at 419 North Market Street, hosts Transit Psychedelia by Geraldo Gonzalez, a mixed-media display featuring original works from Wilmington’s “King of Transit.”  The collection features a mixture of colored pencil on canvas and digitally manipulated photography that explores the artist's earnest appreciation of public transit.

Geraldo Gonzalez is a Puerto Rican-American artist born in 1988 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. He is first and foremost a transit artist, known colloquially as “The King of Transit.” He sources material for his artwork from his trips on local transportation systems in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Geraldo is a prolific multimedia artist, working in colored pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, digital photography and video. He was a member of the Creative Vision Factory in Wilmington, from its opening in 2011 until its closing earlier this year. Geraldo has exhibited widely throughout Delaware, in solo shows at the Creative Vision Factory and Marketplace Gallery, and group exhibitions at the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware Contemporary, Chris White Gallery, the Biggs Museum of American Art, and the Fleisher/Ollman Gallery in Philadelphia. He has four artworks in the University of Delaware’s permanent collection and is represented by the Koelsch Gallery in Houston, Texas. Through his frequently updated social media (@thekingoftransit), we are invited to follow the artist’s process and ever-colorful evolution.

The public is invited to an Art Loop reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with classical guitarist Joshua Hendrix and a slam poetry reading by legendary Wilmington artist/author Crystal Baynard Norman at 7:00 p.m.

 

Wood Lily by Jason Gaskill

The Delaware Center for Horticulture, at 1810 North DuPont Street, this month features The Naturalist, The Arborist, in the Arts by Jason Gaskill, a dedicated and seasoned arborist with Wilmington’s Davey Tree Expert Company who is making his inaugural gallery exhibition.

From a young age, Gaskill has pursued his passion for art. His mediums of choice have changed since then—wood burning, wood stain, oils, and acrylics—but still serve as a testament to his deep connection with nature. Drawing inspiration from the local flora and fauna, Gaskill's work is a celebration of nature's beauty and the ephemeral movement within it.

Gaskill's artistic journey is deeply intertwined with his reverence for nature. "I believe that the natural world is an inherent part of us as human beings (and we of it)," says Gaskill, "and that we need to return to nature to find our own inner wildness again." His art blends his scientific profession of arborist with his creative spirit of exploration. Gaskill seeks to reveal the beauty of everyday scenes, capturing moments and inviting viewers into a space where imagination and reality merge.

A proud alumnus of the University of Delaware, Gaskill has expertly merged his academic background with his artistic pursuits. His pieces are not just visual experiences but journeys into the heart of nature. Through his art, Jason Gaskill offers a unique perspective on the world, one that reflects his lifelong commitment to both preservation and the artistic representation of nature's wonders.

You are Invited to an Art Loop reception this evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to witness the debut of an artist who not only paints the natural world but lives and breathes its every nuance. Light refreshments will be provided, and beer and wine will be available for sale.

In addition, Jason’s younger brother Matt will be exhibiting several pieces of acrylic paintings of flowers and nature. Like Jason, Matt shined as an artist throughout school and was even part of the inaugural DCAD (Delaware College of Art in Design). Matt is eager to display his lifelong skills and artistic talent and Jason is proud to have him as part of his inaugural show in the art of the natural world.

 

Emma Standing by Carson Zullinger

Lumen Studio & Gallery, located in Independence Mall at 1601 Concord Pike, Suite 89, proudly presents Light in the Shadows by Carson Zullinger.

Carson Zullinger has been working as an artist since the late 1970s with an extensive exhibit history including a 40-year retrospective at the Biggs Museum of American Art in 2016. His work is in multiple museum collections. Carson received a Masters Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts in 2014. His primary genre is Fine Art Nude photography and much of his recent work has been in collaboration with an international group of fine art nude photographers and models (“Zoefest”), as well as underwater work with local models. Join us for the Art Loop reception tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Underwater Explorations by Marsha Minutella

Bellefonte Arts, at 803-C Brandywine Boulevard, presents a group showing of beach- and ocean- themed artwork of various media from its artist members. This is a must-see exhibit with an artist reception tonight from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be live music by Josh Hendrix, along with food trucks and dessert vendors. The Shops of Bellefonte will be open late and welcome visitors from Art Loop.

Bulldog by Tawanda Harbison

Finist and Owl, at 811 Brandywine Boulevard, is pleased to present two exhibits this month – Sparkles by Tawanda, a collection of works from artist Tawanda Harbison, and Creative Ceramics from Alison Begala.

Tawanda Harbison is a self-taught artist from Newark, Delaware. Discovering art during the pandemic, she found relief from her anxiety in beadwork. Nothing makes her happier than when one of her pieces speaks to someone.

Alison Begala's main format of creative arts has been ceramics for the last two years. She grew up in Northeast Ohio and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus on interdisciplinary studio arts from Youngstown State University. Alison currently resides in Wilmington, with a studio located in Kenneth Square. She loves creating decorative and functional works of art that can be enjoyed in your home every day. Join us for the Art Loop reception tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Veiled Reality by Jennifer Louise

COVID GUIDELINES
All visitors are expected to confirm and follow COVID guidelines as determined by individual galleries.
 
Patrons are reminded that the Art Loop shuttle will leave the parking lot of The Delaware Contemporary, located at 200 South Madison Street, at 5:45 p.m. The shuttle provides round-trip transportation to Art Loop venues until 8:30 p.m. and is a convenient way to meet other art lovers. The shuttle driver can answer questions and help art enthusiasts navigate the many offerings of Art Loop Wilmington. Reservations are NOT required.

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.
 
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 is updated with the monthly lineup the week 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. The next Art Loop will take place on Friday, September 6, 2024.

COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES: 

Paul Ford Jr.
Director of Communications
City of Wilmington, Office of the Mayor
Mobile: (302) 530-2171
Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov