July Art Show to Feature Mostly Three Local Creative Talents
To hear Janice Jones, art director of The Arts Center of Montross, tell it, everything she has accomplished has simply fallen into her lap. But the thriving arts community in this small town would likely differ.
Forty-seven artists have studios or works at the Center, and some will display their talents at RWC’s July art exhibition opening next month.
Jones always wanted to be an artist. She was encouraged like most women at that time to become a nurse or a teacher, but “that wasn’t me,” she said. Instead, she went to work in government contracting and doing the “artsy stuff” on the side. She eventually moved to a New Mexico arts community and began taking art lessons.
“When my father died, I began taking care of my mom, but found I could take art lessons anywhere,” Jones said. “I took or taught art classes in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina eventually opening Two Rivers Art Workshops on the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers.”
An artist in her own right, Jones is also a savvy businesswoman. She found the building for the arts center in Montross four years ago and marvels, “We are still open!”
The building offers six studios and four are occupied. Art classes include wire wrapping for jewelry, mosaic classes and more, including children’s classes on Saturdays.
New exhibitions open on second Sundays and on fourth Fridays and the Center supports the Dreamer’s Market – a vibrant marketplace where young entrepreneurs, aged 8 to 18, showcase and sell their handcrafted goods.
The Center’s artists also include the “maestro,” Kendall Ford – one of six international collected artists. As Jones says, “Not many art centers our size can claim that.”
In 2023, the Arts Center welcomed native son JT Grant, a world renown artist whose work hangs in public and private collections from Manama Bahrain and London to The Dallas Museum, The Museum of South and others.
“He grew up in Montross and came back for three full days to give back,” Jones said. “He also has a permanent wall here – two paintings and more coming that are very Montross – water, clouds and things relevant to area.”
Art Center of Montross artists with work in the RWC July exhibition include Ronda Rotz (focusing on nautical, water imagery, impressionistic, sea life, etc.), Anne McCahill, a certified botanical artist (focusing on fiber arts, embroidery on bags, etc.) and Jones, who will show watercolors representing the female form.
“All artists are drawn from time to time to work on certain subjects,” Jones said. “In the abstract, I’m exploring the female shape in a multi layering process called ‘wet on wet’ and I’m letting the colors merge. It’s a series of the female form because we need all the support, camaraderie and attention we can get!”
The art exhibition is open to all 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily throughout July in Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury’s Gallery Hall and is open to the local community.
