RWC residents headline art show in October

Annual exhibition features watercolors, acrylics

Watercolors, acrylic prints and paintings – many abstract, unusual and quite beautiful – will be on display at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury as residents display their artwork during October as the featured artists for the month.

Each autumn, RWC residents who are also art students, exhibit their work in the facility’s Gallery Hall. Callao resident Pam Bowers has been teaching art to many of these students for 14 years.

“I have students who have been with me for a number of years – Pat Morris, Cecelia Barton, Mary Anne Campbell, Brandon Louisell and Helen Woolfolk are regulars. We also have some new student artists – Cay Weimer, Maxine Luxton and Sylvia Prince.”

Bowers teaches watercolors, but this year she and Resident Program Development Coordinator Amy Lewis offered extra classes working with acrylics.

“I work with the students on an individual basis and we use group demonstrations to show various painting techniques.” Bowers said. “If someone new wants to try their hand at art, I give them materials to work with and show them one or two techniques to give them a feel for it. I provide the supplies for the first couple of classes just to introduce them to watercolors. I don’t want residents to spend money and decide it’s not for them.”

Art work on display in October features flowers, still life, landscapes and other subject matter.

“We have a very active and involved group,” Bowers said. “It’s a fun time for all of us. Everyone seems to really enjoy what they’re doing. Sometimes our classes are very quiet, but sometimes they get pretty noisy! There is a lot of interaction between us.”

Residents and community members are invited to view the exhibition 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily throughout October in Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury’s Gallery Hall.