On view June 4-July 30, 2021

Wilmington, Del. (May 26, 2021) – The Journey, an exhibition of watercolor paintings by Howard J. Eberle, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from June 4-July 30, 2021. Eberle is the recipient of a 2021 Artist Fellowship in Painting from the Delaware Division of the Arts.

The majority of works in this exhibition span his journey of the last decade of a professional career that has lasted over 25 years. Included are award-winning paintings that have been exhibited in public museums in the USA and abroad.

Eberle describes himself as a portrait painter of objects. He is drawn to the peeled paint of an old barn, the rusty patina of an anchor, or the weathered wood on an old workboat. He carefully balances his compositions and eliminates some details that might distract the eye.

“I am greatly influenced by the Zen principal of kanso, and in my paintings keep only what is necessary to allow more space for quiet moments of contemplation. Through composition I strive to eliminate clutter in favor of simplicity.” – Howard J. Eberle

The paintings are transparent watercolor using a drybrush technique which enables him to achieve realistic, fine detail not typical of this medium.

Image in banner: Skiff, 2016, transparent watercolor, 11 x 30 inches

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. Visitors must wear face coverings and maintain 3 feet distance from other individuals not in their household.

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The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

On view through April 5-29, 2021
Visit the Gallery in-person or view it online

Wilmington, Del. (April 1, 2021) – Visceral Memory Cache, an exhibition of abstract paintings by Eileen Olson, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from April 5-29, 2021. The paintings are a result of a six-month creative journey around the question, “How much does my own visceral memory impact my art?” Olson is planning to be in the Gallery on Thursday, April 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to meet visitors.

Through this journey, Olson discovered that the only limits to her creative process was her imagination. She describes the process as dismantling and rearranging idyllic visions from her cerebral storehouse that she calls her “cache.” To minimize external influences and tap into her memory cache, Olson begins each painting session with a short meditation.

Olson creates visually interesting paintings by using the principles of design in her shape-making and her use of color with differing values. The work may include representational shapes, like birds, and calligraphic strokes. Her goal is to capture the viewer’s interest and create an emotional reaction to the work.

“I paint because it is who I am deep inside my soul. Through a series of catastrophes, my organic marks begin to tell my story. Using many different mediums, layers and textures allows me to achieve a creative approach that helps to express my deep emotions.”

A Bethany Beach resident, Olson conducts workshops, studio tours, and offers demonstrations to art leagues and local social groups all around Delmarva. She is a member of the Rehoboth Art League, the Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour, and the Art League of Ocean City. She has exhibited at galleries and special exhibitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic, been a juror for the National Art Educators Association, and she is also a partner at Gallery One in Ocean View, DE.

Image:  Wanna Touch the Sky (detail), 2020, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 inches

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. Visitors must wear face coverings and maintain 6 feet distance from other individuals not in their household.

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The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

On view from February 17-28, 2020
Free opening reception on Friday, February 7 at 5 p.m.

Wilmington, Del. (January 27, 2020) – Spring Must Come, an exhibition of sculptural paintings by Terron Mitchell, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from February 7-28. The artist will host a free opening reception on Friday, February 7, from 5-7 p.m. TANKSLEY, Delaware singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, will perform during the opening reception.

Mitchell creates his “sculptural paintings” by layering carved shapes made from wood sheathing to create a three-dimensional work. This layering creates interesting shadows and gives the work a sense of movement. Mitchell also makes his own custom-colored oil stains for the work. He doesn’t use the same color for more than one work. Assembling the works, often large scale, can take weeks.

The work in Spring Must Come, Mitchell says, “depicts a poetic visualization of one’s journey chasing dreams and accomplishing goals.” He is influenced by inspirational authors, Earl Nightingale and Jim Rohn. Mitchell lives, works, and maintains a studio in Smyrna, Delaware.

Images from left to right: Spring Must Come, 2019, oil stain, on pine wood, 8 x 4 x 2.5 feet

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery will present an exhibition titled The Sky’s the Limit by Karin Snoots from October 4-25, 2013. The Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. There will be a reception to meet the artist on Friday, October 4 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Karin Snoots’ work will showcase a series of paintings on canvas, surf boards, and street signs. The artist’s newly developed contemporary style is a significant shift from her more traditional renderings. Through her paintings, Karin Snoots’ fundamental mission is to have her art serve as a catalyst for environmental awareness and conservation. She finds inspiration in the drama of nature and is constantly challenged to capture the dramatic sense of scale in space and light.

Individual Artist Fellow in Painting, Karin Snoots has exhibited her work regionally and locally and is a signature member of both the American Society of Marine Artists and Artists for Conservation Foundation and a member of the Ocean Artists Society. Snoots has formal training as a commercial illustrator, but her passionate interest in nature has moved her art far beyond illustration. The artist received her degree from American University and currently lives in Harbeson, DE.

To read an article about Karin, visit the Division’s Individual Arts Fellowship web publication.

Sonja Frey will present an exhibition titled The Intentional Accident in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from July 5 – 26, 2013. The Gallery, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. There will be a reception to meet the artist on Friday, July 5, from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Sonja Frey’s work will showcase a series of collage paintings which focus mainly on the sole objective of beauty. Frey’s paintings are spontaneous: each part of the process, applying acrylic paint or collaging the surface, is initiated by instinct, not by detailed planning. The artist intends for the viewer to react emotionally, visually and physically to the complex surfaces of her work.

Frey earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Beaver College (now known as Arcadia University) in Glenside, PA. After taking her first painting workshop in October of 2004, she immediately fell in love with the vibrant colors and techniques of painting with acrylics and collage. The artist currently works full time as a graphic designer.