Visitors to Artworks Around Town in March will be treated to two exhibits in the Studio Gallery.  Oglebay Institute sponsored, “Ceramics Takeover Wheeling 23” and James Luke’s “Images of the Cosmos” will be displayed for the month beginning Friday March 3, 2023, with a festive Gallery Hop from 5:30 to 8 p.m.  The reception is free and open to the public.

Artworks is honored to participate in the citywide “Ceramics Takeover”. One of six sites in the area exhibiting works done by nationally known ceramists, the Gallery  will feature creations by Bo Bedilion, Betsy Cox and Tom Thomas.  According to Oglebay Institute, the Takeover is “ a citywide event that will celebrate ceramic artists and clay enthusiasts alike”.

Bo Bedilion has been an Associate Professor at Columbia College in Kansas since 2010.  He received his MFA in Ceramics from Kansas State University and his BA in Art from California University of Pennsylvania.  He states,
“Making pottery satisfied my desire to create useful objects with my hands. … I strive to manifest visual representations of loosely held memories, while retaining the structural integrity of a well-made pot.”  He is an active potter and exhibits his work both regionally and nationally.

Betsy Cox is an award winning ceramic artist who has been creating treasures in clay for over 27 years.  She works in various styles with a concentration in primitive types of firings, including wood, Raku, pit and Saggar.  Her love of archeology has had a profound impact on her styles, shapes and surfaces.  Her works can be found in numerous private and corporate collections. Cox has participated in solo, group and invitational exhibitions and has been featured in many publications. 

Tom Thomas has experimented in several mediums but clay is the one he has preferred to work in for the past eight years.  He states, “Clay has allowed me to express and illustrate my impressions of our world.”  The majority of his creations are hand built, starting from a rolled out slab, ultimately creating a unique piece of art which will be pleasing and enjoyed by others.

If you have not had the opportunity to see James Luke’s stunning metal prints of nebulae and planets, visit this month because they will adorn the walls of the Gallery until the end of March.  Come to the Market, have coffee and see and purchase original works of over twenty local artists. Artworks Around Town is a non profit fine arts gallery located in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market, open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.  Anyone interested in joining Artworks, visit the website: www.artworksaroundtown.com for information and an application.

Visitors to Artworks Around Town in February will experience one of the most exciting exhibits the Gallery has hosted.  Astrophotographer, James Luke will be displaying 24 metal photographic prints of deep space in the exhibit he has titled, “Images of the Cosmos”.  The show will open with a Gallery Hop on Friday, February 3rd, from 5:30 until 8 p.m. in the Centre Market.  The event is free and open to the public and is a great opportunity to meet this talented photographer.

James received his first telescope when he was just 11 years old.  His study of the universe had to be put on hold when he finished high school but his love of the subject was rekindled when he served on active duty while he was in his mid-thirties.  

In September of 2012, he purchased his first Orion 10-inch telescope along with a web camera.  James states “My first night observing the skies would mark the beginning of my passion for deep space photography.”  He grew in appreciation of celestial bodies as his technical skills were honed in astrophotography and post-processing.  

His passion is evident in his meticulous presentation of the work he has produced.  James has held presentations and talks on astrophotography as well as publishing some of his best images.  James said in his biography, “I’m particularly grateful for the opportunity to exhibit some of my best work yet with Artworks Around Town Gallery”. 

Artworks Around Town is a non-profit fine arts gallery located in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market and is open six days a week from Monday through Saturday from ten a.m. until five thirty p.m.  Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Gallery, please access the website at artworksaroundtown.com for details and an application form.

ARTWORKS around town will open a brand new show “Weather or Not” in January.  Studio Curator, Janet Sheehan asked members to commemorate the new year with weather related works.  Rain, snow, wind, water and sunlight will be represented in two and three dimensional pieces made by members of the Gallery.  The show opens with a Gallery Hop on Friday, January 6th from 5:30 until 8 p.m.  The reception is free and all are welcome to attend.

The year 2023 promises to be full of new and exciting shows in the  Studio and Student Galleries. There is always a vast array of unique artwork, fine art photography, stained glass pieces, jewelry, as well as fabric items for purchase at ARTWORKS in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market.  Stop in to see some of the finest work in the valley.  Hours are 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. six days a week, Monday through Saturday. The Gallery is dedicated to serving juried artists as well as the community through outreach programming.  Anyone interested in joining the Gallery,  more information may be found at artworksaroundtown.com or at the desk at ARTWORKS.

The Holiday tree is glowing at Centre Market and so is the array of gift items to be found at Artworks Around Town.  Original paintings done in oil, watercolor and acrylic with subjects ranging from still lifes, landscapes to fantasy images are all available at wonderfully reasonable prices.  Fine art photographs, woven items, prints, cards lotions, soaps  and jewelry are just some of the other unique pieces waiting for a place under the tree.  Artworks is open six days a week from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

There are only days left to take advantage of the wonderful array of gift items in the Holiday Show at Artworks Around Town.  The exhibit will change the first of December but the vast selection of gifts continues throughout the Gallery.  These three works by member artists, Joy Polling, Larry Travis and Laura Bitely represent just a few of the original pieces for sale six days a week, from ten until five thirty at Artworks Around Town in Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market.

Everything Jeff Mamone creates is from “scratch”.  Just as in a recipe for a good cake, the ingredients are many and carefully mixed resulting in a truly hand made original item.  Pictured here is an array of some of his Holiday offerings at Artworks Around Town.  The clock is the product of many layers of textures and mediums.  The pendants are made of metals such as copper, silver and brass with paint and encaustic touches.  The oil lamp is made from a vintage bottle.  Visit the Gallery in Wheeling’s Centre Market for these and many more gift ideas for Holiday shopping needs.