Author Archives: Sunset River Gallery

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Gallery to feature Samantha Spalti’s Kinetic Ambit Revisited show

Samantha Spalti’s Kinetic 3, 36″x36″ from her Kinetic Ambit Revisited show.

Sunset River Gallery is set to feature Samantha Spalit’s solo show Kinetic Ambit Revisited, which opens Oct. 25 and runs through Dec. 6. The public is invited to meet the artist (and gallery director) at the opening reception on Saturday, October 25 from 2 – 4 p.m. This show, which is a revisited version of the exhibit that she first shared at Leland Cultural Center last year, is an exploration. Samantha has created a universe of orbs in undefined spaces, which she explains are her search to find her place in the world. A pair of self-portraits reflect where she is in the process. Within the show there is a definite shift of color and mood in the explorative orbs and horizons.

Asked about her inspiration, the artist says, “When I found out my eccentricities were actually autism, it spawned an ongoing series of paintings that has become Kinetic Ambit. The collection began with a self-portrait and grew to include the explorative orbs and horizons. I’m still learning things about myself.”

Kinetic Ambit features over 20 paintings, many of which Spalti has painted on upcycled canvases. “I object to how disposable society has become and upcycling – whether we’re talking about fashion, household products, or art – has become key in my life.”

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Clay Johnson, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and six wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil, acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by regionally and nationally known instructors.

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Let’s Put on a Show!

Open Proposal for Sunset River Gallery 2026

 

Next year we are looking to switch things up a bit! We have openings for two shows – one in early Spring and one in late Fall – and we are asking for artists (or informal groups of artists) to submit their ideas for a show. This would be open for solo shows or group shows (not formal groups like WAA or ALL, but rather artist friends who paint together or do pottery together or even just know each other and have an idea for a show).

These shows are to be held in our gallery and would include a reception. There is no charge for the show or reception, but we do ask that participating artists provide food for the reception. The available show dates are Feb 7 – March 14 and Sept 19 – Oct 24.

  • It is not necessary to be a current member of the gallery, and this is not an invitation to be in the gallery beyond this show

  • This is open to 2D and 3D work and they can be combined in the same show

  • It is not necessary to have all work completed with the submission, but we must see examples of each artist’s work with the submission, and we need a thorough explanation of your theme

  • You are not expected or asked to volunteer, but we do ask that you attend the reception

  • All artists must be active artists currently living in either NC or SC

  • All works need to be available for sale. If your proposal is selected, a contract will be signed and the gallery gets a percentage of the sales

  • This is not open to professional or formal artist’s groups, just individuals or informal groups of artists (ie, a group of artists who paint plein air together)

  • Please consider and understand the gallery’s mission (feel free to Google “What is Sunset River Gallery’s mission”) and audience – the work needs to be of a professional caliber and acceptable for the general public

  • Be concise and clear in your submission

  • Be professional and open to feedback

  • Keep the written part of your submission to no more than a single page. Please make your submission the body of the email with any pictures sent as attachments, rather than using Word or Power Point, etc

 

To submit, we need the following:

 

  • Email your submission to: info@sunsetrivergallery.com with “Open Proposal 2026” as the subject. We will acknowledge all submissions. If you don’t get an acknowledgement after a week, email or call the gallery to make sure we have received it

  • Please make your first paragraph an outline/summary of the concept and list all the artist(s) involved. Consider this the hook, how you grab our attention

  • The remainder of the submission should include:

    • Exhibition Title and Statement – this is just a sentence or two, something we could use in advertising

    • A detailed explanation of your concept/theme

    • Artist statements for all participating artists

    • Number of works to be included in the show. This can be an estimate, but it will help us determine where in the gallery to hold the show

    • If there are special requirements for display, please let us know in your proposal

    • If you have a preferred date, let us know, but it isn’t mandatory that you decide yet

 

Submissions are open now until December 6, 2025. Decisions will be made by the end of 2025. All entries will receive notification of the status of their submission.

Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW in Calabash, NC. We are one-eighth mile north of the NC-SC state line. Telephone: 910.575.5999. Email: info@sunsetrivergallery.com . Website: sunsetrivergallery.com .

 

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Gallery to feature Chantal Tomiello in one-woman show

 

Chantal TomielloSunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will feature works by Raleigh, NC artist Chantal Tomiello in a one-woman exhibition titled The Shape of Light: Dreaming in Color from Saturday, August 23 through Saturday, Sept. 27. The show includes 25+ abstracted landscapes and vibrant floral still life paintings. Two nine-foot-long landscapes are among the offerings. An opening reception will be held Friday evening on August 23 from 5 – 7 p.m. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. The public is invited. There is no charge and no reservations are needed.

When asked about the show, the French-Canadian born artist replied, “When I paint, I want to feel a little off-balance. Not in a chaotic way, but in a way that keeps me awake—curious, responsive, not entirely in control. I’m chasing that edge where things aren’t fully resolved. And I want you to feel that, too, when you’re looking. That slight shift, like something’s stirring just beneath the surface.

“Deconstruction of a realistic subject into abstraction is something that inspires me. This Dreaming in Color series is made up mostly of landscapes—trees, water, luminous skies. I’m drawn to those elements because they hold so much stillness and movement at once. I’m not trying to capture a specific place. It’s more about what it feels like to really be in a moment. Present. Aware. Quiet. I think there’s magic in that kind of presence.”

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Debanjana Bhattacharjee, Clay Johnson, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and six wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC. Telephone: 910.575.5999. Website: sunsetrivergallery.com . Regular gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily updates and event information are posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Gossip Girls by Rachel Sunnell
Author Sunset River Gallery Posted on

Gallery to feature Sunnell’s ‘The Story Tellers’ August 2 – 30

Artist Rachel Sunnell, Sunday Stroll acrylic 12×12

Sunset River Gallery is set to feature Rachel Sunnell’s one-woman show titled The Story Tellers from Saturday, August 2 through Saturday, August 30. A public reception will be held Saturday, August 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. There is no charge and reservations are not required. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

According to the artist, The Story Tellers invites viewers to explore the relationships between perspective and subject matter. The show consists of 25+ works in acrylic featuring scenes from coastal locales.

Rachel says, “Through my paintings, I aim to evoke memories, feelings, and imaginative thoughts. For instance, the depiction of cotton fields might remind you of a cherished memory with your grandmother receiving a bale of cotton as a wedding gift, or it may transport you back to carefree childhood days. The interactions between creatures, such as ibises and egrets, can also spark curiosity about the social norms within their world. Each viewer brings their own narrative.”

Rachel’s love of art, and nature led her to painting and to landscape architecture. Her design background can often be seen in her work through distant views, layering and sense of color. As an acrylic painter, Rachel uses loose brush strokes and color that evoke the idea of subjective realism.

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and six wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

Shown above: Artist Rachel Sunnell, Gossip Girls, acrylic, 24×48.

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3-Day Summer Art Market July 18 – 20

Betsy Parker (seated, right) will demo hand-building at the Summer Art Market.

Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC is set to hold its second annual Summer Art Market on July 18, 19, and 20. You are invited to mark your calendars for this exciting art event in coastal Carolina. Shop locally for art and unique gifts. There will be artist demonstrations, free gift certificate drawings, lots of refreshments and treats, and more. Plan on stopping by to see what’s new in pottery, paintings, photography, turned wood, glass, fiber art, artisan-crafted jewelry, decor items, handmade furniture and more.

Samantha Spalti, gallery director for Sunset River, said, “The atmosphere in this gallery is one of a kind, and the Summer Art Market is a great example of that. Visitors will choose from an extraordinary range of art – fine art for the most discerning collectors, hand-crafted décor pieces you’ve never seen before, artisan-crafted jewelry of all kinds, both functional and art pottery, and a fun collection of art you can pack in your suitcase if you’re here on vacation.”

 Gallery artists have been working for months to bring all-new pieces for the Art Market. Several artists will be on hand to show and answer questions about their work, including Bob Moffett (turned wood), Donna Michaux (pottery), Jewel Simmons (jewelry), Jen McRae (jewelry), and Teri Herl (pottery). Art demonstrations include Tonda Jeffcoat (pottery -wheel), Rachel Sunnell (acrylic painting) Gail Black (oil painting), Donna Mertz (weaving), Brian Evans (pottery-wheel), Becky Steele (acrylic painting), Betsy Parker (pottery-hand building), and Simone Esquibel (mosaic).

New for 2025 will be craft activities on Saturday, July 19 (dot painting coasters rock painting, and more) for both adults and children.

Refreshments and treats will be served all day. When you need a break from shopping have a seat in the gallery’s Third Space Café section with any number of complimentary refreshments that will be offered. This is a free event. Please note, however, in the craft activities area there is a $5 charge per person per individual craft.

Art Demo Schedule (Subject to change):

Friday:

12 p.m. Donna Mertz – Weaving

2 p.m. Rachel Sunnell – Acrylic Painting

Saturday:

11 a.m. Betsy Parker -Hand-building Pottery

11:30 a.m. Brian Evans – Pottery Wheel

1 p.m. Becky Steele – Acrylic Painting

1 p.m. Simone Esquibel – Mosaics

Sunday:

12 p.m. Tonda Jeffcoat – Pottery Wheel

1 p.m. Gail Black – Oil Painting

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Clay Johnson, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and six wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

Morning at the Beach, Debanjana Bhattacharjee, detail
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Small Works show set for June 6 – July 20

Lake Trees by Clay Johnson

Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC is set to hold its Small Works show with an opening reception on Friday, June 6 from 5 – 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend at no charge. Small Works, which features 2D and 3D pieces runs through July 20 (leading into the gallery’s annual Summer Art Market July 18 – 20).

Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “We tasked gallery artists with creating small art, nothing larger than 12” by 16.”  The goal is to offer fine art that visitors to the area can take home with them easily and locals may find the perfect piece for that special little corner in the house.”

The show includes a wide range of genre from oil paintings, watercolors, and photography to pottery and mosaics. Twenty-six artists will be participating, including Kari Feuer, Allison Fanelli, Roseann Bellinger, Kathleen Spicer, Susan Barnard, Ginny Lassiter, Ortrud Tyler, Janet Boschker, Ron Parent, Diane White, Debanjana Bhattacharjee, Janet Sessoms, Beryl Kirkpatrick, Vicki Neilon, Clay Johnson, Abby Warman, Simone Esquibel, Cathy Collopy O’Donnell, Sandy Nelson, Brenda Riggins, Linda Hester, Rachel Jones, Gail Black, Louis Alliota, and Sue Nern.

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

 

Featured image shown above: Detail, Morning at the Beach by Debanjana Bhattacharjee, oil 10×10

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Boundaries: Juried 2D show opened April 26

Sam Spalti, L, with Marsha Hoffman and her Best in Show, “Open Your Throat.”

Boundaries opened at Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC Saturday, April 26 and will run through Saturday, May 31. An opening reception  was held April 26 from 2 to 4 p.m.  A total of 34 pieces of art from artists in North and South Carolina were accepted by juror Lynn Golitz, an abstract artist from Morehead City, NC. A Best in Show award was presented to Marsha Hoffman for her (acrylic, photo transfer and oil sticks) abstract, “Open Your Throat.”

Participating artists were invited to explore the limits, edges, and intersections that define our lives. Where does one thing end and another begin? They examined both personal and physical boundaries, conceptual and societal boundaries.

Samantha Spalti, director for Sunset River Gallery, said,” We were looking for work that would inspire conversations on how boundaries are drawn or how they’re erased. It’s about offering a space for reflection and dialogue. I’m excited for gallery visitors to experience this show! Many of the artists (and the juror) will be at the opening reception. I hope people will engage them.”

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

Author Sunset River Gallery Posted on

Gary Baird wildlife program held Feb. 15

Mom on the Rocks, detail, photography by Gary Baird.

On February 15, wildlife photographer Gary Baird presented an entertaining 90-minute travel program at Sunset River Gallery in Calabash about his 13,075-mile trip throughout the U.S. and Canada. The former high school principal and wife Sue left North Carolina in July 2024 and visited 15 different states, exploring 12 national parks in the U.S. and five more in Canada.  “My wife had never seen a moose in the wild,” Gary said, “So that was one of our big goals.”

The couple’s expedition took them through New York and Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes region, Death Valley and the Sierras in California, Utah, the Dakotas, Minnesota for waterfalls, and more. A highlight of the trip – and the presentation – was a side trip to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada on Hudson Bay, where the venturesome couple embarked on a tundra buggy adventure, a helicopter trip, and a Zodiac ride on the bay.  Here they encountered polar bears, sandhill cranes, foxes, bison, beluga whales, tundra swans, and other wildlife – all documented by Gary. It was in Walden, Colorado that the Bairds finally spotted some moose, four bulls and three cows. Mission accomplished.

Gary Baird displays his photographs at Sunset River Gallery.

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Debanjana Bhattacharjee, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is one of the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found in the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angel Botello (1913-1986), Vladimir Cora (1951), Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), Ginny Crouch Stanford (1950), and two bronze sculptures by Milton Hebald (1930 – 2010).

 

Shown: Moose in Walden, Colorado, detail. Photograph by Gary Baird

 

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Juried ceramics show opens March 15

Fired: Artistry in Clay is a juried show and sale of all things ceramic. Running from March 15 through April 19, it includes functional stoneware, raku art pieces, sculpture, sgraffito, wall pieces and more. All participating artists are from North and South Carolina. A Best in Show honor will be awarded at the opening reception on Saturday, March 15 between 2 and 4 p.m. A People’s Choice award will also be given at the show’s end.

The exhibition includes a striking wall piece by Hannah Fridholm. According to the artist, “The Crossing captures the fragile boundary between life and death, with a bird’s wings unfurled in flight, symbolizing transcendence and freedom.”

Betsy Parker, who has two entries in the show, says her piece titled Dancing with the Moon is a celebration. “We are living components of the world, spiritual by nature, connected by design. How can you not join the dance?”

The show, which consists of 23 pieces, also includes sgraffito by Raine Middleton and sculptures by Marilyn Kearney. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SHOWN: Betsy Parker, Dancing with the Moon (detail), Raku

About Sunset River Gallery

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Debanjana Bhattacharjee, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns, and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by well-known instructors.

The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is one of the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found in the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angel Botello (1913-1986), Vladimir Cora (1951), Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), Ginny Crouch Stanford (1950), and two bronze sculptures by Milton Hebald (1930 – 2010).

Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC 179) in Calabash, NC 28467. Telephone: 910.575.5999. Website: sunsetrivergallery.com

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Mood Indigo opens Feb. 1, reception 2-4 p.m.

Detail Ocean View by Yuriy Petrov, acrylic 36×24

Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC announces its latest exhibition titled Mood Indigo featuring 2D and 3D work by 25 of the gallery’s exhibiting artists. For this much awaited show, artists are exploring the evocative power of indigo in its many forms – color, mood, and metaphor. The show, which runs from February 1 – March 8, features a range of style and media including oil, watercolor, acrylic, fused glass, and mixed media. The opening reception on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. is an opportunity for members of the public to meet the artists and hear firsthand about the works.

In her figural painting for Mood Indigo, Myrtle Beach artist Rachel Jones focused on aspects of wisdom, tranquility and harmony, saying “Our protagonist here, has chosen to relinquish slights, fear, and other dark experiences that have weighed heavy upon their spirit in order to attain a level of quietude and stoicism.” Yuriy Petrov, who lives and paints in Myrtle Beach, finds and depicts the joy of existence in his abstracted landscape, “Ocean View.”

Landscape artist Rachel Sunnell connects emotion and history in her painting of North Carolina cotton fields at dusk. This dynamic tapestry of past and present interweaves individual and societal histories with light and shadow bridging eras and ideas.

Whether through dreamlike blues, quiet solitude of evening shadows, or rich textures of indigo dye, works in this insightful show capture moods that range from serene to mysterious, rage-filled to peaceful.  Mood Indigo is a thread that weaves together memory, emotion, and imagination, offering viewers a window into complex, layered states of being.

About Sunset River Gallery

Kari Feuer, After the Before, oil, 24×24

Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.

The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is one of the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found in the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angel Botello (1913-1986), Vladimir Cora (1951), Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), Ginny Crouch Stanford (1950), and two bronze sculptures by Milton Hebald (1930 – 2010).

In 2023, Sunset River Gallery acquired Cordier Auctions, a premier auction house, which regularly holds estate and consignment auctions of fine and decorative art; coins, sterling, and fine jewelry; real estate; antiques, firearms and militaria, and more. Information about appraisal to auction can be obtained by emailing appraisal@sunsetrivergallery.com.

Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in Calabash, NC. Telephone: 910.575.5999. Website: https://sunsetrivergallery.com .

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