Current Show
Kinetic Ambit Revisited, Paintings by Samantha Spalti
October 25 – December 6, 2025
Opening Reception: October 25, 2 – 4 p.m.
Kinetic Ambit opens Oct. 25 and runs through Dec. 6. We hope you’ll join us at the opening reception on Saturday, October 25 from 2 – 4 p.m. to meet artist (and gallery director) Samantha Spalti. 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.
We hope you’ll mark your calendar for this insightful exhibition and reception. Light hors d’oeuvres, sweets, and other refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend at no charge. Reservations are not needed.
A Selection of our Past Shows
The Shape of Light: Dreaming in Color, Paintings by Chantal Tomiello
August 23 – September 27, 2025
Opening Reception: August 23, 5 – 7 p.m.
The gallery will feature Raleigh, NC artist Chantal Tomiello’s newest works in a one-woman show titled The Shape of Light: Dreaming in Color from Saturday, August 23 through Saturday, Sept. 27. According to the artist, “This 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. 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.”
Dreaming in Color includes two nine-foot landscapes as well as a number of vibrant abstracted florals, which collectors are sure to cherish. The artist will be at the opening reception on Saturday, August 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and talk with her about the art pieces. There is no charge for the reception and reservations are not needed. Regular gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Story Tellers
Paintings by Rachel Sunnell
August 2 – August 30, 2025
Opening Reception: August 2, 5 – 7 p.m.
We can’t wait for Rachel Sunnell’s solo show – The Story Tellers! Her opening reception is Saturday, August 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. and the show runs through Saturday, August 30, so mark your calendar! You won’t want to miss it! 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’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.
The Friday evening reception is open to the public at no charge. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. We hope to see you then!
Small Works
June 6 – July 20, 2025
Opening Reception: June 6, 5 – 7 p.m.
Small Works will have 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 over 100 2D and 3D pieces, includes a wide range of genre from oil paintings, watercolors, and photography to pottery and mosaics. The show 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.”
Boundaries
April 26 – May 31, 2025
Opening Reception: April 26, 2 – 4 p.m.
Boundaries is set to opens April 26 and will run through Saturday, May 31. 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.
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!”
Fired: Artistry in Clay
March 15 – April 19, 2025
Opening Reception: March 15, 2 – 4 p.m.
Fired: Artistry in Clay is a juried exhibition of functional and sculptural clay art that runs from March 15 – April 19. Clay is a material with infinite possibilities. This show seeks to explore what artists in North and South Carolina are doing with it. You’ll find functional pieces along with sculptures and art pottery – traditional and contemporary techniques.
Please join us for the reception on Saturday, March 15 from 2 – 4 p.m.. We’ll have plenty of fine art, good company, refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and sweets for you to enjoy. Shown: Dancing With the Moon, raku pottery by Betsy Parker
Mood Indigo
February 1 – March 8, 2025
Opening Reception: February 1, 2 – 4 p.m.
For this much awaited show, artists are exploring the evocative power of indigo in its many forms – color, mood, and metaphor. 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. Mood Indigo is a thread that weaves together memory, emotion, and imagination, offering viewers a window into complex, layered states of being.
The show 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.
The Shape of Light
Paintings by Chantal Tomiello
September 6 – October 26, 2024
Reception September 6, 5 – 7
New works by Raleigh, NC artist Chantal Tomiello will be featured in a one-woman show titled The Shape of Light. The exhibit includes 20 of her original acrylic pieces showcasing her popular abstracted landscapes, female figures, and several ballet motif paintings. Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “Chantal knows just what to keep and what can fall away from her subjects, leaving the viewer to experience something that is both familiar and brand new. Her work is contemporary but feels equally at home in a traditional setting. It’s ideal for the eclectic homes and workspaces we find in coastal Carolina.” The show runs from Friday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Oct. 12. An opening reception to meet and speak with the artist is set for Friday evening, Sept. 6, from 5 – 7 p.m. We hope to see you!
Southern Comfort:
Collages by Eric McRay
July 26 – August 31, 2024
Reception July 26, 5 – 7
Raleigh, NC-based artist Eric McRay’s much awaited collage show, which is titled Southern Comfort, opens Friday, July 26, 2024 with a public reception from 5 – 7 p.m. The show runs through August 31. Please join us to meet Eric and hear his firsthand inspirations for this insightful exhibition of original collages. According to the artist he uses collage to expose visual storytelling while addressing the human figure as an entity of change in theatrical narratives. These chronicles are inspired by African-American, Biblical references, art history, and pop culture . . . yet, at the core, are McRay’s familial relationships. This continuum searches for personal and universal experiences.
McRay says, “Collage, one of the major innovations of modern art, is an artist inserting pieces of the real world into a constructed one.” He injects impromptu invention in the constructions of his collages, which include such materials as reproductions of his previous works, painted papers, photographic reproductions, snippets of photography, scraps of fabric, elements from magazines, and more. The different materials of everyday existence are edited, sliced, and reassembled into new images on paper, board, or canvas. These constructed worlds pull the viewer into a new reality. Collage empowers McRay to push the boundaries that allow the real world to infiltrate a painting, dissolve the conventions that separate art and life, high art and popular culture.
McRay’s artistic career has been featured on TV and radio programs, and in numerous newspapers, magazines and websites. The Raleigh News & Observer named him one of the “Artists to Watch”. Numerous times he has been listed among the “Best Local Artist” and “Favorite Local Artist”. McRay has received feature articles in Fortune Small Business, Art Business News, Our State Magazine and Southern Living Magazine.
Small Works
June 14 – July 20, 2024
Don’t miss this very special show of smaller paintings, photographs, and more – all 12 inches by 12 inches and smaller! Featuring work by some of your favorite artists, you’ll find oil paintings, acrylics, mixed media, and watercolor – most of which fit easily into a suitcase or shipping envelope. These little beauties are perfect for that small corner or as a memento of a fabulous trip to the beach!
The opening reception is Friday, June 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. Come by to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments with us. Show runs through July 20, leading into the gallery’s very first Summer Art Market! We hope to see you here!
Form: Sculptural & Functional
May 3 – June 8, 2024
Featuring artists from North and South Carolina, this juried 3D show includes works in clay, fiber, steatite, bronze, art glass, and more. An opening reception to meet the artists is scheduled for May 3 from 5 -7 p.m. Best in Show will be named at that time. A People’s Choice honor will be awarded at show’s end.
The 38 pieces in the exhibition include clay vessels by NC potter Betsy Sellers, raku by Wilmington, NC artist Betsy Parker, saggar fired vases from Mark Golitz of BluSail Golitz Studios, and sgraffito by Raine Middleton. Other clay artists include Marilyn Kearney, Mandy Todd, Genie Bryce, Jan Igoe, and Beverly Dorland. There is fused glass by Kathryn Turnauer and metal art by Colleen Dougherty Bronstein. Multimedia works by John Rood and Marc Chicoune are also among the juried show pieces. Fiber art offerings include work by Kathleen Stuart and Megan Laquerela. Multimedia wall hangings are by Kathryn Holliday and Roseann Bellinger. Debanjana Bhattacharjee’s entry is a bronze wall panel.
According to gallery director Samantha Spalti, “We wanted a mix of both form and function for this show. Creativity, artistry, and skill were all key factors. I’m excited for everyone to see the show and meet the artists at our opening reception!”
Coastal Blues
March 22 – April 27, 2024
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will present Coastal Blues, a multi-media group show, from March 22 through April 27. The exhibit will feature oil, pastel, acrylic, and watercolor paintings along with a range of pottery, wood, glass, and other 3D art pieces.
Participating artists include Lee Mims (oil), Marcus McClanahan (acrylic), Nancy Hughes Miller (oil), Janet Sessoms (oil), Samantha Spalti (acrylic), Becky Steele (acrylic), William West (watercolor), Judi Moore (acrylic), Catherine Porter Brown (oil), Yuriy Petrov (acrylic), Donn McCrary (acrylic), Vicki Neilon (acrylic), Ardie Praetorious (clay), Joy Parks Coats (acrylic), Carol Iglesias (pastel), Ophelia Staton (acrylic), Roseann Bellinger (acrylic), Cathryn Jirlds (photography), Karen Tillman (oil), Diane Flanegan (stained glass), Ginny Lassiter (acrylic), Bob Moffett (wood), Joe DiGiulio (acrylic), Wes Wagner (wood), Betsy Sellers (clay), and Brian Evans (clay).
Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “This show is a great example of how traditional and contemporary art work together. And I love how these artists have used blue in their work – sometimes a major color block and others a well-placed accent. Blue can bring a sense of calm to the viewer, or it can be bold and energetic. It’s all in the hands of the artist. I’m excited for the community to come and enjoy our Coastal Blues show.”
Image: Janet Sessoms, Sound Waves, oil, 36″x36″
Frank Campion – Dichotomies
September 15 – October 21, 2023
Opening Friday, Sept. 15 and running through Saturday, Oct. 21 is Frank Campion – Dichotomies. The show includes works on both canvas and paper.
About this show, the artist says, “The dictionary defines “dichotomy” as “a division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups – a dichotomy between thought and action.” It occurs to me that we tend to be naturally judgmental, making the world a binary proposition: good/bad, yes/no, on/off, right/wrong, hot/cold, rough/smooth, etc. So this new work is about dichotomies. One dichotomy involves the collision between the rational and the random. The rational is the simple geometric, intentional composition. The random is the occurrence of accidental painterly incidents. The other dichotomy has to do with the meeting of dominant colors that exist independently, but live adjacent to each other. This creates an emotional atmosphere or mood. as the work progresses.
The opening reception is set for Friday, Sept. 15 from 5 – 7 p.m. This is an ideal opportunity for artists, students and collectors to meet and speak with a leading voice in North Carolina arts.
Acausal Coincidences
Works by Lynn & Mark Golitz
July 10 – August 19, 2023
Reception July 14, 5 – 7
Husband and wife, Lynn and Mark Golitz share a studio in Morehead City, NC, but work in two separate mediums.
Lynn is a self-taught abstract acrylics artist who is a continual student of compositional theory, art history, color, and design. She says, “In passages that merge and flow like action in language, my brushwork conveys my sense of seeing concepts in abstracted form. Always aware of the ‘if you see everything, you see nothing’ conceptual approach, I use my canvas to present social conscripts meant to inspire as well as invite thought and conversation.”
Mark describes himself as a functional and contemporary pottery maker. The colors and designs of his work translate from a lifetime of outdoor experiences including a career as a forester and a love of inshore and deep-water fishing. A longtime potter and instructor, he says, “Exploring new forms, colors and firing techniques keep the creativity flowing. In addition to functional designs, I enjoy creating decorative saggar and raku fired vases that infuse the color and luster of interference mica.”
Diversity by Studio 8
May 22 – July 1, 2023
Reception June 16, 5 – 7
Works by Linda Hester, Linda Karaskevicus, Barbara Kohn, Donn McCrary, Judi Moore, Vicki Neilon, Brenda Riggins, and Rachel Sunnell
This show is a selection of new works in various styles and media. The work ranges from conceptual to traditional to contemporary. Individually speaking, the talents of this group are immense. Collectively, the artists pull from each other’s energy, humor, and love for diverse art styles. Says McCrary, the only brave gentleman in the show, “These girls don’t hold back!” They inspire each other; they reinforce each other; they encourage each other to take that leap. The result is a delightful combination of uniquely created pieces.
Setting the Mood
April 1 – May 13, 2023
Group Show
Sunset River Gallery has increasingly become the place that area visitors and local residents turn to when seeking fine art for their homes and businesses – especially large format pieces that “set the mood” in a space. Setting the Mood features large paintings that can act as a centerpiece over a sofa or dining table, anchor a gallery wall, or create the dramatic ambiance you want in an entry.
Featured in the show are works by fine regional oil painters Connie Winters, Pat Puckett, Ruth Cox, Rich Flanegan, Nancy McClure, Bayou Gray, Mary Welch Austin, Nancy Hughes Miller, and Carol Iglesias; and fine acrylic artists Cristiana Rioli, Ginny Lassiter, Roberta Rotunda, and Sterling Edwards.
This is an exciting show that demonstrates the artistic talent of the regional artists exhibiting at Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC.
Images: Thinking of Fishing – Connie Winters, Palmettos Along the Bank – Pat Puckett, Quiet Sea Light – Nancy Hughes Miller, Ascribed – Sterling Edwards, Hanging Out – Roberta Rotunda