This will be the first of what will hopefully be a monthly workshop/conclave (LOL). Sam is more facilitator than instructor as she guides you to trusting your intuition to develop your art practice. It’ll be a new experience every time. What you work on depends on what you need. And if you don’t know what you need, we can help you figure that out, too! Limited to 10 participants per session. Bring your own supplies & snack or lunch. $45 per session. Non-refundable.
Choose from three five-week hand-building or wheel sessions for experienced potters. Session 1 begins Friday, Jan. 16 and runs through Feb. 13. Morning classes on the wheel are from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Afternoon hand-building classes are from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. $185 each plus cost of clay. Class fee non-refundable. You supply your own tools. Please note, there are no make-up classes. Visit Instruction page for sign-up.
Session 1: Fridays, Jan. 16 – Feb. 13
Session 2: Fridays, Feb. 20 – March 20
Session 3: Fridays, March 27 – May 1 (no class April 10)
Join us for an evening of live jazz by AfterHours band in the artistic atmosphere you can only experience here at Sunset River Gallery. AfterHours is a local band of seasoned musicians you may have seen performing here in Brunswick County. The popular ensemble will bring their musical stylings to the gallery for two hours of standards. Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in Calabash, NC. Telephone number is 910.575.5999. Updates on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC has set its calendar for 2026. The eclectic, 10,000 square-foot art-lover’s haven plans to feature two exhibits showcasing artists represented by the gallery, one show featuring gallery instructors and students, a four-woman show, one solo show, and at least one local art league exhibition. In addition, there will be several eight-week Artist Spotlight displays throughout the year.
The year’s first show is Distinctive Aesthetics: Exploring Four Artistic Narratives, which features the work of Kathleen V. Stuart, Kathleen Spicer, Michelle McKDavis, and Therese Bisceglia. Four friends, four artists, four wildly different approaches to their art, the common thread being that they each upend the concept of mixed media by using tools and materials to build layered pieces in a very unexpected fashion. The creative results reflect the out-of-the-box thinking of all four. Stuart works primarily with mixed media fabric. Bisceglia utilizes layered mixed media with encaustic. McKDavis works with oil on canvas, often adding embroidery. And Spicer creates work using cut out wood with layered oil paint. The show runs from Saturday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, March 14.
An invitational group 2D and 3D show, titled Quotables will feature text-inclusive art pieces. It opens Saturday, April 11 and runs through Saturday, May 16. Additional shows include the Waterway Art Association Spring Show (April 20 – 25); Small Works, from June 6 through July 19, an annual exhibit of pieces smaller than 12” x 16”; a Student/Instructor Show, from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Sept. 5; and Wild Places, a one-woman show featuring work by oil painter Gail Black, which is scheduled from Saturday, Sept. 19 through Saturday Oct. 24.
Artist Spotlights for 2026 begin with Roseann Bellinger’s acrylic landscapes from Feb. 9 through April 11. Subsequent featured artists will be Ginny Lassiter, April 20 through June 20; Yuriy Petrov, June 29 through Aug. 29; and Clay Johnson, Sept. 7 through Nov. 21.
The gallery features two popular art markets every year. The 2026 Summer Art Market, which features three days of on-site pottery and painting demonstrations, will run from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. The Holiday Art Market, set for Nov. 13 -19, includes on-site artists, handmade ornaments, and seasonal arts in addition to a wide range of fine art and crafts by the gallery’s 125+ North and South Carolina artists.
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 Chantal Tomiello, Janet Sessoms, and Clay Johnson, 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.
In 2022, 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 . Regular gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Distinctive Aesthetics: Exploring Four Artistic Narratives. Four friends. Four artists. Four wildly different approaches to their art – the common thread being that they each upend the concept of mixed media, using tools and materials to build layered pieces in a very unexpected fashion. The creative results reflect the out-of-the-box thinking of all four. Participating artists are Kathleen Spicer, oil paint & wood; Kathleen V. Stuart, fiber & encaustic; Therese Bisceglia, oil paint & found objects; Michelle McKDavis, oil paint & thread. Each artist takes traditional painting and sculpture ideas beyond expected boundaries. We think you’ll find the work as exciting and interesting as we do! Distinctive Aesthetics opened Saturday, Feb. 7 and runs through Saturday, March 28. An insightful gallery talk is set for Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m.
Our first Paint & Party class for 2026 will be this creative Collage Wave, a brand new design – and one you won’t want to miss! Samantha will walk you through every step and you’ll go home with a great piece! As always, all you need to bring is your fun-loving self and any snack or beverage you may want. The gallery supplies everything else – paints, canvases, brushes, paper, glue, and aprons. We can’t wait to see you. $35, non-refundable.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC is set to hold its 11th annual Holiday Art Market from Friday, Nov. 14– Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each of the three days.
Over 30 popular artists are being featured to include Holiday pottery, jewelry, oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, home decor items, photography, turned wood, handmade furniture and more. An eight-foot Christmas tree will be filled with artisan-made ornaments, so customers can choose their favorites directly from the tree. There will also be free gift certificate drawings, holiday treats, refreshments, and hot mulled cider.
Featured artists over the weekend, many of whom will be on hand for the event, include: Betsy Parker (pottery), Donna Michaux (pottery), Bob Moffett (turned wood), Gary Baird (wildlife photography), Ardie Praetorius (pottery), Louise Gerber (pottery), Kathy Turnauer (fused glass), Betty Barger (fiber art), Joyce Fiedler (sea glass), Tonda Jeffcoat (pottery), Bob Monthie (wood trays), Cynthia Porter (ornaments), Diane White (oil), Beryl Kirkpatrick (alcohol inks), Jewel Simmons (jewelry), Wes Wagner (wood furniture), Kathie Wolk (pottery), Barbara Bryant (fiber art), Brenda Riggins (ornaments and paintings), Nancy Guiry (assorted), Claudia Dowd (pottery), Dirtworks Pottery, Blackmon Pottery, Skrap Monkey (jewelry), Wes Wagner (wood furniture), Lucky Dog (jewelry), and Featherwood (jewelry), Jen McRae (jewelry), Tina Lepsig (felted wool), Allison Fanelli (paintings), Susan Barnard (paintings), Mona Bendin (hand-sewn pillows and table toppers), Tracy Young (pottery), Deborah Cowan (pottery), Linda Karaskevicus (paintings), Roseann Bellinger (paintings) Diane Crutchfield (basketry), Ellen “Dean” Nelson, (fused glass), and Geoffrey Lloyd (pottery).
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 Chantal Tomiello, Janet Sessoms, and Clay Johnson, 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.
In 2022, 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 . Regular gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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Images shown: Clay Santas by Betsy Parker, Fused glass Christmas trees by Ellen “Dean” Nelson
Yes, we’re open! Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And we have lots of gift ideas for you plus plenty of refreshments and free gift certificate drawings on both days. Choose from handmade ornaments, oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, photography, stained glass, fused glass, hand-blown glass, decor items, fiber art, and more! Come on by for some fun, low key shopping in the warm welcoming atmosphere that you expect here at Sunset River Gallery!
Join us for an evening of Holiday revelry and live jazz by AfterHours band in the artistic atmosphere you can only experience here at Sunset River Gallery. AfterHours is a local band of seasoned musicians you may have seen performing here in Brunswick County. The popular ensemble will bring their musical stylings to the gallery for two hours of standards and Holiday favorites. The tree willl be up and Holiday spirit will abound! Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in Calabash, NC. Telephone number is 910.575.5999. Updates on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
In conjunction with our Holiday Art Market (Nov. 14-16), we’re holding a fundraiser for our local BSRI (Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc). This is a wonderful group that feeds our local seniors and connects them with much needed services. Some of our favorite – and most popular – artists have donated work that will be showcased at the front of the gallery. All are for sale at very affordable prices. And 100% of sales and proceeds from this event go directly to BSRI. That’s right, we don’t take a penny. So please come out to help us help someone in need. The event runs from Nov. 10 through Nov. 22. More details will be posted on our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you here! Wait till you see what’s being donated!