A Trip Down Memory Lane

Sunset River Marketplace will feature watercolors of classic cars by Richard Staat for the month of October.

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash will host a nostalgic, auto-themed exhibition of works by watercolor artist Richard Staat. The show, titled “Nostalgia Highway: Take a Ride With Richard Staat,” runs October 1 through 31.

Award-winning artist Richard “Dick” Staat has been exhibiting his work at Sunset River Marketplace for almost 20 years. He graduated from Ohio State University with a BFA and worked for years as a commercial artist before moving to Oak Island, where he paints in his studio almost every day.

Staat is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and also belongs to the Central Ohio Watercolor Society, the Associated Artists or Southport and the Oak Island Art Guide. He has won national, statewide and local exhibition awards for his watercolors.

Gallery owner Ginny Lassiter says, “Dick Staat is a storyteller with his paintbrush. His pieces are much loved and sought after. These paintings featuring vintage and antique cars are sure to appeal to local car clubs and aficionados.”

Staat says he has been interested in old cars and trucks since his high school days. “The fun of driving a car with a manual transmission and stick shift while you’re listening to 50s tunes on the radio … you can’t beat it. Many of my friends had old cars, which they restored and repainted. I paint old cars with watercolor because I enjoy the happy memories they gave me. I like to compose a painting as if I’m telling a story with the car as the main actor.”

Sunset River Marketplace features work by approximately 150 North Carolina and South Carolina artists in a variety of media, including oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry. Art classes are currently being offered on a limited basis, and there are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students

To meet North Carolina state mandates for COVID-19, Sunset River Marketplace requires that patrons wear face coverings and requires the use of hand sanitizer plus 6-foot social distancing between gallery visitors and at the cash register. The gallery staff conducts thorough cleaning of surfaces upon opening and closing and during the day and has placed complimentary hand sanitizer throughout the gallery for visitor use.

Want to go to Sunset River Marketplace?

10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash
(910) 575-5999
sunsetrivermarketplace.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm

Upcoming events
“Nostalgia Highway: Take a Ride With Richard Staat”
October 1 through 31

Brunswick Arts Council Annual Show
October 12 to 17, 2020 • 11 am to 5 pm
This popular show features both 2D and 3D art. Be sure to stop by and support the local art community.

Coffee with the Authors
Special Halloween Presentation by Randall Lane
October 23 • 11 am to noon
Randall Lane will read from his newest collection of eerie, spooky and spectacular short stories. Free, but seating is limited. Call (910) 575-5999 to hold your spot.

Coffee with the Authors
Teed Off, a Golf Course Mystery by Pete Hoyer
November 12 • 11 am to noon
J. Peter “Pete” Hoyer is a Reviewers Choice Award winner for his first book, Characters On the Green. This sequel follows these characters to a thrilling whodunit drive that keeps the reader guessing to the very end. Free, but seating is limited. Call (910) 575-5999 to hold your spot.

Holiday Art Market
November 13, 14 & 15
Always a popular seasonal event, this year the Market will take place over three days in order to reduce crowds and better maintain social distancing. Approximately 20 artists are being featured to include Holiday pottery, jewelry, oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, home decor items, photography, metal art, carved and turned wood, wearable art, fiber art and more! The 10-foot Christmas tree will be filled with artisan-made ornaments, plus there will be gift certificate drawings, holiday treats, wine and hot mulled cider.