Summer Art Market in Calabash
Sunset River Gallery hosts its Summer Art Market July 17–19 in Calabash, NC, featuring 125+ artists, live demos, refreshments, and giveaways.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, North Carolina will welcome locals and summer visitors for its annual Summer Art Market, happening Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The three-day event highlights the gallery’s community of 125+ exhibiting artists, with several artists expected to be on site throughout the weekend. The Summer Art Market is designed for both seasonal beachgoers and year-round residents looking for fine art, artisan gifts, and one-of-a-kind home décor in coastal Brunswick County.
Featured Artists and Weekend Highlights
Attendees can browse a wide range of handcrafted work and meet select artists, including:
• Jen McRae and Jewel Simmons (jewelry): earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more
• Betsy Parker (pottery, Wilmington, NC): scheduled to demonstrate her distinctive hand-building techniques on Friday
• Barbara Bryant (fiber art, Myrtle Beach, SC): rope-coiled baskets and coasters, available all three days
• Ellen “Dean” Nelson (glass art, Ocean Isle, NC): fused glass sailboats, votives, trees, and more
Live Art Demonstrations All Weekend
A full schedule of live demonstrations will run throughout the event, featuring pottery, painting, mosaic, and a special one-hour portrait painting session. Guests can stop in at any point during the day to watch artists at work, learn about different techniques, and see pieces come to life.
Refreshments and treats will be served during the market, and visitors are encouraged to sign up for free $25 gift certificate drawings offered during the event.
About Sunset River Gallery in Calabash
Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery is a well-known destination for fine art and artisan work, serving both visitors and a growing community of full-time residents. The gallery features work by more than 125 regional artists, with a diverse selection that includes:
• Oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, and photography
• Hand-blown, stained, and fused glass
• Pottery, clay sculpture, and mosaic art
• Turned and carved wood
• Artisan jewelry and unique home décor items
Sunset River Gallery also supports local creativity through its education program, offering ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes, plus workshops led by nationally known instructors. The gallery includes two onsite kilns and six pottery wheels used by its pottery students.
Summer Art Market Demonstration Schedule (Subject to Change)
Friday, July 17
• Betsy Parker — Hand-built pottery (throughout the day)
• Brenda Riggins — Watercolor (1:30 p.m.)
Saturday, July 18
• Tonda Jeffcoat — Pottery wheel (11 a.m.)
• Rachel Sunnell — Acrylic painting (1 p.m.)
• Samantha Spalti & Sue Barnard — One-hour portrait painting (2:30 p.m.)
Sunday, July 19
• Gail Black — Oil painting (1 p.m.)
• Becky Steele — Acrylic painting (throughout the day)
• Simone Esquibel — Mosaic glass (throughout the day)
For art lovers looking for a fun, creative weekend in Calabash, the Sunset River Gallery Summer Art Market offers a chance to shop, watch live demos, and connect with artists from across the region.
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