Ellen Schaefer and Scarlett Pons Exhibition at PONSHOP

Opening Reception: First Friday, May 3 (5-9pm)

Exhibition Dates: May 3 - June 30, 2024

PONSHOP is excited to announce a double-feature art exhibit that celebrates the region’s natural beauty with ceramics by Scarlett Pons and paintings by Ellen Schaefer. The exhibit will showcase Ellen’s recent acrylic paintings and new ceramic wall hanging pieces by Scarlett.

Ellen Schaefer is a Fredericksburg-based artist who works in a variety of mediums including watercolor and acrylic.  Her artwork is inspired by nature and the delicate details of daily life. This new series of paintings by Ellen Schaefer is inspired by views along the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers in Virginia.  The sparkling waters of Westmoreland State Park and calm of the Fredericksburg Canal Path are transmuted into paint via bright airy colors and expressive brush strokes.  A celebration of local landscapes, these paintings are meant to buoy the viewer with a sense of joy and ease.  Each acrylic painting is crafted on 1.5" deep canvas, sealed with satin varnish, and framed in a solid wood float frame.  Learn more about her work at ellenschaeferart.com

Scarlett Pons’s ceramic wall-hanging art is inspired by the native plants that thrive throughout Virginia. “There's a magical quality to stumbling upon wildflowers during a walk or hike, she says, “They compel us to pause, captivated by their beauty and mystery. Through my work, I seek to elevate the unique shapes and rich diversity of these beautiful plants, while also emphasizing their role in shaping a distinct sense of place and community.” By celebrating Virginia's native flora, Pons hopes to foster a deeper connection to our natural surroundings and encourage appreciation for the intricate ecosystems that sustain us. Scarlett’s ceramic collection can be viewed at scarlettwares.com

Motion and Pictures Juried Exhibition

PONSHOP Studio is pleased to announce “Motion and Pictures: Fredericksburg’s Film Fest”, a month long juried exhibition featuring art from local and regional artists in downtown Fredericksburg.

“Motion and Pictures” is a celebration of the city’s Film Festival event slated for May 2024 and showcases art that is representational of the love of film and the inspiration it gives artists. The Fredericksburg Film Festival (FFF) celebrates the creation of independent cinema, from short films to documentary. This exhibit is a special event that brings filmmakers of the region together. The exhibit and its opening reception provides the opportunity for locals and artists to appreciate the connections between cinema and material artworks.

“Motion and Pictures” artists include Sarah Brooks, Brooke DiGiovanni, Mary Hodil, Carrie McCormack, Jordan Pickens, Anna Polanco, and Samantha Rivera.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 5th (5pm-9pm)

Exhibition Dates: Friday, April 5th - Sunday, April 28th

Mural at Hartwood Elementary: "Hartwood Passages"

Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Hartwood Elementary to paint a mural as part of the partnership between the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center , Stafford County Public Schools and the Stafford Education Foundation. The goal of the mural initiative is to highlight the unique history and culture of Stafford County in creative and innovative ways.

Titled Hartwood Passages, the mural artwork is a bird’s eye view encompassing South Stafford County, Falmouth and Fredericksburg. Pons’s intention was to depict the region as an abstracted visual text, highlighting historic architectural landmarks in Hartwood as well as encouraging the viewer to explore and ask questions about other key geographic elements. Roads are interpreted both literally and metaphorically. The intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 17 creates an “X” through the center of the mural and other major throughways including route 1 and the railways, depicted as vertical stripes cutting through the landscape. The Rappahannock River, so critical to the region’s history and development, is rendered as a bold sinuous ribbon stretching from end to end, alluding to its prominence in the region. The artwork rounds out to a smooth curve at the base, referring to the global community that students participate in. The composition aims to ordinate the viewer, encouraging them to inquire about the cardinal directions, the landscape’s topography, and their own location relative to Hartwood Elementary.

Concept Sketch - Hartwood Elementary Mural

This mural was a real personal challenge for me. We’ve been living in Hartwood now since moving here from New York in 2005 and it has been home for both our sons. It becomes a “tug of war” when there are so many ideas and concepts to incorporate in an artwork. In fact, one theme I felt compelled to embed in the design is this sense of optimism and unbridled curiosity that a child feels at Hartwood Elementary. Despite the school’s location in a relatively rural setting, we are adjacent to one of the major highway systems on the eastern seaboard. It’s important to impress upon students the idea that the paths they are taking now as elementary students will soon take them well beyond the horizon.

While working on site, I became nostalgic for our school days at Hartwood Elementary. Looking back, the faculty acclimated us to being responsible parents as much as they instilled leadership values in our children. In some ways I feel that this project has brought me full circle back to those years when my boys attended Hartwood Elementary and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the school’s future.

See the key below to learn more about Hartwood Virginia’s history.

Call For Artists: "Motion and Pictures" Juried Exhibit

PONSHOP Studio is pleased to announce “Motion and Pictures”, a month-long juried exhibition celebrating the impact and inspiration that cinema has in our contemporary culture. PONSHOP invites artists working in all two-dimensional media to participate.

The “Motion and Pictures” exhibition preempts the Fredericksburg Film Festival (FFF) slated for May 2024. The Fredericksburg Film Festival will highlight independent cinema, from short films to documentary and will include filmmakers from across the country.  The “Motion and Pictures” exhibit and its opening reception will provide the opportunity for the public and artists to appreciate the connections between the history of movies and their impact on visual art.

Calendar

Deadline for Submissions: Digital Submissions due before midnight, Monday, March 18 2024. Email no more than (2) JPEG Submissions Here. Include Artist Name, Title, Medium, Dimensions (Length x Width).

Notification of Accepted Artwork: Artists will be notified via email of artwork accepted into the exhibition by Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Deadline for Delivery of Accepted Artwork: Thursday, March 28 – Saturday, March 30, 5pm

April First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, April 5th (5pm-9pm)

Exhibition Dates: Friday, April 5th - Sunday, April 28th

Artwork Retrieval: Monday, April 29th - Wednesday, May 1st