Wallkill River Center for the Arts

OPENING RECEPTION - Saturday, May 16, 5 – 7 PM. WRCA is pleased to present a trio of exhibits inspired by BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS, on view May 16 – June 22, 2026. Join us Saturday! Come view the works and meet the artists, light refreshments served. “Nothing is more beautiful and alien than a close-up view of a plant” states Sarah Fortner. “Botanical studies have been a constant in my practice, a source of both inspiration and renewal. This exhibition continues that exploration but focuses on the plants we’ve learned to ignore: the wild flora that populate ditches, vacant lots, and forest edges in Orange County, New York. Instead of focusing on showy flowers, I explored the resilient, unloved, everyday plants we call WEEDS, the title of this show,” she concludes. In the adjacent gallery, Beacon artist, Janine Lambers presents her works in the exhibit REACHING ACROSS. “All my work comes from a spiritual source teaching love, goodwill, peace, harmony and stillness. That is the mindset I work in while creating. That is the reality I want to create,” states the artist. Lambers is a German born artist trained under the auspices of the German Guild Academy. During the course of her career, she developed from a skilled craftsperson into an artist. Lambers is represented by the Carrie Haddad Gallery and works on commissions for national and international clientele. “In my ‘living paintings and living objects’ work, I explore impermanence by challenging my concept of solidity and permanence. What I perceive to have a solid core or an identifiable form changes with closer inspection,” says Lambers. The artist employs gold and silver leaf and precious metals in her work. The third gallery features a regional exhibition juried by Lambers, entitled BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS. Exhibiting artist include Melissa Small Cooper, Bonnie Goetz, George Kimmerling, Tanja McGivney, Sylvia Mueller, Carla Stetson, Elizabeth Sundwall, Joseph Sundwall, Martin Weinstein. The galleries at WRCA and art receptions are free and open to the public. Gallery hours: Friday - Sunday, 12 - 5 pm. https://wallkill.art/events/category/gallery-events/

Please Join Me this Saturday, May 16 from 5:00-7:00 pm for the reception for my new body of oil paintings "Weeds" at Wallkill River Center for the Arts in Montgomery, NY. https://wallkill.art/event/sarah-fortner-weeds/

🖌️Three-Day Portrait Workshop: From Drawing to Oil Painting with Carl Grauer🖌️ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm May 23, May 30, June 6 This intensive three-day workshop introduces artists to the disciplined yet deeply rewarding process of creating a portrait. At the heart of our approach is the pursuit of excellence, not as perfectionism, but as a commitment to observation, thoughtful execution, and a refined finish. Throughout the workshop, students are guided from dry media into oil painting with confidence, relying on the fundamental skills of structure, observation, and color. By the end of the three days, participants will have gained a clear methodology for approaching future work with rigor and refinement. $150 | $135 Members (includes model fee) Sign Up on our Website! #hudsonvalley #hudsonvalleyny #hudsonvalleyevents #hudsonvalleyartists #HudsonValleyArt #HudsonValleyArtists #WRCA #SupportLocalArt

Application deadline for this national call is this Thursday! /wallkill/remember-when/

May 2026 Art Classes & Workshops at WRCA | Sign Up Today! Take a visual vacation - sign up for a class or workshop today. Oil Painting and Advance Drawing with William Noonan, Portrait Workshop with Carl Grauer, Watercolor with Stephanie Snyder, Plein Air Painting with Nancy Reed Jones, Basic Drawing with Roberta Rosenthal, Friday Clay Night with Jodi Doster, and Saturday Morning Suncatchers with Janet Baskerville - to name a few. https://wallkill.art/events/category/classes/

Due to our PARTY event today, the Wallkill River Center for the Arts will be closed today, Sunday April 26th. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!

Are you coming to The PARTY on Sunday? Join us for an evening of Art, Music, Food & Drinks supporting Wallkill River Center for the Arts. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Sunday, April 26th, 5 to 8 pm at the Tower for The pARTy: Reflections. The evening will include wine, beer, soft beverages, and lavish hors d’oeuvres, along with lively conversation amidst musical performances by various guest artists. https://wallkill.art/event/the-party-reflections/

Call for Entries! A National Exhibition Juried by Ransome Exhibition Dates June 27 – August 9, 2026 Submit by May 7th REMEMBER WHEN, A National Exhibition Juried by Ransome Submission Link: https://bit.ly/WRCArememberwhen This exhibit is a national call for all U.S. artists 18 years of age or older. Artwork may range from realism to non-representational abstraction; 2D and 3D works in all media are welcome; size restrictions apply. Description "Remember When: Nostalgia" is a powerful sentiment. We can experience it on a personal level, a family level, a cultural level, a spiritual level. We invite you to submit images that speak to this theme. Let’s explore our pasts together as we look back at the times and experiences that shaped us as individuals and as a collective. ABOUT RANSOME: A graduate from Pratt Institute, Ransome served as a tenured professor in the School of Visual Performing Arts at Syracuse University before retiring to pursue his dreams of being a studio artist. Nationally exhibited and collected by museums and private foundations, Ransome received an MFA in Studio Arts from Lesley University and currently resides in the Hudson Valley. more info: https://bit.ly/WRCArememberwhen

Join us Sunday, April 26th from 5 - 8 pm at The Tower in Montgomery, NY for an evening of Art, Food & Music to support Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA). The evening will include cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and lively conversation enjoyed amidst musical performances by guest artists. Prepare to be captivated by Guitarist Bruce Arnold’s Trio, featuring jazz stalwarts Jerry DeVore on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums! Their take on improvisation will breathe new life into familiar songs you know and love, delivering a dynamic guitar trio sound that will enhance the atmosphere of our event.��Such artistry will surely inspire generous donations and spirited bids at our silent auction of original artwork, pottery, jewelry, experiences, gift certificates from area businesses, and more!�� Following Bruce Arnold’s Trio, get ready to groove with Hudson Valley’s own Home At Last band, led by Saxophonist Mike Antonelli! Formed during the pandemic by father-and-son, this six-piece powerhouse brings a fresh twist to contemporary and classic soft rock. Since Vibraphonist Bill Ware (Steely Dan, Jazz Passengers, Groove Collective) joined, they’ve released three albums of mostly original music. So, let loose and dance to their infectious and joyous sounds! �Purchase your tickets today and support Wallkill River Center for the Arts and our robust selection of community art programs - art receptions, exhibitions, concerts, seniors weekly drop-in, summer youth art programs, art festivals, as well as classes and workshops for all ages. � TICKETS: https://bit.ly/wallkillpARTy

The PARTY: Reflections | Musical entertainment announced ... Join us Sunday, April 26th at The Tower for an evening of Art, Food & Music to support Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA). Cocktails, lavish hors d’oeuvres, and lively conversation enjoyed amidst musical performances by guest artists. Prepare to be captivated by Guitarist Bruce Arnold’s Trio, featuring jazz stalwarts Jerry DeVore on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums! Their take on improvisation will breathe new life into familiar songs you know and love, delivering a dynamic guitar trio sound that will enhance the atmosphere of our event. Such artistry will surely inspire generous donations and spirited bids at our silent auction of original artwork, pottery, jewelry, experiences, and more! Following Bruce Arnold’s Trio, get ready to groove with Hudson Valley’s own Home At Last band, led by Saxophonist Mike Antonelli! Formed during the pandemic by father-and-son, this six-piece powerhouse brings a fresh twist to contemporary and classic soft rock. Since Vibraphonist Bill Ware (Steely Dan, Jazz Passengers, Groove Collective) joined, they’ve released three albums of mostly original music. So, let loose and dance to their infectious and joyous sounds! As part of this artful evening of festivities and as a thank you for your support of the arts, every attendee will select a 5 × 7 in. original work of art to take home. Purchase your tickets today and support of the Arts! https://wallkill.art/event/the-party-reflections/

April is encaustic month at the Wallkill River Center for the Arts with a solo encaustic exhibition by Alaina Enslen and a group show featuring works by Laura Martinez Bianco, Christina Brady, Lorraine Glessner, Sally Hootnick, Allyson Levy, Regina Quinn, Michele Randall, Dietlind Vander Schaaf, and Terri Yacovelli. Gallery hours: Fri - Sun 12 -5pm, thru May 10. More info: https://bit.ly/wrcaevents LEARN MORE about this special beeswax based medium! Sign up for an encaustics weekend workshop with Laura Martinez Bianco on May 2 and 3. More info: https://bit.ly/wrcaencaustics

✏️Beginners Drawing with Roberta Rosenthal🖌️ ‼️MULTI MONTH CLASS, MULTIPLE TICKETS AVAILIBLE‼️ All classes on Wednesday, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Class 1: Intro April 22 and 29: Learn how to use different drawing tools, lines, tones and other techniques Class 2: May 6 – 27 May 6: Focus on drawing shapes, shadows, and light sources May 13: Focus on lines, tonal values, and drawing fruits and vegetables May 20: Focus on composition and perspective of still life objects May 27: Landscapes! Class 3: June 3, 10, 17 Each week focuses on drawing from your photos or specimens brought into class! You can use charcoal, pencil pens or crayons (or a combination of media!) You will also be able to transfer a line drawing to drawing paper, drawing board, or canvas! Find more info about this wonderful class on our website! #hudsonvalley #hudsonvalleyny #hudsonvalleyevents #hudsonvalleyartists #HudsonValleyArt #HudsonValleyArtists #WRCA #SupportLocalArt