DATE: Thursday, June 19, 1997               TAG: 9706180167

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   51 lines

ART SHOW DRAWS REGIONAL ENTRIES

The River Boardwalk Art Show, this town's mini-version of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show, will be Saturday and Sunday at Smithfield Station.

About 20 artists will display all types of media, from wood block printing to painting to ceramics.

The outdoor exhibition, sponsored by The Collage Arts Center, home of the Isle of Wight Arts League, features a number of returning artists.

``They return year after year because of the scenic location and the hospitality of the event's volunteer staff,'' said Ann Hubbard, the Center's Art Director. ``Visitors to the show look forward to the event as well. Guests come by vehicles, feet, bikes and many by boat.

``The primary goal of the event is to offer artists a comfortable and profitable show,'' she said. ``It's also an opportunity for The Collage Arts Center to make the public aware of the activities and mission of the only cultural arts center in Isle of Wight County.''

The Center is raising funds to purchase the grand Victorian home it has occupied for the past six years.

The first, second and third place winners will receive money for their efforts, and there will be three honorable mention awards.

The judge will be Lee Gerry Wertheimer, a Virginia Beach artist and educator.

A Sumi-e artist, she describes her work as, ``a water-based medium using permanent Chinese pigments - on imported hand made Japanese or Chinese rice paper.''

Wertheimer's subjects are typically Oriental including bamboo, orchids, plum blossoms, and so on. She has studied with five Chinese masters and one Japanese master, and has taught Sumi-e in Missouri.

She will judge the works of painters from Richmond, South Carolina, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Windsor, Newport News and Smithfield.

Two photographers will display their efforts as well as jewelry designers and a fabric artist.

John Needre of Newport News will draw charcoal portraits of visitors to the show. There will be a charge for that. All else is free.

The fourth annual River Boardwalk Art Show will also offer ``a special exhibition space for students and future artists,'' Hubbard said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

ABOUT THE EVENT

WHAT: Fourth annual River Boardwalk Art Show.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Smithfield Station.

FOR INFORMATION: call 357-7707.

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