Rachael Hudnall, Featured Artist, April 2016

“Girls in Field”

“A Venice Canal”

The Ouachita River Art Gallery (The River Gallery) located on Trenton Street in West Monroe is Louisiana’s oldest artists’ cooperative, featuring original artwork from 20 to 30 artists in media including painting, photography, woodwork, and jewelry.  During the April 7th Art Crawl, Rachael Hudnall will be our featured artist.  Rachael has a successful history in graphic design and only recently discovered the passion that is painting.  As a lover of history, her style tends to reflect a long ago, far away feel. The subject matter is typically of an ordinary event, and viewers may anticipate a connection to their own lives, finding their story within her paintings.

Additionally, the gallery will proudly introduce a captivating exhibit of fine art paintings, drawings, and photography of its five newest members: Billy Albritton (photography); Allison Dollar (pen and ink, pencil and acrylic); Rachael Hudnall (acrylic); Mary May (water color and acrylic); Staci Albritton Mitchell (photography).  The artists invite you to view and discuss their work, enjoy refreshments, and listen to the live music of singer song-writer Amanda McDowell in the River Gallery at the Downtown Artcrawl, Thursday, April 7th, 5-9pm.

 

Welcome New River Gallery Members!

 Nancy Shutt (left) and Branda McDaniel (right) welcome new River Gallery member Mary May (center). River Gallery members enjoyed a large crowd of visitors during the Downtown Art Crawl Thursday, October 1st (not pictured is new member Rachel Hudnall).

 New River Gallery member Brett Moreland stands in front of his paintings during the Downtown Art Crawl.

 

The River Gallery celebrates its 25th Anniversary!

 Brenda McDaniel, Ada Richie, Carolyn Fox

 Brenda McDaniel demos at a Downtown Art Crawl

The River Gallery Celebrates its Silver Anniversary!

The month of July is The River Gallery’s 25th anniversary. WOW!  That’s a quarter of a century.  The artists/members will feature a memorabilia wall with photos and news stories from the past 25 years . Each artist will show a painting created just for the occasion using “silver” or “25” as the theme of the painting. The “Silver Celebration” exhibit will continue through Thursday, August 6 with a closing celebration during the Downtown Gallery Crawl.

The gallery started in the summer of 1990 with a group of local and regional painters, potters, photographers, woodworkers, and jewelry makers wishing to promote art, art education, and art appreciation to the people of this area. They formed the non-profit co-op named “The Ouachita River Art Guild.” Their first gallery was in the Glenwood Mall in West Monroe, and they later moved to Antique Alley in downtown West Monroe, growing into a much larger store front on Antique Alley at 308 Trenton Street where they are now located.  The River Gallery has now become the oldest art co-op in Louisiana. Each artist takes a turn at working in the gallery, while other details of running a business are spread out among the members. Membership in the gallery is through a juried process.

Workshops that anyone can attend, in various media, by well known artists are sponsored several times a year in different locations. As the co-op approaches its 25th anniversary, it continues to thrive and grow. Located at 308 Trenton St. in West Monroe on historic Antique Alley, it is open to the public free of charge Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Phone 318-322-2380. Web site:

www.ouachitariverartgallery.com

 

December in the River Gallery

Holiday Variety is the theme at The River Gallery during December. This artist-run gallery hosts 25 artists working in all media from paintings to woodturning, pottery, jewelry, glass art, and photography. In addition to the exquisite offerings of fine art, the gallery will be featuring gift items for December. This includes smaller art, handcrafted wine stoppers, jewelry, unique ornaments, and notecards. Sales of the original works are tax exempt under the Louisiana Cultural District, so visitors not only support local artists but also save sales taxes when shopping. 

Ouachita River Art Gallery is the oldest and largest co-op gallery in the state. We are grateful to the local community for the continued support of the arts in our area. We are thankful to our Delta Style readers who voted our gallery “Best Art Gallery” in 2011 and 2014. The gallery is at 308 Trenton Street, West Monroe, Louisiana. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is always free. Call 322-2380 for more information or visit www.ouachitariverartgallery.com.

Emily Brodnax, November Featured Artist

“Magnolia” (black & white photography) by Emily Brodnax, November Featured Artist-of-the-Month.

In the current days of digital everything, are there any people out there who remember the joy of watching a black and white photo come up in the tray of a wet darkroom? Well, there is a local pharmacist/photographer/artist who says “I catch myself smiling when it happens.  It is a joy to behold!”

Emily Brodnax, is artist of the month of November at The River Gallery (Ouachita River Art Gallery), on Antique Alley, and her darkroom work is known all over the nation.  Through countless showings and contest wins, her gelatin silver photographs hang from coast to coast.  This particular exhibition has pictures from California to Mississippi, and even Alaska. During shoots in different locals, people will stop to ask about the medium format vintage camera that she carries.  While traveling is a wonderful blessing, some of our local attractions are equally as interesting and picturesque.  For example, a small but lovely waterfall in northeast Louisiana. 

Emily invites you to drop by the gallery through the month of October. Ouachita River Art Gallery is the oldest and largest co-op gallery in the state. We are grateful to the local community for the continued support of the arts in our area. The gallery is at 308 Trenton Street, West Monroe, and is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is always free. Call 322-2380 for more information or visitwww.ouachitariverartgallery.com.

Join us tonight at the Downtown Art Crawl!

Shop tonight at the River Gallery during the Downtown Gallery Crawl! You’ll find gifts for everyone and art for all kinds of art lovers: pottery, wood turning, paintings (oil, acrylic, watercolor), jewelry, photography. You’ll find wonderful art items uniquely created by area artists.

We’re located in West Monroe at 308 Trenton Street. Enjoy great music, good food tonight, and meet many of the River Gallery artists.