MIDDLESEX – Arts in the Middle (AIM) Juried Fine Arts Festival returns to beautiful Hewick Plantation, 5123 Old Virginia Street, Urbanna on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5. It is an annual destination place for lovers of art as well as outdoor events. The eighth annual arts extravaganza provides a variety of fine visual and performing arts for families, visitors, and the community to enjoy.
The popular outdoor festival features juried visual artists from up and down the east coast, plus separate local and student artists galleries. Two stages offer an array of musicians including musical headliner Irene Kelley, whose signature mix of Bluegrass and Americana appeals to music lovers across all genres. Local culinary artist Adam Ginsberg will offer breakfast and lunch, and the Writers Tent will feature readings by local writers.
Admission to the festival, along with parking, is free. The event runs Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors will find signage along area roads directing them to the parking area, where they will be assisted by members of the Middlesex County Kiwanis Club.
Artists
The 2022 show presents 82 artists who will have juried exhibits in their own booths on AIM’s Artist Row offering original works of paintings, photography, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, glasswork and furniture. The Local Artist and Student Galleries feature works from nearby artists, current and recent students from Middlesex High School. (For a list of exhibiting artists and their media, go to www.artsinthemiddle.com.)
Organizers are excited to announce the Children’s Area is back this year, including the “Build a Boat” activity. With the help of new coordinator Blair Rhodes, they have the addition of lots of stations for little artists to explore. The “I love your art” ribbons will continue to offer children the opportunity to present blue ribbons to their favorite artists.
Musicians
Music organizer Clayton Neal has put together an impressive line-up of musicians throughout the event on two festival music stages. New to the show this year is our headliner on the “big tent” music stage, Kelley, has been described as one of the best vocalists and songwriters in bluegrass and country music displaying a stylistic kinship with Dolly Parton and EmmyLou Harris.
The list of featured musical artists in 2022 includes:
- Local musician Clayton Neal.
- Hartfield musician Tom Euler, an award-winning singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist.
- Tom Euler Trio is a progressive blues/rock group from Virginia that is known for their high energy and thoughtfully written songs.
- Light jazz from The MelTones, the professional father/daughter musical duo Paige and Randy Melton.
- Soloist Paige Melton, beloved classic folk musician known for her vocal and guitar arrangements delivered with an innocent 60s and 70s “flower child” attitude.
- Jeff and Sherry Wagner, a husband-wife duo who play acoustic Americana music.
- Gary Archer, who performed as lead guitarist and songwriter for Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys.
- Something Different Duo, a popular father/daughter duo that performs music from a variety of genres spanning multiple decades.
- East of Monroe, an Americana/bluegrass group based in Virginia and Maryland.
- The Members are a five-piece band that has been entertaining audiences in the central Virginia area for three decades. They are crowd-pleasers, who perform music from the 60s, 70s 80s and much more..
Writers
Coming back for year two are the literary arts and historical storytellers. Wake writer and AIM volunteer Earl Simpson and Arts in the Middle President Michael Kunzinger of Middlesex County have assembled a wide variety of well-known area writers who will read from their works. Scheduled readings include memoirs, area history, cooking, nature, poetry, local color and more. Find more details on the AIM website. Readings and book signings are scheduled all day Saturday, June 4.
Writers scheduled to make presentations Saturday include:
- 11 a.m. — Earl Simpson.
- Noon — Bob Kunzinger.
- 1 p.m. — Gordon White.
- 2 p.m. — Mary Wakefield Buxton.
- 3 p.m. — Larry Chowning.
- 4 p.m. — Stan Hovey.
Just across the path from the Writers Tent, the Museums of Middlesex Tent will offer historic stories, including a casual greeting from local historian Barbara Lovelace, who portrays the character Judith Robinson, an 18th century resident of Hewick Plantation. Also in period costume, Urbanna’s Paul Malone tells the story of the famous Mitchell Map proudly housed in the Urbanna Museum.
Arts in the Middle is dedicated to its mission of showcasing the arts in our community. Show proceeds allow AIM to support local school art programs and collaborative art events with the Middlesex Museum and Historical Society.
Bringing a show of this magnitude to fruition each year is the direct result of the tireless work of many volunteers, our generous sponsors and the never-ending support from our community. The support for the 2022 festival is provided by a grant from The Virginia Commission of the Arts matched with funding from the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority and support from business and individual donors. The AIM Board of Directors and Planning Team expressed thanks to each each for allowing them to continue the mission. Organizers encourage anyone interested in being a volunteer or sponsor to join our growing team.
