Delaware Arts Alliance Names Neil Kirschling Executive Director

The content of this post comes from a Delaware Arts Alliance press release...

The Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA) announced today the selection of Neil Kirschling as its executive director, effective June 27.

Neil Kirschling, new DAA Executive Director

Kirschling most recently was director of policy and advocacy for Rodel, the nonprofit organization that partners with Delawareans and worldwide educational innovators to transform public education in the First State. He succeeds Jessica Ball, who in November 2021 was appointed director of the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA).

“We are confident that Neil is the right person to help the Delaware Arts Alliance continue our mission,” said Molly Giordano, DAA board president.

“Neil’s experience in education and government will be of immeasurable value as we continue our work with DDOA, the General Assembly’s Arts and Culture Caucus, and other stakeholders to promote equitable access to the arts in Delaware, particularly in classrooms,” she continued. “Neil also will guide our statewide cultural recovery and economic growth plan. Our plan is funded by a $1 million grant through Governor Carney’s American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program secured by Jessica Ball during her tenure.”

At Rodel, Kirschling was responsible for strategic planning, policy development, coalition management, program management, and local and national stakeholder engagement. He previously served as a legislative fellow in the Delaware General Assembly; conducted research for the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration; and participated in the Delaware Department of Education’s “Future Education Policy Leaders” program.

Kirschling volunteers as a Governor-appointed commissioner on the Delaware Hispanic Commission, where he leads education and advocacy efforts in support of Hispanic youth and English learner students. He is an advisor for the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy board, a volunteer and performer with various local theaters, and a regular patron of arts and culture organizations in the state.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Delaware.  

DAA is the unifying voice for the arts throughout Delaware, advocating for the central role of the arts and arts education in advancing dynamic communities and a creative citizenry. DAA informs, empowers, and mobilizes Delawareans who cultivate, support, and advance the arts

49th Annual Members' Fine Craft Show Kicks Off Summer at Rehoboth Art League

The content of this post comes from a press release from Rehoboth Art League...

The Rehoboth Art League (RAL) has an exciting range of shows coming up this June and July. Summer at RAL will kick off with the 49th Annual Members’ Fine Craft Exhibition, as well as Barbara Martin’s Eastward to Wyoming, Prints and Paintings by Alexi Natchev, and Faces of Many Nations clay masks by Amelie Sloan. All are on display June 10 to July 17. On June 10 from 5:00-7:00pm, RAL will host receptions for all the exhibitions, inviting anyone interested to visit the Corkran, Tubbs, Ventures, and Homestead Galleries to see these new shows.

The Members’ Fine Craft Exhibition is a signature summer show for the league and contains works created by member artists in a wide variety of media, including baskets, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, wood, and more. Artists and the public are invited to hear from this year’s exhibition judge, Andrea Uravitch, during her free Gallery Talk on Saturday, June 11, at 10:00am in the Corkran Gallery. Uravitch, who has shown in over 300 hundred invitational, juried, and solo shows in museums, galleries, art centers, college galleries and institutions, will discuss her selection of the award-winning pieces.

Taking over the Ventures this month will be abstract works in Barbara Martin's solo show, Eastward to Wyoming. This collection was inspired by Martin’s time at the Jentel Artist Residency in the Lower Piney Creek Valley of the majestic Bighorn Mountains in eastern Wyoming. Using the rhythm of the passing landscape and summer sky, these works encompass the movement and sensations of the vast openness of the Montana and Wyoming area.  

RAL’s historic Peter Marsh Homestead will display Prints and Paintings by Alexi Natchev. Born, educated, and starting his artistic career in Bulgaria, Natchev’s body of work, as a whole, reflects the scope and range of his creative endeavors in different fields of visual art: illustration, drawing, painting, and public art. This exhibit displays Natchev’s range, giving viewers the chance to see his technical processes and layered technics. 

Finally, the DeWitt Gallery will showcase Faces of Many Nations, a display of Amelie Sloan’s ceramic hand-built masks. A longtime RAL member and niece of one of the league’s founding members, Ethel P.B. Leach, Amelie leaves a lasting legacy at RAL, with a namesake room in the pottery studio on campus as well as an endowed exhibition award offered annually for excellence in ceramic hand building. This exhibition will allow the public the rare opportunity to purchase some of Amelie’s masks.  

The exhibitions are free and open to everyone during regular gallery hours of Monday through Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday, noon to 4:00pm.

Visit https://www.rehobothartleague.org/.