The Folk Art of Delaware

The Delaware Art Museum has the perfect exhibit to see before traveling to southern Delaware this summer as many of the crafters are alive and well and ready to show and sell other works. The show was organized in collaboration with the Delaware Folk Art Collection, a program of Delaware State Parks.

Bright reds and daringly asymmetrical patterns stand out in a quilt made by Elaine Bahr and Elaine Bordley of Dover which hangs in the main entryway to the museum. “Bright and Lively” hangs next to a more traditional quilt called “Malia Obama’s pretty ribbons” done by Elaine Bordley alone. The colors reflect the bright fashion worn by the President’s younger daughter at the January inauguration.

Upstairs is a quilt within a quilt by Ann Martin of Dover. She incorporated the quilting used as markers for slaves on the road to freedom through the Underground Railroad into her quilt depicting the slaves approaching a safe house. “Safe House” is more than needlework – it is a commentary on our country’s political and racial history.

The yellow tones of Nina Spencer’s tile with acrylic, “Freedom Town”, provide a dramatic background to multilayered portraits of African Americans.

Jehu F Camper (1897-1989) of Harrington carved entire farm scenes of wood depicting farm life in the early 1900s. One shows sheriffs invading the barnyard and police dogs chasing moon shiners as they dive beneath the barn.

Guest curator Carol Balick has really brought some gems from the Diamond State to the forefront.

Out of the Commonplace: The Folk Art of Delaware runs through August 16.

See www.delart.org.

REP theater at UD

University of Delaware’s Resident Ensemble Players ended their season with a pitch-perfect rendition of Noel Coward’s comedy “Hay Fever.”

Guest director John Going played up the signature wit with theatrical affectations and period politesse for delicious sight gags. The cast, costumes and country-house set were all spot-on in the sumptuous new Thompson Theater.

Artistic director Sanford Robbins offered a teaser for this autumn. The opener will be “I Am My Own Wife” by playwright Doug Wright. This daring World War II survival story swept the 2004 Tony, Pulitzer Prize and just about every other drama award after its Broadway debut.

It’s a one-man tour de force of 30-some characters to be performed by REP member Michael Gotch. The stretch exemplifies UD’s Professional Theatre Training Program in action. Gotch played the beamish boy in “Hay Fever.”

David Christopher gets around

As one of the mothers of the Wilmington Children’s Chorus said at the spring concert, “There is no one that David Christopher doesn’t know.” Christopher was her first voice teacher 15 years ago and now she drives her daughter to rehearsals from West Grove, Pa.

David Christopher balances like an expert – playing harpsichord for the Delaware Symphony, conducting operas, directing choirs and orchestras. His Christmas concerts at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew combine sacred 16th-century polyphony with Caribbean jazz carols lets the congregation express their joy of diversity and community.

He has taken over the Delaware Valley Chorale and honed it into a skilled and dedicated group. Christopher has also directed the Wilmington Children’s Chorus since 2002. He is a singer, organist, harpsichordist, classical and gospel pianist – but his real talent is to patiently turn the pitch- and rhythm-challenged into willing performers and listeners.

See www.davidchristopherbelcanto.com.