BERLIN — Two unique perspectives will meet Friday when the Worcester County Arts Council (WCAC) hosts a joint gallery displaying paintings from Jim Adcock and photography from Ron Michaels.
Though approaches will be different, both artists will seek to capture “Views of the Eastern Shore” through their own media.
The one-night event will take place on Friday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Arts Council gallery in Berlin on Jefferson Street. Pieces from both artists will be on display along with live music and light refreshments.
“I can see a lot of possibilities … I think there’s no doubt that it’s going to be very well attended and successful,” said WCAC Executive Director Anna Mullis.
The gallery showing will coincide with a judged art contest also being held at the WCAC building that night as well as one of Berlin’s traditional Friday Night Art Strolls. Priscilla Zytkowicz, one of the event’s organizers, said that the hope is for all three events to synch and spotlight the arts community in town this week.
“It’s a big event. So then it’s all going to flow from our art show to over there … It’s the Berlin Art Stroll that day so all over town there will be artistic renderings,” she said.
As far as the actual “Views of the Eastern Shore” showing, the artists have a lot of flexibility to operate around that common theme and exactly how many pieces each will contribute is still unknown. Both believe that the unique pairing of art and paint will make an impression with everyone who attends, however.
“Jim, being an artist with paint, he has a perspective,” said Michaels. “He has an eye for certain things. And his eye and my eye are kind of related, which is why we’re doing this collaboration.”
Both artists are well entrenched in Berlin and the local atmosphere.
“Basically, they’re my paintings and his photography,” said Adcock. “My paintings are local, local scenes. Sometimes I call it ‘beach culture’ so it’s pop but also the beach.”
Adcock’s work will often focus on the coastline or familiar cityscapes from Berlin and the surrounding areas. Michaels looks to similar subjects for inspiration for his photography. The ponies on Assateague Island are a special draw, he said, though the best thing about the area is its geographical diversity.
“That’s the beauty of the Eastern Shore,” Michaels said. “There are so many things to do.”
Adcock hails from Baltimore originally and studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) but has been painting on the shore for more than 30 years. While Adcock started out on an art track, Michaels spent three decades teaching and naturally found photography through that.
“I taught special needs children for 30 years and was always looking for ways to engage them in learning and in looking at things in new and different ways,” said Michaels.
The event will also feature entertainment by Bruce Lukorkie and, depending on its success, might be the first of many joint galleries showcasing different mediums at WCAC, according to Mullis. Along with upcoming events like a plein air art contest at the end of the month, Mullis confirmed that WCAC is looking to reinvigorate the arts community in Berlin with help from the town, the artists and residents.
“We are actively working together to bring more arts to this area,” she said.
Pieces will be available for purchase during the event. For more information, call 410-726-2440 or 484-467-2465.