Category A, Amateur, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: Honorable Mention – Pat Spinella for her acrylic painting “Storm’s A’ Comin”.
Kristen Tull, Stephanie Zeiler, and Keith Summers posed in the Kiln Room. The kiln is used for firing pottery.
Don't miss this exciting Lecture on Sunday, November 23 – Tom Cook – retired professor will speak on Persian rugs, their history and use: "Oriental Rugs -Nomads’ Lives and How the Weavings that We Purchase Fit into Their Lives - The Beautiful Weavings of Persian Nomads". We will first look at excerpts from a 1925 movie called “Grass”. It describes the life of nomads in Western Persia, inadvertently showing some of their weavings and how they are used in daily life. We will then see slides (and some real examples) of nomadic rugs and kilims from about 1850 to 1950, paying special attention to how they were constructed, designed and dyed, and to the different kinds of social relationships involved in making them. Nomadic rugs were widely sold as “Persian rugs” in the West, along with hand-knotted rugs woven in urban workshops. The talk will contrast what a “Persian rug” means to us and what it meant to the nomad women who wove such rugs for their own purposes in a world of tents that was devoid of the fixed walls, solid furniture and flat floors that we decorate with the very rugs and kilims they wove.
WIN: Paul Reed Smith Guitar
Events
Gallery Shows
Stephanie Zeiler’s parents proudly posed with her at the grand opening. They traveled from Pennsylvania to attend.
November 15, 2025 was the Grand Opening Reception for the Cascio Clay Center at Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA). Sixty people attended the opening and ten of them registered that day for classes. Cascio Clay Center Executive Director, Stephanie Zeiler, welcomed and thanked everyone for attending. To help, KIFA has extended the Charmtree Jewelry Raffle Basket valued at $500 to benefit the Cascio Clay Center until November 30th. So far, the raffle has raised $192.
For information on the five classes that are scheduled in November and December at the Cascio Clay Center please email Stephanie Zeiler at cascioclaycenter@gmail.com
For information on volunteering as a studio monitor or teaching classes at the Cascio Clay Center please email Stephanie Zeiler at cascioclaycenter@gmail.com
Text and Photos by Rebecca Placek
Value $1,200
PRS SE Angelus Acoustic-Electric Guitar, including: backpacker guitar case, guitar strap, and tuner.
Raffle - $5.00 each or 5 for $20.
Benefit Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Mail your check for Raffle tickets to KIFA at:
405 Main Street, Stevensville, MD 21666
DRAWING: Sunday, November 30, 2025. Need not be present to win.
Text and photos by Rebecca Placek.
Category D, Professional, Mixed Media/Collage: First Place – Wende Woodham for her mixed media “Twist and Shout”.
Weather: Rain, wind, storms, clouds, and snow
Charmtree Jewelry Studio owner/instructor Melissa Kay-Steves had a pop-up members show to celebrate her members' beautiful jewelry at KIFA on November 14, 2025. Melissa said that KIFA has always been supportive of her when she started her metalsmith school in Stevensville.
For more info about CJS workshops and events visit www.charmtreejewelry.com
Category B, Amateur, Watercolors/Gouache/Alcohol Inks: First Place – Nancy Emerick for her watercolor “Evening Storm”.
Thirty-five people attended the reception.
CURRENT GALLERY SHOW
Category A, Professional, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: First Place – Rita Myers for her oil painting “Weather #2”
(No sunrises or sunsets)
Show Dates: October 30 – December 21, 2025
Kristen Tull in front of the slab roller. The slab roller is a piece of studio equipment that rolls out perfect slabs of clay for hand-building pottery and ceramics. Kristen’s Beginner’s Wheel Class for five weeks starts on November 19. Class fee: $200 for KIFA members and $220 for non-members.
KIFA Gallery Show Guidelines
All work must be original, created within the last two years, not previously shown at KIFA, and must not infringe upon any copyright. No reproductions accepted.
Sculptures must include their own base or fit on a KIFA pedestal. Sculpture artists must be prepared to assist in placing their work in the gallery. Maximum size including base: 6’ high x 3’ wide and deep.
2-D works must be dry, suitably framed, wired and ready to hang. No sawtooth hangers. (Artwork not wired properly will not be accepted.) All works on paper must be under glass. No exposed glass edges. Maximum size framed varies by show. Please see appropriate prospectus for sizes.
KIFA reserves the right to reject works deemed unsuitable. All entered works must remain on display through the end of the show. Reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety of your artwork. KIFA is not liable for loss or damage to artwork. KIFA's commission on all sales is 30%. KIFA reserves the right to use images of the winning artwork for up to eighteen months.
Please contact KIFA for more information at info@kifa.com or 410-643-7274.
In photo, left to right, Charmtree Jewelry Metalsmith Artists: Amanda Zepp, Cindy Ayd, Jeanne Barr and Melissa Kay-Steves, Charmtree Jewelry Studio owner/instructor
The Chairpersons of the Weather Show were Susan Thau and Sally Prascus. The Show Judge was Andrea Schulte, Visual Arts Department Chair at Kent Island High School.
“Cheers to the Cascio Clay Center” cake from Peace of Cake Pastry Shop, Stevensville. The cake topper is a potters hands shaping a bowl on top of a lemon raspberry cake.
Category F, Amateur, Sculpture/Jewelry: First Place – Mimi Swigert for her jewelry “Looks Like Rain”.
Category A, Amateur, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: First Place – Nancy McCarthy for her acrylic painting “London Rain”.
October 30, 2025 was the Reception for Weather: Rain, Wind, Storms, Clouds, and Snow at Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA). The Show Judge was Andrea Schulte, Visual Arts Department Chair at Kent Island High School. She was excited to be asked to judge this show that captures all types of weather conditions. The Show Chairs were Sally Prascus and Susan Thau. Thirty-five people attended the reception. Forty-seven pieces are in this show featuring oils, acrylics, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media, photography, and jewelry. The show closes on December 21. KIFA is open and free for viewing to the public Thursday-Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 405 Main Street, Stevensville.
Text and photos by Rebecca Placek
Holiday Party at Ramshead
Wednesday, December 3 from 4-9 pm
Charmtree Jewelry has a Raffle Basket valued at $500 to benefit the Cascio Clay Center. Inside the basket: Free Maker’s Night at Charmtree Studio - $78; Jewelry - $200; Bottle of Moet Champagne - $40; Gemstone Cabochons - $85; Books and crafting supplies and more! Raffle Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. You can still buy raffle basket tickets until November 30th. So far, the raffle has raised $192. You don’t need to be present to win!
Category A, Professional, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: Honorable Mention – Maureen Bannon for her oil painting “Back to Back in Fog”.
Category D, Amateur, Mixed Media/Collage: First Place – Melissa Mackey for her mixed media “Raining Cats and Dogs”.
Copyright © 2025 Kent Island Federation of Arts, All rights reserved.
Surprise Santa GIFTS (if you wish, bring a gift under $25, receive a gift).
Category E, Professional, Photography: First Place – Rich Isaacman for his photo “Mothership”.
November 30 at 2:00 – Tom Yates – Carving Wood - FREE Lecture
Clay Center Fundraiser with Charmtree Jewelry Studio
WEATHER SHOW AT KIFA
Category E, Amateur, Photography: First Place – Fitz Turner for his photo “Heading to Weather”.
Keith Summers demonstrated wheel throwing the process of shaping clay on a potter’s wheel to create round ceramic forms. Keith’s Beginner’s Wheel Class for six weeks starts on November 24. Class fee is: $230 for KIFA members and $250 for non-members.
Thomas Yates started his wood carving journey over 30 years ago. There are two types of wood that I use in my carving process: found wood along the shore lines and woods and slab wood that I buy from a mill. The wood that I find tells me what it is. The hidden inner spirit of a face, animal or mystic creature is there waiting for me to release it with very sharp tools. The slab wood is something that I also like to carve because of the uniformity and size of it. I can turn these into a variety of things. I can make small things like fish and moons and larger carvings like mermaids, whales and giant fish of the sea. I love doing these carvings because each one is truly a one of a kind piece of art.
NEXT GALLERY SHOW
To be announced soon...
Reception attendees listened as Andrea Schulte announced the winners.
EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
CASCIO CLAY CENTER GRAND OPENING!