Stephanie Zeiler, Cascio Clay Center Executive Director, cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the Cascio Clay Center at KIFA on November 15, 2025. In photo, left to right: Melissa Craig, Becky Placek, Margaret Tessier, Pat Spinella, Stephanie Zeiler (cut the ribbon), Joel Purcell, Laura Keene, Kristen Tull, and Keith Summers.
Text by Rebecca Placek
Photo by Doug Bishop
Kristen Tull, Stephanie Zeiler, and Keith Summers posed in the Kiln Room. The kiln is used for firing pottery.
Professional, Category A, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: Honorable Mention – Susan Mayberry for her oil painting “Princess Philomena”.
Professional, Category D, Mixed Media/Collage: First Place – Stephanie Zeiler for her mixed media “Fleeting Transformation”.
Events
Professional, Category B, Watercolors/Gouache/Alcohol Inks: First Place – Susan Mayberry for her gouache painting “Queen Peanut”.
Gallery Shows
Two Themes:
Animals
and
Many Colors
Thank you to everyone who attended to support KIFA’s Fundraiser Lunch at Rams Head Shore House on February 4, 2026. We all sang and wished Judy Tucker a very Happy Birthday! Rams Head was proud to support KIFA at Give Back Night. Twenty percent of our food orders that day will be donated back to KIFA.
Text and photos by Rebecca Placek
9th Annual…
PAINT KENT ISLAND!
May 13 – 16, 2026
Call for 35 Artists
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
Maryann Buckley, Co-Chair of the Animals and Many Colors Gallery Show, introduced and thanked the Show Judge Allison Moffatt, Executive Director of the Queen Anne’s County Arts Council.
Happy Birthday Judy!
January 15 - February 27, 2026
Stephanie Zeiler cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening
Amateur, Category D, Mixed Media/Collage: First Place – A.J. Demske for her collage “Scenic Byways”.
Professional, Category B, Watercolors/Gouache/Alcohol Inks: Honorable Mention – Stephanie Zeiler for her watercolor painting “Purity Embedded”.
Amateur, Category F, Sculpture/Jewelry/3-D: First Place – Mimi Swigert for her jewelry “Marvelous Medusa”.
Professional, Category E, Photography: Honorable Mention – Richard Hall for his digital photo “Kaleidoscope”.
Professional, Category A, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: First Place – Judy Specht for her oil giclee painting “Goose Traffic Coming In”.
Left to right: Lee Butera, Melissa Mackey, Lorraine Sincavage, Georgette Toews, Melissa Craig, Becky Placek, Fitz Turner, Linda Turner, Vicki Spinelli, Judy Tucker, Tom Tucker, and Susan Thau.
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.
Amateur, Category C, Graphics (includes pen and ink) & Printmaking: Honorable Mention – John Doran for his lithographic print “Untitled (cone)”.
RAMS HEAD SHORE HOUSE FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS!
Amateur, Category E, Photography: First Place – Ed Blake for his photo “Fog Rolling In”.
Amateur, Category D, Mixed Media/Collage: Honorable Mention – Judy Tucker for her collage “Little Houses on a Hilltop”.
Main Event: $45 | Main Event (KIFA Members): $40
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.
Show Judge Allison Moffatt, Executive Director of the Queen Anne’s County Arts Council presented the awards and talked about why she chose each winning piece in the show.
Amateur, Category A, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: First Place – Vicki Spinelli for her acrylic painting “Bright Bear”.
“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.
Amateur, Category E, Photography: Honorable Mention – Fitz Turner for his photo “Steps”.
ANIMALS AND MANY COLORS SHOW AT KIFA
Professional, Category D, Mixed Media/Collage: Honorable Mention – Wende Woodham for her mixed media “Strut His Stuff”.
Copyright © 2026 Kent Island Federation of Arts, All rights reserved.
Amateur, Category B, Watercolors/Gouache/Alcohol Inks: Honorable Mention – Dianna Sell for her watercolor “Calamari (Octopus).
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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.
January 15, 2026 was the Reception for Animals and Many Colors Gallery Show at Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA). The Show Judge was Allison Moffatt, Executive Director of the Queen Anne’s County Arts Council. She was excited to judge this beautiful colorful show. The Show Co-Chairs were Maryann Buckley and Margaret Tessier. Thirty-seven 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 February 27. 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
Amateur, Category F, Sculpture/Jewelry/3-D: Honorable Mention – Lorraine Sincavage for her gourd “Lightning”.
CURRENT GALLERY SHOW
Amateur, Category A, Oils/Acrylics/Pastels: Honorable Mention – Maryann Buckley for her acrylic painting “Mirror Mirror on the Wall”.
EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
- 4 Days Plein Air Painting
- Judging and Awards
- Coffee and Breakfast Treats
- Saturday Evening Reception
- Gallery Space
CASCIO CLAY CENTER GRAND OPENING!