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Riverchase Loves Artists celebrates 10 years

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Photo courtesy of Lynne Cooper.

The Riverchase Loves Artists art show will hold its 10th annual event this month. The event has grown each year and now has more artists’ request to participate than they have room to accommodate. 

Lynne Cooper started the event through the Riverchase Women’s Club in 2006, when they were looking for an activity to promote the community and raise money for charity. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Riverchase Country Club.

“We thought an art show would be a fun thing to do,” Cooper said. “We got some artists to help us along the way, and over the years, we’ve developed a show that has become very unique and popular with artists and the community.”

Cooper said RLA showcases between 45 and 50 artists. It began with more local artists before word spread through the art community and generated a lot of interest. The artists range from those just starting out to some into their 70s. 

“It really runs the spectrum of ages and talents,” Cooper said. “We have very high quality artists. The show features mixed media, glass, wood, pottery, jewelry and fabrics. We really have everything.” 

To keep the show evolving, she said they plan to mix previous artists with those who haven’t participated in the show before. 

“We have a few artists that have been with us since the very beginning,” Cooper said. “We are trying to keep some of the same artists and also bring new ones in. We are always looking for new and creative people.”

This year will be the third time Pat Palmer, a Vestavia Hills resident, will be participating in the RLA show. Her work includes impressionistic and abstract art, as well as copper and metal, and recently she has been concentrating on large acrylic paintings, watercolor and mixed media.  She has been in the Birmingham area for over 30 years and has experience with several local art shows. Palmer said RLA is a great one to be a part of. She appreciates that it is indoors, and that there are people to help her unload her pieces and also assist with setup. 

“They do a very good job of advertising with local television and papers, and they also make posters and invitations,” Palmer said. “They work hard on it all, and there are other committees that work equally as hard. I’ve put on a lot of art shows in my time, and there is so much work that goes into it to make it a success.”

Palmer is originally from the art-rich area of Asheville, North Carolina, and still has a summer home there. She has recruited two artists she knows to come be a part of RLA. David Goldhagen, a glass blower from Hayesville, North Carolina, and Holly Williams, owner of Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm from Blairsville, Georgia, will be a part of the show for the first time this year. 

“They will be good assets to the show,” Palmer said. “They’re excited about being here this year.”

RLA also features a preview party on Friday night before the show, when artists can invite previous customers to have a chance to shop early. 

Cooper said the one thing the artists all have in common is that they are the nicest group of people she has ever worked with. 

“They are so sweet and nice,” she said. “I think everybody has fun.”

10th annual Riverchase Loves Artists art show

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