The Annual Art Show will be held again this year at Pascal Hall, 86 Pascal Ave in Rockport. December marks the 18th year for this singular event, showcasing eight local artists in a collective display of creative work for one weekend in December.

“The Annual Art Show once again promises to be an exciting exposition of new work,” said Patty Bolz in a news release.

Exhibiting this year will be Patty Bolz, jewelry; Kathleen Buchanan, collagraphs; Arduina Caponigro, photographs; Jessica Lee Ives, paintings; Erica Moody, fine metal work; Antonia Munroe, paintings; Margaret Rizzio, assemblage; and Siem van der Ven, ceramics.

Creating her gold jewelry with an emphasis on both form and texture, Patty Bolz is drawn to the structure and strength of inorganic materials and formations, an attraction often translated into her work. Giving particular attention to the integration of the elements within each piece, she designs and builds jewelry that is both dynamic and wearable.

Kathleen Buchanan is a collagraph printmaker, creating images that evoke a strong sense of place, memory, and connection to the landscape and its wildlife. She received her B.S. in biology from Tufts University, her M.S. in wildlife biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and completed an independent study in printmaking at Heartwood College of Art. Her images reflect her passion for the natural systems that sustain communities on the coast of Maine.

Fine art photographer, Arduina Caponigro seeks out surprising moments of beauty and wonder. Her images are both discovered and created in places as far off as Antarctica, and as close to home as her backyard in Maine. She takes joy in sharing her curiosities and journeys with you.

Subsumed by the movement of water and reflection of sunlight, Jessica Lee Ives’ figures are inseparable from their natural surroundings. Her paintings transport they eye to the lake or ice-cold ocean, reminding of healing moments of buoyancy and immersion. Ives’ paintings are filled with adventure, vitality, natural beauty, and wonder.

Erica Moody is a metal artisan in Midcoast Maine, creating unique sculptural serving wares and cabinet hardware which invite touch and use, blending artistry with function. Exhibited internationally, including the Homo Faber craft biennial in Venice, and featured in publications such as Bon Appétit, Metalsmith, and London’s Financial Times, Erica’s work is sought by collectors and clients for its timeless design and enduring craftsmanship. She also teaches widely, sharing her craft with new generations.

Antonia Munroe paints in the technique of Indian Miniature painting, a style requiring contemplative observation and application of color. She employs hand-ground pigments and delicate brushes to feather the layers of paint. Each panel begins with collaging an eclectic collection of paper, fabric and artifacts acquired on her travels. The collage, as background, becomes the stage upon which an exquisitely painted flower emerges.

Margaret Rizzio creates one-of-a-kind multi-layered collages filled with synchronistic and repeating elements sourced from magazines and ephemera. Rizzio pulls her inspiration from the euphoric colors and ubiquitous imagery of the “perfect woman” used in print during the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Each collage is a tiny world unto its own, the new context lending a fresh perspective to familiar imagery.

Simon ‘Siem’ van der Ven has followed these threads throughout his life: Making things, cooking, looking, sailing, teaching, being a father. He has been a resident artist at Anderson Ranch, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. Siem’s work is held in several public collections, including the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and Canton Museum of Fine Arts.

“I have never let go of the stage in which I learn from my fingertips inward,” he said.

New Opening Date Hours this year: A festive opening gala will be held at Pascal Hall on Saturday, December 6, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the gallery remains open on Sunday, December 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mark calendars, set reminders and get oneself there – you won’t be disappointed.

Pascal Hall, 86 Pascal Avenue, Rockport. All are welcome.