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Top left to bottom right: “Cup of Sun” by Kim Juda Souder, “Castaway” by Debra Cooper, “River Map” By Ellen Fairchild-Flugel, “Riverbend” by Laurel Vaughan, and “Molting Cardinal” by Holly Huddle.

Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is pleased to announce an art exhibition public free-entry opening at Muse Vineyards in Woodstock on Sunday, August 4 from 3 to 5pm to be followed by a “Wine on the Water” social and fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

Celebrate Seven Bends heralds the imminent opening of Seven Bends State Park. The show will feature invited local artists exploring the natural beauty of the Shenandoah River through conservation and ecological themes in original works through varied media, including painting, pottery, sculpture, ceramics, and stained glass.

All artworks in the Celebrate Seven Bends exhibition are available for purchase with 30 percent of the sales earmarked for Friends of the North Fork in support of Seven Bends State Park. The show’s 18 Shenandoah Valley artists are Barbara Camph, Penelope Carroll, Ann Cheeks, Deborah Cooper, Maureen Crisman, Lynne Crumpacker, Ellen Fairchild-Flugel, Alice Findler, Diane Gould, Jewel Hertzel, August Hoerr, Marty Hoerr, Holly Huddle, Liz Karaffa, Kathy Kavanaugh, Glenn Richardson, Kim Juda Souder, and Laurel Vaughan.

The exhibition opening will be followed by a “Wine on the Water” event at Muse Vineyards, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, to benefit Friends of the North Fork. Tickets are $35 per person, $50 for two, and include wine, light appetizers, and a one-year membership in FNFSR for new members. The exhibition will be open through August 30.

“Rose Mallow Seed Pods” by Debra Cooper

David Brotman, Friends of the North Fork’s Executive Director, said about the mutually beneficial relationship between Friends, the Park, and the community: “The Park alone brings so many benefits to our whole community. And having support for the Park come right out of the community—like this celebration with Muse Vineyards—brings the circle full ‘round. That Friends and our Seven Bends committee are called on to help form these connections and fuel our sense of community is an honor.”

“The Park alone brings so many benefits to our whole community. And having support for the Park come right out of the community—like this celebration with Muse Vineyards—brings the circle full ‘round.

David Brotman, FNFSR Executive Director

Since 2015, Friends of the North Fork has served as the Community-Support Organization for Seven Bends State Park. Through this role, Friends partners with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to help the community take advantage of increased river access and educational programming opportunities provided by the Park.

The Park was dedicated in 2005. Chief Ranger Thomas Stevens became the Park’s first full-time employee in late 2017. “Seven Bends State Park is excited and grateful to have so much support pouring out of a great community. With the Park’s official opening planned for this fall, we will finally be able to observe and appreciate the hard work that has been and continues to be applied,” he said. “Organizing awesome events like the Celebrate Seven Bends art show not only allows us to have a great time, but aids us in developing and shaping the Park into exactly what the community has in mind.”   

Seven Bends State Park is excited and grateful to have so much support pouring out of a great community. With the Park’s official opening planned for this fall, we will finally be able to observe and appreciate the hard work that has been and continues to be applied.

Thomas Stevens, Seven Bends State Park Chief Ranger

For more information, please contact:

  • Ellen Fairchild-Flugel, Show Curator, FNFSR volunteer: 540-325-2305 or eff@shentel.net.
  • Concha Mendoza, Operations Manager, Friends of the North Fork: 540-325-8728 or concha.mendoza@fnfsr.org.
  • Thomas Stevens, Chief Ranger, Seven Bends State Park: 540-335-0476 or thomas.stevens@dcr.virginia.gov.
  • Hanna Hoban, Tasting Room Manager, Muse Vineyards: 540-459-7033 or hanna@musevineyards.com.

About Muse Vineyards ~ Located on 16 Serendipity Lane in Woodstock, VA. Muse’s proprietors are husband and wife, Robert Muse and Sally Cowal. Cowal is a Friends of the North Fork Board member and Muse Vineyards is a FNFSR corporate sponsor. The beautiful vineyard is on the banks of the North Fork. According to Robert Muse, Muse Vineyards’ viticultural philosophy and practice is that of minimalist agriculture to minimize impacts to the River.

About Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River ~ Founded in 1988, Friends’ mission is to keep the North Fork of the Shenandoah River clean, healthy, and beautiful through advocacy, community action, education, and science. Friends serves as the “community support organization” for Seven Bends State Park and assists other public lands sites with programs and projects throughout our watershed. As CSO of Seven Bends State Park, Friends organizes Park volunteers as well as quarterly planning meetings.

Learn more about our role as the Park’s CSO and sign up as a Seven Bends State Park volunteer here: https://fnfsr.org/seven-bends-state-park/