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Shepherdstown Art Magazine celebrates publication of second issue with exhibition

By Courtney Bell - For the Chronicle | Jun 30, 2023

Korinne Myers reads “The world is ending” by Jack Dempsey in The Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub this last Wednesday. Courtney Bell

SHEPHERDSTOWN — This past Wednesday, The Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub hosted the celebration of shART’s second-issue art magazine – Summer Solstice. Shepherdstown Art Magazine (shART) allows artists within the community to showcase their pieces to the public. This would not have been possible without the commitment of two people that wanted to strengthen the community.

Jason Whitaker had been thinking about creating an art magazine, prior to Stephen T. Wheeler joining him to help solidify the idea and bring it to life. Through their work, Whitaker and Wheeler are trying to show that no one is alone, and that caring deeply about art and believing in its uniqueness brings people together.

In shART’s zines’, they have everyone’s artworks laid out, from visual to literary works. On the front page, they have a statement in support of recognizing the existence of land shared by and stolen from the Shawandasse Tula and Massawomeck people.

“We want to start a dialogue between artists and the reader first and foremost, but not mentioning the indigenous population of the area feels irresponsible. We can’t really represent a specific chunk of land without acknowledging the basic truths of its history.” Whitaker and Wheeler said.

The two strive to be vectors for readers in exposing them to various topics, artistry and artists in hopes of inspiring and challenging them. With the diverse artistry in their zine, they have done precisely what they had in mind. From statues to literature to paintings, the audience members were captured in the showcase, as if they were in a trance.

Prema Baughman (left), Laura Wilt (center) and Sikara Sokel (right) get ready to show off their artworks at The Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub last Wednesday night. Courtney Bell

When announcements of the second issue submissions appeared on shART’s Instagram page, Laura Wilt and Sikara Sokel quickly sent in their submissions. Wilt had heard about shART through Sokel, when they were attending the same classes, and she suggested Wilt submit something they had created, since they were attached to their collection. This is Wilt’s first time submitting their work into shART.

“They were a series of explorative drawings that I completed for college, and a relief from my more traditional modes of making art,” Wilt said.

With the series being digital art about Greek mythology, Wilt was happy to say they were delighted to bring fresh takes on some of the more well-known myths. Surrounded by friends to celebrate this occasion, they now plan to submit more work to the magazine in the future.

While this community is still new, Whitaker and Wheeler have started holding First Friday events at The Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub. The next event will feature Alexander R. Taughinbaugh’s work. Everyone and anyone are welcome to submit any works in the process or have already been made.

“To risk making something at least partially solid, something that actually affects the people around you and cultivates progress, takes guts. Don’t hold back!” Whitaker and Wheeler said.

Jason Whitaker accepts donations for shART at the Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub last Wednesday. Courtney Bell

For more information, visit their Instagram page (@shart_mag) and their Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/shARTMagazine).