Newsletter – October 2026

RAC Artists Talk

Thursday, October 8 at 6 pm

Join us for an evening of conversation with artists in the current RAC Masters Show – our annual Members Only Juried Small Group Exhibition. Juror Jared Quinton will discuss the artwork he selected during this casual walk and talk event. This is free and open to the public – refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!

RAC Happenings

RAC Masters Show 2026 Opening

RAC’s annual RAC Masters show is now on view until October 10! This exhibition is a member-only small group show where each participating artist presents a body of work. Artists include: Janine Brown, Kat Evans, Almudena Fernandez Vicens, Andy Kimmel, Andrea Letters, Lori Lohstoeter, Merrilee Main, Barbara O’Shea Strong, Annie Roberts, Anda Styler and Zili Zhang.Thanks to all who joined us on the evening of Friday, September 11.

Pictured here are some of the RAC Masters in attendance (left to right): Kat Evans, Lori Lohstoeter, Andrea Letters,Barbara O’Shea Strong, Merrilee Main, Zili Zhang, Janine Brown and Anda Styler. More info and list of award recipients at this link here!

RAC Classes and Workshops

WEEKLY CLASSES 

The November/December weekly classes are now open for registration! Choose from a variety of painting, drawing, and mixed media classes.

Image here by Susan Fehlinger, who will be teaching “Learning to Make it Your Own” on Thursday afternoons

Weekly Classes

SHORT TERM WORKSHOPS

RAC has an ever evolving selection of short term workshops focusing on the arts, self care and photography.

Image here by Lenny Moskowitz who will be teaching “Land, Light and Paint” over the weekend of October 24 and 25

Figure Drawing with Instructor John Grieco. Sundays, October 4 and October 18 (11am-2pm)

Sunset Yoga Nidra with Instructor, Joy Hoffman. Wednesday, October 7 (5-6:30pm)

Encaustic Workshop: Beetles, Ladybugs and Bees with Instructor Carolyn Childs. Wednesday, October 21 (6:30-8pm)

Land, Light and Paint with Instructor Lenny Moskowitz. Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 (10:30am-3pm)

Painting from Within: An Intuitive Abstract Painting Experience with Instructor Melissa Benedek. Saturday, November 7 (12-3pm)

The Art of Vibration with Instructors Carolyn Childs and Carolyn Frazier. Wednesday, November 11 (5-7pm)

Holiday Madness! Handmade Mixed Media Greeting Cards with Instructor Nancy McTague-Stock. Saturday, November 21 (10:30am-12pm)

Block Printmaking with Instructor Evelyn Harvey. Saturday, December 5 (10am-1pm)

Short Term Workshops

Through the Lens: Photography Basics and Street Photography



Wednesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 21 (6-7:30pm) at RAC plus Saturday, October 17 (2-5pm) on location.

Photograph here by Instructor Jeff Um.

More info here

YOUTH CLASSES

We offer classes for youth from age 7 through the teen years!

Still a few seats available in Sam Wilson’s “The Art of Storytelling: Comic Book and Character Design for ages 9-14 yrs” beginning Monday, October 19 (4:30-6:30pm)



Full List of Youth Classes

Current Exhibitions

Through October 10, 2026 ONLY!

Exhibiting Member-Only Small Group Show

Congratulations to Janine Brown (Mixed Media), Kat Evans (Acrylic Painting), Almudena Fernandez Vicens (Mixed Media), Andy Kimmel (Oil Painting), Andrea Letters (Photography), Lori Lohstoeter (Mixed Media), Merrilee Main (Acrylic Painting), Barbara O’Shea Strong (Photography), Annie Roberts (Ceramics), Anda Styler (Acrylic Painting) and Zili Zhang (Photography).

Artists Talk: Thursday, October 8 at 6 pm with Juror Jared Quinton

Visit the gallery Tuesday through Friday 12-5 pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.

More info at this link here!

Upcoming Exhibitions

October 18 through November 14, 2026

Open Juried Show

Theme: This is an open call, open-theme, all-media exhibition. We received over 450 submissions from regional artists! More info here.

Receiving of accepted work: Monday, October 12 (5-7pm) and Tuesday, October 13 (12-2pm)

Opening Reception: Sunday, October 18 (4-6pm)

November 22 through December 24, 2026

Open Juried Show, open to all artists

Theme: This is an open call, open-theme, all-media exhibition. Work should NOT be holiday themed. Please read the Prospectus for size and price restrictions.

Prospectus Online submissions link will be live October 5!

Receiving of accepted work: Monday, November 16 (5–7pm) and Tuesday, November 17 (12-2pm)

Opening Reception: Sunday, November 22 (4-6pm)

December 4 – December 24, 2026

The RAC gallery will be filled with carefully curated gifts by local artists/artisans for the annual Holiday Gift Show: small ornaments, holiday-related items, jewelry, ceramics, knitted items, cards and prints. There’s also a special selection of items by the Rowayton Gardeners and artwork in the new Winter Small Works Show. More info here.

Opening day: Friday, December 4 (12pm-5pm)

Extended opening weekend hours: Saturday, December 5 (10am-7pm) and Sunday, December 6 (12pm-5pm)

Regular hours: Tuesday through Friday (12pm-5pm), Saturday (10am-5pm) and Sunday (12pm-5pm) until Christmas Eve from 10 am to 2 pm. Closed Mondays.

All proceeds from the Holiday Gift Show are used to support RAC!

In Memoriam

Joanne Schreiber

We are sad to share that Joanne Schreiber, a longtime member of the RAC who served on the board for many years, passed away on September 8. She lived in the Rowayton Beach Association (RBA) for over 50 years and was just four weeks shy of turning 98 years old. Joanne was a syndicated columnist and the author of four books – she also ran her own public relations company. She wrote the RAC newsletter as well as a column called Clam Digging around Rowayton for many years. A memorial service was held on Friday, September 18 at the United Church of Rowayton with a reception at the Boathouse in the RBA afterwards. Online condolences may be left at abriola.com.

Brenda Pank

We also learned that Brenda Pank died on August 21. Brenda and her husband of over 60 years, RAC Exhibiting Member Rick Pank, built a wonderful life together in Rowayton, surrounded by family, friends and a community they loved. For years she created handmade sweaters for the RAC Holiday Gift Show. Her knitting was one of the ways she showed people she cared and many of those pieces are still keeping people warm today. A combined service celebrating the lives of both Brenda and Rick will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we are honored that donations may be made in Brenda and Rick’s memory to RAC through its Memorial Gifts page at this link: rowaytonarts.org/memorial-gifts/.

Other News

THE RAC 5 – Brooke Sessions

Brooke Sessions is a photographer who has lived with her husband in Rowayton since 1997, raising two sons.  She loves the area for its natural beauty, dramatic light, changing seasons and proximity to NYC where she can often be found shooting.  Her work ranges from classic landscapes and street photography to alternative techniques like intentional camera movement (ICM), cyanotypes and infrared photography. Her work is regularly on display at local and regional galleries, including the Rowayton Arts Center, Carriage Barn Arts Center, Loft Artists Association, Garrison Art Center and the Marine Gallery.

What started you on your creative path?

Growing up, my dad dazzled our family with slide shows from his trips around the world – I was mesmerized by the images and the idea of visiting those places myself. I began experimenting with his Nikkormat, photographing everything around me and developing my darkroom skills.

I studied at the International Center of Photography in New York, the Maine Photography Workshops and at Hamilton College. My parents, among others, told me “You’ll never make any money as a photographer.” But my passion to do something “visual” led to a job with ABC TV at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, which opened the door to television production and a rewarding 40-year career that included 15 years with ABC’s Good Morning America, nine Summer and Winter Olympics, two Emmy awards, shoots around the world, news, talk, cooking, and game shows. Through it all, I always had my own camera in tote, shooting for myself and documenting my travels. While needing and using my visual skills in video production, I never lost my passion for still photography and after a 40-year detour, returned to it. I’ve finally had the time and luxury of fully getting back to what I love, and it has been deeply fulfilling.

If you could ask a piece of artwork to come to life, what would it be? Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother. I would ask how, as a destitute 32-year-old pea-picker with seven children, she could survive the suffering and hardships of the Great Depression.

Do you work on multiple pieces at once? Absolutely. I often work on several current images while also revisiting older ones, giving uncertain pieces time before returning to them with a fresh eye.

What inspires your artwork? Everything around me:  beauty, emotion, light, movement, expression, gratitude, composition, energy, color, stillness… the curiosity to learn.

Tell me about your techniques for overcoming creative blocks? I give myself grace when I feel stuck or unmotivated, trusting that curiosity and momentum will return. I accept creative blocks and I know that they won’t last. Staying active and spending time with my dog, Mocha, helps clear my head and keeps me balanced.

View her artwork on Instagram: @brookesessionsphotography

Welcome to RAC – New Exhibiting Members

Amanda Lynne, Cindy Ruskin and Leland Smith