Local Artist, Win Peterman, Garners Award and Attention for Calvert's Art Scene

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- October 31, 2005 - Win Peterman of Prince Frederick, Md. has been an artist since her childhood when she first felt compelled to capture the image of a deer on paper in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. It was what she has termed a “magic moment.” Those moments, when the subconscious takes over and she enjoys the free flow of her creativity, come to her more frequently now that she is a full-time artist. She has also learned to experiment with a variety of artistic techniques and media from acrylic paint to French fabric dyes on silk to terra-cotta clay. This freedom has allowed her to keep her artwork fresh and energetic and has helped her create pieces that have sold all across the country.

Peterman can now add a very notable credit to her already distinctive resumé of artistic successes: she recently captured the first-place award for her miniature sculpture, “Bow,” in the 72nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Arts Miniatures of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, DC. The exhibition includes miniatures from all over the world and can be seen at Strathmore Hall Arts Center in Bethesda, Md., from November 20 to December 30, 2005. Society president John A. Thompson indicated in a congratulatory letter that Peterman’s “excellent entry” was selected as an award winner from among 676 works on exhibit.

Peterman is thrilled and humbled by the award. “Entries for this competition come from some of the best artists in the world,” she said. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by a group of peers for my artistic abilities, especially since miniature work is still a relatively new medium for me,” she said. In recent years, Calvert County has gained a reputation for harboring a dynamic and culturally diverse community of artists. In fact, the County now boasts at least a dozen places from North Beach to Solomons where artwork is sold or displayed. Bev Smialek owns Chesapeake Gallery in Prince Frederick, one of the area’s premier galleries and a place where Peterman sells her work locally. Smialek is delighted with the community’s interest in art and sees it as an excellent vehicle both for tourism and retail business. “Art is definitely alive in Calvert County,” she said. “An active arts community is healthy for business, for the economy, for artists and for County residents who can learn to appreciate art in all its forms and use it to enhance their lives. And having an award-winning artist like Win Peterman in our midst certainly helps to elevate Calvert County’s status in the art world,” she said.

Peterman shares Smialek’s affection for the area’s art galleries and shops. “Art provides us with an opportunity to pause in our busy day for a brief escape,” she said. “When you touch a sculpture or see a lovely painting or drawing, you become part of that piece for just a little while. Having places where you can view or purchase art is vital for creating a diverse and culturally enlightened community.”

For more information on Win Peterman and her artwork, please call 410.535.3419, visit www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/w/winpeterman or e-mail winp@chesapeake.net For information on the Chesapeake Gallery, call 410.257.1420 or visit online at www.chesapeakegallery.com.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com