October in Rappahannock County marks the beginning of what many think is the best of all times in the County! Along with the glowing light and beautiful long shadows of Autumn, colorful leaves, and crisp mountain air, comes the extraordinary free community arts celebration that is the Fall Art Tour. Brought to you by the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC), the Fall Art Tour has become a premier art event in Virginia drawing visitors from the entire DC Metropolitan Area and beyond! And this year, we celebrate 20 years of Fall Art Tour magic!
Join us November 1 – 2, 2025, because you won’t want to miss this year’s Fall Art Tour – always full of new delights every year. But before Fall Art Tour weekend arrives, we have a new exhibition and several continuing exhibits to entice you to visit Rappahannock this month!
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THORNTON RIVER ART
Hans Gerhard’s Whimsical Sculpture Exhibit
October 4, 2025 –
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Thornton River Art
37C Main Street
Sperryville, VA 22740
540-547-7845
Hours: Friday – Monday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thornton River Art is delighted to announce the opening of a new outdoor experience: a winding path adorned with the imaginative creations of sculptor Hans Gerhard. Each piece invites you to pause, smile, and see the world anew.
Come stroll the path, meet the artist, and celebrate the playful spirit of sculpture in nature. Let the art lead the way!
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
GAY STREET GALLERY
Patricia Brennan, Barbara Heile and River District Potters Sara Adams and Nancy Nord
August 9 – October 8, 2025
337 Gay Street
Washington, VA 22747
540-227-5100
Hours: Friday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm or by appointment 540-316-8898
Gay Street Gallery is also happy to help you by phone 540-227-5100 or email office@gaystreetgallery.com.
MIDDLE STREET GALLERY
“STONES AND MEMORIES”
Robert Bouquet
September 12 – October 19, 2025
Middle Street Gallery
311 Gay Street, Lower Level, facing Main Street & across from Ballard’s Gallery
Washington, VA 22747
540-227-5066
Hours: Friday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
I am a self-taught sculptor working in the “taille-directe” or direct carving method. I do utilize some power tools for rough cutting; however, I try to use hammer and chisel and other hand tools as often as possible. The physical effort of carving stone is part of what has drawn me to this form of art.
I have been sculpting for about 40 years, originally using wood as my medium. Switching to stone about 25 years ago, I now work mostly in black soapstone (quarried in central Virginia) as well as Italian marble and alabaster.
The subject matter for most of my work is the human figure or animal life. I have also done some abstract pieces emphasizing organic forms.
My work is in a number of private collections as well as galleries in Middleburg, Sperryville, and Washington, Virginia. I have also been in various juried shows throughout Virginia and have participated in several auctions for charitable fund-raising events.
SPERRYVILLE ARTIST COOPERATIVE & GALLERY
Benjamin Mason
through December 31, 2025
Sperryville River District
3 River Lane
Sperryville, VA 22740
540-227-6509
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
Ben Mason is an accomplished musician and artist. His mixed media constructions and paintings are influenced by the philosophy of Aboriginal and Tribal art and contain artifacts, found objects, and pieces from nature that present a deeper calling.
Meet the artist at the gallery on the second Saturday of each month, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
JOIN US FOR THE 20TH ANNUAL FALL ART TOUR!
We’re just a month away from Fall Art Tour weekend, and local artists have been busy creating new work in a wide range of genres. Fall Art Tour is the one weekend a year that many of our private artist studios are open to the public. Don’t miss this chance to visit our studios and galleries, and the special opportunity to see where artists live and work, and discuss their work and process. Visiting the studios on the Tour is such a unique experience; each one is so different and reflective of the artist at work there, and getting to them is a delighful adventure through Rappahannock’s stunning countryside.
Our county school participants, whose creative displays in the Main Gallery at The Washington School are always much admired by visitors from near and far, are hard at work on their contributions as well. These students and their teachers enhance the community nature of the Tour, which thrives on the combined energies of the talented artists, generous RAAC donors, welcoming local businesses and residents, and enthusiastic visitors.
Charles Tompkins, Studio Artist
Phyllis Northup, Studio Artist
Elena Rousseau, Studio Artist
Experience this unique Rappahannock community tradition – again or for the first time. The combination of beautiful and diverse art, Rappahannock’s spectacular countryside, and the chance to explore working studios and visit with the artists, plus the many options Rappahannock has for dining, lodging, wine tasting, and more, guarantees a memorable weekend for all. Stay tuned – we’ll be bringing you updates on new artists, lodging and dining options, and much more over the next month!
To see more what you’ll find in our galleries and artist studios, visit our Gallery and Studio pages!