“Cannery Divide”, Lora Whelan, Acrylic on canvas, 16”x20”

Newport Wine Cellar & Gourmet and Gallery Sitka are joining forces to bring a monthly event called “2nd Fridays/All You Need is Art & Wine” to Newport.

The next gathering, “Spring Greens,” is set for March 14 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at The Tasting Room, right next to Newport Wine Cellar & Gourmet’s main store at 5 Merton Road.

The public is invited to a free reception featuring contemporary art from Gallery Sitka, which has a permanent spot in The Tasting Room. Eight artists will showcase their work with vibrant green themes, including pieces by Beth Barry, Marston Clough, and Rux Darie.

Gallery Sitka owner Tamar Russell Brown is thrilled about the partnership saying, “I’m excited about this collaboration. Maria and I have compatible visions and goals, and we are both graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. We each work to support other small businesses and plan to support each other in larger ways in the future. Pairing art and decor is a natural fit; we hope to inspire Newporters and guests to enjoy gourmet fare and New England art geared to enrich lives.”

The Tasting Room, an extension of Newport Wine Cellar & Gourmet, offers a selection of artisanal wines, specialty foods, and carefully chosen home decor. LBD Designs has furnished the space with Mid-Century Modern pieces and up-and-coming home designs.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...