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Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont

Picturing New Connections

Gari Melchers Home & Studio offers Picturing New Connections—a small, welcoming program for people with memory loss, their families, or care partners. These interactive tours include guided discussion in the art galleries, followed by a relaxing hands-on art experience.  Emphasis is placed on engaging participants through music, touch, and smell. Each hour-long program features a unique theme, paintings, and art project. 

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

Preschool Palette

Invitation to Create!

These thoughtfully curated classes celebrate the experience of discovery.  Preschool Palette nurtures your child’s creative spirit through engaging books, colorful garden walks, and open-ended art exploration. Year-round program; themes change monthly.

2025 Art After Hours

Art After Hours

 

May 22nd – Moch Pryderi Band

May 29th (RAIN DATE)

June 5th – Fredericksburg Concert Band

June 12 (RAIN DATE)

July 10th  – BoltRiders Surf Rock Band

July 17th (RAIN DATE)

August 7th – Hazel Run Band

August 14th (RAIN DATE)

 

Art After Hours returns to the lawn and gardens of Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont. Enjoy live music and visit the studio and galleries of American artist Gari Melchers.  Food with be available for purchase from local food trucks as well as beer and wine.

 

Free admission, first come, first served. Tickets for beer/wine $7; food trucks accept cash or credit. Bring your own blankets, reusable cups, and chairs. No outside alcohol permitted per state regulations. Shuttle parking for overflow provided. Questions, please contact Denise Millner dmillner@umw.edu or 540-654-1848.

 

Plein Air Days

Second Saturday of the Month April – October

 

Gari Melchers Home and Studio invites artists of all skill levels and mediums to participate in our Plein Air Days. On these unique days, artists are encouraged to create in our gardens, display their work in progress, and meet with other artists and visitors. The grounds will open early at 8:00 AM. The extended site hours for this event (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM) may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Gari Melchers Home and Studio will communicate any changes via social media.

 

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is open daily 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM. It is free to walk the grounds and gardens. There is an admission charge to tour the historic home and galleries.

 

The outdoor Plein Air Day event is free and open to the public. There is no fee for participating artists. Professional photographers using the site for client portrait sessions must follow our Photography Guidelines and site use fees.

 

All participants are expected to follow these guidelines:

· Check-in and Check-out – All artists and visitors are required to check-in at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center will remain open throughout the event so participants may have access to restrooms and water. The museum gates will close promptly at 5:00 PM. Artists are asked to check out to ensure all visitors are off the property at closing time.

· Be Courteous – Artists are welcome to work anywhere on the grounds outside, but must be respectful of the property and guests. Walkways should not be blocked. No standing or walking in flowerbeds or shrubbery. Do not move flower pots, benches, chairs, or any other lawn ornament. No climbing or sitting on gates, walls, fences, trees, statuary, buildings, and farm equipment. No attaching items to structures or vegetation. If an artist creates a potentially dangerous worksite or their medium poses a risk of destruction to the property, they will be asked to stop, relocate or leave.

· Be Prepared – Participants are responsible for all materials and tools required to do their work. On-site electricity is not available.

· Be Clean – Participants are asked to leave no trace. If the creative process may become messy, please plan to bring drop cloths. Artists should help maintain the cleanliness of the public restrooms. Restroom sinks may be used for minimal tool cleanup and handwashing. A dump bucket for paint water and a trash can will be available at the Visitor Center.

· Be Kind and Considerate – Participants are asked to be respectful of other artists and members of the public who may stop to observe their work. We ask guests to cultivate a pleasant experience for all participants. Artists are asked to maintain a small footprint to ensure access for all. Artists should plan to work within no more than a 6’x6’ workspace.

· No Sales – Artists are encouraged to promote themselves and their work; however, they are not permitted to sell their items on site. Artists may bring promotional materials (business cards, QR codes, etc.) that will help guests find them online or in local galleries/studios.

 

If you have questions, or to register, please contact our Museum Store Manager, Lindy Lynn at 540-654-1843 or llynn@umw.edu.

Event Cost: Free

Plein Air Days

Second Saturday of the Month April – October

 

Gari Melchers Home and Studio invites artists of all skill levels and mediums to participate in our Plein Air Days. On these unique days, artists are encouraged to create in our gardens, display their work in progress, and meet with other artists and visitors. The grounds will open early at 8:00 AM. The extended site hours for this event (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM) may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Gari Melchers Home and Studio will communicate any changes via social media.

 

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is open daily 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM. It is free to walk the grounds and gardens. There is an admission charge to tour the historic home and galleries.

 

The outdoor Plein Air Day event is free and open to the public. There is no fee for participating artists. Professional photographers using the site for client portrait sessions must follow our Photography Guidelines and site use fees.

 

All participants are expected to follow these guidelines:

· Check-in and Check-out – All artists and visitors are required to check-in at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center will remain open throughout the event so participants may have access to restrooms and water. The museum gates will close promptly at 5:00 PM. Artists are asked to check out to ensure all visitors are off the property at closing time.

· Be Courteous – Artists are welcome to work anywhere on the grounds outside, but must be respectful of the property and guests. Walkways should not be blocked. No standing or walking in flowerbeds or shrubbery. Do not move flower pots, benches, chairs, or any other lawn ornament. No climbing or sitting on gates, walls, fences, trees, statuary, buildings, and farm equipment. No attaching items to structures or vegetation. If an artist creates a potentially dangerous worksite or their medium poses a risk of destruction to the property, they will be asked to stop, relocate or leave.

· Be Prepared – Participants are responsible for all materials and tools required to do their work. On-site electricity is not available.

· Be Clean – Participants are asked to leave no trace. If the creative process may become messy, please plan to bring drop cloths. Artists should help maintain the cleanliness of the public restrooms. Restroom sinks may be used for minimal tool cleanup and handwashing. A dump bucket for paint water and a trash can will be available at the Visitor Center.

· Be Kind and Considerate – Participants are asked to be respectful of other artists and members of the public who may stop to observe their work. We ask guests to cultivate a pleasant experience for all participants. Artists are asked to maintain a small footprint to ensure access for all. Artists should plan to work within no more than a 6’x6’ workspace.

· No Sales – Artists are encouraged to promote themselves and their work; however, they are not permitted to sell their items on site. Artists may bring promotional materials (business cards, QR codes, etc.) that will help guests find them online or in local galleries/studios.

 

If you have questions, or to register, please contact our Museum Store Manager, Lindy Lynn at 540-654-1843 or llynn@umw.edu.

Event Cost: Free

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