Art Between the Creeks began in 1992 with an exhibit titled “Warehouse of the Refused,” named after French painters of the 19th Century who exhibited their works in the “Salon of the Refused.” Like them, the Art Between the Creeks artists – three at that time – felt that they were artists without venues, largely because their work was different from the traditional fare of local galleries. The three were painters Cindy Fletcher-Holden, Simeone Coxe and sculptor Monroe Hall.

Their “rogue” show – in a boat shed they transformed into a gallery themselves – was such a success that more shows were added in subsequent years. Coxe and Hall have relocated out of the area and the association has grown to 19 artists who work in a variety of media – from painting to photography to sculpture and more. While some of the work is traditional, members of the group consider themselves different from the mainstream – or Main Street – art scene in Annapolis. Their styles are just as eclectic as the media they use: from abstract representation to cerebral abstracts to traditional watercolors to photorealism and postmodernism.

“We do the unexpected,” said Cindy, adding that along with the eclectic nature of the show, another of its unique elements is that the artists transform the non-traditional exhibit space themselves. “We build the display panels and install the lights turning a storage shed into a gallery,” she said. “So, what started out as a makeshift gallery in a warehouse has blossomed into a makeshift galley in a storage shed.”

Clearly, another element of Art Between the Creeks is that while the group is made up of serious artists, they don’t take themselves so seriously that the fun is lost. Imagine.