A river runs through it

Editor's pick: RIV4: The Delaware River – A Big Picture

Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, July 15, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Madelon Powers Gallery, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA. Artists’ reception Friday, June 16, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. 570/422-3483.

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA — The many faces and moods of the Delaware River are the focus of “RIV4: The Delaware River — A Big Picture,” a multi-media event that includes artwork and video presented throughout the summer in a variety of venues.

This is the fourth year for RIV, which is a tribute of local artist Rod Cameron to the river that carries the heart’s blood of our region. “A river like the Delaware, constantly changing, is just a bottomless spring of inspiration for an artist,” said Cameron, who moved to the Poconos five years ago and was so taken by the beauty of the Delaware River that he began thinking about a book project. The idea was to bring together artists from all backgrounds to produce a diverse and colorful picture of the river with interpretations from poets to painters. The RIV festivals are the realization of that dream, transformed into more diverse media.

Now in its fourth year, the festival encourages and exhibits art that revolves around Delaware River themes, with respect to all its aspects from the historical to the natural.

The first segment of the event is an exhibit of smaller artwork (under 30 inches), to be held from June 8 through July 15 in the Madelon Powers Gallery at East Stroudsburg University, with an artists’ reception planned for 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16.

There will also be a Big Picture Video Festival on Saturday, June 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pocono Cinema, 88 S. Cortland Street.

The third portion of the festival, “Big Picture Large Works,” will take place at the Pocono Cinema Gallery during July and August. As the name suggests, it will consist of larger pieces of artwork focused on the festival’s central theme.

For more information on the exhibit in the Madelon Powers Gallery, call 570/422-3483. For more information on other RIV4 events, call 570/606-4804.