ANDREW BROWN JUAN RAMON JIMENEZ GERALD KING MARIANNA PREVITI
RIVERDALE PARK PEOPLE OF THE ARTS PAST & PRESENT
DON RENO: An inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Don Reno lived in Riverdale Park during the 1970s next door to long time resident and fellow Bluegrass musician, Bill Harrell. During his lifetime, Don wrote over 500 songs and instrumentals making him "the most prolific composer in Bluegrass music history." With an immediately recognizable style of banjo and guitar playing, he was considered a true pioneer in a uniquely American musical genre. http://www.donreno.com
TINA VAN PELT: Owner of "Profusions of Glass", specializing in one of a kind, handmade fused jewelry. http://www.profusionsofglass.com
ROBERT KRAFT: Award winning decoy carver and wildlife artist. http://www.riverdalewildfowlarts.wordpress.com
MARIANNA PREVITI: Voted best traditional jazz vocalist 3 years in a row by the Washington Area Music Association, she's been compared to the great vocalists of the past such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lil Green & Dinah Washington. http://www.mariannapreviti.com
LANCE WHITNEY: A photographer who's sense of composition and lighting, transforms the ordinary into works of art.
JUAN RAMON JIMENEZ: Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956, the Spanish born poet lived in Riverdale Park while a professor at the University of Maryland in the late 1940's and early 1950's. A prolific writer who's known for his ideas on "porsia pura" or pure poetry, he is considered one of the greatest Spanish poets of the 20th century. Quote: "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way."
GERALD KING: A long time Riverdale Park resident, teacher and master realism artist, Gerald produced finely crafted oil paintings with an intimate eye that reflects a genuine knowledge of and feel for the subject. Working from his studio "Atelier Royale", over the years he produced a series of landscape paintings of Riverdale Park that capture the heart of the town's architecture and flavor. One of the founding members of the Riverdale Park Arts Council, an art training grant has been named in his honor. http://www.geraldking.com
SAMUEL WILLIAMS: Rev. Samuel Williams, Jr. holds the distinction of being the first African American author to pen a major Sherlock Holmes adventure. His historical fiction novel, Anomalous: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes featuring Jack Johnson and Alphonse Capone was published in August 2012 by MX Publishing located in London, England. Williams has served as president the Riverdale Park Arts Council (RPAC) Board of Directors since July 2014.
EMILY FANNING: The first President of the Riverdale Park Arts Council, Emily is known throughout the metro area for her doll hospital and extensive knowledge of dolls. She has been instrumental in creating a program of mentoring and teaching doll making to local youth of the town. She was honored by the Riverdale Park Town Council for her volunteer efforts over the years.
ANDREW BROWN: A successful guitar maker, composer, and double bass player of diverse musical styles ranging from orchestral to avant garde chamber music as well as jazz and pop. Andrew regularly performs with the jazz ensemble, "Brulee". http://www.awbmusic.com
TINA VAN PELT: Owner of "Profusions of Glass", specializing in one of a kind, handmade fused jewelry. http://www.profusionsofglass.com
ROBERT KRAFT: Award winning decoy carver and wildlife artist. http://www.riverdalewildfowlarts.wordpress.com
MARIANNA PREVITI: Voted best traditional jazz vocalist 3 years in a row by the Washington Area Music Association, she's been compared to the great vocalists of the past such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lil Green & Dinah Washington. http://www.mariannapreviti.com
LANCE WHITNEY: A photographer who's sense of composition and lighting, transforms the ordinary into works of art.
JUAN RAMON JIMENEZ: Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956, the Spanish born poet lived in Riverdale Park while a professor at the University of Maryland in the late 1940's and early 1950's. A prolific writer who's known for his ideas on "porsia pura" or pure poetry, he is considered one of the greatest Spanish poets of the 20th century. Quote: "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way."
GERALD KING: A long time Riverdale Park resident, teacher and master realism artist, Gerald produced finely crafted oil paintings with an intimate eye that reflects a genuine knowledge of and feel for the subject. Working from his studio "Atelier Royale", over the years he produced a series of landscape paintings of Riverdale Park that capture the heart of the town's architecture and flavor. One of the founding members of the Riverdale Park Arts Council, an art training grant has been named in his honor. http://www.geraldking.com
SAMUEL WILLIAMS: Rev. Samuel Williams, Jr. holds the distinction of being the first African American author to pen a major Sherlock Holmes adventure. His historical fiction novel, Anomalous: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes featuring Jack Johnson and Alphonse Capone was published in August 2012 by MX Publishing located in London, England. Williams has served as president the Riverdale Park Arts Council (RPAC) Board of Directors since July 2014.
EMILY FANNING: The first President of the Riverdale Park Arts Council, Emily is known throughout the metro area for her doll hospital and extensive knowledge of dolls. She has been instrumental in creating a program of mentoring and teaching doll making to local youth of the town. She was honored by the Riverdale Park Town Council for her volunteer efforts over the years.
ANDREW BROWN: A successful guitar maker, composer, and double bass player of diverse musical styles ranging from orchestral to avant garde chamber music as well as jazz and pop. Andrew regularly performs with the jazz ensemble, "Brulee". http://www.awbmusic.com