Ed Hatch Will Be Featured Artist Over the Holidays at Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Swift Creek Mill Theatre is happy to present Ed Hatch as its Featured Artist during the holiday productions of A Tuna Christmas, running November 10th through January 7th, 2017 and Drifty's Reindeer Roundup running November 28th through December 20th, 2016.

All are welcome to enjoy Ed's work in The Mill Room during dinner/lunch or during intermission of each performance.

Ed's Artist Story and Artist Statement:

"The luminous work of Ed Hatch is so connected to his subjects, so rooted in his environs, that one feels an immediate sense of place and wonder. Ed, a full-time artist for more than 20 years, centers his life at the same country crossroads where he grew up - a corner of rural Virginia where is great-grandparents opened a general store in 1915. This charming setting is now his studio. Across the street is the house where his father lived, and a stone's throw away is his childhood home where he lives. An acute observer, Ed's home base is that ideal spot for exploration and discovery - whether it's the creeks nearby or the mountains further afield. He gently, yet powerfully conveys his curiosity, finding the extraordinary in the 'ordinary.' Above all, his appreciation for beauty in nature springs from each of his works.

"I see art as a visceral, almost spiritual means of communication. Since I was a boy, I have known that art fulfills me and speaks to me in ways that I find difficult to express in words. But, what I find in nature is quite simply, pure poetry. I strive to express this in my work. I see such extraordinary beauty in everyday moments - moments that might go unnoticed. I want people to participate in my paintings - to be caught up in the scenes as much as I was when I stopped to paint them - to feel the depth, the fleeting lights and the mist, to wonder what is around the bend. That's it, I think, to share the wonder. I find great joy in my work and I am fortunate to do what I do every day." - Ed Hatch

Swift Creek Mill Theatre has been a Richmond and Tri-Cities institution for 50 years. We've come a long way since three local families took a 353-year-old gristmill and turned it into an intimate space for the production of so many splendid theatrical experiences. Five decades and more than 340 productions later, the Mill is still going strong in its historic location.

The theatre operates year round and accommodates 220 people. We currently produce six mainstage shows and five youth theatre productions each year, including world-premiere musicals and one-of-a-kind children's shows developed and written in-house. The Playhouse also hosts a youth summer theatre camp.

For questions regarding the Featured Artist program at Swift Creek Mill Theatre, contact us at (804) 748-5203 or visit the Art Exhibition page online at www.swiftcreekmill.com/category/art-exhibitions.