A Fine Art First for Wilmington

With more than 20 galleries, myriad art shows and a 4th Friday self-guided gallery walk, Wilmington’s arts community is well represented. But where do artists here shop for the new, professional-grade supplies needed for specific techniques and finished work?

Until recently, artists looking for consistent product lines of new, professional-grade materials often had to look two hours away in Raleigh or Durham. Today, though, artists, hobbyists, students and educators alike can find new professional-grade canvases, paints, brushes and more at the newly opened River’s Edge Art Supplies at 812 Castle Street. There, co-owners and Northern California transplants Sara Edge and David Sylvester are gaining traction as the region’s only dedicated fine art supply retailer, with their store complementing Wilmington’s Cape Fear artXchange, a nonprofit creative reuse center where donated, secondhand art supplies and found materials support sustainable crafting and creative experimentation.

The husband-wife and artist duo—Sara specializes in small sculpture and wearable art, metalworking, and paintings, all reflective of her love of nature and science, while David is a contemporary illustrator known for his whimsical characters and representations of pop-culture icons such as Prince and Hendrix—had two reasons for relocating here in 2024: to be closer to family on the East Coast and to be a part of a coastal arts community teaming with creativity.

“North Carolina supports its arts scene better than most other states,” says Sara, “and we fell in love with Wilmington, especially the Castle Street arts district for its diversity, walkability, free parking, sense of community and  close proximity to the Cargo and Soda Pop art districts, as well as downtown. 

“Our initial intention when we moved was to reopen the shop we owned in California—3Dot Art Gallery in Alameda,” she continues. “But when we realized this area was lacking a dedicated art supplies store, we decided to fill that gap as an artist‐run shop with curated supplies and art by local artists, including ours. Everything on the shelves is chosen with care and real studio experience behind it, with the goal being to provide an alternative to shopping online or at the big-box stores.”

And if River’s Edge shoppers don’t see something they’d like to have, the owners want to know. Customer suggestions thus far have included brand-specific watercolor paint and colored pencils, Plein Air mixed media pads, travel-sized watercolor paint sets  and brushes, and mixed-media and watercolor journals. “These  will be added to future orders,” promises Sara.

More to Come

Sara predicts promising developments ahead for both the Castle Street district and River’s Edge. 

As a member of the Castle Street Collective, comprised of business owners and residents, she involves herself in efforts to make the area more walkable and attractive as she did in Alameda, California as a gallery owner and member of a local arts organization. Such efforts here, says Edge, may include additional crosswalks, trees, outdoor art and the possibility of a Castle Street art walk that would complement Wilmington’s recurring Fourth Friday Gallery Nights.

As for the business, Sara says she and David look forward to becoming known as a place with an “independent bookstore kind of feel; a place where you can walk in and feel welcomed, not overwhelmed. We’ll have a nook where customers can hang out as they peruse art books, sketch and paint with River’s Edge supplies or even their own.

“We’ll also host artist meetups during which artists may show their work and solicit feedback; have a rotating gallery of local art, including our own; offer classes and workshops on a variety of topics—watercolors, wearable art and sketching, to name a few—and for different skill levels; and hold events for making art more accessible to underserved youths in our community,” Sara says. “We’d also love to have a mobile art supplies van that we could bring to festivals and other events; an equipment room where, for a nominal membership fee, customers could try out 3D printers, printing presses, jewelry polishers and kilns; and a resource center where people could swap out and exchange slightly used art supplies.”

While many of these ideas are a year or more in the making, Sara says she and David will soon start developing classes and connections with art programs at UNCW and Cape Fear Community as River’s Edge becomes a shopping destination for local art students as well as the community at large.

“Our philosophy is that art is for everyone,” Sara says. “Not only are we meeting a specific demand here, but we’re also bringing a range of art, resources, and creativity to the community, using it to bring people together. Life can be hard, but when we’re able to find ways to focus on creating art, we’re better able to deal with life’s challenges.”