To raise money, artists share Elizabeth River Project's vision

PORTSMOUTH

Robert Gennuso studied his subject, then turned back to the shades he had used to illustrate a sailboat docked in the Elizabeth River on Saturday at High Street Landing.

The river appeared dark and murky, a result of pollutants that in the span of years have made the Chesapeake Bay tributary unfit for swimming. On Gennuso's canvas, however, the water was a pristine, inviting blue.

"Maybe not today," Gennuso joked of his depiction of the river, "but maybe tomorrow."

Elizabeth River Project supporters sure hope so.

Gennuso and 45 other artists set up easels or workspaces at High Street Landing to paint pieces that will be auctioned to help benefit the nonprofit group's river improvement efforts. The artwork will be displayed and bids will be accepted starting Sept. 20 at Riverview Gallery on High Street.

Final bidding will be Sept. 27 at RiverFest.

Nancy Wall, who coordinated Saturday's event, said she anticipated it as the first of what will be an annual affair.

"Our goal," she said, "is to keep doing it until we can have a party and everyone's swimming in the Elizabeth River."

Wall and Gennuso were among several artists who focused their artwork on the boat with the furled, royal-blue sail. Others focused on the ships looming over the river from the opposite shore, where they were undergoing repairs, or on the Fresnel lens along the waterfront.

Lifelong Portsmouth resident Joyce Tippin remembers swimming in the river decades ago.

Tippin, 73, said she thought the restoration effort might get a boost from the auction of the artwork created Saturday.

"I've seen some good ones," she said as she strolled from canvas to canvas.

Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com