The current issue of Home & Design Magazine, an

The current issue of Home & Design Magazine, an architectural and interior design magazine covering the tri-state area, features a major article focusing on the artists of Rappahannock County. The fall issue, on magazine stands throughout the region, has a cover line referring to “Rappahannock: Soho of the South.”

The article, written and photographed by Rappahannock residents Esther and Franklin Schmidt, highlights the high quality of art available in the county and states, “The local art scene has exploded (in Rappahannock) and the world outside has taken notice. Like Taos, Mendocino and Rockport, Massachusetts, Rappahannock attracts artists and artisans who have migrated there and established a culture of creativity. There are probably as many sought-after artists working in tiny Rappahannock as there are in many average-sized cities in the US.” It goes on to say, “The cloistering of this unusually large and diverse group seems to have created a synergistic energy upon which artists thrive.”

Among the artists and art venues featured are Eric Kvames of Glassworks Gallery and Oldway Art Center in Sperryville, Steven Kenny and Thomas Mullany.

The Schmidts, who photograph and write for a number of major national and regional magazines, have also been Washington, D.C. correspondents for Art & Antiques Magazine and are often called upon to do feature articles on art and artists throughout the United States.

“It was a special pleasure to be assigned this article about the incredibly talented and skilled artists in our home community. This was a rare opportunity for us and we enjoyed revisiting so many people whose work Franklin and I have admired for years,” said Esther Schmidt.

The article also resources a number of restaurants, inns and bed and breakfasts in the county such as Thornton River Grille in Sperryville which have also become destinations drawing din