Sun, Feb 22
|Locals Farm Market
Artist Reception for Betsy Casaleno, "Life in the Ag Reserve"
4:00-6:00 pm; free and open to the public Note that most of this exhibit is on the 2nd floor, accessible only by stairs. Enjoy complimentary food and beverages, an opportunity to chat with the artist and ask questions, and a fun opportunity to connect with our Riverworks community!
Time & Location
Feb 22, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Locals Farm Market, 19929 Fisher Ave, Poolesville, MD 20837, USA
About the event
THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF “LIFE IN THE AG RESERVE”
In the latest Riverworks exhibition, painter Betsy Casaleno inspires reverence for beautiful places—and a special way of life
For longtime Ag Reserve resident Betsy Casaleno, the restorative natural surroundings of upper, western Montgomery County hold special meaning. Whether inspired by walking along the canal towpath, contemplating rusty farm equipment and sagging barns, or watching horses play in open fields, each of her paintings is a fresh attempt to show the world what she sees, and why it matters.
“My purpose in art is to share my reverence for the beauty of life,” Casaleno says, “striving to instill harmony and balance out of the difficult moments we encounter.”
Casaleno’s “Life in the Ag Reserve” will be on display from Wednesday, February 18, 2026, through Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Locals Farm Market, 19929 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville, Md. This show is the 24th Riverworks “Artist in the House” exhibition to be featured at the historic Veirs-Stevens House at Locals.
For Riverworks co-founder Sandy Wright, Casaleno’s paintings are a natural fit for an “Artist in the House” exhibition. Casaleno has shown her work across the region and has been involved in several area organizations, including the Poolesville Fine Art League, which brought together local artists in the late 1990s and encouraged children to explore their creativity.
“Betsy has been a Riverworks Associate Artist since our founding four years ago, and she’s always been a supporter of the arts in our community,” Wright explains. “She understands what’s special about this town and its surrounding area, and she has a real eye for scenes in the upcounty that express without words why we love living here.”
For Casaleno, this rural corner of Montgomery County, with its historic ruins, varied wildlife, riverside scenes, and gently rolling hills, is a place of endless artistic potential.
“I find well-used, even abandoned buildings and equipment interesting,” Casaleno says. “I also lived in a farm environment when I was a young child and feel very at home living in an agricultural area. Farming, in this area at least, is rapidly disappearing, so I also feel I am, in a way, documenting a past way of life.”
Casaleno adds that translating scenes of natural beauty into paintings is about more than just appreciating the world around us, but also becomes a means of capturing an unnameable feeling in the hope of fostering a shared emotional response.
“My hope is that you will connect with how I feel about my subjects,” she says. “So, if you feel something positive after viewing my artwork, then my job is done.”
Learn more about Besty Casaleno here.