Arcadian Gallery is the kind of place that makes you slow down and take a closer look. Tucked on newly reopened Baltimore Street in historic downtown Cumberland, the gallery is co-owned by Christopher P. Sloan, a former National Geographic Magazine art director whose career in science and nature visuals shapes the curatorial lens here. The mission is clear: connect people to the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
This is a multi-use space: a refined art gallery paired with a wine, cocktail, and small plates lounge, plus a private space that can be reserved for events upstairs. It’s a spot where you can wander a show, then settle in with a glass and talk about what moved you. The locals know it as a social gathering space with a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Hence, the name arcadia is rooted in ancient Greek as a restful and idyllic or utopian vision of nature.
Arcadian isn’t just hanging pretty pictures. The team champions artists who interpret nature with skill and nuance, and the Sloans are already investing back into the field. Case in point: the American Wildlife Art Competition and Exhibition, a juried show that donates proceeds to conservation and awards top entrants, including a Best Endangered Species Art Award. It runs in October and places Arcadian on the national wildlife-art map.
As Chris’ wife, and co-owner of the Arcadian Gallery, Christina Elson puts it, “Everyone needs nice art.” Nothing in the space retails for more than $2,000. Highlights include Wooded Pond by Shawn Gould of Eureka, California (a former National Geographic intern during Sloan’s tenure who’s now a noted wildlife artist); bestselling western scenes of buffalo by fine woodworker Arnold d’Epagnier, framed beautifully; and carved topographic maps of Cumberland and the Gap Trail, a Sloan–d’Epagnier collaboration, including a local favorite centered on the Potomac’s bends near Little Orleans.
Along the left wall, a small shop offers water bottles and postcards, and other artful pieces such as “Coffey Cups,” playful coffee mugs celebrating regional cryptids like the Snallygaster, Mothman, and the Wendigo made in collaboration with local artist Ed Coffey.
During our chat, the team told me, “Spanish wine is underrated. It delivers a fine taste and character without a high price tag.”
Consider this your nudge to try something from Ribera del Duero or Priorat with your tapas while you browse. The gallery’s food-and-wine side is built to spark conversations that linger as long as the finish on a good Tempranillo.
From the wine bar, pair Serrano ham and pepper relish with a crisp Spanish Albariño, or try sea-forward snacks like agujas (garfish) in lemon sauce.
Sloan’s decades of shaping visual storytelling for National Geographic show up in the details: museum-quality presentation, compelling narratives on the walls, and a through-line of curiosity and conservation. It’s a seasoned hand guiding a fresh cultural anchor for downtown Cumberland.
Arcadian Gallery is at 47 Baltimore Street in Cumberland’s Arts & Entertainment District. Current open hours are Thursday to Saturday
from 2 pm, and they are open as long as folks are hanging out and enjoying themselves. Anyone wanting to see the Gallery during other hours is invited to call 240-916-8840 for an appointment.
If you love art, nature, and a well-poured glass of wine, Arcadian Gallery is an easy yes. Go for the exhibition, stay for the tapas, and leave with a new favorite Spanish label and a story to tell.
Follow their website at https://arcadiangallery.com/ and on Facebook for event updates and specials. Or, feel free to stop by and say hello.
Written by Sarah Myers.