Exhibit of TRC art set to open January 20

“Coral Reef Sea Turtle”, “Caribbean Dream”, “Koy Fish” and “Palm in the Sun”

On the heels of its successful “Winter Lane” exhibit at the Prendergast Library in Jamestown, TRC’s Creations art program is gearing up for a new exhibit at the other end of the County.

“Tropical Inspirations” will run from Friday, January 20, through Friday, February 24, at the Patterson Library Octagon Gallery in Westfield.

The exhibit is titled “Tropical Inspirations” and will feature about 30 paintings, said Kristen Briggs, TRC’s Art Coordinator.

“We have focused on a tropical theme, with birds, fish, flowers, and beautiful landscapes,” Kristen said.  “Many of the artists that I work with may never see the ocean or have a chance of view a palm tree.  We were able to learn about these lands and get lost in the paintings.  I believe that the exhibit will be a moment of vacation from the snowy January.”

Opening receptions for the exhibit will be held January 20 from 10:00 to 1:30 and from 7:00 to 9:00.    Both receptions will offer the opportunity to meet Kristen and some of the artists.  Johnson Estate Winery will provide wine for the evening reception.

“We appreciate the opportunity to exhibit and are eager to let the community know what we are doing in our art rooms,” Kristen said.  “I think that the quality of this work far exceeds many of our other exhibits.”

Stacy Langheinrich works on one of the paintings to be included in the “Tropical Inspirations” exhibit.

Kristen has been teaching art to individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities at The Resource Center for more than four years, and during that time she established the Creations art program.  Through the Creations program, Kristen has developed a number of accomplished artists, and in so doing she has helped give voice to those who cannot speak, as well as movement and freedom to people with physical limitations.  During the past few years, she has arranged a number of public exhibits of her students’ work so that the community at large can experience the artistic talents of people with disabilities.

The Patterson Library Octagon Gallery is located at 40 South Portage Street.  Regular viewing hours for the exhibit will be 9:00 to 8:00 Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9:00 to 5:00 Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Kristen at 661-1076 or kristen.briggs@resourcecenter.org, or Nancy Ensign, the Octagon Gallery’s Curator at 326-2154 or octagongallery@gmail.com.

The Patterson Library’s art gallery program is funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Re-grant Program administered by the Cattaraugus County Arts Council.