Thursday, June 18, 2015

Art in the Garden at Expressions ~ Rain or Shine!

(As published in the Holmes County Bargain Hunter, June 11, 2015) Expressions Fine Art & Gift Gallery is looking to expand its series of events with Art in the Garden this summer. 

The event, which will take place on the front patio of the gallery, is June 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The art, which depicts nature scenes or floral arrangements, will do well in creating a garden-party atmosphere. But to ensure the summer foliage can inspire each attendee, the event will also include face painting and flowerpot painting. 

“It’s for adults and kids,” Cheryl Miller, one of the artists who shows her work at the gallery, said.

There will be a small fee for materials for the crafts. 

Miller said many of the artists in the gallery will be featured in the event because many paint, photograph or otherwise depict nature in Holmes County. Miller said Nancy Franck makes jewelry featuring flower petals; Don Weisgarber, Vickie Boley, Marlene Mullet and Marlea Hershberger all paint local nature scenes; Cindy Bethel etches glass with flowers, trees and feathers and Jim Miller photographs sights in Millersburg. “It’s local artists,” Miller said, “and they represent the county well.”

A few of the artists will even be available to answer questions about their work during the event. 

Franck, who produces N.E.wear jewelry and recently released a “Petals” line, will show her work and possibly do a demonstration, according to Miller. 

“She made a pair of earrings for me out of rose petals from my garden,” Miller said. “It’s really unique jewelry.”

On N.E.wear’s Facebook page, Franck writes that each piece is made from dried flower petals and leaves found in her own garden, which makes each piece different from every other. 

Miller said the event will also include refreshments usually found at a garden party, including iced tea, cookies, small sandwiches and fruited waters. 

This is one of the first events held at the gallery and is an attempt to expand the gallery’s programming.

Miller said she was thinking about holding an event like this for quite some time. “I was thinking about doing it at home before we had the gallery,” she said. “June is a good month to do that, everything is blooming.”

In the future, she and others on the gallery’s board are hoping to hold events themed around the other types of art in the gallery, including three-dimensional pieces, etched glass, ceramics and jewelry. 

For more information about Art in the Garden or Expressions Fine Art & Gift Gallery, visit its Facebook page or call 330-473-9608.