THE ARTS, IN FULL BLOOM

The lower-level gallery of ML by Maria Luisa has hosted a number of arts-related events over the past couple of years. There have been nights filled with music, others with spoken word. And many have been devoted to the visual arts. Some presented works of simple beauty, others pieces that truly made you think. We’ve enjoyed it all, especially the opening receptions that gather the most interesting people who come together to chat, sip a glass of wine and simply appreciate the wealth of talent in our own backyard. Combine the best of those previous events with the enthusiasm of Nyack’s growing “First Friday” series and that gives you a hint of what a lovely – and lively – event we hosted Oct. 4 as our latest edition of the monthly themed nights. You may already know – and enjoy – Maria’s sponsorship of the Local Arts Index, a regular feature on the Nyack News & Views site.

Well, this new exhibition put the spotlight on the first 11 local artists profiled in the feature, each contributing a work to this one-of-a-kind group show. We were thrilled to showcase paintings and photographs, sculptures and mixed-media work, even a musical effort.

The diverse talents led to the most eclectic of evenings, as people wandered in and out, meeting the artists and plenty of old (and new) friends. The show’s broad range put the spotlight on artists you may know (a number have shown with Maria before) and others whose work might be new to you. No matter, there was no denying the creativity on display – and we thank Bill Batson of Nyack News & Views for his invaluable partnership and own talent.

Thank you to the participating artists who include Janice Baragwanath, Anita Brown, Peter Cheney, Trine Giaever, Shawna Handke, Ed Kirkland, Ann Oppenheim, Laurie Peek, Lauren Rudolph, Elaine Schloss and Dan White and of course, we thank Suzanne O’Brian, Maria Luisa’s events coordinator/ display manager and Kris Burns for a flawless event. If you missed the opening, be sure to stop by as the exhibition continues through Oct. 27 at ML by Maria Luisa (Gifts & Accessories), 75 S. Broadway, Nyack. Marialuisaboutique.com. And don’t forget to mark your calendars, as Part II, a companion exhibition, is already being planned for December. – Mary Shustack, Maria Luisa newsletter editor