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Art gallery announces opening of gift boutique and new exhibit
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Published: December 10, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - Progress Energy Art Gallery, located in historic downtown New Port Richey is your one stop shop for all of your holiday shopping needs and has coordinated several events to make shopping easy.
The first is "Baubles, Bangles and Bling" an exhibit of handmade jewelry by Cyndie Smith, a local jewelry designer. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 23, 2009.
Smith is a former health care executive who is now a silversmith. "I let the metal tell me what it wants to do and the results are very interesting. I have learned to listen," the New Port Richey resident claimed.
Each piece is a personal artistic expression and is difficult to duplicate making them one-of-a-kind creations.
Working with metal is Smith's preference, but she enjoys working with all kinds of methods to make her jewelry art. Furthermore, she produces very simple, smaller pieces using handcrafted metal, found objects and repurposed objects.
Smith launched her new "Strong Women" series of jewelry with this exhibit. The series consist of pieces inspired by and named after fictional and mythical female figures such as Mother Nature, Isis and Athena.
As a gallery member, Smith formed the Wearable Arts Group that meets monthly at the gallery. "There are many talented jewelry, fiber, and other wearable-art artists in this region," Smith said. "I wanted to bring them together in synergy to promote our artwork and let everyone know we are here," she added.
The Wearable Arts Group meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. in the gallery located at 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. The meetings are free and new members are welcome. In addition, Smith will instruct a jewelry-making class beginning Thursday, Feb. 5, in the gallery.
In conjunction with the opening of "Baubles, Bangles and Bling" the gallery will open its holiday gift shop. The gift shop will include small original pieces of artwork around $30.
"In light of the poor economy shoppers can find inexpensive jewelry, books, glassware, ornaments, home decor items, cards, CD's and the 2009 Gallery Art Calendars and much more," stated Karren Tolliver, gallery director.
All the items have been donated by gallery members and are handcrafted, unique pieces of art and are not mass-produced.
Lastly, the gallery is hosting an art stroll along Grand Boulevard where artists will line the sidewalks exhibiting their artwork.
The event is part of the quarterly shop-n-stroll that is coordinated by Greater New Port Richey Main Street. The event is 4 - 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, that will include horse-drawn-carriage rides around the historic district and a sidewalk portrait artist who will be on hand to create a portrait while you wait.
The Wearable Arts group will serve refreshments inside the gallery along with a wine tasting of gallery wine. Winning artists of the 2009 calendars contest will be on hand signing copies of the art gallery 2009 calendar. An old-time radio play will be performed at 7 p.m.
The Progress Energy Art Gallery is a community gallery that was opened by the not-for-profit organization Greater New Port Richey Main Street with a grant from Progress Energy Art Gallery to encourage the growth of art and culture in downtown New Port Richey.
To contribute to the gallery or for more information regarding these events visit www.nprgallery.com or call 727-848-6500.
Scott E. Smith can be reached at 727-815-1063 or ssmith@suncoastnews.com
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