Blog 13 – First Exhibit On My Journey with Lewis’s Art: Opening Reception
Signing in the guest book: Photos of Lewis and his familiar painting clothing present at the exhibit
What a great experience! The opening reception was last Friday the 1st of August at Mulberry Art Studio in Lancaster, PA. Meeting the guests was my favorite part. Meeting local art collectors and hearing their comments and encouragement about Lewis’s abstract art was a wonderful experience. Over 200 people visited the exhibit the first night. Nine gallons of Ice tea and six pounds of cheese later it was over.
I am so glad we have not only a second reception on Friday the 15th of August but a third reception on Friday the 22nd of August both 5 PM- 9PM. I have been told people have stopped in to visit the exhibit during the weekday hours as well. After over a year of preparing, it simply was a pleasure to share Lewis and his paintings with the public.
My entire family joined Bruce and I at this first exhibit with my sister traveling here from New Jersey and my niece and nephew from West Virginia. It was lovely to simply celebrate Lewis together and see his paintings respectfully exhibited.
If you are unable to visit on Friday the 15th, please do stop in Friday evening the 22nd same hours 5 PM- 9PM. I have an interview on August 19th with ABC’s Good Day PA broadcast at 12:30 PM, so it was suggested we offer one additional reception to meet those interested in seeing Lewis’s paintings before the close of the exhibit on August 30th.
Visitors in the foyer: small paintings from 1970’s exhibited in the foyer and hallways
My goal remains to take Lewis’s paintings back to New Jersey to be exhibited hopefully in a local Monmouth County Museum. Hoping I am one step closer to that goal.
Some of you are curious if any paintings have sold. The answer is yes. Several have sold to date.
I close with a huge thank you to family and friends that worked hard to make this first exhibit and reception happen. An extra special thank you to my friend Jan Weaver who served refreshments not only to those visiting the exhibit but to my family and all the staff. She says she can write her own blog called “behind the kitchen doors.”
Along this journey of releasing Lewis’s paintings, I will always remember Mulberry Art Studio as my first open door. The first person to recognize the talent of my brother Lewis will forever be April Koppenhaver, and the first art community that took time to take a long look at Lewis and recognize him for his abstract paintings will go on my travel map as Lancaster County PA.,
Enjoy a few photos from my “travel album”.
Family visiting in the sitting area with art seen on the walls in the background.
The Louise Gallery, a more intimate setting showcasing large abstracts
The large Mulberry Gallery showcased the paintings well in this old industrial room