Art & Design News and Events
Gallery 842 to open Friday, April 24
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Gallery 842, a community art project begun by the Huntington Art Collective in affiliation with Create Huntington, will open Friday, April 24, with a reception from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The gallery, located at 842 4th Ave. in Huntington (formerly Bliss Boutique), will be open Thursdays through Saturdays from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
The exhibition, juried and curated by local artists Seth Cyfers and John Farley and organized by a volunteer group of citizens, will feature a wide variety of artwork from the Tri-state area. The concept was initiated by Lynn Clercx, a realtor and Huntington resident.
Farley, who serves as the director for the Birke Art Gallery at Marshall University, noted that Gallery 842 is an illustration of the talent in this area. “Visitors to Gallery 842 will be presented with a diverse range of fine art in many media – both two- and three-dimensional,” he said. “This exhibition is representative of the quality and breadth of work being produced by artists in the region.”
Thomas McChesney, a Create Huntington volunteer, echoed Farley’s sentiments.
“Gallery 842 is a prime example of what can be accomplished when engaged citizens from the community and faculty, students and staff from Marshall work together,” McChesney, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Huddleston Bolen, LLP, said. “In just a few months, they’ve taken an idea from concept to reality and will transform an empty store into a vibrant gallery,” he added. “It is going to be a great venue for artists, one that will help local artists and artisans see that there is a welcoming, local art scene. It is also going to be a cool venue for the community that, I believe, will draw people to downtown Huntington. More than all of this, though, I believe they have demonstrated that dedicated citizens can accomplish a great deal if they are freed to be creative and empowered to make a difference. By doing this, they may very well be another step in a process that is transforming our city.”
Farley and Cyfers are both Marshall University graduates.
“As graduates of the Department of Art and Design at Marshall University both Farley and Cyfers are creative, civic-minded and collaborative,” said Byron Clercx, chair of MU’s Department of Art and Design. “They are part of a growing number of people invested in making Huntington a better place to live, work and play. The Huntington Arts Collective’s community gallery adds an exciting new facet to the fine and performing arts culture in Huntington … the arts can play a vital role in the cultural/economic revitalization of downtown Huntington by stimulating pedestrian activity, encouraging civic and private investment and by rebranding the city in a positive light to its residents, guests and elected officials.”
Several local establishments are sponsoring this initiative by donating funds, including Mac-Reedo’s Bar & Grill, Colonial Lanes Bowling Alley, Hank’s Wall-Street Tavern & Piano-Bar, Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Stonewall and Musicplex Recording Studio. Those who attend the opening reception may also make donations there.
Also, many area businesses are offering discounts to patrons who visit Gallery 842 and get a bracelet. Those venues include Rebels & Redcoats Tap Room, Hank’s Wall-Street Tavern & Piano-Bar, St. Mark’s, Shaker’s Bar & Grill, V-Club, and Mac-Reedo’s Bar & Grill.
The space for Gallery 842 has been donated by Liza Caldwell of Huntington.
For further information, persons may contact Farley by phone at 304-412-3778 or by e-mail at farley53@marshall.edu.
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