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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Art center opens in Mt. Pleasant
The Mt. Pleasant Main Street Art Center held its grand opening Tuesday evening.
Community members were invited to the new downtown art gallery to celebrate.
Several beverages and snacks were supplied, including chips, salsa, cheese, and margarita's from Little Mexico. Wine, along with numerous other snacks and drinks, were also offered.
Mt. Pleasant Main Street Art Center Director and owner Lorri Lee Miller said that the gallery is a place for local artists to show off their work.
"I decided to do this because as an artist, I wanted to be able to sell my art in my own community," Miller said. "I thought maybe the other artists that live in this community would also like a place to bring their art and sell it, without having to travel to Burlington or Fort Madison. We needed something in Mt. Pleasant."
As of right now, the gallery is showcasing 26 different artists' work, all from several other towns around Southeast Iowa.
The main exhibit on display at the gallery was the private collection of former Iowa Wesleyan Art professor Don Jones. Jones took several trips to Mexico for many years. The gallery's opening was coordinated with Jones so his display of The Day of the Dead could be the centerpiece.
Miller said she's ecstatic that so many people from the community came to the opening.
"This is wonderful," she said. "I hope that the community continues to support this. This is a wonderful crowd. I've already had some sales today. This is a wonderful thing. The community has needed this."
Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com
Lorri Lee Miller is the director and owner of the art gallery. She was grateful for last nights support. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)
The main exhibit was that of Don Jones, who is a former Iowa Wesleyan Art professor, and his Day of the Dead work. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)
The gallery features art from 26 different artist around Southeast Iowa. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)
The Day of The Dead exhibit was created off Jones’ trips to Mexico (Hunter Moeller/The Union)
Miller created the gallery to allow artist, including herself, to sell and showoff their work in the community rather than having to travel outside the area. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)
