October 29, 2014

The two-day 2014 Unionville Art Gala is fast approaching and will once again draw crowds of art enthusiasts to the halls of Unionville High School on Nov. 7 and 8.

Every year the high school’s upper floor Art Wing is magically transformed by teams of parent and student volunteers into a gallery exhibition area of fine local art, an inspiring mix of  professional and student work.

This year’s featured artist is  Karen Delaney, a steel sculpture artist. Delaney’s unique sculptural forms are a result of a lifetime of working with welded steel and a true passion for the medium. Delaney shows widely in our area, has children in the high school, and is the new executive director of the Chester County Art Association. Unionville High School is very proud and pleased to present Karen Delaney as the featured artist for Art Gala 2014.

This year over 50 artists will participate at the Art Gala, in media ranging from oil paintings to wood-turned bowls, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture. There will be something for every visitor, and a terrific opportunity to see the wealth of diversity that abounds in Chester County’s art scene. Lynda Nadin, the Art Gala chairperson, expects at least 1,000 visitors to attend the Art Gala over its two-day run.

The opening reception is Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., when there will be delicious donated food selections from favorite local restaurants as well as food trucks and jazz from Skip Barthold and friends. The show continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. 4 p.m., offering a terrific opportunity for the whole family to come and enjoy local art together and meet the artists. Carol Apicella is the parent volunteer chairperson for the Art Gala’s very popular silent auction, which will feature great local art at a reduced price, all of which will benefit the schools. Over 20 artists have generously donated artwork to this year’s auction.

The Unionville Art Gala is the result of many months of preparation and helps to bring in thousands of dollars to the high school PTO, which in turn gives money back to teacher and student projects within the school. The Art Gala is also a showcase for local talent and inspires the high school art students by juxtaposing their work  with that of professional artists.

This year’s featured student artists are Jennifer Collins and Leif Anderson, and their works will show prominently in the student exhibition portion of the Art Gala.

“There were numerous students to choose from this year, all with incredible talent, but these two students stood out from the group,” said Nadin. Both students are taking Art IV classes and are pursuing studio art as their post secondary education. The Student Art Show is coordinated with the art teachers and parent volunteer Chairperson Geri Argo.

Summing up the event, Nadin exclaimed, “So much talent!”