By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer
As Valentine’s Day approaches, regional artists are revealing what’s really in their heARTs.
Now through March 12, the Bucks County Community College Lower Bucks Campus is putting on its Show Your HeART 125 exhibit at the college’s gallery in Bristol.
“We’ve been doing this particular show five years,” James Sell, executive director at the Lower Bucks Campus, said. “We built the gallery two years ago and have been able to grow the event.”
In the exhibition’s first year, 45 pieces were displayed. This year, the gallery features over 200 individual works. The art expands throughout the first floor of the building, occupying most of the wallspace in the gallery.
All individual pieces are for sale for $125, with $25 from each purchase going to the BCCC Foundation’s scholarship fund.
The gallery kicked off with a two-day opening reception over the weekend that included live music from Bristol’s Street Corner Five and an “author’s corner” featuring published faculty and alumni on Feb. 6. Saturday entertainment included live piano music and breakfast with the artists.
“It coincides with our 50th anniversary,” Sell said.
The college was founded in 1964 and has been hosting various community events to recognize the milestone.
Artists from groups including Artists of Bristol, Artists of Yardley, Artsbridge, the New Hope Art League, BCCC Department of Art and individuals submitted pieces for the event. The work covers a variety of mediums, including watercolor, pastel, oil painting, digital print, photography and combination pieces.
Though Show Some HeART 125 is the signature event for the Lower Bucks gallery, two other art events are held throughout the year. Proud To Be An American, which raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project, is held in the fall, and the Tuxedo show, which features black and white art exclusively, opens at the end of March.
“This will always be our signature event,” Sell said.
The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All art pieces are available for purchase.
The Gallery at Lower Bucks Campus is located at 1304 Veterans Highway in Bristol. For more information, visit www.bucks.edu/campus/lbc/thegalleryatlowerbuckscampus/.
