Arts Council Menifee Features Work of Local Artists at Grand Opening of Art Gallery

Guests tour the displays during Sunday's grand opening of the art gallery in the Kay Ceniceros Center.

Thanks to Arts Council Menifee, the auditorium of the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center is now the permanent home to an art gallery featuring the work of several local artists.

Transforming a rather sterile meeting room into an art gallery, the Arts Council held a grand opening on Sunday. Many of the artists were there to display their oil paintings, watercolors, photographs and other works of art.

"We've been searching for a permanent place for local artists to display their work," said Bill Zimmerman, a founding patron and board member with the Arts Council. "The paintings on the walls will remain there during every event but will be rotated every other month."

So while the displays in the middle of the room on Sunday will be removed, artwork on the walls will be on display during every event that is held in the auditorium. The grand opening featured the work of these local artists:

-- Bonnie J. Boekeloo
-- Ellen Buck
-- Lois Cormier
-- Jan Fernandez
-- Christie Starr Featherstone
-- Judy Irwin
-- Robert Nishimuta
-- Carol J. South
-- Marianne Wucherpfennig

"This is absolutely essential," said Featherstone, who displayed paintings and photographs. "Not just for me, but for the town itself. We're trying to build a positive image, and this is a big part of that effort."

Lois Cormier displays some of her works of art.

Bonnie J. Boekeloo's painting is titled, "16th Hole."

Bill Zimmerman of Arts Council Menifee shows some of Christie Starr Featherstone's artwork to guests.