Unveiling of 'Community' Painting Highlights Ribbon Cutting at Menifee Art Gallery

Local artist Luciano Paesani poses with the painting titled "Community."

The official ribbon cutting and the unveiling of the "group project" artwork titled Community were highlights of the second grand opening of the Arts Council Menifee Gallery Sunday afternoon.

The gallery, located in the main meeting room of the Kay Ceniceros Center, displayed artwork by accomplished local artists. Paintings displayed on the walls since the first grand opening will remain on display through the end of July. Other pieces of art were displayed throughout the room.

Members of Arts Council Menifee and the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mayor John Denver participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Also in attendance as ACM President Dawn Prather cut the ribbon were Mrs. Menifee Darci Castillejos and Little Miss Menifee Jurnie Hughes.

The painting Community became reality when local artist Luciano Paesani brought a blank canvas to the May Arts Showcase and invited local youngsters to paint on it. After several of them added brush strokes to the canvas, Paesani put finishing touches on the artwork, which will eventually be displayed in the Sun City Library.

After the unveiling of Community, Paesani handed paint and brushes to adults in the crowd who began work on another community painting.

Carol South, a local artist and co-chair of the visual arts division of ACM, manages the gallery. She said that about seven local artists currently display their artwork at the gallery. Expansion of the gallery into another room of the facility will double the number of artists featured next month, she said.

A painting by Bonnie Boekeloo featuring sailboats on one of Menifee's lakes became the first work of art sold since the gallery's opening. It remains on display through the end of the month. Boekeloo also displayed a painting she was commissioned to produce by a couple who had seen her work earlier.

Accomplished artists in the Menifee area who would like to be included in the gallery should send a .jpg of their work via email to Carol South at carolsouth@verizon.net.

Members of Arts Council Menifee, Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce and others take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Bonnie Boekeloo poses with her painting, which she recently sold.

Fine arts co-chair Carol South displays her artwork at the Arts Council Menifee Gallery opening.