Martinis with Monet opens Wednesday
CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Artists Network is bringing back a fan-favorite event this week with the return of the Martinis with Monet art expo, starting with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The show was canceled last summer due to the pandemic and will make its return this year at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center, 2525 Rochester Road.
Kathy Bischak, public relations chairwoman of the Cranberry Artists Network, said she is expecting a big turnout this year.
“If other events are any indication, I think it's going to be a big event,” Bischak said. “People are just anxious to get out.”
The show features 105 juror-selected pieces of art from six counties across the state. Prizes will be given for the first-, second- and third-place artworks in the show, and there will be three honorable mentions. One watercolor artist will be presented with the Irene Ackerman Watercolor Award, which honors a founding member of the network.
The pieces will be judged by Pittsburgh resident and internationally renowned artist Peggy Habets, with $1,000 worth of prizes to be handed out.
“There were some really, really nice pieces among the award winners,” said Habets. “I was excited to see the range of ability, medium and concept.”
Despite what the name may suggest, the pieces shown do not necessarily need to be done in Monet's famous impressionist style.
“Sometimes we do get people who do pieces with the title,” Bischak said. “And we will have the cardboard cutout of (Monet) for people to take pictures with.”
Bischak said the show is a great opportunity to showcase local artists who would normally need to travel outside the area to find art shows.
“There really aren't (other art shows),” Bischak said. “They would have to go to Pittsburgh or even up to Butler for the next closest one.”
Unlike in the past, there will not be any alcohol at this year's expo. Instead, there will be three food trucks in the parking lot, and virgin martinis will be served inside.
“We knew this year would be different,” said Cranberry Artists Network President Noele Reynolds. “We thought that people just might not feel comfortable with food laying out. We really did not want to have to cancel — this has been months' worth of planning, we've been planning since February.”
The lack of alcohol also means that there will be no admission charge for this year's event.
“I think people are excited to do anything — a lot of artists were making work this whole time; they didn't stop for COVID. Now, they have the ability to show it,” Reynolds said. “We did some virtual shows last year, but you never get the same level of attention. Everybody — artists included — are looking forward to actually hanging the work and being able to see and talk to artists.”
The artwork will be on display at the municipal center from July 7 through Aug. 19.
“I'm excited that we are back in public — that our community presence is back,” Reynolds said. “You always miss that personal connection. Art is great, but if nobody is seeing it, that's a problem.”
Eagle staff writer Julia Maruca contributed to this report.
