THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130029
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
WITH THE opening of yet another gallery, downtown Portsmouth is becoming a regional leader in creative use of old buildings.
On Friday, The Artist's Palette Gallery unveils its first exhibit with a free, public reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Virginia Beach artist Martine Strohmeyer will be featured with her series ``Earth Portraits,'' her visualization of a global community.
The gallery is housed in the circa 1900 Pythian Castle building at Court and County streets. The distinctive structure is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The project follows on the heels of the March 2 opening of The Potrafka Gallery.
Robert LeMasters, owner of The Artist's Palette, opted to be near Tidewater Community College's Visual Arts Center. He wanted to provide a place for the students to eat and show their work.
The art will decorate the walls of LeMasters' Southwestern eatery, Salsa's.
But LeMasters' interest in art is more than casual. He teaches art at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin.
He plans to show only area artists and art students. And he will take a much smaller cut from sales than most commercial galleries, he said.
``Portsmouth has a lot going for it now,'' LeMasters said. ``It is becoming a destination for the arts.''
Strohmeyer's work remains on view through April 5 at 612 Court St. Artist's Palette hours will be the same as Salsa's - open daily, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. weekdays; till 1:30 a.m. on weekends. Call 397-2425 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
This pastel work by Martine Strohmeyer is on view at The Artist's
Palette in Portsmouth.
by CNB