BUCHANAN — A public reception will be held on Sunday, June 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Buchanan Art Center, and will feature four new exhibits by local artists: A Journey Through Self-Expression; Abstract Oils by Erin Warner, Portraits; by Alan Fore, Pure Michigan & Indiana; pastels by Mary Meehan Firtl, and Bling it On; Jewelry Design by Darlene Troyer.

These exhibits will run through Saturday, July 5th.

Painter Erin Warner (A Journey through Self-Expression) is a lifelong resident of South Bend. She graduated from St. Joseph’s High School and studied at Indiana University at South Bend.

Drawing since she could grip a pencil, Warner worked mostly in charcoal, pen and ink until she experienced a “baptism by color” about eight years ago. After completing her first piece using oils, there was no turning back. Warner feels that this show is a culmination of her personal journey through the past two years – in her words, “These paintings are everyday experiences that are expressed and put to canvas; from the joy of new life to the tragic loss of it, and everything in between. These experiences are visual, and tangible through abstract expression.”

Portrait artist Alan Fore (Portraits by Alan) has been drawing and painting for as long as he can remember. After high school, he attended the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, where he studied for four years and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Illustration.

Over the next decade, Alan cultivated a steady freelance career doing web, literature and logo design work as well as illustration work for various publishing companies.

Five years ago, Fore turned his illustration skills and attention to the area of portraiture, where in addition to his design work; he offers portraits of adults, young people, animals and characters created in various styles. Though the process, and the nature of his story-telling are a little different than doing illustrations for publication, and his commissions are usually for a smaller audience, Fore uses traditional materials, usually pencil and paper. Fore enjoys to the one-on-one nature of portrait work to create one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a beautiful story and evoke a specific emotional meaning. Fore works out of his home studio in Buchanan, where he lives with his wife, Autumn.

An award-winning pastel artist, Mary Meehan Firtl (Pure Michigan & Indiana) received her BFA in Painting from the Herron School of Art and is a charter member of the Northern Indiana Pastel Society.

As a former courtroom sketch artist she continues the habit of working quickly, capturing the essence of the scenery experienced on her travels via biking or hiking.

When not out on a trail or beach, Mary works as a Senior Graphic Designer at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame. Her paintings are available through CircaArts Gallery in South Bend, or the Dot Shop at the South Bend Museum of Art.

Jewelry artist Darlene Troyer (“Bling it On”) started working with precious metals over ten years ago and has recently added the element of glass fusing and copper etching into her jewelry designs. She has studied and learned from some of the best metal artists in the business including: Celie Fago, Linda Kaye Moses, CeCe Wire and J. Fred Woel. She holds a Level I & Level II certification in Metal Clay from PMC Connection. Troyer continually strives to learn the newest techniques that are available and believes that her desire to continually learn and experiment with new techniques is what sets her jewelry apart from the ordinary.

Troyer lives in Vandalia with her husband on a beautiful 300 acre lake, which provides much of the inspiration for her jewelry designs made of fine silver, bronze and fused glass.

Each piece captures her spirit for wearable art and is unique, distinctive, and affordable and has been crafted with care to last for years of normal wear.

The Buchanan Art Center is located at 117 West Front Street in Buchanan, Michigan. The Center features three galleries with rotating exhibits of regional artists’ works, a program of educational art classes for all ages, and a gift shop offering works of local artists.

Current hours are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Closed Sundays. More information, including a schedule of classes, can be obtained at the Center by calling 269-697-4005, or by visiting their website at: www.buchananartcenter.org.