ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – The Coastal Art Center Exhibit Series is delighted to announce the opening of “Celebrating Three of our Own Coastal Artist”, May 2 – June 15, featuring Marion Hawks, Glenda Lee and Keets Rivers. And opening reception hosted by the Friends of the Arts on May 2 at the Coastal Art Center of Orange Beach located at 26389 Canal Road.  

Marion Hawks love for the arts was first expressed in her career as an art teacher initiating new art programs, writing art curriculum and teaching students young and old. Hawks second expression of her art passion has been her paintings of botanicals.  

She believed in using the natural creativity in students to learn about every other subject. Hawks drive to “play” as she explores a variety of materials and techniques is exemplified in this upcoming exhibition.  

Keets Rivers perceptive observations of life are uniquely expressed through her “Nature Scapes” paintings and companion pieces of sculpture. The subject matter is the driver for the medium and size of most of her pieces. Living on the Gulf Coast provides her motivation and stimulation for her art as seen in such series as “Sea Fantasy” and “The Cosmos.”  

Glenda Lee is an Alabama native that has painted in both oil and acrylic since childhood. Largely self-taught, Glenda has made a name for herself in capturing the rural southern countryside, in addition to charming vignettes of southern small town life. Since moving to Orange Beach her venue changed to underwater and tropical scenes. She has an enormous  body of work and continues to experiment with textures incorporated into her paintings.

These three Southern women will complete this exhibit “Celebrating Three of our Own Coastal Artist” at the Coastal Art Center. Viewings of this exhibit are Monday- Saturday, 10 a.m.-2pm, May 2- June 15 at the Coastal Art Center.

The opening reception and this exhibit is sponsored by the Friends of the Arts, Inc. a non-profit supporting the arts of coastal Alabama. Individual and corporate memberships are available. For more information on this exhibit, make your own glass and pottery as well as class schedules call The Coastal Art Center at 251-981-ARTS (2787).