Teacher by Day, Artist by Night

Local teachers , Karen Hatzigeorgiou and Steve Mainini are featured artists at a new exhibition on First Street. 

Hall teaches art at Benicia Middle School and draws realistic portraits as well as abstracts.

Hatzigeorgiou teaches arts and crafts and creates whimsical 3-dimensional collage and altered books.

Mainini teaches art at John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond and paints pixelated watercolors with amazing detail.  

The show is at the shared space at First Street shops, and . What makes this show unique, is that the artists are all teachers and are not well represented in Benicia.

Shiroco owner Eric Martinez chooses artists who may not have exposure in the art community. Martinez also wants to give artists the opportunity to learn how to market their art in a retail environment. The art works well with the shop's stylish home furnishings. 

The show opens today and a reception is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30. Martinez is expecting a full house, since several students of the artists will be attending. The show will be on display for the month of November.