Gallery 53 First Friday Reception Features Student Art to Benefit Animals

Elephants and penguins and dogs with eyeglasses, oh my!

That's exactly what will be on display at Gallery 53 Friday night, in a reception kicking off the downtown Meriden gallery's month-long Alligators to Zebras exhibit of student and professional art.

Student art from St. Joseph School, Washington Middle School, and Maloney High School will hang along with pieces from local professional artists like Bill Revill for the show, according to organizers. Pieces will be for sale, and 20 percent of proceeds from anything purchased at the gallery/shop will go to the Meriden Humane Society.

A student reception is from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Friday, and a separate adult reception (with wine, organizers mention as the big difference) runs from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The event kicks off not only the month-long exhibit, but a series of monthly first Friday receptions at the gallery. It's part of an effort to get more residents down to the gallery at 53 Colony Street that was originally founded in 1907. 

The show itself will feature animal themed artwork from a variety of media – paintings, photographs, sculptures and more.

If you can't make it to the Friday reception, you can still see the display, open to the public from noon - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. throughout February.