Cranston East Sophomore's Art Featured in Gallery Show

The Artists' Exchange is featuring works by a local artist who was born and raised in Cranston and has always been fascinated by art, fueled in part by her father's gift for drawing.

"My dad told me, the thing about art is, whatever you create will never be wrong. No one can tell you itʼs not right because itʼs what you wanted to draw or create. Art is anything you want it to be," she said.

The artist is Alexus Cruz and she is a 15-year-old sophomore at .

Some of her work will be on display at the and the highlight of a gallery show March 1 in the community arts center galleries. Her series, "Red Collection," features paintings of pop culture icons like Marilyn Monroe and Jimi Hendrix.

Cruz aspires to attend the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence upon graduation in two years.

Also featured in the gallery show are local artists Howard Bander and Beth Plante.

Bander is a prolific abstract painter who explored his passion for painting just recently when he started taking classes at Artists' Exchange in 2008.

Plante, an accomplished children's book illustrator, is showing her collection "Black, White and The Seven Girls" — a black and white series depicting solitary female figures.

“Not all of the seven girls capture feelings per se, but they do elicit them,” Plante said.

The show will take place on Thursday, March 1st from 6-8pm in the galleries at Artistsʼ Exchange. Light refreshments will be served. Artistsʼ Exchange is located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston, RI. For more information, contact Christina Mealey at 401-490-9475.