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Arts & Entertainment

Visions of Bar-Cadia

May 7, 2012 (NEW HOPE, PA) – June will be Steve Messenger's first exhibit featuring bar and tavern scenes from establishments located from Philadelphia to Bucks County, Pittsburgh PA, and Lambertville NJ,. An
artists reception will be hosted on Saturday June 2, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm.

The gallery will be serving you and your friends cocktail beverages that will coincide with the show's theme.

Best known for his paintings of horses, Steve is an award-winning artist and graduate with a BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA in 2002.
He works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Tyler School of Art as a model,
and is a self employed artist.

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"Being an artist with a studio located in Philadelphia, I spend many late nights in bars. In a modern city, most serious painter's, including myself, work at some
other art related job. The long work day, plus time in my studio often leaves only the late hours in the evening for getting together with friends.

My artist friends hang out at bars late at night which helps me to catch up with them and to unwind".

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The oil paintings included in this exhibit represent a painted "pub crawl" through the bars, taverns, and dives I frequent in Philadelphia, Bucks County, and New Jersey.

Gallery owner Howard Cooperman said "when Steve first approached me with the idea of hosting a show for him which would include only bar scenes, I was excited to
see what he had up his sleeve. Upon him showing me the first three completed paintings which included the bar at the Logan Inn, Lambertville Station, and Jack's Firehouse, I was amazed at his accomplishments".

Cooperman continued "I had no idea Steve painted anything other than realistic horse portraits and traditional equestrian paintings".

Anyone that has been inside a bar will relate to the warm atmospheric artwork Messenger has created. The artist stated "I'm pleased with how all of the paintings came to life as I was doing them. The more I did, the more I
liked them which challenged me to continue my journey into additional bars in my travels".

Messenger's awards include: Honorable Mention at the
ArtsBridge Winter Show - Best in Show, Mixed Media juried drawing show - Best
painting at Cheltenham Art Center juried show, and the Merium Lewis Scholarship
- Philadelphia Watercolor Club, Water based Media Award, and others.

Artwork by 35 additional artists from the United States and Canada will be exhibited throughout the two story, eight room gallery. The featured gallery artists include but are not limited to: Sandy Askey-Adams, Larry Chestnut,
Christine Drewyer, Carolyn Edlund, George Gallo, Laura den Hertog, Jody Furch, Kevin Mizner, Victor Mordasov, Tim Simboli, and Jason Tako. More than 200
artworks are currently available.

 Bucks County Gallery is located at 77 W. Bridge Street, (just above the train tracks), in New Hope PA. Contact Howard Cooperman regarding questions about any
of the 36 artists they represent. 215.862.5272. The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday Noon - 5pm.

 You can view many of the available artworks at: www.buckscountygalleryart.com

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