Randy Bacon Studio & Art Gallery will host an opening art reception, Friday, July 4, 6-10 p.m., as part of the First Friday Art Walk. The opening is free and open to the public. Randy Bacon will display over 50 additional NEW images from his current portfolio. In addition, The Rountree fifth grade photography class will also display their photographs thru July 30th.

The July 4th First Friday Art Walk at the Monarch Art Factory will be a special one, as Randy Bacon Studio and Gallery, Figment Gallery and Culture House, Bellwether Gallery of the Arts and Blu Skies Studio plays host to the “ART IS A BLAST” Celebration, which will be a big night of Fourth of July family fun. During the 1st Friday Art Walk “ART IS A BLAST” event at the Monarch, art walkers can take a break from the July heat and celebrate with a full evening of incredible art PLUS all can enjoy FREE hotdogs, chips, soda and even board games for the whole family! What a unique and fun way to celebrate the holiday!!!

STILL SHOWING: DEPIETRO’S PAINTINGS OF ITALY & TUSCANY: DePietro’s work is masterful and fresh. The strokes in her paintings are full and bold, just like the landscapes of Tuscany and Italy. She enjoys painting from her own photographs, which she will also be exhibiting. DePietro’s art is fueled by her awe of Italian architecture. Her paintings are joyous and light, and her use of texture, color and style is often inspired by her interest in the items in her everyday life.

STILL SHOWING: BACON’S powerful exhibit of cancer survivors called “Sweet Life” began several years’ ago when Hulston Cancer Center asked him to shoot a select group of cancer survivors for the hospital. Since the completion of that project, Bacon has added more portraits to his portfolio of over 200 images. “With each person that I have photographed for Sweet Life, I become more inspired to photograph more and more for this project. The cancer survivor’s stories are just so uplifting, powerful and inspiring to so many people. I want to capture more and more stories and images so that I can help people, “ says Bacon. “This poignant and powerful exhibit reflects on the beauty of life, the great and amazing things that can come from having cancer, and the joy and spirit of the human.

STILL SHOWING: Paintings by GAYLE PAGE are still showing thru the month of July.All of these exhibits will run through July 29. For more information, please call 868-8179.