By ERIC SEIVERLING
[email protected]
Monongahela is getting a small sampling of Asian art thanks to the city’s Main Street Program.
The program’s Fine Art Gallery, located at 221 W. Main St., currently displays Asian-inspired paintings by former Ringgold teacher Helen Kish during her time in Thailand.
Along with Kish’s paintings, the display features staging by Ringgold High School graduate and professional actor and director Elizabeth Huffman.
Huffman recently returned home to Monongahela from Oregon to open her interior design firm, Zhush It Up!
Huffman said she’s been a friend of Kish’s for quite some time as well as an admirer of her artwork.
“I was really struck by the volume of her work. She has so many different techniques,” Huffman said. “She’s very modest. I told her if she would agree to display some of her paintings, I would create a narrative for her.”
Using the building’s front windows to display the art was a natural choice. The Main Street Program utilized the space earlier this year to exhibit Ringgold art students’ works.
Monongahela Main Street Program Executive Director Terry Necciai said the display was originally going to showcase vintage items Huffman borrowed from local antique shops.
“She’s trying to recreate the feeling of Helen’s paintings,” Necciai said. “She has a very strong vision. This one really tells a story.”
Along with raising interest in Kish and her artwork, Necciai said the display has garnered attention from people even living outside of Monongahela.
“People are getting it now…they’re moving away and coming back,” he said. “Teamwork is happening. They connected this art show with coming to downtown. There’s a reoccurring theme…art, architecture downtown and storytelling.”
Huffman said she’s happy to see the display get a positive reaction, and hopes it leads to future projects.
“I’m hoping more artists want to display their work and they can call on me,” she said. “I’ve been designing my entire life. When you work in theater, you learn to design anything. I didn’t use money in creating that window. I just used my imagination.”