Marie Dolmas Lekorenos
ARTWORKS around town is proud to host the works of Cambridge artist Marie Dolmas Lekorenos as their featured artist in the Studio Gallery for the month of July. The gallery has a reputation of presenting quality artists for the patrons of Wheeling to meet, and enjoy an evening with their works. Marie continues that tradition and then some. An open reception for the public will be held on Friday evening, July 1st from 5:00 to 8:00 in the gallery to view the artist’s work. Hors d’oeuvres and appetizers will be served. A special open reception for the public to “Meet the Artist” will be held on Friday, July 15th, from 4:00 to 6:00 in the Studio Gallery.
Lekorenos was born in Massillon, Ohio and found her love of the arts at a relatively young age. Marie attributes her interest to her fifth grade teacher, Ms. Mary Nosis, while attending Edmond A. Jones school in Massillon. She remembers fondly how Ms. Nosis would always include drawing as part of any special project that she assigned her classes. She remembers Ms. Nosis’ vibrant energy and how she always met the children with a smile and laughter. Unknowingly, Ms. Nosis left a lasting imprint on the future direction of this young artist. Marie also attributes a lot of her talents to her mother who was very creative herself. She taught Marie how to sew and cook. Lekorenos sewed many of the outfits that she wore to school and says that her mother’s Baklava was “the best ever!”. It was during her middle and high school years that Marie honed her skills as a writer while serving as editor of her junior high school newspaper and as a reporter for The Washington High Times throughout high school.
Marie continued her studies in the arts as her husband Chris’ job took their family of four to Adrian, Michigan. She studied drawing, painting, design, sculpture, jewelry and welding at Sienna Heights College while living in Michigan. After a short couple years in Cleveland Chris’ job moved the family on to Cambridge, Ohio. Marie had no idea at the time that she would be spending the next forty years plus calling this small southeast Ohio town “home.” Her daughter, Christen, now live in Concord, Massachusetts and her son, George lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Throughout the years Marie has not only successfully raised a family and continued her studies in art, having graduated, with an Art Degree, from Muskingum University but she has also been a very successful entrepreneur. She recognized a need for an upscale gift shop specializing in gift baskets and was determined to meet that need. Marie owned and operated “Giftgram”, in Cambridge, for seven years. When her husband retired Marie decided to close the shop and enjoy retirement with him.
With this busy lifestyle Marie was never far from her art. She is an elected member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, the National Collage Society, the Society of Layerists in Multi Media, the Oklahoma Watercolor Society and the International Society of Experimental Artists. In addition, Marie is a member of the Southeastern Ohio Watermedia Society, the Bexley Art League, the Zanesville Appalachian Arts Project, the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society and the Eastern Ohio Art Guild. She is also an affiliated artist with Mac Worthington Galerie Website of Columbus, Ohio. She has paintings in over 260 corporate, business and private collections.
Lekorenos has exhibited her work throughout the United States, England, France, Ephesus, Turkey and Beijing, China. She has won “Best of Show” awards, “First Place” and “Purchase” awards in regional and national exhibitions. She has had over 15 solo exhibitions.
Lekorenos has studied with 30 or more well known artists. Her art is published in numerous books and has been on the cover of exhibition programs and invitations.
Marie Dolmas Lekorenos is a dedicated artist who is concerned with design. She infuses her work with dynamic energy to stir the senses. The viewer must be absorbed into the painting. She eloquently creates a mood, a feeling, an ambiance; by bringing into her work an essence of the inner spirit.
ARTWORKS around town is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization that operates a Gallery and Art Center for the benefit of the artists and general public of the region. ARTWORKS around town’s Mission is to: promote and encourage public interest in support of the arts, offer quality arts programming for all ages, and provide opportunities to display art work in a gallery setting for students of art as well as for accomplished artists in the local community and the region. The Gallery and Art Center is operated by The Board of Directors with assistance from artist associates and other volunteers from the local community and region. It depends for its financial support primarily on contributions, gifts and grants.
Artists may apply to be juried for exhibiting in the gallery. Through this jury process the Board of Directors considers artistic merit, content and craftsmanship as well as the applicant’s resonance with the Mission of the Gallery and Art Center, and the availability of space.
As a special feature, artists whose works are on display are found in the gallery as guides, providing interaction with visitors, and often opportunities to watch the creative process. These artist associates also support the mission of ARTWORKS around town by volunteering to help with office work and maintenance, teaching workshops, curating and hanging shows and many other aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the Gallery and Art Center.
The Gallery and Art Center is located at 2200 Market Street, in the Upper Market House of the Historic Centre Market Area.
For more information please visit us on the web at: http://www.artworksaroundtown.com