A shop owner in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, is providing a platform for local artists to showcase their works, reports Lehigh Valley News.
Inside the showroom of Vollux Autowerks, a European car repair and diagnostics shop, you’ll find the walls covered with pieces from Midnight Gallery: an art gallery co-owned by Nina Boodhansingh, an Allentown native.
Chris Birgl is the owner of Vollux Autowerks and is now a co-owner of the gallery alongside Boodhansingh. With his showroom having expansive white walls and bright lighting, he became motivated to do something innovative with the space, leading to the idea of an art gallery.
“The thing I kept saying is when people actually come in and walk in and even if they saw pictures, I want them to just say 'Wow,'" said Birgl. “It’s very simple, it's just one word, but that is kind of what I envisioned and it happened to be literally the same word that people use when they walk in.”
The gallery’s most recent exhibit, “Resilience: Expressions Of The Mind,” centers around themes of mental health and disabilities. Of the 22 artists selected for the gallery–which includes Boodhansingh and her co-curator, Elise Schaffer–they were asked to create pieces that summarize what their experiences with mental health are, whether it’s based on their own experiences or someone close to them.
A public opening reception was held for the exhibit’s launch this past Saturday, with artists and mental health resources on site. A portion of the proceeds will go to Valley Youth House of the Lehigh Valley, and the exhibit is set to be on display through May 10.
"We tie the two together because cars are art, so we really wanted to bring a unique experience to the community and merge the two," explained Boodhansingh.
