Starling Musings to hold Grand Opening on May 2

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

There has been much afoot in the small storefront attached to Tupelo's Bakery & Cafe, and many may be wondering what new shop will take the place of the former beekeeping supply store that was previously nestled just beyond the front window. Curious individuals peeking in through the window may notice the construction of colorful displays, covered tables or even chairs arranged in a classroom setting, all strong indications of excitement to come. New shop owner Gabe Starling has been hard at work, repainting and re-imagining the space as the prime location for Starling Musings Gallery, and in just a few short weeks, the gallery will open its doors to the general public.
On May 2, Starling Musings will be holding a Grand Opening to launch the gallery shop. During the grand opening, all are welcome and invited to mingle with other guests, purchase artwork, sign up for classes, browse the gallery and enjoy some complementary finger food and drinks. After the grand opening, Starling Musings will be officially open.
During the normal operating hours of Tupelo's, patrons will be welcome to browse the art exhibit, which features the work of a variety of artists from the community. All of the art displayed in the gallery is available for purchase through the website at Starlingmusings.com/Dir/. The gallery itself will be unmanned, and customers wishing to make a purchase may scan the QR codes attached to each piece of artwork with any smartphone camera application. The code, once scanned, will bring them to the website where the art piece may then be paid for. At the end of each day, any art pieces that have been purchased will be removed from the gallery to be packaged and the buyer will be contacted for pick up.
The first exhibit features the artwork of local artists Lisa Starling and Heather Ainsley (yours truly). Starling will be showcasing her watercolor and acrylic painting prowess through her landscape paintings, and will also be hosting a regular watercolor class on Saturdays.
Many people may recognize my work as Art Enchanted from my years of participation in the Watermelon Festivals, Christmas Festivals and Art Gallery Festivals held by the community. I have also done work with specialty orders and commissions for pet portraits, special gifts and holiday orders, and am especially excited for this new opportunity to display my body of work.
The Starling Musings gallery is a collaborative place designed to welcome artists who struggle with the marketing aspect of their creative passions, and the owner is always looking for new, talented individuals who belong to the artist community here in Monticello. I am humbled to be one of the first of many artists who will display and sell their work through this innovative creative space. Anyone who is interested in exhibiting their work in the gallery can contact the gallery through their Facebook page, which can be found by searching Starling Musings.
A modest membership fee will apply, but so far in my personal experience, I can say that any and all fees have been fair and appropriate. This is an excellent opportunity for artists to demonstrate their amazing talents and find a community of like-minded creatives without having to travel to a big city to find it.
In addition to the gallery shop, Starling Musings also has partnered with artists in the community to offer art classes. Currently there are watercolor classes offered by Lisa Starling every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to sign up for a watercolor class can contact Lisa at (850) 590-2644.
I will also be hosting an acrylic painting class on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m. This class will learn how to paint a glowing sunset, with all materials and step-by-step instructions provided. To sign up, visit starlingmusings.com/Dir under the Upcoming Classes link or contact me at (850) 363-7038.
Classes offered through the gallery are ever-changing as new artists and instructors become members of the gallery, so if you missed out on a class one week, check back the following week for new classes! If you'd like to make a suggestion for a class you'd like to take, the gallery welcomes input via their Suggestion Box, which is located in the gallery.
Sign up sheets for the classes will be located in the gallery. All applicable class fees are due on the day of class. For a full list of upcoming classes, events and exhibits, visit the website or stop by the gallery to view a complete list of upcoming events.
While the gallery emerges in the early planning processes, there are tons of wonderful things to come, so keep an eye on Starling Musings Gallery for updates! We look forward to seeing you at the Grand Opening on May 2!