Christ Episcopal Church will open two new artists’ exhibits in the Parish House’s Gallery and in the Parlor at the Artists’ Reception, Friday, April 12, from 5:00-8:00 pm.

The reception is free and open to the public. These exhibits will be on display and available for purchase through the end of June.

James Hayes, the well-known glass artist, will exhibit glass hangings, as well as some of his select paintings, in the Gallery. His exhibit is entitled “Chaos.” Mr. Hayes uses nature, chance, and his experiences as inspiration for his art glass. His art is playful, adventurous, colorful, and distinctive. After learning glassblowing at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School, he has studied glassblowing around the world, including Italy, France, Istanbul, New York, Seattle, and Hong Kong. Mr. Hayes has had numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States.

Local artist Jacqui Whitehead’s “Mystical Menagerie” exhibit will be showcased in the Parlor. As an intuitive artist, Ms. Whitehead says her paintings reflect her soul. Her love of people and nature allow colorful, happy, and whimsical creatures of every sort to become her subjects. Having taught fourth grade in the North Little Rock School District for 25 years, she credits her arts in education classes for instilling the importance of the arts in childhood development.

Christ Church believes that artists, whether painters or singers or sculptors or poets, show something of God when they show us the world’s truth and beauty through their talents. A rotating display of original artwork by local artists almost always hangs on the walls of the main gathering space in the Parish House. The Gallery is open to the public each weekday during regular business hours. The Gallery is also a regular stop on downtown Little Rock’s Second Friday Art Night. This new exhibition kicks off with a reception on Second Friday that is free to the public, with the featured artists present.