The pencil show gala opening is part of an Artwalk that begins at Mountain Laurel Crafts on the square from 5 to 7:30pm.

"Colored pencil is so much more versatile than perceived by most people," explained Lancaster. Various techniques and drawing surfaces change the look of pencil. Even the most traditional use of pencil can look very different with each artist's special interpretation," she said.

The three men in the group use pencil in three dimensional work. Professor Dustin Davis uses found objects in sculpture and uses pencil to highlight certain aspects. Larry Bloss and Mike Chonko use pencil in a similar way enhancing details, especially on their intricate bird carvings, with pencil.

The five women in the Cumberland, Maryland based group work in two dimensions. "It would not be immediately noticed that Karin Blizzard enhances the veins of some leaves and flowers with prisma pencil in her dried flower pictures," explained Lancaster who also has work in the show. Lancaster has been exhibited at the Ice House before in the Collective Angles show.

Other artists include Judy DeHart Davis, best known for her prints of local historic scenes; Nancy Small who specializes in portraits of people and animals using both pastel and pencil; and Donna Whitford Housel, a popular art instructor. All of the artists in the show are members of the Allegany Area Art Alliance and regularly have their work at the Rocky Gap Resort Gallery.

"Looking at the array of work hanging in this show, I agree with Lenore," said Lynn Lavin of MAC's Gallery Committee. "People will be amazed at the work done using colored pencils which is our goal with the special gallery exhibits. We try to present our residents and guests with some form of art they would not otherwise see." Lavin is also pleased to introduce another group from the region. "We like celebrating the work being done by our neighboring artists," she said.

The curated gallery exhibit produced by the Morgan Arts Council is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is located on the corner of Independence and Mercer and is open Friday through Monday from 11am to 5pm. For more information call 258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.