The bubbly flowed as young artists soaked in the excitement of their first art opening Friday evening at Village Arts at 216 DP Road. Hors d’oeuvre trays filled with grapes, crackers and cheese coupled with glasses of sparkling cider served by owner Ken Nebel enhanced the magical atmosphere for Pinon Elementary School students who mingled among community members, sharing the inspirations for their work. Nebel donated framing supplies to the students and taught them about artist agreements and spent time showing them his own illustrations. Nebel said of Friday’s opening, “This is possibly the best selling show we’ve ever had. Eight of the 12 paintings is sold and we’re only midway through the opening.” Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, Karen Young with her son, artist Charlie Young and Pinon Art Educator Stephanie J. Rittner, right, who with Pinon GATE teacher Lise Chrien created the GATE/Art collaboration show called, “Every Picture Tells a Story.” Students created acrylic paintings, wrote a story about their painting, traded paintings and wrote stories about each other’s paintings, signed artist agreements with Village Arts where they also learned the art framing process. The paintings, along with a book of all the stories, are on display at Village Arts through mid-March. Photo by carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Pinon Elementary School artists Ryan Worley, left, and Charlie Young are among several artists who dressed up for Friday’s opening night reception at Village Arts. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

The art work created by Pinon Elementary School students lines the upper wall at Village Arts as a couple of the artists take a break to discuss some of the world’s dumbest bosses during Friday’s opening night reception. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com