Family Framers’ exhibit spreads the spirit of spring.
By: Leon Tovey
JAMESBURG If the weather this week wasn’t enough to make you think that spring had finally sprung, a new exhibit at Family Framers might do the trick.
"Springing Forth" features the paintings of Monroe’s Peggi Kahn Heller and the photography of New York physician Larry Gottlieb. The exhibit kicked off April 3 with a wine-and-cheese reception that drew around 60 people, said Teddy Ehmann, owner of Family Framers.
The show features 16 of Ms. Heller’s oil and acrylic paintings and 27 photographs by Dr. Gottlieb all of which revolve around the renewal of life that occurs each spring.
Dr. Gottlieb’s sharp photographs of plants, flowers and butterflies evoke the crispness and newness of spring, while Ms. Heller’s vibrant, colorful paintings of flowers which range from intensely realistic to nearly abstract capture the warmth that people yearn for with the coming of spring.
It is the first showing for both artists at Family Framers, Mr. Ehmann said though the work of Ms. Heller has previously been exhibited in the area. Her paintings can be found in the East Brunswick Library and at Antonio’s on Applegarth Road.
Ms. Heller said she was quite pleased with the idea of a spring show when Mr. Ehmann discussed the idea with her, because the colors of the season have always inspired her and informed her work.
"I’m not very good at expressing myself through words," she said. "So painting allows me to express my emotions in the case of these particular paintings, joy and contentment and healing and the feelings that go along with spring."
Ms. Heller’s paintings range in price from $600 to $1,800, with most in the $800 range, Mr. Ehmann said, while Dr. Gottlieb’s paintings range from $75 to $300.
"Springing Forth" runs until May 31 at Family Framers, 15 East Railroad Ave.

