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LAWRENCE: Rain barrels receive touch of Artists Network

   Artists at the Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network were joined last weekend by Will Kassos, Leon Rainbow, Bruce Toth and Giancarla Macaluso at the Main Street Gallery to turn rain barrels into works of art.
   As part of the Mercer County Historical Commission’s Eyes on Mercer weekend of events, the Artists Network hosted a variety of gatherings in the community.
   Sunday there were amazing Graffiti Artists spraying it out on rain barrels on the front steps of the Artists Network Gallery on Main Street in Lawrenceville. Jim Britton’s Barrel of E-A-G-L-E-S perfection sat proudly on the top step. Behind the gallery, in the back were “Surprised Pumpkins,” “Autumnal Monsters,” a “Starry Night” and a “Marvelous Mermaid” created by gallery artists Rosanne Kantor, Libby Ramage, Jean Joslin and Carol Critchlow.
   The rain barrels are on display at the gallery and next door to the Purple Cow Ice Creamery. Buyers can make a silent auction bid for the barrels.
   The gallery hours are Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The silent auction will end at Sustainable Lawrence’s big event, the Green Tie Gala on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Terhune Orchards in Lawrence.
   The Artists Network shared other activities for Eyes on Mercer weekend. Ms. Ramage held a community painting project upstairs in the studio classroom. Artists and visitors gathered around the table painting funky shaped foam core as they chatted and enjoyed the shared experience. All of the gallery artists are invited to paint a shape and they will assemble this community creation next month at one of the network’s events.
   David and Tamara Morhaim represented the Artists Network at the Lawrenceville Main Street Scarecrow Event at the Farmers Market. As the Judging Couple of the Year, the Morhaims helped determine the top dogs in the Essay Contest and Scarecrow Event.
   On Friday Network Artist Tiffany Willner made that night’s event a glowing success. A dozen little artists painted butterfly masks and danced about in a black-light room, filled with neon flowers and butterflies.