Out & About: Library art exhibit showcases Vandergrift couple's work

Shirley McMarlin
Sunday, June 4, 2023 12:01 a.m. | Sunday, June 4, 2023 12:01 a.m.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Artists Gary and Ginger Hepler of Vandergrift at the opening of their “City Mouse, Country Mouse” art exhibit at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Jody and Chip Fox (rear) of Oakmont with their children, Charlie and Mari, at the opening of an art show by Chip’s mother and stepfather, Ginger and Gary Hepler of Vandergrift, at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

J.J. Tolentino and his mother, Betsy Fox-Tolentino, came from Baltimore for the opening of an art show by her mother and stepfather, Ginger and Gary Hepler of Vandergrift, at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

A painting from Ginger Hepler’s “Once Upon a Time” series, created for her granddaughters, seen in her joint exhibit with her husband, Gary Hepler, at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library through June 17.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Greensburg Art Center Treasurer Rose Sovyak (left) with Greensburg Hempfield Area Library Director Jamie Falo at the opening of an art exhibit by Gary and Ginger Hepler of Vandergrift at the library.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

From left: M.J., Liz and Paul Sokolak of Chicora, Butler County, at the opening of an art exhibit by Gary and Ginger Hepler of Vandergrift at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Shirleah Kelly (left) and Marianne Kennedy-Evans, both of Greensburg, at the opening of an art exhibit by Gary and Ginger Hepler of Vandergrift at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Retirement afforded Gary and Ginger Hepler time to spend on creative pursuits that they didn’t have during their working years.

The fruits of their labor are on display until June 17 in a show called “City Mouse, Country Mouse” at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

The name isn’t representative of the featured work, the Vandergrift couple said during an opening reception last month. It’s just the result of tossing ideas back and forth.

“It’s hard to come up with titles,” Ginger Hepler said.

“We’ll know better next time,” Gary added.

Ginger works mostly in acrylics. The show also features some of her mixed media collages. Gary paints with watercolors and also does pottery and metal fabrication.

They also worked together on some mixed media pieces. Their first attempt at shared art won them an award in the Greensburg Art Center’s 2020 “Collaborations” exhibit, in which artists in groups of two or more created a single piece.

The Hepler’s show is part of a series called “Picture This at the Library,” a partnership between the library and Greensburg Art Center. Most of the pieces are for sale, except for Ginger’s “Once Upon a Time” paintings, colorful depictions of groups of animals requested by four of her granddaughters.

The show is available for viewing during regular hours at the library at 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg.

Among reception attendees were Ginger Hepler’s son, Chip Fox of Oakmont, with his wife, Jody, and their children, Mari and Charlie; and her daughter, Betsy Fox-Tolentino of Baltimore, with her son, J.J.

Also seen: Rose Sovyak, Jamie Falo, Diane Ciabattoni, Debbie King, Shirleah Kelly, Marianne Kennedy-Evans, Paula Perry and Paul, M.J. and Liz Sokolak.