Yet, none of this would have even been possible without the encouragement and guidance of our dear friend, mentor, and avid photographer, Solomon Levy. A staple to the Northwest landscape, Sol resided in Mt. Airy for over four decades and had played a leading role in many community organizations such as Weavers Way, Habitat for Humanity, Mt. Airy Learning Tree, Project Learn, and others.

As MAAG’s Vice President and founding Board member, Sol Levy was instrumental in making our dreams a reality. After all, it was Sol who discovered our incredible space here at 11 W. Mt. Airy Avenue – who saw past twenty-odd years of dust and envisioned a bustling center for the Arts. When doors were closed to us, he opened them; when we got stressed, he reminded us that nothing worthwhile was ever easy. Sadly, Sol left us too soon (nearly a year ago at this point); yet, his legacy will carry on forever through his memory and art.

So, join us for the opening reception and dedication of our permanent gallery, the Solomon Levy Gallery of Art, on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 6-8PM. The Gallery’s first exhibit, “Travels Through Life,” will feature Sol’s work and will span his earliest landscapes through his most recent abstractions. Whether capturing the grand terrain of Europe or a few inches of cracking paint on a city door, no scene was too vast or insignificant for Sol’s lens. All work will be for sale.

Sol Levy’s “Travels Through Life” opens on Friday, April 27th and continues through May 20th. Regular hours are: Thursday – Saturday, Noon till 6 pm and Sunday, Noon till 5 pm. In addition, private appointments are available.

Come celebrate the legacy of Sol Levy’s retrospective photography. What better way to celebrate his life among so many friends and family than with the dedication of our new gallery! Join us!

MAAG Buildout Gets Ready For Next Phase

The time has come. The time to take stock of where we started, how far we’ve come, with our eyes to the future. And this is what we’d like to say to you…”It’s really happening!” Here we are, looking all around and above us. The infrastructure is built, the emergency exit is done, the floors are closed, the overhead fans breeze our faces, and we have light. It’s a sight to behold.

As we ready ourselves for the next phase, we want you to know we couldn’t have done this without you. We are astounded by the enormous talent we have in our Northwest communities. Artists who are builders, architects who dream like we do, community members that step up to the plate when you don’t quite know what to do, town watch and block associations, all the artists and families and friends who have contributed to the future of the Mt. Airy Art Garage. We thank you.

We are getting ready to launch into the next phase of work. We are fundraising for two major buildouts—the building’s front façade (which will become an outdoor art installation) and the bathrooms. Think about what you can do to be a part of these campaigns. We’ll embrace you with the thanks of thousands of artists and community members in the Northwest -starting with the 135 members of the Mt. Airy Art Garage.

We say to all the believers “Thank you.” You share our vision, you dream with us. For those of you who have recently joined us, we welcome you with open arms and dreams of collaborations. And to the rest of you we say, “Come on in. Join us. The artists and art lovers are making magic.”