Moon Art Show Kicks Off at Robin Hill Park

Ambridge-based painter Korol Selley began showing her artwork at the Moon Art Show at Robin Hill Park in the 1980s, and she's been coming back ever since.

"Everybody's friendly," Selley said. "The artists are approachable. The price of artwork is very reasonable."

 Selley is a member of the West Hills Art League , an organization of artists based in Moon and surrounding townships. Its annual art show, which will take place May 2-12, has become a tradition at Robin Hill Park, where the WHAL artists present their work to the local community.

The yearly event is sponsored by the department, and this year’s judge is Ron Thurston, a watercolor artist who served as speaker and demonstrator at last year’s event.

For her part, Selley first picked up a paintbrush as a 12-year-old in 1965, and has been at work creating her brand of photo-realistic oil-paintings ever since. Her work is varied, ranging from placid beach-scenes to portraits of urban youth. Selley joined WHAL in 1982, when the organization was still young. She has served as both vice president and president of the group.

 “They are a very warm group of people,” Selley says of the Moon art community. “Even though we compete with each other [at the art show] – you have to have a competitive nature – they’re very helpful as well. Most of the people are older, and they’ve been around. When it comes to criticism, we don’t go to each other’s throats.”

Selley said there are "no restrictions" for membership in the group as long as members pay dues and participate from time to time. Meetings for the group are held every third Thursday each month and artists work in any media, from painting to photography to sculpture.

 “If it wasn’t for the West Hills Art League, I honestly don’t think there would be anything there [in Moon],” Selley said. “It would be nice to have more arts festivals.”

Selley said she will contribute a particularly personal piece at this year's festival. The painting "Sunrise II: Jesse Fullard" will be published in her forthcoming horror novel, due out later this year.

Selley said she recommends patrons attend the show's reception from 1 to 4 p.m. May 8 at the Robin Hill Center.

"Whenever there is an art show opening, you should go to that," she said. "Because that's when the artists are actually there."

 (The Annual Art Show at Robin Hill Park on Thorn Run Road, May 2-12. Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Info:www.moonparks.org).