Artist turns attention to sights of Marion
News editor
When visitors arrived at Mary Jean Rogers’ home art gallery Saturday afternoon in Marion, they were treated to many familiar sights.
“I really jumped back into painting when I moved to Marion,” Rogers said.
Homes and buildings in and around Marion quickly became some of her favorite subjects. Her work includes paintings of Marion Presbyterian Church, Marion County Courthouse, Cooperative Grain & Supply’s elevators, and nearly a dozen houses.
One of the first visitors to arrive Saturday was Vicky Hoffer. Rogers had done a painting of Hoffer’s house. It was her first time to see the painting.
“I love it,” Hoffer said. “I think it’s fantastic.”
Rogers moved to Marion in April 2010. She knew from the start that she wanted to have an art gallery in her basement at 303 Willard St. She opened 3-3-3 Lower Level Fine Art Gallery, which includes paintings by other artists, in June. She plans to continue having showings at 3 p.m. the third Saturday of each month.
Rogers’ work since moving to Marion has primarily been watercolor paintings of buildings, but that isn’t all her work includes. Her gallery also includes a portrait she drew when she was 17.
“I wish I had kept it up through the years, but I didn’t,” she said.
She is planning an art workshop to be taught by John Lokke Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Lokke teaches art in Wichita and has done art therapy with Via Christi hospitals. There will be an orientation at 7 p.m. Aug. 31. Classes will be 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 1.
For more information, contact Rogers at mjrogers9909@yahoo.com.