By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the PARADE
The Art Lounge recently opened an art exhibit called Whimsy. The exhibit features work from many artists, offering onlookers a truly fanciful experience.
According to Shelly Hamsa, artist and owner of the Art Lounge the exhibit’s name, Whimsy, means “playfully quant, fanciful behaviors or humor, unusual, pleasant ideas or qualities.” This definition embodies the
show’s spirit.
The exhibit features a wide variety of art, including oil and acrylic paintings, linocut prints, ceramics, and a mannequin covered in hand-painted porcelain butterflies.
“It’s insane… the first time we saw it, we basically cried,” said Hamsa.
She raves about the artists whose work is displayed at the exhibit, maintaining their immense talent and unique creative vision.
The exhibition theme is whimsy, but the whimsiness doesn’t stop at the name alone. On the night of the exhibit’s opening reception on Nov. 2, artists dressed up with eccentric statements, or as Hamsa calls it,
“playful couture.” Hamasa wore an ensemble of pool floaties, while 11-year-old artist Emma Garza wore an iridescent gown accented by long flowy “jellyfish tentacles.” Attendees were encouraged to embrace the
theme with their outfits. They were also presented with fortune cookies that contained curious sayings like “There’s a piece of art in the bathroom, and it’s not just because someone forgot to flush,” and “The art
you’ve been waiting for is already yours, you just need to claim it.” Guests enjoyed a live painting performance by Emma Garza, live music, a 360 photo stage, refreshments and a charcuterie board completely free of charge.
Some of the artists featured in the exhibit include Jeanna Pena, Vie Dunn-Harr, Angel Loo, Christina Piecuch, Joel Garza, William Hoss Abete, Ansen Seale, Rachel Townsend, Wendy Hauschildt, alongside Hamsa
and Emma Garza.
Dunn-Harr says the theme was “so much fun” to paint for.
“I painted my career as a painter. I was a little more serious about making art, and I decided it was time to play a little,” said Dunn-Harr.
She was immediately inspired by the exhibit theme and took the opportunity to branch out from her usual artistic route, going so far as to utilize colors she hadn’t before.
Dunn-Harr combined the lounge’s prompt and her exciting Church series to create one of her favorite works from the exhibit, The Tightrope of Devotion.
Dunn-Harr aims to reach people where they are emotionally with her work, wherever that is.
“I want people to feel encouraged, happy. If they are in a somber place, I want them to feel their pain in that moment and the release of it. I want art to be personally where somebody is,” said Dunn-Harr.
The exhibit will be available for viewing through February 2025. Dunn-Harr can also be found on her Instagram page, Viedunnharr.
The Art Lounge, located at 33256 State Park Rd 100 #102, South Padre Island, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 2-7 p.m. For more information, contact The Art Lounge at info@theartloungespi.com or
(956)433-5307. For continuous updates, follow their social media accounts on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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