Contributing Artists
Bill Arnio
Ortiz Acosta
Richard Beau Lieu
Beau Lieu Website
Liela Boås
Linda Dudak
DXTR
Ted Fawcett
Bill Grossett
Kathleen Henner
More Henner
Richard Johnson
Helen Kelsey
Charlie McCann
Lois Niesen
N.A.R.P. Grant Children
Neighborhood Children
Laura Paboojian
Linda Sage
Edward Schlatmann
Stan Sternbach
Stan Sternbach (photo)
Pat Stone
Jeff Thomasson
Joan Gersh Zalenski

PAST NEWS ISSUES
December 2003
January 2001
December 2000
August 2000
June 2000

South Florida
Sun Sentinel 2003

Art District Gaining Recognition

By SHAMERRA T. BROWN
Times2 STAFF WRITER

If you blink when driving down Boynton Beach Boulevard, you might miss one of the best kept secrets in the city.

The Neighborhood Art Gallery has been around since 1987, but is gaining more recognition these days. Richard Beau Lieu and a group of local artists have successfully turned one of the city's industrial streets, formerly known for car repair shops, into an art gallery.

Just two years ago, the city of Boynton Beach designated the area of West Industrial Avenue, the Boynton Beach Art District. "You turn onto the main drag, West Industrial Avenue and immediately start to see large metal sculptures," Richard Beau Lieu, the gallery's owner, said.

More than 20 artists have their work on display and for sale at the only art gallery in the city. Although not as visible as other local monuments, the gallery is creating a buzz by word of mouth.

"This place builds up Boynton's image. It's a secret little place, but we're seeing growth," artist Stan Sternbach said.

"Once we got it started, it mushroomed, " Marcinkoski said. "We all kind of work together on it."

Now the area is decorated with sculpture and artwork from some 17 artists that BeauLieu represents in his gallery. He's even designed whimsical directional signs, but can't keep them in place for long.

"We put out signs so people could find us, and they disappeared as fast as we could put them out," Beau Lieu said.

He has lighted the area, and encourages people to drive by at night.

While Christensen planted hardy plants like lantana that will grow in any soil, she was amazed that Marcinkoski had already transplanted palmettos on the three-block area. Palmettos are considered almost impossible to transplant.

"Out of the 20 we dug up from Overlook Road, we've only lost a couple of them," Marcinkoski said. "I've also put about I 00 trees out on that area, too."

Christensen wanted to put more trees and shrubs on the site, but the drought curtailed those plans.

"We had wanted to put in some oleander, but with the drought we decided to stick to the planters," she said."We put crinum lilies and lantana in those."

The Boynton Beach Garden Club members will continue their involvement with the art district for the foreseeable future. Next they plan to treat the weeds with herbicide; then they'll continue planting as soon as the rains begin.

"Once we were here on the site, we realized we'll stay with this," Christensen said.

With an ever-expanding garden in the future, Beau Lieu sees limitless possibilities for the industrial park's art district. Several people have mentioned the possibility of situating a restaurant adjacent to the art/sculpture garden, he said. He's also in the process of writing a federal grant application for funds to expand the project.

"Next we'll look at the adjacent land to expand," he said. "As this project moves along, anything could happen.

"It could take over this whole area," he said. "Really, it's a work in progress ... a piece of installation art."

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Boynton Beach Neighborhood Art District
WHERE:422 Industrial Ave.
WHEN: Indoor gallery open I 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, and I I a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday
INFO: Call 561-736-8181 or visit the Web site:
www.neighborhoodgallery.com

NEIGHBORHOOD GALLERY
NOW A CITY LANDMARK
The City of Boynton Beach recently recognized the Neighborhood Gallery as a city landmark. We are proud of the new sign that was installed (below) to help direct traffic to us and are grateful to the city, the chamber and the community for their continued support.

Thanks from all of us at the Neighborhood Gallery!

DIRECTIONS:
Shown below is the new signage installed to help visitors find the Neighborhood Gallery from Boynton Beach Blvd easier. To get here, exit from Interstate 95 onto Boynton Beach Blvd. Head west one block and look for the sign on right that marks the entrance to the gallery on West Industrial Avenue. See you here!