CEDAR CITY – The Cedar City Artisans, a group dedicated to helping local artists gain recognition for and promote their work, will be holding an opening reception for its new art gallery, Artisans, Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Melissa Sullivan, director of the new gallery and the Artisans group, said the idea was to showcase and sell the work of artist and artisans from around the area, and offer the community an outlet for the fabulously diverse art scene that resides within its boundaries.

“Providing support to local artists and artisans and a venue for them to showcase their art has been the plan from the beginning and this is that venue,” Sullivan said. “This will be a place for artists to get their work out there, get it seen and get it sold.”

Sullivan said the whole thing has come together rather quickly leaving very little room for any doubt that it was really happening.

“We have really wanted to do this for about a year but have been holding out for just the right space and when this came up for rent we jumped at the opportunity. Its perfect,” Sullivan said. “Since then everybody has really pitched in and donated time, money, skills, and resources. No one person could have done this in two weeks it was truly a collaborative effort of the artists.”

“I have been taken aback from the level of support and enthusiasm from the community,” she added.

Sullivan said anyone who is interested in becoming involved with the Artisans and having their work displayed can go to the website www.cedarcityartisans.com or send them an e-mail at cedarcityartisans@gmail.com.

“There is a jury panel, meaning any artist that would like to participate in the gallery should submit four to six images representative of their work and the jury will look at it to make sure the criteria for each medium is met and that it qualifies to be shown in our gallery,” Sullivan said. “They are looking to see what kind of emotions each piece tries to evoke and they focus a lot the technical aspects and the quality of work as well as the originality of the work.”

Sullivan said that there are five judges on the panel who all have a background in the arts.

“Art is a very subjective thing and to try and jury another person’s art and that’s why we have five people,” Sullivan said. “There is something for everyone at our gallery – contemporary art, modern art, traditional art and even landscapes.”

Some of the artists to be featured on opening day are Brad Holt, an oil painter who focuses on landscapes, Steve Yates who does oils, photography and digital media, Teri Saa, a sculptor who also creates her own jewelry, Tim Richards who does wood carvings and Joi Stein who creates fantastic watercolor paintings, Sullivan said.

The reception is open to the public and there will be refreshments.

The gallery is at 150 W. Center St. and the operating hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., beginning Friday. For more information about the Cedar City Artisans visit www.cedarcityartisans.com.