ARTWORK FROM SOPHIE'S GALLERY ON DISPLAY AT LA MESA HEALTH LIBRARY

March 4, 2015 (La Mesa) - The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Winter Art Exhibit featuring artwork from Sophie’s Art Gallery, an off-campus art program of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a non-profit, non-denominational organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.

The exhibit, which runs through mid-March, features 15 abstract oil paintings by Corinne Latorre of Sophie’s Art Gallery and nine felt pieces featuring bird art by other Sophie’s artists.

Latorre’s exhibit, titled “Ambient Visions,” is a collection of abstract paintings. According to officials with Sophie’s Art Gallery, Latorre’s physical gestures of horizontal brushwork and layers of dripped paint are wave-like and soothing to the eye.

Latorre’s art work has been previously exhibited at Sophie’s Art Gallery, now celebrating its 15th year in operation. The innovative art curriculum at Sophie’s Art Gallery provides a creative outlet and promotes opportunities for self-expression for persons with developmental disabilities to express their rich inner lives through a variety of art media, said SMSC. It also builds students’ fine motor skills and provides a way for the students to earn a modest income through the sale of their artwork at various public art openings.

Based in El Cajon, SMSC serves and empowers nearly 400 adults with developmental disabilities to discover, experience and realize their full potential as members of the greater community. Developmental disabilities include autism, Down syndrome, mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and other cognitive disabilities. For more information about SMSC and Sophie’s Gallery, visit www.stmsc.org.

Admission to the Herrick Community Health Care Library is free. The Winter Art Exhibit is open to the public during regular library hours, which are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, phone (619) 825-5010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org.