The New Hope Art Gallery at the Cranston Enrichment Center, 1070 Cranston St., held the opening of its Spring Show on April 2, welcoming members of the community to view roughly 400 pieces of art across a range of styles and media.

Mayor Allan Fung took a tour of the new show and visited with 250 guests at the event, which included music from Jim Chapin, Mark Greenwood and Bob Ruzzo and free portrait drawings by artist Jack Lai.

“Mayor Fung always takes time from his busy schedule to visit us during openings to speak with our gallery guests about the importance of art that is available for all to enjoy and support our gallery,” said Ricky Gagnon, the gallery’s director and curator.

“New Hope Art Gallery is the largest and most diverse gallery in the state because we feature art from local, national, senior, special needs and student artists in a two-floor gallery,” he added. “Every show features new artists having their very first show and established artists who have created for many years.”

The Spring Show features 15 new artists, including artist and author Mary Jane Bohlen and five Cranston school students showing their work for the first time – Indiamei Coren, Enid Corcoran, Nicoletta Parente, Jacob Parenteau and Millie Wignall.

“This show has an eclectic selection of wonderful art and I am very delighted I made the decision to participate for the very first time by showing some of my work,” said Bohlen, who is the author of “Bosom Buddies,” a book that shares the stories of breast cancer survivors.

The show also features 85 returning artists, including senior artists living with memory loss who create art through the Adult Day Services program and seniors who take part in an art class taught by New Hope Art Gallery assistant curator Barbara Rosenbaum.

“I enjoy teaching the RSVP-sponsored classes at the center,” Rosenbaum said. “The seniors are always excited to learn new styles of painting and are happy to show their creations in every new show. We will have new classes in May and will feature those pieces in our Summer Show, which opens in late July.”

Regular gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Admission is free and the gallery is open to all. The Spring Show runs until July 5.

For more information, contact Gagnon at 280-6282 or rickyg0123@verizon.net.