Nancy Stepen and one of her creations.

By ABBY FOX

Sharon Smith is exhibiting “South County Dunes” and “Granny Apples” during the Nancy Stephen Gallery art reception at South County Hospital, East Greenwich, July 15. The show, with about 55 paintings from 25 artists, is from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Nancy has been my mentor,” said Smith, who’s into her third summer taking classes at her school. “She has taught me a lot; my paintings have really developed,” she said. “It’s not just the technical part of painting; it’s the spiritual part. I think there’s such great quality here, because people pull out something within themselves.”
Nancy Scelsa, the owner, shown here with a study of contrasts she recently painted, said it’ll the gallery’s biggest show of the summer. “It’s nice they’re supporting the arts,” she said of the health center. (Dr. Mary Christina Simpson is the OBGYN physician who spearheaded the show, the center said.)
The Nancy Stephen Gallery and School of Art has been in East Greenwich for 14 years. “I want the community to know we’re here, as a venue for students to express their creativity,” she said.
Scelsa and her school can be reached at 884-8979. If you miss the reception, the show will hang for the next three months. The address of the South County Hospital Medical and Wellness Center is 3461 South County Trail.