Once a year, the quiet lanes of Palenville become animated with art enthusiasts, as the studios of Nicole Lemelin and Terrance DePietro transform into 'The Leap of Faith Studios', for its annual open exhibit and reception. This year is no exception; and on June 24 & 25 the two artists invite all, to visit the working studios and partake of an exhibit filled with both: new works and decades of examples of their journey with paint, photo; poetry and writings.

And the journey has been a lengthy one, as both painters have been at their trades for well beyond thirty-five years - that merely marks their exhibiting careers. Added to the mix is the fact that Nicole hails from Quebec City and has been involved in her work there, as well as in Montreal, and exhibits locally & nationally in the United States for more than twenty years.

The two artists met while Terrance was living in Quebec City. They early on realized they were kindred spirits, sharing similar tastes for creative explore. Now after twenty years of crossing, back 'n forth, the border of Canada and the US, Nicole joined Terrance; sharing life, love and studio space in Palenville NY. That in fact is where the name for the studios arrived; a 'Leap of Faith' and all that it can conjure to mind!

So is asked: Whatelse are these notions of abstraction, expressionism; creative image and Art? What other than beauty and sublime, motivates the human urge to objectify the otherwise subjective imply - and implications - churning in mind, if not also in gut? Our duet is most curious; and it shows through the array of expressionistic abstractions that line the walls of the living space, leading into several work areas. Studios that invoke the notions of research labs, as much as, aesthetic recreation stations.