NORWICH – The Chenango County Council of the Arts hosts its annual Members Show in which a series of works created by council members will be unveiled, many for the first time, during an open reception tonight, from 5 to 7 at the council’s gallery in Norwich.

The annual exhibit and reception is a free, open to the public event that shows off the hard work and creativity of more than 25 Arts Council members, each granted the opportunity to showcase up to three of their works. The display encompasses a range of mediums including stencil, oil paint, papier mache, ceramics, pottery, quilting and photography.

“It’s a great showing of a variety of works,” explained Arts Council Operations and Programs Director Joyce Zummo. “We have a couple of different artists who have even chosen to go a totally different direction with their work and that’s really exciting to see,” she said. “They get very excited about it, particularly members who don’t make it to art shows or who are showing their work for the first time.”

And Zummo pointed out that there are plenty of members that are showing for the first time this year. The Arts Council has taken on seven new members over the year, most of whom have never before had their creations on display in a gallery. Council member Pam Giltner is one of them. Giltner, a photographer, will be showing off three of her favorite photographs at tonight’s opening, including one photo printed on canvas – an idea not too often seen by gallery coordinators, according to Zummo.

“I think it would just be interesting to see people’s reactions,” Giltner said enthusiastically. “I’m excited that I get to share what I capture, although it does put on a little pressure.” Even so, she stressed that it’s a wonderful opportunity for her as an artist. “I see things and look at them in a different way. It’s fun to capture those things and share them with others too,” she said.