Lockport sculptor Rick Bertrand stands in the backgroud, while his winning work, "The Dream" takes center stage — just as it did at Lockside Art Center's grand opening this afternoon. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / ENP PHOTOGRAPHER)

BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

---

"The Dream," a sculpture by Lockport artist Rick Bertrand won the People's Choice award for the opening exhibit of the Lockside Art Center.

"The Dream," a sculpture by Rick Bertrand, won the People's Choice award at Lockside Art Center this afternoon.

The new art gallery and education center, on the second floor of Lockview Plaza, held its grand opening today from 2-4 p.m., including a popular judging of the works displayed in its inaugural exhibit.

Lockside Art Center President Kevin Gaskill said the opening went about as well as anyone could have hoped — meaning it was well attended.

"The artwork really has no meaning if there's no one here to look at it," he said.

But there were people there to look at it. Dozens, in fact. And those people chose Bertrand's sculpture as their top pick, followed by Christine Miller's painting "Facing Faith," and a painting by 16-year-old Kazuki Kanchira entitled "After David Leffel."

Bertrand said he's been sculpting for "several" of his 67 years. He didn't start there, though.

"If you find that you're not really good at painting, you might look around for something else and discover sculpting," he deadpanned after being proclaimed the awardee this afternoon.

Gaskill said the art center plans to have a new exhibit every six weeks and a meet-the-artist day once a month.

The art center's inaugural gallery exhibit was well attended.

---

Get the daily East Niagara Post email update.
Send an email to news@eastniagarapost.com with "email update" in the subject line.