Paint-by-numbers show at new Barryville gallery

Much heralded exhibit to open with River Road Fair

By DAVID HULSE

	TRR photo by David Hulse Gallery co-owner and collection owner Trey Speegle is pictured at Gallery 97 preparing for this weekend’s opening of the ‘Paint By Numbers’ show. (Click for larger image)

BARRYVILLE, NY — Remember the Craftmaster Paint-by-numbers kits you used to get at Christmas when you were a kid? And how many people do you know that still have Aunt Somebody’s version of “The Last Supper” hanging around the house somewhere?

Well, paint-by-numbers has evolved from art of the moment to collectible.

Portions of one the foremost collections of paint-by-numbers paintings will make up the kickoff exhibit next weekend at the new Gallery 97, at the Spring House in Barryville.

Speegle says there will be about 100 of the best selections from a collection that’s already been shown at Smithsonian Institution, written about in the New York Times and profiled by “CBS Sunday Morning,” and the PBS show “EGG.”

Participating in the weekend’s 10th annual River Road Fair, co-owner Lynn O’Neill said the gallery will also be luring fair-goers to contribute a few minutes to help complete a specially made 4’ by 6’ rendition of a paint-by-numbers design featuring a soaring bald-eagle and the Stars and Stripes.

“We’re hoping it comes out well and we can incorporate the finished painting into a banner,” she said.

The show and the gallery are upstairs at the newly opened Spruce, Home and Gift store. They are open Friday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 845/557-0097 or visit their website, www.spruceco.com/gallery97.