GO ART! Hosts Triple Exhibition Reception

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) invites the public to a special evening of creativity and community with three exhibition receptions on **Thursday, December 18, 2025**, at the historic GO ART! building, 201 East Main Street, Batavia, NY. Guests will experience a vibrant celebration of artistic diversity, featuring individual exhibitions by **Mary Beth Kushner** and **Ed Hallborg**, alongside the **Annual Members & Staff Showcase**. **Featured Artists** **Mary Beth Kushner — Batavia Rotary Club Gallery** Self-taught contemporary artist **Mary Beth Kushner** presents a collection rooted in the philosophy that *“the process is the purpose.”* Her instinctive, layered approach combines acrylic paints, inks, mixed-media gel sticks, and aerosol paint to create works that invite viewers to pause and reflect. Kushner’s art is deeply informed by her background as an Occupational Therapist, where she spent over 20 years inspired by human connections and the resilience of the human spirit. Having faced life-altering illnesses herself, she draws upon inner fortitude to create pieces that resonate with emotion and contemplation. Now a self-employed interior/exterior professional painter, Kushner has reconnected with her love for fine art after more than a decade away from juried exhibitions, offering audiences a renewed vision of her creative journey. **Ed Hallborg — Tavern 2.o.1 Gallery** Western New York–based studio artist, theatre designer, educator, and musician **Ed Hallborg** brings his innovative sculptural practice to the Tavern 2.o.1 Gallery. Hallborg’s work, which he calls *Cement Painting*, transforms cement applied to wooden panels into low-relief sculptures he refers to as *Glyphs*. His artist statement emphasizes the interplay of material and meaning: by reimagining cement as a medium for symbolic expression, he bridges painting and sculpture. Hallborg’s Glyphs invite audiences to explore texture, form, and interpretation, reflecting his multidisciplinary background and commitment to experimentation. **GO ART! Annual Members & Staff Exhibition — M&T Bank Gallery & Main Stage** The M & T Bank Gallery will feature GO ART!’s annual members and staff exhibition, a signature event that has become a beloved tradition. This showcase highlights work in all media created by GO ART! member artists, wrapping up the year’s programming with a celebration of creativity and community. A special feature of this juried exhibition is its award component, which includes the **GO ART! Chairwoman of the Board Choice Award**, honoring artistic excellence among participating members and staff. Gallery Curator and Education Director for GO ART! Jacqueline “Jackie” Swaby says, “This triple reception is a true celebration of artistic diversity. Mary Beth Kushner and Ed Hallborg each bring deeply personal and innovative practices to our galleries, while the annual members’ exhibition reflects the collective spirit that makes GO ART! such a vital hub for creativity. We invite the community to join us in honoring these voices and to experience the joy and contemplation that art inspires.”