A new gallery will be among those participating in the Sewickley Spring Gallery Walk from 6 to 9 Friday night.

		Others participating in gallery walk Sweetwater Center for the Arts, 200 Broad St. -- "Focus on 5," five members of the Fiberart Guild of Pittsburgh. Sewickley Herald office, 533 Beaver St. -- Sweetwater-sponsored show, "The Long Road Back," paintings by Lisa M. Rasmussen. International Images, 514 Beaver Street -- Impressionistic landscapes and flora by Douglas Wynn. Sewickley Gallery and Frame Shop, 549 Beaver St. -- "Kitchen Nostalgia," photography by Richard Snodgrass. Que Sera Sera, 559 Beaver St. -- "Moments," paintings by Susanne Vernon and gallery owner Linda Breen.

Elan art gallery reignites the glow at 427 Broad St. that dwindled when Katharine Amsler closed Bird In The Hand gallery in 2006 after 38 years in that location.

Sewickley resident Joan Barenbregge purchased the building last year and opens the doors of the renovated space for the first time with an inaugural exhibition of two- and three-dimensional work by 11 southwestern Pennsylvania artists.

Barenbregge, who was born and grew up in Baldwin Borough, is an artist who earned a BFA from what is now Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Erie County. Later, she returned to school, earning a degree in graphic design from LaRoche College. She's lived in different parts of the state, working as a graphic designer as well as in other positions that, she says, have given her the experience needed to manage a business.

Barenbregge says she's always wanted to be involved with or to own a gallery. Now, with her three children grown, she felt it was "the right time in my life to take on a new business."

After reflecting a moment upon the amount of work that has gone into re-configuring the building to suit her needs, she laughingly says, "This is my fourth baby here -- and the labor may have been more intense on this one."

Barenbregge envisions Elan as "mainly a contemporary gallery," exhibiting some sculpture and glass work and more two-dimensional work, primarily painting or mixed media.

She plans to represent artists who "have been practicing for some time," but will also show emerging artists, and is accepting submissions from artists who are interested in exhibiting at the gallery.

Exhibitions will change approximately every three weeks and include solo and group shows.

Inaugural exhibition artists are Sarah Beitler (encaustic wax paintings), Christo Braun (resin on steel), James Guentner (paintings), George T. Mendel (photography), John Del Monte (paintings), Jeffrey Moyer (glass art), Diana Riebling (glass jeweler), Hilary Shames (multi-media), James Shipman (sculpture), Lee Steadman (watercolors) and Frank Webb (watercolors).

Many are familiar names that are frequently represented in area exhibitions, but Braun's a relative newcomer. His late wife was a Pittsburgh native, and he moved here recently from San Francisco, attracted by the reasonable cost of living, Barenbregge says.

A solo exhibition of Frank Webb's watercolors is planned next, followed by Robert Brandegee's furniture and grandfather clocks by Rick Mowrey.

Barenbregge hopes to find more studio time for painting and to eventually exhibit her own acrylic and mixed-media abstracted landscapes.

She also plans to begin hosting bi-monthly author or poetry readings soon, as a community outreach.

The inaugural exhibition continues through May 12. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call 412-749-0427 or visit www.elanarts.com.