By John Chambless
Staff Writer

Moving a few feet down to its new home at 200 E. State St. in Kennett Square has made a world of difference for Mala Galleria.

Without knowing whether she would be able to complete the move in August, gallery owner Stella Scott opened the new gallery for First Friday on Aug. 4 with a cross-section of the artists she'll be featuring regularly. The move has quadrupled her exhibition space. There's a light tone, open floor plan and thoughtful placement of artwork and crafts by an admirably diverse group of artists, pointing the way toward a bright future.

There are surprises at every turn. Metal sculptures by Chadds Ford artist Lisa Fedon are most immediately noticeable. Her multi-layered metal and glass table, “Everlasting Truths,” and the strikingly original sculptural chairs around it are wonderful. Her two circular pedestal sculptures “Hope” and “New World Order,” previously seen at the Philadelphia Flower Show, as well as the room-filling, life-size horse in the middle of the gallery (“Reaching Out”) are splendidly constructed with car parts and industrial bits that seem to be delicately joined by some sort of alchemy.

Fedon also has a wall full of wire sculptures that are like doodles come to three-dimensional life. Each one is a fun, squiggly work of art, such as “Taking Notes,” an outline of a notebook with the tip and eraser of a pencil jutting out, as if the notebook cover is actually covering them up. “Ideas” is the outline of a light bulb, with a vintage puzzle piece nestled inside. “Believe” is a zig-zag of rays and a central orange-yellow ceramic shard that suggests the creative spark.

The gallery's past international slant continues with the razor-sharp color photography by Michael Gunselman – a series of striking images taken during his travels in Russia, France and the Netherlands. There are wonderful wooden birdhouses by John Siepelinga; flowing, magical paintings of light reflecting on water by Peter Quarracino; glowing ceramic lamps by Ki Crittenden; and exceptionally fun found-object sculptures by Kennett Square artist Roberta Little.

You'll find large, vividly colored woodland paintings by Lele Galer, two bins full of framed original works and prints for browsing, and – in a nod to more traditional Chester County work – bright farm landscape paintings by Keith Hoffman.

The silhouette of dried stalks by Frank DePietro is captivating, and the semi-abstract, dreamlike paintings by Helena Stocker also command attention. There is great original jewelry as well, and with the extra space, Scott is looking forward to spotlighting artists in the various rooms beginning in September. In short, Mala Galleria has something for nearly everyone. The selection is fresh, unexpected and brimming with possibilities.

For more information, visit www.malagalleria.com or call 620-998-5892.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].