Seven emerging artist are being profiled in a new exhibit opening at the Fort Gallery this week.

Every year, the up-and-coming artists who are part of the gallery鈥檚 Open Studio program, put together an exhibit. This one called Open Studio 2017, opened Wednesday, Sept. 20 and continues until Oct. 8.

The Open Studio program began in order to provide a nurturing environment for emerging artists, said gallery manager Margaret Campbell.

鈥淚ndividuals at all levels of their art practice, who need moral support, technical help, and honest, professional critique meet together in order to begin to develop or continue developing and exploring; their ideas, methods and materials,鈥� she explained.

The artists work with, and learn from, fellow emerging as well as professional artists in the community, building a network of creative individuals who can support each other, and perhaps find opportunities for collaborative projects and exhibitions.

鈥淢embers share their ongoing artistic process, learning as much from each other as from the mentors, and have the opportunity at the end of each year to show their work in a group exhibition,鈥� Campbell explained.

鈥淥pen Studio sessions are times of growth, inspiration, mutual support, hard work 鈥� and fun!鈥�

Those artists participating in this year鈥檚 exhibit are Anita Bugden, June Burkholder, Karen Christensen, Trish Clark-Jennings, Wendy Jones, Yuri Grier, and Rosemary Wallace 鈥� who have come together under the mentorship of Betty Spackman to 鈥渟upport each other in their journey as art makers.鈥�

There will be an opening reception for this exhibition held this Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the , 9048 Glover Rd. in Fort 91原创.