Ultra Studios hosts free reception for artist Nanci Ballew

We mentioned it earlier this week, but just in case you missed it, tonight (April 2), Ultra Studios’ is hosting an artist reception for The Rainbow Dream: Recent Paintings by Artist Nanci Ballew. It’s free, open to the public, and lasts from 6-8 p.m. at Ultra Studios, located at the corner of South Street and Archibald Yell Blvd.).

Ballew is originally from around here, but left to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in the late sixties. She ended up in Washington D.C., and while living near the museums of the Smithsonian Institute, she eventually landed her first solo exhibit in 1979 at the Lambda Rising, a book store and gallery near Dupont Circle.

Twenty years after moving east, Ballew returned to the Ozarks where she exhibited her work in group shows, like the annual Women’s Conference shows in the UA’s Anne Kittrell Gallery. She’s since exhibited pieces locally at the former Iris Gallery, Frameworks 645, Common Grounds, and Arsaga’s on Crossover.

If you haven’t been to Ultra Studios since it took over and completely remodeled its building on the s-curves here in town, consider heading out tonight for some food, wine and the latest from owner/fashion designer Brooke Benham. Benham’s designs were recently showcased on the runway at the 2010 Designers Choice Fashion Preview in Little Rock.

Here’s a slick video promo we found on Facebook:

Ultra Studios and Brooke Benham Present The Rainbow Dream: Recent Paintings by Local Artist Nanci Ballew – 4/2/2010, 6-8 p.m. from Scribe Marketing on Vimeo.