LAFAYETTE – Lala Gallery and Studio, at 609 Main St., will host an artist reception for “All American Appeal” collaboration from past Purdue MFA students on Friday, Aug. 17 from 6-9 p.m.

The “All American Appeal” exhibition will go from that time to Sept. 12.

Mara Battiste is a current MFA candidate in Electronic and Time-Based Art at Purdue University , and she holds a BA in Studio Arts from Indiana University.  She is a multi-disciplinary artist who enjoys working with a variety of traditional and new media.  Her work has been exhibited in various local and national juried and invitational shows and is held in various private collections.  Mara is an art educator at Lafayette Jefferson High School and adjunct Ivy Tech faculty.

Garet Martin holds an MFA in Painting from Purdue University and a BFA in Studio Arts from Shawnee State University. His work has been exhibited in many national exhibitions and is held in numerous private collections. Currently, Garet resides in Des Moines, Iowa where he is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at Drake University.

Lisa Wicka is a current MFA candidate in Drawing and Printmaking at Purdue University, and holds a BFA from the University of Central Florida. She is a mixed media artist combining drawing, printmaking, collage and encaustic in her work.  Her work resides in the permanent collections of Southern Graphics Council, Mid America Print Council, Oregon State University, Purdue University and Ohio State University.

David Wischer holds an MFA in Printmaking from Purdue Universtiy and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Northern Kentucky University.  He has taught courses in Printmaking, Foundations Design, and Digital Art at both Northern Kentucky University and Purdue University. David has exhibited his work in national and international exhibitions, and has work in many private and public collections.

All Opening Receptions are free and open to the public. Works for purchase range from $20 - $7000 throughout the gallery.