MARION — Locals flocked to the Marion Art Center on Saturday, April 13 to get a glimpse at a new collection of artwork lining the walls.

A reception for the opening of the new exhibit, which features pieces by Bernie Klim, a Mattapoisett resident, and Joshua Baptista, gave the public a chance to meet the artists, have a glass of wine and potentially find a new decoration for their homes.

When his parents were aging, Klim said he spent a lot of time driving around the South Coast with them.

“Car rides were a big part of their day,” said Klim. 

Many of Klim’s recent paintings are inspired by landscapes he saw out of his car window during these rides with his parents.

He said that he also drew inspiration from a song titled “Children’s Corner” by Claude Debussy.

“If you want energy, I am happy to give as much of it to you as I can,” said Klim of his work. “I like to change things up to keep myself entertained.”

Much of Baptista’s artwork featured buildings comprised of many small shapes and patterns.

“I noticed there was some sort of magic that happened when the collage was put down,” said Baptista. “I found something that worked and repeated it several times.”

Baptista recalls being inspired by art in Thrasher Magazine issues when he was growing up. He said that he knew from a very young age that making art was his calling.

“This is wonderful, it is like a celebration,” said Baptista. “All this hard work, and you get to put it up in a space where people see it and take away what they want.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Marion Art Center until May 17. Every piece on the wall is available for purchase.

The Marion Art Center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, call ahead for gallery hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 508-748-1266.