On the first Friday of August, Mulberry Art Studios, 19-21 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster, hosted the opening of local artist Tama Etra's collection titled "Mixed Bag." The display featured multiple pieces that utilize materials like leftover junk mail and unwanted magazines to create an array of mixed-media collages.

Primarily working with acrylic paints for most of her career, Etra began exploring the world of collaging and mixed-media work over the last 10 years. "Mixed Bag" also includes an acrylic painting and several alcohol ink pieces and showcases the artist's work beyond the conventional. Etra was born and raised in New York, where she studied commercial art at New York Technical College and had her artwork displayed in multiple galleries. In addition to her work as an artist, Etra pursued a career as a counselor specializing in women with addictions, where she used her love for the arts to help clients benefit from connecting with creative expression. She moved to Lancaster in 2005, where she continues to leave her mark on numerous different mediums. Etra will teach classes at Mulberry Art Studios this fall.

The "Mixed Bag" collection showcases one of many types of talent that have been featured at Mulberry Art Studios. The creative space has served as a host for artists of all kinds for nearly 35 years, welcoming painters, musicians, dancers and sculptors, and even contributing to the start of the First Friday tradition downtown. "My vision was to transform the city of Lancaster using creative arts and positive self-expression," said founder and owner April Koppenhaver. "As a little girl, my family traveled around the country, and I saw several vacant warehouses in decay. Artists always need space to exist, so it was a no-brainer. I wanted to present all of the arts under one roof." Koppenhaver herself is a writer, photographer and painter, and she hopes Mulberry Art Studios will serve as a model for cities across the country to foster the arts in their communities.

"There's a lot of excitement about the city and a lot of history. I want people to keep recognizing and investing in the artists that helped to transform it into such a desirable place to live," Koppenhaver said. "Thirty-five years ago, it was not this way. Big industries were not investing in the city, and artists affected Lancaster for the better." For more information on Mulberry Art Studios and its events, visit https://mulberryartstudios.com/.