Laurel Underground Arts will hold its first exhibition, the Summer Art Show, at Oak Street Place in Downtown Laurel. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place on June 12 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the art gallery above Lee’s Coffee and Tea.

Laurel Underground Arts is a newly formed artists association, created to increase public awareness about the caliber of work already being created by Pine Belt artists and to encourage feedback and inspiration within the local art community.

“All artists need quality feedback and who better to receive it from than fellow local artists," said Eric Roberts, owner of Roberts Creative.

“Laurel and the surrounding Pine Belt area have a uniquely talented pool of artist diversified in many mediums and this is an opportunity for local artists to meet each other for the first time or get to know each other."

Local artists are invited to include work in the show. The show has no specific theme other than being work of artists from the Pine Belt area. Artists that will be participating in the exhibit include: Mark Brown, Guy Glorioso, Beth Henderson, Sharon Howard, Jason Kimes, Patrick Little, Roger McLeod, Towanna Moffett, Eric Roberts, Spence Townsend, Stephanie Thompson, and Amy Walters. A variety of mediums will be featured, from painting and sculpture to photography and pyrography.

“We are hoping to get a diverse group of artists from the area with diverse work such as paintings, sculptures and all types of fine art,” said Jason Kimes, owner of Completely Clean. “The initiative is to develop a local community of artist that will communicate and give and recover feedback with other local artist.”

Laurel Express, the local Main Street program, is working closely with the Laurel Underground Arts to promote the downtown show.

“In successful Main Street programs across the country, there is often a direct, supportive relationship between the downtown district and the artist community,” said Express director Jacqueline Lee. “It’s a formula that works and we want Laurel to capitalize on it as well.”

Lee’s Coffee & Tea is located at 409 Oak Street in historic downtown Laurel, directly across from Hortman & Harlow and the YWCO.

For more information, email info@laurelundergroundarts.com or visit www.laurelundergroundarts.com.