CUTLINE: (From Left to Right) Bristol residents Sarah Johnson and Michelle St. Pierre pose with one of their favorite pieces at their newest exhibit featuring George Nowak at Bare Bones Gallery, in Bristol. The partners, who met through a mutual friend, donated $288 in proceeds from the exhibit to the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, in support of Nowak, who has battled MS for more than 20 years. Johnson discovered the artwork while visiting Nowak’s home, and knew that her gallery needed to pay tribute to the artist after learning that she and St. Pierre shared something in common with the famous artist other than their love of art – they too battle autoimmune diseases. Johnson has Type I diabetes and St. Pierre lives with Sjogren’s Syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. The show opened on June 21, and will remain open until Friday, July 19. In addition to displaying a new exhibit every six weeks, the gallery also hosts a summer art workshop series for local children. The gallery, which opened in August 2011, is located at 156 School St, in Bristol. For more information on Bare Bones, email Michelle St. Pierre at michellestpierre@att.net. For more information about the multiple sclerosis or to make a donation, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.
