Lake Wylie’s first art gallery opens at The River Rat

Lake Wylie has its first art gallery at The River Rat restaurant on Highway 557.

International artist Jonay di Ragno, now living at Lake Wylie, and Gerry Woods, event planner at The River Rat, spearheaded a monthly Art Night the third Wednesday of the month starting in May. Now, the front window of the restaurant displays artwork from local and regional artist throughout the building.

“We want to be Lake Wylie’s first gallery,” said Woods, who also is a chocolatier. “We want to do or be something different.”

Woods said he wants local artists – painters, potters, any media – to contact him to be part of the gallery and Art Night. He’s hoping to create a list of artists to rotate artists on Art Night and fill the building with painting and sculptures.

“We are excited about this new direction,” Woods said. “We have the space for it.”

Alesandra Randazzo, co-owner of the family restaurant, is an artist herself and was part of the conversations, too, to start the Art Night months ago.

“People seem to love it and keep coming back to our gallery nights,” she said, explaining that’s why a gallery is a good fit for the eatery because it lets guest bring home a little piece of The River Rat and the artwork they love.

Along with the gallery announcement at 8:10 p.m. July 22, di Ragno unveiled a color flowing painting that shimmers like the lake’s water he hopes will become as iconic as the restaurant that will house it.

“This painting is for Lake Wylie, made for Lake Wylie as a tribute to this area,” he said. “The water is our magic.”

A poem written expressing the painting explains in one line, “sacred water pouring into my creativity.”

“I’m lifting the water,” he said. “I want to add light and culture into Lake Wylie.”

Di Ragno said he created the painting using Lake Wylie water, as well as mixing pebbles and organic material on the shoreline into the paint.

Like Art Night, paintings and artwork in the gallery will be for sale.

“We’re going to make the gallery shoppable,” di Ragno said.

Artist Stanley Matheny of Steele Creek brought his work including paintings, drawings and scratch art to every Art Night.

“I like to show my work and maybe get my name out there,” the retiree said.

He like the full-time gallery.

“It’s commendable of them to do it,” he said.

Artist Mico Cardona of Steele Creek has been at all three Art Night events selling what he has coined, “fun pop art.”

“I enjoy being here and talking to people,” he said.

River Rat employee Heather Keziah of Clover said she’d never found an interest in art until Art Night. She bought a piece for her daughter last month, and was elated this month by a piece she asked Cardona to create.

“I just really like Mico’s art,” she said. “I asked him to create something with Hello Kitty, and it’s so cute.”

She was impressed by little details the artist included, such as the River Rat sign on the wall behind Hello Kitty and the giraffe picture the character his holding. It’s the picture she bought for her daughter.

Kimbrly Hanson of Rock Hill has been to all three Art Nights.

“It’s good to bring culture into the area and I like supporting local businesses,” she said.

Woods said he hears positive feedback about endeavoring into the art venture.

“It keeps me motivated to see this work,” he said.

Di Ragno hopes the community embraces the art world at home.

“Maybe this is the beginning of something big,” he said. “I think we’re ready.”

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Lake Wylie’s first art gallery opens at The River Rat."