Main Street Gallery, Cambridge’s only cooperative art gallery, recently increased its membership by three when it welcomed new members Sherry Dever, Lisa Krentel and Ellie Ludvigsen.
Sherry Dever, who was born and raised in Baltimore and currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia. brings her considerable talents as a painter and mixed media artist to the group. She joins her sister, well-known local painter Lori Dever, who has been a member of the gallery for about a year. Sherry was trained in traditional methods of art and she feels that foundation gave her the discipline and focus to make her current art.
At present, her focus is on creating abstract expressionist works in both acrylic and oil paints. Sherry, who says she paints strokes of emotion on her colorful canvases, finds abstract painting freeing and exhilarating.
Mixed media artist Lisa Krentel spent her early years overseas with a family of artists who exposed her to sensory and artistic experiences and encouraged her to “make things.” She earned a BFA in painting and fine art photography from Moore College of Art and she says she weaves “tools and materials in new ways to create visuals that delight and surprise.” 
Inspiration can come from the news or big life changes, she claims, and her need to process these events gives rise to personal and emotionally charged artworks. She also has a respect and nostalgia for the past, which evidences itself in many of her photographs, collages and drawings.
Ellie Ludvigsen, a resident of Cambridge, also recently joined the artist owned and operated group. Ellie is a photographer whose favorite type of photography is street photography.
She loves taking raw and unposed glimpses of people being people, she says. She also loves using black and white to show pattern and form, when, as she puts it “color might distract.” Ellie has a master’s degree in public administration and forensic photography and worked in New York City in criminal justice for 20 years. She describes using her talents in visual arts to help gang kids, hardcore offenders, victims, and CEOs and staffs, to help change behavior.
View Sherry, Lisa and Ellie’s works in Main Street Gallery’s current show, “Summer Show with Mary Konchar,” which runs through August 29. Main Street Gallery is located at 518 Poplar Street in Cambridge, directly across from Jimmie and Sooks Restaurant. Current hours are Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and by appointment. Call 410-330-4659 for more information. Visitors can also view the show and purchase works online at the gallery’s new website, www.mainstgallery.net.