On January 28, a snowy Friday afternoon in downtown Hamilton, a variety of people found shelter from the cold inside the MAD Art Gallery. The exhibit on display at MAD Art was the fourth annual “Black and White Show with Shades of Grey.”

Located in Lebanon Street Alley, the name MAD Art refers to the greater Madison County community. It hosts not only ex­hibitions, but also has numerous workshops open to the public. The workshops range from sub­jects such as stencil art to Thai cuisine, giving people an oppor­tunity to explore new and maybe hidden talents. MAD Art serves the Hamilton community as a non-profit organization in hopes to promote arts in the area. The MAD Art website boasts a fully voluntary staff dedicated to of­fering the community diverse and comprehensive arts.

The gallery attracts so many individuals because of the sup­port it gives to local artists with an emphasis on the sometimes overlooked gems of the Hamil­ton community. Taking a break from everyday life to experience an ar­ray of work done by the local artisans is a refreshing way to remind you of life’s simple joys and perhaps even discover a new passion for creative art.

The exhibit, which required that the artists may only present black and white pieces, was a unique and satisfying experi­ence. Pieces of art are often cluttered with distracting colors, and the simplicity of the color schemes only intensified the beauty of the art pieces. One might think that without any color, the pieces would all re­semble each other. On the contrary, each artist proved his or her individuality. The walls were decorated with an eclectic mix­ture of art ranging from pottery to photography.

Eliza Aierstuck, a first-year at Colgate, described the art show as “an unexpected delight. I had done some pottery in high school and therefore I had particular in­terest in the pots because I could tell how much hard work and skill had been incorporated into making them. I am really happy I made it down to the reception.”

In addition to photography and pottery, the other medi­ums presented at the art show included metal works, draw­ings and mosaics, all combin­ing to make for an artistically pleasing afternoon.

“Black and White and Shades of Grey” is not the only exhibit that MAD Art hosts throughout the year. On average it will host four to six shows, each with its own unique flavor. The exhibit will run until March 26, and I encourage all to take some time out of their day to see the art and learn something about the community’s local artists.