The Hoboken Historical Museum invites the public to see its latest Upper Gallery art exhibit, “Sew Hoboken: Mixed Media Works by Louise Gale,” at a free opening reception on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 2 – 5 pm. The exhibit will be on view through Sept. 18. The Museum’s Upper Gallery features six artists per year whose work touches on Hoboken and its environs, through the support of a block grant from the State/County Partnership program for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

The mixed-media works on display in “Sew Hoboken” reflect Louise Gale’s recent interest in working with needle and thread, although she is a versatile artist in many media. “I like to dabble in all sorts of things,” Gale says. “Lately, I’ve been experimenting with sewing.” The works on display have a sewn element and incorporate other media, such as plasterwork, acrylic paints, photography and book craft. One collage piece features flora and fauna of Hoboken; another piece depicts the waiting room sign from the Hoboken train station, with sequins sewn into the image.

Gale grew up in South London, and was encouraged to be creative as a child. She spent many hours drawing, painting, and creating patterns with her beloved Spirograph. Accepted to art school at age 16, she studied drawing, photography, sculpture and design, then spent two years in the “potteries” in Stoke on Trent, England, learning ceramic design and how to make surface patterns.

Though Gale pursued a corporate career in training and development, she has always tried to keep up with her art as a hobby. Her career brought her Hoboken in 2004, but after struggling to find the time to nurture her creative side—even pulling the plug on her TV set—she recently took the plunge and became a full-time artist. She’s very active online, with a website and blog at www.louisegale.com, as well as a Facebook page, a Twitter account and an Etsy presence. Networking online, she’s found a very supportive global creative community. “They help you celebrate successes and support you through hard struggles,” she says, “and we give each other feedback through blog comments.”

Recently, her work was featured in Somerset Studio Magazine, on the cover of a book by Patti Digh, and in an article on Etsy in Inc. magazine. Louise will return to the Museum on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m. for a meet-the-artist reception, where she’ll discuss her work and answer visitors’ questions.