Many businesses celebrate their opening anniversary by holding an open house. Eye Candy Gallery, on North East Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines, decided that wasn't nearly enough. Instead, gallery owner Frank Pierce is opening a second location, named Eye Candy Too, just around the corner, on East New Hampshire Avenue.

"The similarities end with the names of the galleries," says Pierce. "Eye Candy Gallery carries more traditional, representational art. Eye Candy Too will showcase modern art, abstracts, contemporary furniture and more."

The new gallery has already started to attract the attention of a number of talented artists in the Sandhills region and beyond. "Although we've already accepted quite a bit of work, we don't expect to have our full inventory on hand when the doors open."

When one door closes, another one opens.

"When we heard that Artist Gallery was closing, we knew it was the perfect space for our expansion," Pierce says. "The location is already known as a destination to view and purchase art. There's a call for contemporary art in this area. Our clients at Eye Candy Gallery kept asking for modern pieces. We are happy to respond and bring them what they crave."

The new gallery will be managed by Daniel Wake.

Wake, a talented artist and musician, is excited to help create what he believes will be a vibrant new art environment in the heart of downtown Southern Pines.

"The caliber of the artists coming in is amazing," he says. "I think our customers will be surprised and pleased by what they see."

Eye Candy Gallery will celebrate its second anniversary by showcasing the work of local abstract artist Marie Travisano.

"It's fitting that we will have Marie as our featured artist," says gallery manager Nancy Rawlinson. "We reached out to her five months ago to be our featured artist in October. At the time, we had no idea that we would be opening a second gallery."

Travisano is an award-winning, internationally collected artist with a free-flowing style and exciting sense of color. Her artwork is bright, fluid and full of dynamic energy. The same description could be applied to herself.

Travisano studied at Rutgers University, Art Center of the Oranges, the Montclair Museum, the Newark Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and with Janet Burgess, an abstract expressionist.

In spite of her extensive training, Travisano didn't use her talent for many years as she was busy with a successful business career. Also, her late husband, Ben Travisano, was a talented sculptor of marble and, despite his encouragement, she remained the artist in the background.

"After Ben's death, my friends urged me to enter my work in the Fine Arts Festival at the Arts Council of Moore County," she says.

To Travisano's surprise, "Both pieces were singled out, leading to new inspiration and enough sales to sustain more creative efforts."

Since then she has had many successful solo and group shows. She has also been instrumental in organizing several art exhibits, including the works of other local artists, in Fayetteville and Moore County.

"I love creating and am very inspired by light and color," says Travisano. "I'm always experimenting, always drawing, always painting. I get lost in what I'm doing." Although she primarily works in watercolors because of the freedom and looseness they allow, she also works frequently in acrylics and frequently combines both mediums.

Her work will remain on display until Oct. 19.

Both the grand opening party at Eye Candy Too and the Meet the Artist Event with Marie Travisano will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5. The public is invited to drop by throughout the evening at both location for refreshments.

Eye Candy Gallery & Wine Bar is located at 275 NE Broad St., Southern Pines, and Eye Candy Too is located at 167 East New Hampshire Ave., also in Southern Pines.

Regular gallery hours for both locations are Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call (910) 246-2266 or visit the website at www.eye-candy-gallery.com.