Luminance & Order' An exhibit of photographs by Geanna Merola opens Friday atMcKay Imaging Photography Studio and Gallery in Red Bank. "Luminance & Order" will run through May 15 at the gallery, located on the second floor of 12 Monmouth St. Merola currently teaches photography and the history of photography at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. "Bottle Still Life No. 2" Many of the works included in "Luminance & Order" are photograms, cameraless photographs created by placing objects onto photographic paper and exposing it to light. The character of the objects is transferred to the print in a way that makes them appear sensuous andmysterious, often resembling X-rays or artifacts from an archeological dig, Merola explains. "The prints have a minimal simplicity … and act as sketches or notes for more profound ideas," she writes in an artist's statement. "It has been common forme to combine and organize images fromnature, art and science to create a finished work." Other prints explore the possibilities of using various materials for photograms and combining them with photographic images that are contact-printed or projected. The still life images in one group use contact-printed negatives that are exposed along with paper and tissue placed on top or underneath the film. The photogram elements add texture and pattern to the images as well as altering the picture space in interesting ways, she said. "Still Life With Photogram No. 1" Additional uses of the negative include cutting the negative image to eliminate or recombine the photographic information. This technique can be seen in prints such as "Nests" and "Eggs and Tray" or the still life images of bottles, which have been cut, repositioned and contact-printed together, according toMerola. Merola's use of photography spans a period of over 30 years. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, inEurope and SouthAmerica. Her work is included in private, public and major corporate collections and has appeared on CDcovers aswell as book covers forworks of fiction and poetry. Merola divides her time between New York City andOceanGrove,where she keeps a studio near her home. Gallery hours atMcKay Imaging Photography Studio andGallery are 1-7 p.m.Wednesday and Thursday, or by appointment. For information, visit www.mckayimaging. com. Acollection of small personal pieces in various mediums, originals and prints by local artist Lisa Marie O'Connell is at theWest Long Branch Public Library, 95 PoplarAve., through May 2. For library hours, call (732) 222-5993. ArtsCAP, the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park, will take the first step toward building an artistic vision for Asbury Park, when it holds a roundtable briefing for artists, community leaders and residents of Asbury Park, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, in the Paramount Theatre, Ocean and Fifth avenues. Artists and community leaders will talk about the state of the arts in Asbury Park and plans to provide housing, work spaces and display venues for artists of all kinds, and create an arts district and public art spaces. Reception to follow will feature live entertainment. For more information, visit www.artscap.org. "The Sleeping Beauty" Red Bank Community Church (RBCC) will open its "New Life" art show April 26, 3-6 p.m. at 135 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. This unique exhibition features the work of local and national artists celebrating birth and rebirth. Everyone is invited to attend this free event. Additional exhibition hours are: Sunday, April 27, 1-3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 30 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, May 3, 3-6 p.m; and Sunday, May 4, 1-3 p.m. Artists interested in displaying their work at the exhibit can call RBCC at (732) 687-3580 or check www.redbankchurch. com for details. Deadline for entries is 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. A sleeping princess is awakened by the magical kiss of a handsome prince ... and they live happily ever after! The Company of Dance Arts brings "The Sleeping Beauty" to the stage of the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. The ballet features Tchaikovsky's famous score, choreography by Emmy-winner Peter Anastos, lavish period costumes and sets and guest artists from New York City companies. Tickets are $28-$12 at the box office, 99 Monmouth St., (732) 842-9000 or www.countbasietheatre.org. The Community YMCA Children's Cultural Center will host receptions for its Community Art Show at 51 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. Receptions will be held on Saturday, April 26, 3-5 p.m., and Sunday, April 27, 1-5 p.m. Admission is a donation. The show is open to all artists, 18 years or older, in all fine arts media. All work is original and available for sale to benefit the cultural center. Juror is Lawrence Cappiello, artist and executive director and co-founder of the Arts Guild of New Jersey, Rahway. For more information, call (732) 842-7177 or visit www.thecommunityYMCA.org. Compiled by Gloria Stravelli Designed by Eileen Russell-Gerber