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Lucy Solano Mulcahy was born in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. She had a successful career in export management and international corporate law before deciding to study art. She was a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and achieved a master's degree from the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was trained in abstract and non-objective art and many of the modern art forms, but preferred realism. She painted from observation, memory, imagination, and what she called "moments in time" when all the elements seem to come together to form that special, shining image. Her work is included in several private and public collections. In addition to her talents as a painter, she was a gifted writer and a member of the gallery writers’ group for many years. For many years, Lucy was the mainstay for Mena Art Gallery, as it came to be known. Its legal designation is SouthWest Artists, Inc. She did a great deal of the work to renovate an entire floor of a downtown building for the gallery which was rented from the City of Mena. When that space was lost due to sale of the building, she worked with The First National Bank who agreed to provide display space for the work of local artists and for receptions for the art competitions held by the gallery. With no “home” for her beloved gallery, she kept all the records and artwork safe and was instrumental in finding and purchasing the present location. Lucy shared her knowledge of art with students of all ages and particularly enjoyed working with children. She also worked with many local businesses and helped to obtain their support to keep the gallery alive through many lean years. As a final gesture of support, she left the gallery a bequest in her will. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know her and to work with her miss her guiding hand, her talent, her great common sense, and her infallible humor every day.