RUMFORD — The Pennacook Art Center is presenting a unusual twist at the unveiling of a new art exhibit Friday at the River Valley Technology Center on Lowell Street.

A reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.

The exhibit features the works in oils, watercolors, acrylics, charcoal and colored pencil, hand weaving and photography by 15 artists from the River Valley area. There will also be talks and readings by two local writers and artists.

James Mulvaney of Andover will speak on his newly published book, “By the Light,” and Betsey Gray Bell will describe her work in a new book, “Moments of Transcendence.”

Originally from Alexandria, Va., Mulvaney has studied with photographer Ansel Adams, and has worked in the film industry. His book is dedicated to his wife, Christine, who died last year. He will describe black and white, color and digital photography.

Bell, the president of the board of the Pennacook Art Center, wrote a book that aims to wrap up her multiyear art project creating a collection of 135 2- and 3-inch wooden “stephanograms.”

The word means crown, she said.

During the past few years, she has painted natural subjects such as flowers, fruits, vegetables, shells and pine cones on the small, wooden panels.

The point of creating small art objects is to capture little moments of beauty in life that overtake us, she said.

“They represent intimacy, not power,” she added.

As she closes this artistic chapter, she is in the midst of her next multiyear, multimedia project.

She said she is now working on the natural treasures of the Swift River and Western Maine where she plans to create colored pencil illustrations of each, 3-inch by 5-inch oil paintings of each, and a book.

The 15-member Pennacook Art Center group meets monthly for a potluck supper and to critique or learn about each work of art created by its members.

The new exhibit and speakers’ presentations Friday is free and open to the public.

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