The Unison Art Gallery will host an opening for Judy Gonzalez on Friday, Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Water Street Market located at 10 Main St. in New Paltz. The artist’s unique collection of “spirit boxes” will be on display at the Unison Art Center until Nov. 29.

Gonzalez started creating her altar-like figures more than two years ago. With a Latin American background, she said her work is inspired by various cultures such as Mexican, Offrenda and Japanese. Gonzalez lived in Japan for about three years and noticed that many families managed to incorporate altars into their small living space. Gonzalez compared the centrally located altars in the homes of the Japanese to the television set in American culture.

According to Gonzalez, these shrines serve as a spiritual, meditative, nurturing, reflecting and memorial sanctuary. She feels there are numerous reasons for people to integrate altars and shrines into their homes and lives.

“It would be my wish to have them within homes as a commonplace,” she said.

For more information, visit Gonzalez’s Web site, Unison Art Gallery or call 845-255-1403.