If you are Irish or if you’re not, the Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy has two ways to celebrate the Irish holiday.

Vickie Pritchett, JCA executive director, said on St. Patrick’s Day everybody is Irish and everybody is invited to celebrate the Irish holiday at the Johnson Center.

“We are going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a day early with an artists’ reception for exhibiting artist, Lisa K. Stokes and Virginia Fergus, on Thursday.

Stokes’ “Cowboy Contemporary” and Fergus’ “Journey through Daydreams” have been extremely popular exhibitions and the artists’ reception is an opportunity for the community to meet the artists and learn more about passion and process of their artwork.

“This will be a very informal artists’ reception,” Pritchett said. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to actually view the exhibits through the eyes of the artists. They will walk through the exhibits with our patrons and share stories about their work. Not often do we get to experience such a close encounter with exhibiting artists.”

Stokes is a highly acclaimed digital artist who divides her time between Weatherford, Texas and Pike Road. Fergus is an Atlanta-based and well-known watercolor artists.

The artists’ reception will be from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday and, in celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day on Friday, will feature traditional Irish music played by the Troy University Celtic Ensemble featuring Hun Har Heste. Homemade desserts will be served.  “The reception will be a time for fellowship as well as a wonderful time of sharing with two very talented artists,” Pritchett said. “Admission is free and everyone is invited.”