"Joie de Vivre: Karel Mikolas-Antonio Salemme" features rarely-shown terra cotta (fired clay) figurative works, plus ink and charcoal drawings, by two classically-trained European-born artists who settled in the Lehigh Valley at The Antonio Salemme Foundation gallery, 542 W. Hamilton St., Suite 203, Allentown.

An opening reception for "Joie de Vivre' is noon - 5 p.m. June 2 in the Salemme gallery, where the exhibition continues through June 30.

The terra cotta works, called bozetti, represent the initial "sketch" stage of the sculptor's art. Mikolas is showing a series of variations on figures of dancers, created in the last year.

The works of Mikolas (b. 1939) and Salemme (1892-1995) have more in common than their chosen artistic medium. Both artists were born in Europe Mikolas in Czechoslovakia and Salemme in Italy. Both received rigorous training in an academic system of apprenticeship with roots in the Renaissance. Both emigrated to the United States and settled in the Lehigh Valley.

Salemme moved to Williams Township, Northampton County, in 1962 and continued to create there prolifically until his death at age 102.

Mikolas has maintained a home and studio in Newside, Lehigh County, since 1975.

Salemme is represented by six of his "Environments," more elaborate terra-cotta compositions combining figures with architectural elements, created in the mid-1960s.

Complementing the sculpted sketches are drawings, in charcoal and chalk by Mikolas, and in ink by Salemme.

Also on view are works by both sculptors in plaster and bronze, including the bronze maquettes (scale models) for two of Mikolas's large-scale local public commissions: his Asa Packer memorial at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, and his monument to Dr. Conrad Raker at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown.

Works by Salemme include the sculptor's 1926 bronze portrait of Paul Robeson (collections National Portrait Gallery and Allentown Art Museum), his 1927 bronze portrait of Ethel Waters (collection National Portrait Gallery and Lehigh Valley Hospital) and his 1964 bronze portrait of John F. Kennedy (collection JFK Library).

The Antonio Salemme Foundation maintains the gallery in Allentown to preserve and celebrate Salemme's artistic legacy.