“INSIDE MASAI HUT”: This painting by Nanci Gunkelman is featured in “Bringing the World Back Home: A Tribute to the Peace Corps,” on view at the Plainsboro Library Gallery June 1-26. An art reception will be held on June 2, 2-4 p.m., with former members of the Peace Corps on hand to discuss their experiences.

On view June 1-26 at the Plainsboro Library Gallery, “Bringing the World Back Home: A Tribute to the Peace Corps” celebrates nearly 60 years of American public service and an appreciate the myriad of cultures abroad. In the exhibit, artist and a former Peace Corps volunteer Nancie Gunkelman presents a collection of large scale paintings of people and landscapes she encountered during her years overseas. Working in a photo-realistic style, she captures the vivid colors, textures, and light in everyday scenes of life in developing countries.  An art reception will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2-4 p.m., with former members of the Peace Corps on hand to discuss their experiences.

A trained medical illustrator, Gunkelman began her career at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Hospital. She later served overseas in the Peace Corps, designing educational materials for the Medical Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. She continued working on health education programs for the United Nations and nonprofit organizations in Jamaica, Somalia, Sao Tome and Principe, and Nigeria.

Since the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in 2011, she has curated painting and photography exhibits to celebrate the joys and challenges of international service.

Gunkelman serves as cultural arts commissioner for Monroe Township, and has exhibited internationally at venues including the United Nations, New York; the U.S. Information Service in Gabon, West Africa; the Jamaica Art Institute in Kingston, Jamaica; and Gallery Matatu and the East African Women’s League in Kenya.

Her local/regional exhibitions have been held at Rutgers Art Library, Douglass Library; Georgian Court University; Howell Living History Farm; Monroe Township Library; Educational Testing Service; Artworks; Princeton University Club; Philadelphia Sketch Club; Grounds For Sculpture; Blazing Star Cultural Center, Carteret; and D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center.

The Plainsboro Library is located at 9 Van Doren Street, Plainsboro. Hours are 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday–Sunday. For more information, call (609) 275-2897.