Masonic Village resident and artist Ernie Albert proudly shows off his self-portrait oil painting, which will be on display at an Art Exhibit to honor his 100th birthday and career as an artist, Nov. 19-20, at Masonic Village.

The public is invited to a FREE Art Exhibit to celebrate the 100th birthday of Masonic Village resident and artist Ernie Albert, 6:30 - 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, in the Kenneth Mills Auditorium at Masonic Village, 801 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, Pa. A special birthday reception is planned for Friday.

On display and for sale will be 21 of Albert's oil paintings, including his version of "The Mona Lisa," for which he offers his "apologies to Leonard DaVinci," and a self-portrait. Other artists from the Masonic Village also will be displaying their paintings and crafts.

Born in Philadelphia in 1904, Albert began studying art in the 1920s at Frankford's La France Art Institute. For the next 42 years, he worked on the art staff of a Philadelphia photo engraving firm, where he did photo retouching, freehand drawing and graphic illustrations, until his retirement in 1970. In the 1940s he began painting with oils, setting up an art studio at the home he shared with his late wife, Mae. An avid traveler, Albert painted scenes from places he visited, including Hawaii, South America and Russia. He also painted numerous portraits and local landmarks and historic buildings, including Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge, Bryn Athyn Cathedral and Elfreth's Alley. More than 300 of Albert's oil paintings have been shown in numerous galleries and are in private collections and corporations. As recent as 1997, Albert's work was selected for the "Artists of America" calendar. Albert continued painting after retirement until 1999.