Give a diverse group of artists a theme and the freedom to play with it, and with luck you’ll get an exhibit that’s as charming and eclectic as “Mirror, Mirror,” currently on view at the Pegge Hopper Gallery. The cheerful storefront gallery, founded by the painter Hopper in historic Chinatown in 1983, has been transformed into an inclusive showcase for nearly 30 local artists of all ages and specialties, loosely united by the looking-glass theme.

“Pegge thought that it would be great to have a fun show that’s not restricted to traditional artists,” said Melanie Yang, gallery manager. “We wanted to include emerging artists and fashion designers as well as graphic designers.”

Yang sent a call-out to a selection of artists, leaving the mirror theme open to interpretation.

“With mirrors you get what you put into it — it’s not the same in most things in life,” said Nicole Naone, one of the artists in the show. “I nerded around with the theme and decided to concentrate on the reflective quality of mirrors — I chose to sculpt with light,” said Naone, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Her “OMGeode” is one of the few interactive pieces in the exhibit. A round, deep-red sculpture is embedded with small pieces of mirrors and geodes that reflects light from the sculpture onto the wall standing opposite of it. “I like how people can walk between the sculpture and the wall, the light is on them and it’s a fun way to force them to interact with the piece,” Naone said.

Another young artist, Kamran Samimi, had already been working with mirrors. “Over the last few years I’ve done many experiments with glass and mirrors as a sculptural material,” said Samimi, who has also done graphic design and traditional printmaking. “Illusion and expansion are central in my work, and mirrors are the most straightforward way to illustrate these themes.”

Samimi’s “Non-Duality” is made out of a piece of basalt (lava rock) cut in two with a wet diamond blade. After cutting and polishing the stone, mirrors were inserted between the slices, each reflecting one side while obscuring the one behind it. When viewed from the front, one can see that these two sides actually complete each other and are not separate.

Jeffrey Gress, a graphic designer and the owner of Lana Lane Studios in Kakaako, said his piece “Back off, Warchild seriously” was inspired by “Point Break,” one of his favorite movies. With a Dremel rotary tool, Gress etched a quote from the film, “We are here to show those guys inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive,” onto the surface of a mirror.

“I like the connotation of using a mirror, whether literally or figuratively, because it gives a chance for the artist to include a personal narrative,” said Gress.

The show has many other creative takes on the theme: Mirrors framed by old makeup accessories and guava branches, a series of hand-held mirrors depicting the artist’s dogs, a colorful oil painting on glass.

“Mirror, Mirror” is not only a celebration of diverse talents, but an exciting indication of a new era for the Pegge Hopper Gallery.

“We’re in a transitioning stage this year, evolving into where we’re hoping to regularly have more themed or group shows,” Yang said.

Visit the gallery before the end of the month for a glimpse of where mirrors could take you: These local artists prove that you can go in any direction you want.