The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is set to present "Gemstones," an exhibition featuring accomplished local, regional, and national artists who have generously supported the gallery. The exhibition is now and runs until Thursday, July 27.
Highlighting 40 visual artists, "Gemstones" acknowledges their artistic talents and their spirit of giving. The exhibition symbolizes the distinct, beautiful, and bright nature of both the artists and their artwork, much like gemstones themselves.
Allison Lacher, the director of the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, acknowledges the donors' status as accomplished artists and their recognition of contemporary art's ability to address social issues and diverse perspectives. Their generosity ensures that the gallery remains a vibrant space for expression and a valuable community resource.
Local artist and UIS Visual Arts Program alumna Barbie LaFrance eagerly anticipates the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of community and mutual support among artists. LaFrance sees the exhibition as a reflection of these values.
The participating artists hail from the UIS campus community, Springfield, central Illinois, St. Louis, and Chicago. For a complete list of artists, visit uis.edu/visual-arts/visual-arts-gallery/current-exhibition.
Lacher expresses gratitude for the artists' talents and their support of the gallery program, emphasizing the transformative power of contemporary art for students and the wider community.
Supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located in the Health and Sciences Building, room 201. The gallery will have limited summer hours from, Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.