Aurora Public Art announces gallery reopening, exhibit schedule
Aurora Public Art's gallery at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center will reopen on Aug. 6, with three 2021 exhibitions planned.
After 15 months of being closed due to COVID-19, the third-floor gallery at 20 E. Downer Place will reopen with a reception for "Accelerating Inspiration: Art from Fermilab." Two additional exhibits are scheduled for the 2021 season, including a "Day of the Dead" show and the annual exhibit featuring student work from Aurora's schools.
"We look forward to welcoming people back to the gallery with an excellent line-up of artists and themes," states Public Art Director Jenn Byrne Evans.
The City of Aurora is following Centers for Disease Control, state, and county health guidelines for COVID-19 safety measures. Visitors who have not been vaccinated must wear a mask in all areas of the David L. Pierce Center. For fully vaccinated individuals, masks are still appreciated, but not required. Please maintain the suggested 6-foot social distancing guidance while indoors. These guidelines are subject to change.
Regular gallery hours for each show will be noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
All events are free and open to the public. Updates will be available on Aurora Public Art's social media pages @AuroraPublicArt on Facebook and Instagram.
• "Accelerating Inspiration: Art from Fermilab" (Aug. 6 to Sept. 25)
The first gallery show features art inspired by Fermilab, showcasing the work of three local artists: photographer Georgia Schwender, textile artist Lindsay Olson, and sculptor Jim Jenkins. An opening reception will take place on Friday, Aug. 6, and the artists will provide a gallery talk at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
• "Nine Steps to Mictlán: A Day of the Dead Art Exhibit" (Oct. 8 to Nov. 13)
Fósil, an international artist from Mexico, will exhibit work in a gallery show exploring the theme of the nine regions of Mictlán for a "Día de los Muertos" exhibit.
The nine regions of Mictlán or Chiconauhmictlán refer to the underworld of Mexican culture. It is a wordview of Nahua beliefs related to space and time, structuring a universe in parcels or regions determined by living forces. Its creation is due to the so-called "creator gods" (Xipetótec, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcóatl and Huitzilopochtli).
An opening reception will take place on Friday, Oct. 8.
• Winter Garden of Art: Aurora's Student Art Show (Dec. 3 to Jan. 15)
Aurora Public Art's annual youth exhibition will showcase the work of the students in Aurora's elementary and secondary schools. An opening reception will be held on the evening of Dec. 3.