A quarter-century later, artist group still collaborates

The 25th annual Workshop for Contemporary Artists Exhibit will be held from Thursday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Old Courthouse Art Center, 101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock. An artist's reception is planned for 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Exhibit hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For details, call (815) 338-4525.

Exhibiting artists include Lynn Carlson, Doris Davis-Gallagher, Rita Kay Halvorsen, Judith Nahill, Nancy Seidler, Jeanine Hill-Soldner, Patricia Tanner and Alice White.

The Workshop for Contemporary Artists began in 1985 when a dynamic group of women created a forum in which they could view and critique each others work. Today most of the original members are still together with a few new additions. All of the women work in professional capacities as artists and teachers.

The Workshop for Contemporary Artists founded the Women's Works National Exhibit. Several of the members founded the Northwest Area Arts Council, the Algonquin Public Arts Commission, Art TALK and other arts-related community based initiatives.

The artists draw on one another for inspiration and validation for the time spent pursuing their passion. Each artist works in different media on independent projects that all come together on the day the exhibit is installed in the gallery. The WCA artists produce work that is thought provoking, sometimes provocative and always fresh.

The title for this year's show represents the number of years the WCA has exhibited annually at the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock.