Winter Garden of Youth:

Artwork by Young Aurora Artists from K-12 Schools
February 4 - March 18

Aurora Public Art’s galleries at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center will reopen on February 4, with a new show on the Third Floor Gallery entitled, “Winter Garden of Youth”.

The exhibit will run from February 4-March 18. An opening reception will take place on Friday, February 4 from 6-8 p.m. Student artists and their families will be present to celebrate their creations at this free Family Friendly event!

Annually Aurora Public Art highlights approximately 200 artworks by Aurora youth from kindergarten to seniors in high school. All local schools were invited to participate in this exhibition that celebrates the youth of Aurora. Media to be presented include drawings, paintings, and sculptures.

Regular gallery hours are 12-4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. The City of Aurora is following CDC, state, and county health guidelines for COVID safety measures. All visitors must wear a mask in all areas of the David L. Pierce Center. Please maintain the suggested 6-foot social distancing guidance while indoors. These guidelines are subject to change. 

The gallery and all events are sponsored by the City of Aurora. All are free and open to the public. Updates will be available on Aurora Public Art’s social media pages (@AuroraPublicArt on Facebook and Instagram). 

EXHIBITION: (Re)volution

Kyle Reeves’ painting retrospective 1999-2021

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, April 1st, 6-9 p.m.
EXHIBITION DATES: Friday, April 1-Saturday, May 21, 2022
CLOSING RECEPTION: Saturday, May 21st, 6-9 p.m.

LOCATION: Third Floor Gallery
20 E. Downer Place, Aurora IL 60505

GALLERY HOURS: Wednesdays-Fridays 12-4 p.m. & Saturdays 10-4 p.m.

“(Re)volution is a retrospective that highlights the last 23 years of Aurora resident Kyle Reeves’ paintings. The content of Reeves’ artwork spans concerns regarding social problems (such as veteran neglect, substance abuse, and violent behavior) to the healing power of meditation and gardening. The artist’s perspective is influenced by his experiences from his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, years in New York City, and years in Aurora. Reeves’ work reflects on America in general, and encourages the viewer to observe, think critically, and move forward with solutions to heal our society.

Kyle Reeves’ paintings are as straight forward and honest as he is. He observes more than he speaks, and he expresses those observations through paint. Every painting is connected to an anecdote that unlocks further layers of meaning, intention, and dry humor. While the paintings’ speak for themselves, we’ll being sharing some of the back stories in an exhibition catalogue, to be released at the closing reception on May 21.”
– Jenn Byrne Evans, Director of Aurora Public Art

“The living world and its history is an ever-changing mud of facts, assumptions, falsehoods, diversions, and mythologies. Each remarkable experience, confusing news article, recounting of a historical episode, or debate regarding myth is an opportunity for each of us to examine and re-calibrate our structure of beliefs. These paintings are a reflection of our world and a record of the artist's pursuit of reconciliation.

Kyle Reeves, a native of rural Oklahoma, received his BFA in painting and BA in comparative religion from the Kansas City Art Institute and his MFA in painting from the School of Visual Arts (NYC). The artist lives and works in Aurora, Illinois.” – Kyle Reeves

The exhibition and opening reception are free, and open to the public. 
Neither the artist nor the City of Aurora promote any negative behaviors that may be depicted in the artwork.
Sponsored by the City of Aurora

EXHIBITION: ReMix

Collage Work by 32 Local and Regional Artists

EXHIBITION DATES: Friday, June 3-Saturday, July 23, 2022 

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, June 3rd, 6-9 p.m., Entertainment by House DJ YoKev
CLOSING RECEPTION: Saturday, July 23rd, 1-3 p.m., including a free collage workshop, open to the public.

LOCATION: Third Floor Gallery
20 E. Downer Place, Aurora IL 60505

GALLERY HOURS: Wednesdays-Fridays 12-4 p.m. & Saturdays 10-4 p.m. 

Artwork by 32 local and regional collage artists will be featured in ReMix, the latest Aurora Public Art gallery exhibit, sponsored by the City of Aurora. Exhibit events include an opening reception during Aurora Downtown’s First Friday, June 3rd, 6-9pm; come meet many of the artists and experience the sound collages of local house music DJ YoKev. The final exhibit event will be a closing reception, July 23rd, 1-3 pm; included during this closing event will be a free collage workshop, materials provided, and the release of the exhibit catalogue. (Image: Amanda Meyer, Perpetual Symbiosis, detail)

Featured artists include:

Becca Baker
Madeleine Bailey
Sara Peak Convery
DADASOULFACE
Jason DeLancey
Elizabeth Dzurcsko
Cherylyn Gnadt
Beth Gollan
Josh Grotto
Amanda Lynn Hoopingarner
Millicent Kennedy
Kat Lisle
Laura Lynne
Marie Lubshina
Tom Mahady
Amanda Meyer
Susannah Papish
Efrain Perez
Alan Pocaro
Mark Radina
Jennifer Rauch
Helen Ratzlow
SeaChi Projects
John Siblik
Camille Silverman
Salvatore IV Siriano
Doug Stapleton
Jeff Stevenson
Kelly Swayne
Sandra Wilcoxon
Grahame Wilkin
Anton Witek

The exhibition and opening reception are free, and open to the public. 
Sponsored by the City of Aurora.

BOM' THE LOT 2 2022 LINEUP

ARTISTS
Cres Roc
Deal35
Fisk
Jose Art
Kozmo
Lita Lu
Pierre Lucero
Pugs Atomz
Rogue1
Sonryze
Stef Skills
Zura
-and more

MUSICIANS
Brown Royal
Bussy Kween Power Trip
Damage Dames
Heet Deth
Higher Ark
DJ JFonzo
Maker
Malafacha Ska
Pueblo de la H
Pugs Atomz
Rogue1
-with a special appearance by
John San Juan's 60s/70s SUPERGROUP

Updates and information about the entertainers will be shared on the Aurora Public Art Facebook page.

Link directly to the event here.

RESILIENT

Featuring: Monica Rezman, Jean Alexander Frater, & Bobbi Meier

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, September 2, 6-9PM
ARTIST PANEL: Saturday, September 24th, 2-4PM
EXHIBITION DATES: Friday, September 2- Saturday, September 24, 2022

The Aurora Public Art Commission will host Resilient, an exhibit showcasing the works of three acclaimed Chicago-based artists: Monica Rezman, Jean Alexander Frater and Bobbi Meier. 

The public is invited to attend two free events during which they can meet the artists. An opening reception will be held September 2nd, 6-9pm, during Aurora Downtown’s First Friday event. An artist panel discussion will be held Saturday, September 24th, 2-4pm. A collectible exhibit catalogue will be published following the closing of the exhibit." 

Curator Jenn Byrne shares, “For each of these artists, decades of commitment to their craft, both informed by and challenged by the multiple roles women play, has led to the development of uniquely sophisticated yet relatable approaches to story-telling through textiles. Rezman, Meier, and Alexander Frater move without boundaries between two- and three-dimensional fields; I see this innovation, shared amongst all three artists, as a result of the laid-back wisdom and sense of humor one earns over years of experience releasing expectations and adapting to life’s constant changes.” 

Rezman performs alchemy with humble cardboard, burlap sacks, and found objects to create puzzle-like forms. In her sculptures, she explores intimacy within abstraction.

Alexander Frater deconstructs her paintings, first painting the canvas then ripping it up, to disrupt the traditional format of painting. Her process morphs the 2D into the 3D and references history, tradition, and language.

Meier stuffs fabrics of varied textures and bold colors, to create soft sculptures that are at once fun and grotesque. These abstract works reference the body and reflect the complexity of lived experiences, life’s joy, fear, and frustrations.

Aurora Public Art is sponsored by the City of Aurora.

EXHIBITION LOCATION:
Third Floor Gallery
David L. Pierce Art & History Center
20 E. Downer Place, Aurora IL 60505

REGULAR GALLERY HOURS: Wednesdays-Fridays 12-4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m..

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Jenn Byrne Evans at [email protected]