Springfield Area Arts Council’s On My Own Time visual arts competition has marked its 25th anniversary by changing its name to Art After Hours.
The exhibit is on display through Dec. 21 in the Springfield Art Association’s M.G. Nelson Family Gallery at 700 N. Fourth St. in Springfield
More than 200 works of art by 86 artists were submitted to compete in November in 10 workplace exhibits. A panel of local artists — photographer and artist Zach Adams and educators and artists Julie Brown and Linda Post-Lucas — judged those exhibits and the 58 pieces of art that received first-place awards over 13 categories now make up the Art After Hours exhibit.
“This is such a worthwhile program, both for employees and employers,” said Rosemary Buffington, coordinator of this year’s program. “It is amazing to see the creativity of those who put in a day’s work and then on their own time create exciting works of art. The Springfield area is fortunate to have such a tremendous outlet for workers turned artists.”
From among those 58 pieces of first-place art, the Art After Hours exhibit also was judged and awards presented.
Participating employers for the workplace exhibits include Bunn, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Illinois Department of Revenue, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois State Police, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield Public School District 186, The Wardrobe and YMCA.
Art After Hours is organized as a biennial exhibition by Springfield Area Arts Council with funding support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency to help businesses identify and celebrate the artistic talents of their employees.
Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free.
