Summer 2023
Gemstones
A group exhibition featuring philanthropic artists
June 29 - July 27, 2023
Reception: Thursday, June 29, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present Gemstones, a group exhibition that features an accomplished roster of local, regional and national artists that have also served as donors to the gallery. The exhibition will open with a free public reception from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, and will run through Thursday, July 27.
Gemstones will feature over 40 visual artists. This feature exhibition recognizes the scope of their artistic abilities alongside their giving spirit. Like gemstones themselves, this exhibit highlights artist donors, their artwork and their generosity as distinct, beautiful and bright.
“So many of the donors that support our gallery program are themselves accomplished artists. They see the value of our program and the ways that contemporary art connects us to a range of social issues, experiences and perspectives,” said Allison Lacher, director of the UIS Visual Arts Gallery. “Their philanthropy plays a crucial role in ensuring that our gallery program remains a creative space for expression and vibrant community resource.”
Springfield artist Barbie LaFrance, who is also an alumna of the Visual Arts Program at UIS, is looking forward to the exhibit.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the artists that donate to the gallery, to exhibit our work and gather together in the space we want to support,” LaFrance said. “So much of our work is about community and supporting one another, and I love the ways that this exhibition is a reflection of this.”
Exhibiting artists come from the UIS campus community, Springfield, central Illinois, St. Louis, Chicago and beyond.
“The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is honored to recognize and feature these artists, both for their talents in the studio as well as for being champions of our gallery program,” Lacher said. “Contemporary art is a transformational catalyst for our students, Springfield and beyond.”
Exhibiting artists include: Laura Anderson, Samra Aslam, Harshavardhan Bapat, Jessica Bingham, Stanley Bly, Ramona Boston, Joan Burmeister, Bruce Burton, Melinda Chapman, Rachel Cohn, Laura Kay Coffey, Sage Dawson, Bob Dixon, Betsy Dollar, Thomas Gebhardt, Colleen Halford, Benjie Heu, Jan Sorenson Hill, Monica Hohimer, Gina Hunt, Travis Janssen, Barbie LaFrance, Lisa Lofgren, Ben Lowder, Brian MacKenzie, Alexander Martin, Seraphina McAteer, Corrin Smithson McWhirter, Anna Mulch, Marco Mulder, Mark Rospenda, Michelle Ryan, Leslie Salter , Jen Santarelli, Diane Schleyhahn, Carolyn Owen Sommer, Mary Ellen Strack, John Stringer, Gene Tanta, and Christopher A. Tice.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Sciences Building, room 201. Limited summer gallery hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday from July 10 - July 27, 2023. The gallery will be open June 26 from 5:30-8 p.m. for the exhibition opening reception, and will be closed for the week of July 4.
Fall 2023
Social Practice
Brian Gillis and Mike Miller
August 28 - October 5, 2023
Reception: Thursday, September 1, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
More details coming soon!
Heather Bennett
October 19 - November 16, 2023
More details coming soon!
Annual Silent Auction & Benefit
Online: November 13 - December 7, 2023
On-site: December 4 - December 7, 2023
Reception: Thursday, December 7, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
More details coming soon!
Spring 2024
Jeff Williams
January 16 - February 8, 2024, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Reception: Thursday, January 25, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
More details coming soon!
Ruby Que
February 12 - March 7, 2024
More details coming soon!
Guen Montgomery
March 18 - April 11, 2024
Reception: Thursday, March 21, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
More details coming soon!
Student Exhibition
April 22 - May 2, 2024
Reception: Thursday, April 25, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
More details coming soon!