Artistic skills of county employees highlighted at Gallery 625
The hidden talents of 15 Yolo County employees will be featured in the December art show at Gallery 625 in Woodland. Responding to a call for art sent to Yolo County employees, these civil servants responded with their artistic expressions created in their “other lives.”
The participating artists are Iulia Bodeanu, Dana Carey, Gary Engel, Julie Frost, Shauna Heidelberger, Arlen Feldwick-Jones, Nicole Kirkaldy, Margaret Kronenberg, Michelle Lawson, Leslie Lindbo, Britnee Messer, Laura Minnis, Anna Shramenko, Sharon Tani, and Kyle Wicky.
The artistic media in the exhibition is as diverse as the collection of county departments represented. A chess board with handmade clay chess pieces, Asian influenced wooden boxes, social justice artwork, self-portraits, and nature photography include some of the items in this unique exhibition. The “day job” titles of these artists include: case manager, director, librarian, appraiser, and agricultural inspector.
“This exhibit is an opportunity to get to know 15 Yolo County employees through their highly personal art, inspiring unique insights into who they are beyond their daily jobs,” said Janice Purnell, YoloArts creative director and the exhibition’s curator.
The artists will be attending the opening reception, 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, December 6, coinciding with the downtown Woodland First Friday Art Walk. Julie Dachtler, Yolo County deputy clerk will play holiday favorites on the piano. The reception will be hosted by YoloArts board member Beth Jackson.
“Hidden Talents: Artwork of Yolo County Employees” runs through February 4.
Also on exhibit at Gallery 625 Upstairs will be artwork created through the I SEE YOU project, an outreach and engagement art program for people experiencing homelessness. Artwork will be for sale, with sale proceeds going to individual artists. Special to the exhibition will be a mural created by participants at Fourth & Hope on exhibit before final installation at the Fourth & Hope emergency shelter in Woodland.
Gallery 625 hosts exhibitions and receptions every other month and is located at 625 Court Street in Woodland, in Yolo County’s Erwin Meier Administration building. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information contact YoloArts at 530-309-6464 or visit yoloarts.org.