Staff Contributor:
René Bue, HPL Art & Exhibit Coordinator and Fund Development Manager
October's art exhibits include watercolors, pencil drawings, acrylics, and torn paper collage portraits. The artists include a first-time exhibitor, an artist who paints places he has been, and a well-loved artist who passed last year.
Clarice Chicks was a well-known and much-loved artist in the Janesville Art League. Her love of and connection to art began at a young age with a drawing of a female likeness. Clarice's pencil drawing portraits are captivating as they show not only the human figure but also convey the emotion of the subject. Her artwork can be found on the River Wall. To learn more about Clarice and her artistic abilities, you can watch the Meet the Artist interview with her daughter, Lugene Chicks, here: Meet the Artist: Clarice Chicks.
Keo Gathman is a reluctant exhibitor who was convinced by her daughter and the HPL Art Exhibit Coordinator to submit pieces for the HPL 2025-2026 Art Season jurying. The public now is able to see the stories told in her torn paper collage portraits of famous people including David Bowie, Eartha Kitt, and Audrey Hepburn. Keo uses recycled magazines for the images and verbiage used in her collages. Be sure to take your time looking at her pieces that can be found in The Gallery; every word is related to the subject of each portrait.
Aaron Hedgecock's artwork transports you to the people and places of his life. As you wander through the Fireplace Room, you will find examples of his landscapes, portraits, and wildlife artwork done in oils, pencil, and acrylics. As with the other two artists featured in October, Aaron's passion for art began at a young age, and one of his earliest public creations was a mural for the City Hall of Evansville, Wis. To learn more about Aaron and his passion for art, watch his Meet the Artist interview here: Meet the Artist: Aaron Hedgecock.
Art is available for viewing during regular library hours. Viewers are encouraged to leave written comments for the artists in the binder located in the Fireplace Room. Special thanks to Teresa Nguyen and JATV Media Services for the Meet the Artist interviews that let us learn more about the artists and their inspirations.
Want to exhibit at HPL?
The library schedules exhibits and displays of interest, information, and enlightenment to the community throughout the year. Interested in becoming a featured artist? Click here to learn more.
See our full calendar of upcoming exhibits and displays here.