Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Scene

This is an example of the encaustic collage work that artist Lori Chilefone creates.

Local artists will take the stage this Friday at the State Theatre, 316 Eau Claire St., painting, sculpting, creating collages and more in the first ever liveART show put on by the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center.

The show is put together by the Visual Arts Committee and features 20 artists creating their art live on the main stage. The event is free to attend and the public will have the opportunity to silently bid on pieces of artwork throughout the night.

The show will run from 5 to 10 p.m. and all proceeds go towards the renovation of the art gallery. The event will be an open-house style with artists working throughout the evening. There will also be two cash bars and live music during the show.

Samantha Gund, special projects and volunteer coordinator at the Arts Center, said this is the first time they have put on a live art show and are hoping to make it an annual event.

"It is just going to be a really neat experience for anyone to see what goes into the art process and making the visual arts," Gund said. "It is another way to promote the artists in town and raise funds to renovate the art gallery."

Gund said the artists will work in a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, ceramics, stained glass, beading, collage, print making and more. She said most of the artists performing are from the Chippewa Valley with one or two from the Twin Cities.

Gund said the Arts Center is hoping for a good turnout but they don't have a goal of what they want to raise for the Art Gallery. She said they just plan on putting reasonable starting bids on each of the pieces of art created during the show.

Gund added she hopes to be able to create some artwork herself during the show since she is also an artist, as long as everything is in place during the show since she is helping to organize the event.

Senior Elissa Balz, an art major at UW-Eau Claire, said she enjoys going to gallery openings and forums and that seeing an artist create his or her work would be a great experience.

"Those artists have the experience in creating art in their medium." Balz said. "Watching someone create something in front of you is how you learn and being able to communicate with those artists as well is valuable and inspirational."

Continued...

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