Grace McWayne School Home to Free, Mini Community Art Gallery
FREE COMMUNITY ART GALLERY OPENS IN BATAVIA
BATAVIA, IL (September 13, 2021) – A free, 24-hour miniature gallery, the first of its kind in Batavia, was erected at Grace McWayne School on August 16, 2021.
Located at the top of the hill next to the blue stair rail at the school, the Free Little Art Gallery in Batavia enables the public to view the artwork of community artists, take home art pieces that they like, and add artwork that they themselves create. The collection changes as new pieces are added and existing pieces find new homes. The only permanent fixtures are the gallery’s furniture, easels, and patrons.
Gallery additions must be 6” x 9” or smaller, but all types of art media are welcome, including paintings, drawings, prints, collage, poetry, sculpture, and ceramics.
The 24-hour community gallery makes art and craft more accessible than a traditional gallery, providing amateur artists and artisans the opportunity to display their work to a local audience and enabling all levels of artistry to be shared, viewed, and appreciated.
The Free Little Art Gallery in Batavia is curated by local artist and veteran art teacher Nikki Pappanduros, who was awarded a grant from the Batavia Mothers’ Club Foundation (BMCF) to construct the gallery. Recipients of grant dollars share BMCF’s goal of improving the lives of children and families in Batavia and the Fox Valley.
“My hope was to bring joy to the community, to be a bright spot on a dog walk or bike ride or for students waiting for the bus in the morning,” stated Ms. Pappanduros.
The Free Little Art Gallery in Batavia can be found on Instagram at @freelittleartgallery_batavia.