In the Gallery

Itty Bitty Bits of Art Show + Sale

A small works exhibit

Exhibition Dates: 10.31.24-11.26.24

Artist Reception: Fri, 11.1 // 5-8pm

Featuring small works from nearly 50 talented artists, each piece measures 12 inches or less, showcasing a diverse array of styles and mediums. This curated collection offers a fantastic opportunity to discover affordable art that makes perfect holiday gifts. Don’t miss the chance to support local artists while finding unique treasures for your loved ones!

 

Up Next:

All Member Show + Sale

Exhibition Dates: 11.28.24-12.28.24
Artist Reception: Friday, 12.6.24 // 5-8PM

Anyone who is a current Art Center member can show up to two pieces of artwork in our annual All Member Show!

Call for Artists


Mini Gallery

A smaller, more intimate extension of our Main Gallery showcasing local, emerging artists.

October 2024

Richard Beckman

Burlington, The City I have Known and Loved

Richard (Dick) Beckman was a lifelong Burlingtonian, born in 1915. He was an attorney in Burlington, practicing with his father Stephen Beckman. His son David joined him in practice in 1976.

Dick claimed there wasn’t a day of his life that he didn’t remember being able to draw. When he was 10, his parents sent him to study oil painting with Ella Hawksworth, who ran an art supply store on the corner of Fourth and Jefferson Streets. While a law student at the University of Iowa, he was privileged to be a student in an art class taught by Grant Wood.

By the time of Burlington’s sesquicentennial in 1983, Dick was able to lend the Art Guild 60 watercolors for their show at the Art for Living Center.

At that show, Dick said, “In celebrating our city’s sesquicentennial we are honoring its past and looking forward to its future. I cannot accurately portray that future, but in about 100 paintings I have had fun telling the happiness and sorrows, the love and joy, which my hometown has provided me these past 68 years.”

Some of his paintings illustrate Wentworth Folkin’s statement, “Find a train, and you are likely to find a boy somewhere close by.” This also applies to steamboats, airplanes, circuses and fairs, but machines and buildings do not give a city a heart – that takes people. In Dick’s words, “Burlington has always had a warm heart, so you may find in these paintings lots of people, such as Carl Pryor, Betty Cowles, Rosemary, Rev. Andres Freden, Herman Heil, Sister Jeannette and more.”

Historical accuracy was important to Dick and he often researched his scenes for over a year before picking up a brush. The actual painting was always done in one night. He said that the second night ruined them – with watercolors he said, “ you have to know when to quit.”

Dick viewed his painting as a hobby; he never accepted any money for his work. Before he died he painted more than 130 paintings. Most were done in watercolors, but he also used oils, pencil, pastels and Easter Egg dye. Being a good Eagle Scout, he even tried his hand at woodcarving. He was proud to have drawn the Boy Scout Camp Eastman’s 1941 summer camp patch.

Beckman Law Offices is located in the original Citizens Water Company building, built in 1914. It features a terra cotta facade and the original front office where Burlingtonians once paid their water bills.

Up Next:

November 2024

In the Mini Gallery

Brandy Swartz

Stunning photographs from Brandy Swartz's travels to Cuba will be on display in our Mini Gallery this November. Through her lens, Brandy captures the vibrant culture, colorful streets, and breathtaking landscapes of this beautiful island. Each image tells a story, inviting you to experience the warmth and richness of Cuban life


2024 Gallery Schedule

Get the kids involved with our Gallery Scavenger Hunt!

Giving kids an appreciation for art encourages exploration, self expression, logical thinking, self-esteem, imagination, and creativity. We’ve made up a fun little scavenger hunt for your family to do together at the Art Center! Just stop by the front desk anytime for the scavenger hunt. 

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Friday/Saturday: 10am - 4pm

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