1st Place: Hands Across Eau Claire
2nd Place: 2 S. Barstow mural building
3rd Place: LE Phillips Memorial Public Library’s permanent collection

Driving around the Eau Claire area, one might be surprised to see random spots of color – in the shape of human hands, no less – peeking out among old and new buildings, shrubbery, and sidewalk traffic. Voted the Best Public Art Installation in the Chippewa Valley, the Hands Across Eau Claire display is a project of the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire. The 15 hands were all designed by local artists and are auctioned off to raise money for the museum. Coming in second is the 2. S. Barstow mural building, a colorful display of artwork on an otherwise nondescript downtown Eau Claire building. The murals were painted over boarded-up windows, of which the building has many, as it currently sits empty. Rounding out third place is the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library’s permanent collection, which features work by regional and local artists that rotates every six weeks. The work is chosen by the library’s art committee. Coming up is a six-week fall show by the Eau Claire Area Art League Fall Show, which will run through Nov. 25. – Emily Thierfelder

Up-and-Comer: The sculpture yet to be put in Phoenix Park.