Work by Terry Meyer on display at the Pablo Center

Long before Eau Claire was viewed as an artistic haven, when this spot on the river was considered a blue-collar town, 22 artists from the Chippewa Valley still put forth their creative efforts, resulting in a collection rich with history and passion. Featuring those artists’ early works, “Then” is the exhibit on display March 29 through May 17 at the James W. Hansen Gallery at the Pablo Center at the Confluence. The gallery show will feature works by artist Janet Carson, who sold her hand-panted watercolors to fund the Janet Carson Art Gallery, which was formerly located in the State Theatre. Locally renowned for unique glaze colors, potter David Caradori’s work will also be on display. Serbian Orthdox Father Glocar is present with his colorful thick-brushed paintings. Laurie Bieze, besides being a talented original stained glass artist, was known to help maintain precious glassworks in need of a solder. David Knowlton’s paintings of barns and lighthouses will accompany the early work of Jo Burke and Terry Meyer, now owners of the 200 Main Gallery in downtown Eau Claire, that of Barbara and Anders Shafer, and others. This exhibit is definitely worth attending for its honoring of the 22 artists who broke the mold and forged the way for the creative class in the Chippewa Valley. 

Then: Founding Artists of the Chippewa Valley • James W. Hansen Gallery at Pablo Center for the Arts • 128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire • March 29-May 17 • pablocenter.org • FREE • All Ages