COLUMN: Young Artists Gallery At The Eau Claire Public Library
hear insights and reflections from the Chippewa Valley's emerging young artists
I stop into the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire) from time to time to enjoy the art that is displayed in the level three gallery.
The rotating exhibits always showcase some of our area’s finest adult artists. But on this visit, my destination was the first level and the Young Artists Gallery.
What began in the fall of 2024, the Young Artists Gallery provides young artists up to 18 years old a platform to display their artworks in a professional setting. To ensure as many children receive the chance to showcase their artwork, a lottery system is used to select three young artists a month, September through May.
Once selected, they can bring in three or four pieces along with an artist’s statement describing how or why the artwork was created.
The young artists are proud of their work and excited to share it with family, friends and other library visitors.
Here are just a few reflections from the young artists currently on display:
Charlotte (age 7): “My art is just me having fun. If I messed up, I turned it into something cool! I really like art!”
Anessa (age 8): “My experience was great, and I think it was a great opportunity to share my art and creativity. Art doesn’t have to be perfect or pretty; it must be something that you like or enjoy doing.”
Gabriella (age 8): “Drawing is fun and makes me happy. I like that the library let me share my happiness with everyone.”
Comment cards are provided so that visitors can leave feedback to the young artists. Besides parents and family members, there are plenty of adult fans of the program who make it a point to come in once a month to comment on the new artists’ work.
They validate the young artists’ work and take them seriously, just like they would to any adult artist.
Hanna Jepperson, parent of Ruby (age 8): “Ruby loved her experience with this program and enjoyed the comment cards. She was excited to share her work with her own family and the community! Last week when we were checking out the art, she even recognized a classmates name and got very excited!”
Kiersten Robb, parent of Kalvin (age 12): “The young artist gallery gave our son confidence in his art skills. They had a comment box, and we loved reading all the nice comments that were shared.”
Jessica Reed, parent of Anessa (age 8): “We enjoyed viewing the gallery and appreciated how many people took time to leave feedback about our child’s art!”
Holly Wisniewski, parent of Freya (age 4): “Freya was chosen to be a gallery artist last winter! Freya, at four years old, was a prolific artist and we had so many pieces to choose from but decided to make special pieces for her art show. We invited all her family to come see her art hanging up. She was so proud. Now we make it a point to look at all the art in the youth gallery and write on the comment cards because it was so nice reading all the comments from people who saw her art. It’s a wonderful program that builds confidence and pride in young people. Incredible work.”
Haley Dean, parent of Alayna (age 2) and McKenna (age 4): “Alayna was bursting with pride and excitement seeing her artwork on the wall! Grinning from ear to ear as she pointed and told everyone, 'That’s mine!' Watching McKenna light up with confidence and excitement! It was a wonderful reminder of how meaningful it is when children’s creativity is celebrated. It made her feel so special and important.”
Bethany Geske, parent of Gabriella (age 8): “The Youth Services staff made the entire Young Artists Gallery process seamless and enjoyable. I would encourage every parent to enter their child in the lottery. Watching my daughter light up with joy—from creating her artwork to picking up her pieces and reading everyone’s comments—was truly a wonderful experience.”
“Behind the Easel” is a periodic column by Patricia Hawkenson, a visual artist and one of the proprietors of Decadent Gifts & Gallery in Eau Claire.
