Loaned Verne Shaffer Art is needed for BFAI and Wright Art Center Exhibits in July, 2015

The Beloit Fine Arts Incubator (BFAI) and the Beloit College Wright Art Museum will be presenting simultaneous exhibits of the work of artist, O.V. (Verne) Shaffer during the month of July, 2015.  Both galleries are calling for loaned pieces from private Shaffer art owners for the month-long exhibits.  “These retrospective exhibits of Shaffer’s art will span many decades and will be part of a series of projects designed to celebrate Verne’s long and prolific career in the Beloit area”, said BFAI President, Jerry Sveum.  “The most exciting part is that the community will be involved in the exhibits.  Many of the privately-owned Shaffer pieces were commissioned as gifts to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special life events”, Sveum said.  Shaffer, 86, will have a large role in planning and installing these once-in-a-lifetime exhibits.

Other components of this celebration of Shaffer’s art include a “Local Road Trip” and a “State Road Trip” to view the more than 80 public sculptures created by Shaffer for hospitals, schools, libraries and other public buildings in Beloit, Janesville and twelve other cities in Wisconsin.   The “Road Trip” maps will combine technology with art, incorporating the use of QR codes to connect the viewer to You Tube via a smart phone to see and hear Verne talking about the piece they’re viewing.  The same technology is being used to develop a “talking book” of Shaffer’s art.

There will never be another art show like these privately-owned exhibits of Verne Shaffer’s work.  If you have one, or more pieces of Shaffer art that you would be willing to share for the month of July, 2015, please contact, Jerry Sveum at (608) 362-5906.     

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