Aurora student Brian Chan shows his artwork a previous Winter Garden exhibit. CREDIT: Aurora Public Art Commission

The Aurora Public Art Commission hosts the Opening Reception of the 18th annual Winter Garden of Youth Art from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place.

The Winter Garden of Youth Art is a fantastic exhibit of 170 works of art by Aurora students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Featuring a variety of mediums, the free exhibit will be on display through Jan. 23, 2016.

The 34 Aurora schools participating this year are Allen, Bardwell, Beaupre, Brady, Dieterich, Freeman, Gates, Greenman, Hall, Hermes, Hill, Johnson, Krug, McCleery, Nicholson, Oak Park, O’Donnell, Rollins, and Smith elementary schools; Jewel, Simmons, Still, and Washington middle schools; Aurora Christian, East Aurora, Metea, Rosary, and West Aurora high schools; and Annunciation School, Fox River Academy, Fred Rogers Magnet Academy, Hope D. Wall School, Marmion Academy, and St. Rita of Cascia School.

Following the conclusion of the reception and live music, the gallery will remain open until 9 p.m. as a venue for December First Fridays.

Admission for both the reception and exhibit are free.

SOURCE: City of Aurora news release

About the City of Aurora, IL

Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 200,456. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights.  Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties.  Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.

About The Aurora Public Art Commission

The Aurora Public Art Commission is a civic organization dedicated to the presentation of public art in all its forms. APAC provides a formal art presence for the residents of the city of Aurora. General functions include selecting sites for sculpture and other art forms, selecting artists, overseeing projects, developing programs in art education and establishing an exhibit schedule for the Aurora Public Art Commission Gallery. In addition, the Public Art Commission supports a variety of initiatives promoting public awareness of the positive value of diversity in Aurora. For more information, visit the Aurora Public Art Commission webpage.