First Friday Comeback!

with Art by Perry Slade and Music by Dave Ramont

An evening of art and music in downtown never sounded so good! Enjoy works by local artist Perry Slade and live tunes with Dave Ramont. There will be chalk drawings outside and a raffle!

Enjoy the downtown installation of Artistic Conversion of Found Communications Within the Environment by artist Perry Slade!

Perry Slade is one of Aurora's most treasured artists, having exhibited at venues throughout the city and nearby communities for decades.  With a very eclectic style, Slade works primarily in digital black and white.  All of the pieces in this exhibit are photographs printed on archival paper with archival inks.

His inspiration for the collection sparked when he began noticing the utility languages scripted by construction crews on public spaces and surfaces.  Juxtaposed against a backdrop of commercial and advertising communications that relentlessly clamor for our attention, these messages were not meant for us to see or consume.  

Slade has graciously allowed the Aurora Public Library District to share the collection amongst our three locations, including the lobby at Eola Road Branch and the entryway display at West, with the main installation exhibiting in the Santori Library Atrium.  We hope you will visit all three locations to experience the full impact of this unique collection.

Dave Ramont is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the Fox Valley area who first performed virtually at the Aurora Public Library District in April 2020, setting the bar high for virtual live performances during the quarantine.  Dave has also performed at some of the great rooms around the Chicago area - The Hideout, Space, Schubas, Fitzgeralds, City Winery, Martyrs, The Empty Bottle... Gigging expanded around the Midwest, South and East, and more public and college radio climbed on board.  We are so excited to welcome him back to the library, this time in-person, for our First Friday event!

Registration is not required for this event, but the library is following IDPH occupancy guidelines. Please remember to keep your mask on while attending this event!

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