An art show opening with a reception Thursday evening, July 10, features some of the city of Tallahassee’s most talented staffers. This year’s TOWNSHOW art exhibit is the largest since the city held its first one 10 years ago.
More than 100 artworks by more than 50 current and retired city employees line the walls of City Hall. City HR Program Coordinator Annette Pearce is on the exhibit committee. She says TOWNSHOW—that’s a play on “Tallahassee’s Own Show”—surprises people every year.
“You see people during your work hours, but you don’t know what they do after hours, and, ‘Oh my goodness, you do this?’ or, ‘Oh, wow, I didn’t know you did that,’ and so it’s really nice to get to see the other sides of people,” she says while walking around the second-floor gallery.
Some entries are more expected, like a painting by Tallahassee Senior Center Art Coordinator Leslie Puckett. It’s called “Boo Boo Kitty.”
Pearce says, “The lady who did this said that that is her as a cat.”
Then you have photography by hobbyists like Michelle Hill, who works in the city’s underground utilities department.
“And of course all of these are done by folks—it’s not part of their jobs in any way at all,” Pearce says.
The show also features jewelry, stained glass, pottery and even a handcrafted mandolin—all made by the people who make the city run.
Thursday’s public opening reception is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And the pieces will stay on display on City Hall’s second floor until September 2.
