An early view of the railroad yards near the Fox River in Aurora. This and other historic images are now on display at City Hall. Image courtesy of Aurora Public Art Commission.
The Aurora Public Art Commission presents “Aurora in Pictures, 175 Years.”
The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 11, 2013 at Aurora’s City Hall, 44 East Downer Place. City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Aurora Mayor Thomas Weisner established the “Art In City Hall” series of exhibits in 2005, as a means of creating a more dynamic environment in Aurora’s City Hall, 44 E. Downers St.
The Aurora Public Art Commission produces the shows, which occupy all 5 floors of the building at 44 E. Downer Place. The Commission operates the David L. Pierce Art and History Center at 20 East Downer Place, where it sponsors four to six exhibits per year.
“Art At City Hall” features two shows per year, representing a wide variety of artistic styles and traditions. The Aurora Public Art Commission is seeking 2D art works in all media for this ongoing series. All shows are juried by art professionals. Artists and art groups who are interested in participating may send a CD Rom of 10-15 works, a resume(s), statement and a self addressed, stamped envelope to the Aurora Public Art Commission, Art In City Hall, 44 E. Downer PL., Aurora, IL 60507.
For more information contact Rena J. Church, Director, Aurora Public Art Commission, (630) 906-0654,
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Aurora's 175th birthday—The Aurora Historical Society (www.aurorahistory.net) will celebrate the city's 175th birthday with two special gatherings on March 2.
Join city officials and the Aurora Historical Society to commemorate the establishment of Aurora’s post office on March 2, 1837 and view a unique exhibit jointly curated by the Aurora Historical Society and the Post Office, including photos and artifacts.
There will be comments from community leaders, and musical entertainment, as well as a reading of the 1837 letter that created Aurora’s own post office.
Postal employees will help celebrate the anniversary by offering, until 4 p.m., a commemorative postmark to mark this once-in-a-lifetime event. The commemorative postmark is free, however it can only be placed on First-Class Mail postage.
The Aurora Historical Society will sell special pictorial envelopes with postage already affixed for $3 each (two for $5). After purchase, a postal representative will cancel the stamps with a cancellation designed for this event only.
Additionally, cancellations and cancelled envelopes can be ordered for 30 days after the event by using the order form downloaded here. After 30 days the equipment used will be destroyed, guaranteeing this cancellation will become a one-of-a-kind collectable.
In addition, pictorial envelopes which were cancelled at the event may be purchased throughout the year in the gift shops of the Historical Society, while supplies last.
Also that day will be a Birthday Party at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 North Broadway from 5 to 8 p.m.
The party will feature hors d’oeuvres, beverages and birthday cake. At 6:00pm there will be a short program featuring current community leadership as well as appearances by notable Aurorans of the past as well as the goddess Aurora.
The city's oldest citizens and members of pioneer families will be honored. Music, including new pieces composed for this historic moment, will be by the Aurora family blues/rock band, Bradley Keven Green.
Both events are free and open to the public.
The Aurora Historical Society operates three facilities. The William Tanner House Museum, located on the corner of Cedar Street and Oak Avenue, is an Italianate style home, built in 1857, and decorated with late Victorian furnishings. The Aurora Art and History Center, located at 20 East Downer, has a rotating schedule of exhibits. The Local History Research Archive, where the public can access thousands of documents and photographs relating to local government, businesses, institutions, people and homes, is located just West of the Tanner House, at 305 Cedar Street. The Archive is available by appointment only.
