Courtesy photo of Rotunda Gallery in Nebraska Union

Starting April 14, artwork by University staff members will be displayed for three weeks in the Rotunda Gallery of the Nebraska Union.

This is the eighth year running for the annual UNL Staff Art Show. “The purpose of the staff art show is to share the artistic talents of our campus support staff with the University and Lincoln communities,” Valerie Bender said. Bender organizes the event and works as a staff secretary and customer service specialist in the University’s Student Accounts department.

This year’s show includes work by 20 different artists who work full time in various departments of the university including accounting, landscaping, facilities management, information technology, libraries, registrar’s office, social services, college of business administration, nanosciences and economics, according to Bender.

The art show celebrates many mediums including drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, watercolor, gouache, tempera, photography, printmaking, lithography, encaustic paintings, hand-made book arts and ceramics.

The ongoing show is free and open to students and the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday. On May 2, the last day of the show, a reception will be held in the gallery at 5 p.m.

The group of artists varies from year to year—some return and some are new. “Some are amateurs, some self-taught, some have art degrees, some show their work in local and regional galleries.

“The artists support and encourage and inspire each other to make new and better art,” Bender said. “They enjoy the feedback and recognition they get from the campus community.”

Bender has been impressed by the quality of the artwork over the past eight years despite that these artists are full-time employees in other fields with homes and families to care for. “They deserve kudos for going above and beyond,” Bender said.