FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

July 26, 2005

Pat McGuckin
Randy Nehrt

State Library Presents Exhibition By Acclaimed Artist Paul Butkovich

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White, together with Edward M. Smith, Vice-President of the Laborers International Union of North America, is presenting a special free exhibition of drawings and paintings by the late laborer and artist Paul Martin Butkovich from August 1st to September 9th at the Illinois State Library in Springfield.

For nearly 50 years, Butkovich worked day to day as a construction worker out of Wood River, Illinois Laborers' Local 338. Physically demanding, the rugged work provided Butkovich the means to raise his family. At night and at other times away from the construction site, however, Butkovich enjoyed his true passion of creating fine art-producing drawings and paintings of winter landscapes, figure studies and the thoroughbred horses he loved. In all, Butkovich painted more than 700 pieces of fine artwork during his lifetime.

Butkovich's acclaimed artwork has received great interest since the first public showings in 1996, the year the artist died. A collection of his thoroughbred paintings was selected for a special exhibit at the horse racing industry's premier event, the Eclipse Awards. Other special exhibits have been held at the University of Chicago, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Southwestern Illinois College, the Wood River Museum, the Mitchell Museum in Mt. Vernon and in St. Louis.

The free exhibition will be on display on the 2nd floor of the State Library, Gwendolyn Brooks Building, which is located at 300 South 2nd Street. The library is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Entrance is through the north door only.

More information about Butkovich's artwork can be found online at www.butkovich.org.