While people were lined up for early voting at City Hall, a new art exhibit took up residence in the River Falls City Hall Gallery. There is no name on any of the drawings or the one painting that comprises this collection and there is no name up front to tell the onlooker who may have drawn all these organic lead pencil drawings. So, I have attributed this art to the Phantom Artist of City Hall.

The Phantom demonstrates grace with a lead pencil. It’s a good exhibit to take a kid to that is learning how to draw. It shows what a fun time someone can have with a lead pencil. The Phantom provides some nice feeling for things like leaves, salamanders, bees, ants, grasshoppers, spiders, flies, acorns, and birds. Now and then you will see a written-in dimension like “roots, 16.” On the wall between the bathrooms there is a computer-generated layout of what a wildlife habitat looks like on four different levels. This layout includes locust-like robots helping lift rocks for a man putting together a landscape. The whole exhibit has a feeling that it could be part of plans for a dimensional wildlife exhibit or something like it.

While the phantom draws directly on some wood panels, most drawings are mounted on white wooden panels. The curious subject matter includes things a body can see sitting around the Kinni just looking into the foliage: a cache of cigarette butts, a Pezi container all tucked away amidst leaves with bugs, a squished aluminum can, a hot dog, and a Coors beer bottle. Some of the drawings have a sense of incompleteness, with lines and spaces left to be filled in. At times, the phantom gives the viewer a bug’s point of view. There is a six-inch-long bee and magnified flowers. Wonderful symmetry and gentleness summarize the Phantom’s style.

The current exhibit will be available at City Hall Gallery through December. Kay Fritz, President of Community Arts Base identified the Phantom as Alex Peterson who also did the mural Party Under the Bridge.

Don’t miss the upcoming UWRF Haunted Halloween Student show at the Art’s House Gallery from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 30 and 2-8 p.m. Oct 31. Guitarist Hannah Killmer will provide music from 6-8 p.m. It’s a kid-friendly event, part of Trick or Treat on Main, and a fundraiser for the RF Community Food pantry all wrapped up in one. All attending are encouraged to come in costume if you like.

Art’s House is located at Maple and Main here in River Falls.