ART & ARCHITECTURE | Hidden treasures

Here’s a fun secret from the museum and gallery world: When it comes to planning and installing exhibits, often the most unique and most interesting artifacts and works of art never see the light of a gallery. For every piece on public display, there are dozens of other objects carefully stored and packed away in the attic upstairs. Sometimes the function or history of the object is unknown, the piece has design or aesthetic issues or the object in question simply does not fit neatly into a themed, curated exhibit. The Springfield Art Association’s January exhibit, “Down from the Attic” throws all those reservations out the window as the SAA brings down the pieces that have never and will probably never again see the light of day. The exhibit will be available for public viewing Jan. 9-22, from 10am-3pm Monday-Saturday. For more information about the Springfield Art Association, visit http://springfieldart.org.