Art Gallery Back in Business at El Cerrito DMV

A little leavening for the drab and often dreary DMV office is back on the walls with the return of exhibits sponsored by the .

El Cerrito Patch wandered into the always crowded building Thursday afternoon, walked past the long line, and found, amid the resigned faces of seated citizens waiting for their numbers to be called, that bright rectangles of colorful expression and creativity are back on the walls.

With price tags.

"The DMV is actually our most-selling location," said Jean Witzke, art association president.

Association members show their work in rotating exhibits at two other spaces on a regular basis in El Cerrito — the and the .

A remodeling project at the DMV office caused a halt to exhibitions there for about a year, but this spring found them blooming again.

The state building at Manila Avenue and Kearney Street next to City Hall has hosted the association's exhibits for many years, Witzke said.

"It's been there as long as I can remember — I think since the '80s," she said.

"The DMV has been extremely helpful," she said, adding that the DMV employees gladly help interested buyers find contact information for the artists.