J. R. Kortman Center for Design / Kortman Gallery

Not all squeezers are actually meant to squeeze. Perhaps the most famous example of this is the Juicy Salif, designed by Philippe Starck in 1990. It is considered an icon of industrial design that has been displayed in New York's Museum of Modern Art. It is manufactured by Italian kitchenware company Alessi. Its diameter is 14 cm, height 29 cm, and it is made from cast and polished aluminium. As the founder of the company Alberto Alessi recalls "I received a napkin from Starck, on it among some incomprehensible marks (tomato sauce, in all likelihood) there were some sketches. Sketches of squid. They started on the left, and as they worked their way over to the right, they took on the unmistakable shape of what was to become the juicy salif. While eating a dish of squid and squeezing a lemon over it, Starck drew on the napkin his famous lemon squeezer."

The 25th Anniversary limited edition Juicy Salif by Starck ( whick actually does function quite admirably as a juicer) is now available at J. R. Kortman Center for Design!

“Popstractions” featuring energetic and colorful works by Fatherless will open in the Kortman Gallery, First Friday, September 4th from 5:30 to 10pm. Fatherless is a collaborative print posse from Rockford whose work is currently on exhibit at the Rockford Art Museum in an exciting and successful show called “Printmaker’s Ball.”
    “Our works are the result of 5 individual artists working cohesively with each other’s artwork,” says Fatherless artist Javier Jimenez.  “Described as a visual mix-tape of ‘shenagination,’ we combine our cultural influences in ways that finished works are not only unique to our collaboration, but unique among the editions of hand-screened prints as well...we make certain no two prints are ever the same.”
    Started as venture between Corey Hagberg, Jarrod Hennis, Javier Jimenez, and Greg Lang in the Spring of 2010, Fatherless began to plan seasonal shows in which they created screen prints together – live, during the event. When the idea came about to feature a guest artist for a series, they chose a local artist and instructor of printmaking to work with, and it was a natural fit. Dave Menard of Rockford University became a full time member following that show.
    “When the Fatherless artists are together the gallery is ignited with visual and spirited excitement,” says Kortman gallerist Doc Slafkosky. “There accessible work is filled with creative enthusiasm and spontaneity.”
    The Kortman Gallery exhibit “Popstractions” is like a satellite version of the Rockford Art Museum show, Printmaker's Ball, which features 14 printmakers pushing the boundaries of the art world by exploring new methods of printing and expression, from portable presses to complex installations, often addressing social and political issues head-on – and always leaving their skilled mark. Both exhibits will be on display through September 27th.
    Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, just seven blocks south of the Rockford Art Museum.

Starck gazing...Philippe Starck is probably one of the most influential designers of the past 35 years. He has designed furniture, functional housewares, hotel and restaurant interiors, eyeware, and even a few iconic buildings along the way. We have often said that most of contemporary design is a footnote to Starck's genius. "It is not enough to make things of beauty; they must be good," write Starck. "A good object not only does the job, but also contains humor and love. A good object renders its service with grace." Here are some of his fascinating elegant and functional designs available @ J. R. Kortman. The last photos are of chairs (NFS) used in the Kortman Gallery and Jerry Kortman's glasses (also, NFS) all designed by Starck...

A great night at J. R. Kortman Center for Design and Downtown coming your way this First Friday, August 7th! Meet up with friends at City Market and take a stroll over the beautiful Rock River to J.R. Kortman and shop 'til 9pm and then head up stairs to the Kortman Gallery and experience a cool music vibe from DJ's DAS and JohnRawFunk. Dennis Horton @ the Gallery Bar will be serving up a special beverage created for this First Friday night...surrounded by intriguing paintings by Rockford artist Johnathan Kuss. See you this First Friday Downtown and J.R. Kortman Center for Design!

The Summer gift season is here...find a gift...a creative, imaginative, extraordinary gift for the graduate, bride & groom, or Dad at J. R. Kortman Center for Design. A watch, a wine opener, an elegant bowl, a glass paperweight, a cool book on art or popular culture, a wall clock, a Michael Graves water Kettle, a colorful collectable toy, hand crafted jewlery, or a piece of original art...any one of these would be enjoyed and treasured by those who are so special to us in our lives. Let your imagination rule as you EXPLORE and discover the perfect gift at J. R. Kortman!

Rockford artist Johnathan Kuss creates rich, detailed, and alluring still life paintings that, at first glance, seem like classical imagery. However, his unconventional placement of personal items with a banana or an orange tells a story about how we relate to nature in an exhibition titled, “Our Controlling Nature” opening Friday, June 6th in the Kortman Gallery.
    “My paintings are a comment on our complex relationship with nature and
the various ways we exert our commanding influence over it,” says Kuss in his artist’s statement. “It is through this exploration of our interactions with the natural world around us that I begin to
understand the human condition.”
    “Creating narratives from personal items, the subject of each of Johnathan’s images is presented with a subtle irony,” says Doc Slafkosky, gallerist for the Kortman Gallery. “For instance, a classic image of a pear is stabbed by a a switchblade, or a mango pierced by a railroad spike. His paintings definitely start a conversation.”
      The Johnathan Kuss exhibition, “Our Controlling Nature” will be on display through July 31st. The First Friday, June 5th opening reception will be from 5:30 to 9pm featuring music from (DJ) Terrible (D. J. Maclin). The party will continue after the reception at least until midnight. The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street.  For further information call 815/968-0123 or visit www.jrkortman.com.



What: “Our Controlling Nature,” an exhibition of works by Johnathan Kuss opening reception, First Friday, June 5th, 5:30 to 9:00pm...featuring music from (DJ) Terrible (D. J. Maclin)
When:  The exhibition runs through July 31st. Gallery & Store open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford
Admission: Free and open to the public