"When I was with my father, when I was just a child, the world was filed with wonder and every place was wild. And every day was magic, and Santa Claus was true, and all the things that mattered were things my father knew." –Marsha Jeffrey Hendrickson, from the book "Dad, My Hero" available at J. R. Kortman Center for Design
Rockford artist Jeanne Ludeke will present her classic still life paintings in a Kortman Gallery exhibition titled “The Sibylline Still Life: A Return to Painting” opening Friday, June 4th. Ludeke, who is best known for her portraits, has created luscious new oil paintings of food and ordinary objects inspired by such masters of still life as Adriaen Coorte and Hovsep Pushman.
“Like Pushman, I am interested in dramatizing the relationships of objects in a meditative atmosphere,” Ludeke writes in her artist's statement. “ And like Coorte, I prefer to center and elevate my subjects on a platform to enhance and dignify the ordinary.”
Ludeke began her studies in drawing, painting and art history at NIU and the University of Salzburg, Austria, and completed a Masters in drawing at NIU in 1983. She has worked as a commissioned portrait artist and also taught art for many years. Only recently she has returned to her personal work as an artist.
Many of her current paintings include alluring images of food, such as a red velvet cupcake placed in front of a background of a well known painting. “These works are visually warm and inviting, and also stimulate your sense of taste and smell because of the realistic quality of the paintings,” says Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “Inspired by Jeanne’s art, we thought we’d take the gallery experience a step further and have freshly baked cupcakes available at the opening. Caked, a new Rockford baking company, will be selling not only red velvet, but other artistically inspired cupcakes during the event.
The June 4th opening reception for “The Sibylline Still Life: A Return to Painting” by Jeanne Ludeke will be from 5:30 to 9:00pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery at J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815/968-0123 or visit www. jrkortman.com.
What: “The Sibylline Still Life: A Return to Painting” exhibition of classical art by Jeanne Ludeke
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J.R.Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main, Downtown Rockford
When: Opening reception, Friday, June 4th, 5:30pm-9:00pm. Gallery open Monday–Saturday, 10am–6pm. Exhibition runs through July 15, 2010.
Free admission.
Information: 815-968-0123 or www.jrkortman.com
See images of Jeanne Ludeke's art... click on the "Current Show" option under Kortman Gallery on the left.
Here we are celebrating the Class of 2010. They grow up so fast! Well here are some smart gift ideas for the now brilliant student in your life. 2. Cool watches from Alessi, Projects, and Lexon 3. Every desk should have a glow-in-the-dark fish skeleton stapler 4. Figure accurately with "Lego" calculator 5. Music themed classic rollerball pen by Josh Bach 6. Matching cultured pearl necklace and bracelet 7. Spectacular flat baroque pearl necklace 8. Magnetic "Rockford" clock 9. Toy cars to keep you busy when you draw a blank 10. Keep your loved one framed 11. Alessi condom case and art condom from Amsterdam 12. Inspiration paperweights from Vilmain (made in USA) 13. "Pushing Men" bookends 14. Magnetic globe turns on chrome base 15. Lexon desktop designer radios 16. Hide special things in this "mummy" pencil box
Rockford artist Valerie Olafson revisits the theme of beauty and aging in a photography exhibition opening Friday, April 16th in the Kortman Gallery. The exhibition of striking black and white images titled “50 Parts, MMX” is a photographic essay that expands on the ideas of “mMMm Beauty,” a previous Kortman Gallery show that was presented in 2000 when Olafson was 40.
“In that exhibit, I sought to produce my vision of beauty for the new millennium..life, experience and knowledge,” said Olafson. “My friends stepped in front of the camera to help visually make my point.”
At 50, Olafson expected to revisit and expand the ideas in “mMMm Beauty.’’ “What evolved was an introspective look at me and the beauty I find in myself,” she writes. “I have included some images of friends again; the definition would have been too narrow otherwise. Aging is not always perfect, but is always beautiful.”
Olafson, who has been artist/photographer for almost two decades, is an adjunct instructor of art at Rock Valley College.
The Spring ArtScene openings for “50 Parts, MMX” exhibit are April 16th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturday, April 17th from 3:00pm to 9:00pm in the Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford. The exhibit runs through May 31st. and admission is free and open to the public. For more in formation call 815/968-0123 or visit www. jrkortman.com.
What: “50 Parts, MMX” exhibition of photography by Valerie Olafson
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J.R.Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main, Downtown Rockford
When: Opening Spring ArtScene receptions, Friday, April 16th, 5:00pm-9:00pm and Saturday, April 17th, from 3:00pm to 9:00pm. Gallery open Monday–Saturday, 10am–6pm. Exhibition runs through May 31, 2010. Free admission.
Information: 815-968-0123 or www.jrkortman.com
To see images of Valerie Olafson's "50 Parts, MMX" photography exhibit click on "Current Show" under Kortman Gallery to the left of the screen.
"Curse? There Ain't No Stinking Chicago Cub Curse", a book of thought provoking and humorous stories about sports and the games people play, is now for sale at J. R. Kortman with a limited amount of signed copies available.
Kyle Wolfe @ Kortman Gallery
Above: "Superman" & "Midway Theater" by Kyle Wolfe
Kyle Wolfe Exhibits Digital Works
in the Kortman Gallery
Graphic design, digital technology, and the unusual creative approach by Rockford artist Kyle Wolfe result in intriguing and extraordinarily visual art to be presented in an exhibition in the Kortman Gallery. The exhibit, which opens Friday, March 19th is titled “A Thousand Words” in reference to how the images are created. Wolfe generates his colorful images by hand writing words which become small fragments of the complete picture.
“My work continues to evolve from a process of using words to create visual forms, says Wolfe. “The words applied are representations of my consciousness at the given moment of creation. This ‘hands-on’ approach challenges the limits of digital art.”
Kortman gallerist Doc Slafkosky says seeing the work is the best way to understand the technique. “Hand-created digital art sounds like an oxymoron, but the beautiful, iconic graphic images are literally created by Kyle’s handwriting,” said Slafkosky. “’A Thousand Words’ is such an appropriate title for this show, since seeing the actual art work visually explains the process, more than words can.”
The opening for the Kyle Wolfe exhibit on March 19th is from 5:30pm to 9:00pm in the Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford. Admission is free and open to the public. The opening is in conjunction with “It’s Our Time,” a group exhibiton at North Main Sudios, 2500 North Main Street. For more in formation call 815/968-0123 or visit www. jrkortman.com.
What: “A Thousand Words” exhibition of digital art by Kyle Wolfe
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J.R.Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main, Downtown Rockford
When: Opening reception, Friday, March 19th, 5:30pm-9:00pm. Gallery open Monday–Saturday, 10am–6pm. Exhibition runs through April 13th, 2010.
Free admission. In conjuction with “It’s Our Time” exhibition at North Main Studios
Information: 815-968-0123 or www.jrkortman.com
To see images of Kyle's work click on the "Current Show" option under Kortman Gallery to the left of the screen.
