Memorial Day week Alessi sales event! Exceptional value on Extraordinary designs from Alessi @ J. R. Kortman!

We're celebrating Memorial Day week with 20% off on all Alessi products! This is limited time authorized Alessi sale just in time for weddings, graduations, and Father's Day. Don't miss this opportunity to acquire something extraordinary from Alessi for 20% off!
P.S...we will be closed, Monday (Memorial Day)...sale starts today & goes through the end of May.

May First Friday...Art, Music, and a relaxing evening in the Kortman Gallery!


May First Friday will be a refreshing and relaxing evening in the Kortman Gallery as Dennis Horton mixes up Blue Breeze Martini's or your favorite beverage while you enjoy the art of Paul Pinzarrone, Becky Downing Pelley, and Ellie Pinzarrone in an exhibition called "Nature/Nurture: A Family of Artists' now on display in the gallery. Relax to a chilled music mix by DjOC... A great way to celebrate the start of May, the "lusty month of May!"
P.S. Don't forget your Mom on Mother's Day (May 10th)...Explore and discover an extraordinary gift for her from J. R. Kortman Center for Design!

Spring shopping at J. R. Kortman Center for Design!

Spring has arrived! It's the season for Mother's Day, Graduations, and Weddings. Explore J. R. Kortman for extraordinary gifts that will be treasured for a lifetime! After shopping, step upstairs and see the "Nature/Nurture: A Family of Artists" exhibition in the Kortman Gallery feature the works of Paul Pinzarrone, Rebecca Downing Pelley, and Ellie Pinzarrone...now through May 30th.
P.S. Original Art is also a makes a great gift!


"Nature/Nurture: A Family of Artists" opens Friday, April 10th in the Kortman Gallery

Are artists born or made? Is there an art gene? If your mom and dad are artists will you become one because you grew up surrouneded by their creative energy or is it something in your blood? “Nature/Nurture: A Family of Artists” an exhibition opening Friday, April 10th in the Kortman Gallery featuring works by Rebecca Downing Pelley, Paul Pinzarrone and their daughter Ellie Pinzarrone lets you ponder these questions while seeing this visually exciting show by these three accomplished artists.
“Nature/Nurture” highlights the colorful, intricate, creative unrelated art in different media, but connected by the mother, father, daughter family relationship.
Paul Pinzarrone has exhibited his work extensively since 1976 creating contemporary images in airbrush which evolved into his dramatic, sensuous, and complex digital images that he presents in this exhibit.
Becky Downing Pelley, a recent winner of the prestigious “Golden Apple Award” is not only an artist, but has been teaching art in the Rockford Public Schools and Boylan High School for more than a generation. She creates intricate, colorful, and captivating watercolors.
Ellie Pinzarrone, artist and art historian, “paints” amazing images with embroidary and beads on fabric. Her work references classical paintings along with contemporay images she creates with a needle, thread, fabric, and beads and a great deal of imagination. Ellie was featured in a solo exhibiton in the Kortman Galllery in 2014.
“Art fans of each of these talented artists are in for a visual treat to be able to see this family of artists show together in one exhibit,” says Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “Will there be a family resemblance? Is there a common visual element in their work? This is what makes this show so fascinating!” 
 The “Nature/Nurture: A Family of Artists” exhibition will be will be on display through May 30th. The Friday and Saturday, April 10th and 11th opening receptions are in conjunction with the Spring Rockford ArtScene. The Friday opening reception will be from 5 to 10pm and Saturday 3 to 9pm. 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

Fill your Easter Basket with things extraordinary form J. R. Kortman Center for Design

Surprise that special someone this Easter with an extraordinary gift from J.R. Kortman. From a sculpted zinc rabbit to double opera length pearls, from an "Anna" corkscrew to glass and stainless steel spice jars or dazzling art glass by Robert Burch or a beaded "eye" pendant by Betsy Youngquist...you will find something wonderful that will be treasured for a lifetime. Visit us Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm and explore our store and gallery.

Time change? Change your clocks...find a new clock for Spring @ J. R. Kortman Center for Design

Spring ahead with this cool clock with a unique adhesive backing that allows you to "stick" it where you might ordinarily not be able to hang one such as on a mirror, fridge, or even a window. The clock with smooth movement (battery operated) keeps accurate time and comes in several color combinations. See this and other contemporary wall clocks and watches @ J.R.Kortman Center for Design.


dj DAS Creates Mixes a Cool Vibe this First Friday in the Kortman Gallery featuring the Art of Diane Rose Dailing, Dennis Horton @ the Bar

If you haven't experienced the Kortman Gallery - DAS music combination, you won't want to miss this first Friday.  Surrounded by Diane Rose Dailing's "Captured" exhibition, enjoy signature cocktails from bartender Dennis Horton and manually mixed beats by dj DAS...all together, leads to a great Friday night at J. R. Kortman Center for Design and the Kortman Gallery. Shop til 9 and relax upstairs in the galley late into the evening. Experience a refreshing First Friday in Downtown Rockford this Friday, March 6th.