Artist Jacob Polhill grew up in a world surrounded by the visual excitement of pop culture through social media, video, print, and consumer products. His Kortman Gallery exhibition “Out of the Box,” opening Friday, October 4th, translates the lexicon of street art, contemporary and vintage cartoons, consumerism, and the media into colorful bold art and design in paintings, posters, and 3-D objects.

Buy a “piece” of the art and become part of the art! Artist Nick Cashmere lets you not only own a “share” of his work “Fugitive,” but you also become a participant in the creative process. When you purchase a numbered shard from the smashed up clown figurine featured in the piece, you earn a chance to win the entire work of art! Even if you don’t win the drawing at the end of June, you are forever artistically connected to the other “share” owners! Buy you shard today in the Kortman Gallery! Hear Nick tell about this intriguing art participation concept/contest:

Make Father's Day especially memorable when you give a gift of fine art...present Dad with an extraordinary work of art by Beloit artist Nick Cashmere. Nick creates beautiful works in wood with 3-dimensional applications, and intricate imagery drawn with a wood-burning stylus. Nick's work can be seen Tuesday thru Friday, 11a-6p, and Saturday, 11a-5p upstairs in the Kortman Gallery.

We, at J.R. Kortman Center for Design, are fortunate to have the nicest, most interesting and entertaining people as customers! We would like to thank you all for making our 33rd Christmas season so successful and enjoyable! A Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone!

J.R. Kortman invites you to JingleBling!…a holiday Jewelry Shopping Party, upstairs in the Kortman Gallery on First Friday, December 7th, from 5:30 to 8pm. 15% of the proceeds from jewelry sold during the event will benefit the Rockford Art Museum. See the latest designs, many one of a kind pieces that just arrived exclusively for J.R. Kortman from the Pearl markets of Shanghai and Beijing and other exotic locations. Our jewelry fashion consultants (Anita Church, Lisa Jimenez, Jenny Mathews, & Elizabeth Horvath) will be on hand to show and model our exciting, elegant, and festive necklaces, bracelets and earrings that will be great for you to show off this holiday season. And guys, for your holiday gift buying, this is an excellent opportunity to see cool jewelry with the help of our models who can assist you in selecting just the right piece. And best of all, the Kortman Gallery Bar will be open with bartender Dennis Horton serving up some holiday cheer! This is the way to shop!!!

P.S. At the same time you can see “Greetings from Rockford, IL USA” a holiday group exhibition now on display in the Kortman Gallery featuring postcard art created by 22 of some Rockford’s most accomplished artists. J.R. Kortman Center for Design is located at 107 North Main Street in downtown Rockford. For more information call 815-968-0123.

 “Greetings from Rockford, Illinois USA”

“Greetings form Rockford, Illinois USA” opening reception is Friday, November 16th from 5:30 to 10pm and on display through January 5th, 2019. The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815-968-0123 or visit www.jrkortman.com.

Parisian artists Etsuko Kobayashi and Sebastien Lecca have an entirely different approach to their art. Painter Kobayashi creates her expressive figurative works on canvas, while conceptual artist Lecca uses the urban landscape to convey his creative vision. But both artist have two things in common: They have had studios at 59 rue de Rivoli in Paris and will be exhibiting their art the Kortman Gallery in Rockford.

The exhibition titled, “59 Rue de Rivoli Revisited” will open Friday, October 5th, ArtScene weekend upstairs in the Kortman Gallery.

59 rue de Rivoli is the address and name of an exciting contemporary arts space in the heart of central Paris that is home to studios of 30 artists. In 1999, the abandoned building was taken over by artists who, controversially, squatted all seven floors. And through their creative energy and persistence, turned the building into one of the most visited contemporary art venues in Paris!

Etsuko Kobayashi, who has maintained a studio there since 2001, has become internationally known for her intriguingly quirky and unparalleled mixed media works. Her art was exhibited in the Kortman  gallery 2004 in an exhibit called “Two Women of 59 Rue de Rivoli” along with Aurelie de la Cadiere.  

Sebastien Lecca, a multi-media conceptual and performance artist, in 2010, created the project, “Awaken the World” (first called "Super Fetus") based on the multidisciplinary repetition of the symbol of the fetus. With this project, through his ubiquitous street art, his imagery became a visual part of the Parisian urban landscape for years. He maintained a studio at “59” until 2017.

“We are so excited to be able to bring the unique and fun works of these two intriguing artists adding an international flavor to the ArtScene and the Kortman Gallery,” says Doc Slafkosky, gallery director. 

“This exhibition will feature small-scaled, accessible art from both of these influential and prolific artists, giving Rockford art patrons a small glimpse into the local contemporary art world in Paris.”

“59 Rue de Rivoli Revisited” opening receptions are from 5:00 to 10pm on Friday, October 5th and 4 to 9pm on Saturday, October 6th. The exhibition will be on display through November 10th. The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815-968-0123 or visit “59 Rivoli” Facebook page.

Rockford Art Museum curator Carrie Johnson has built an exhilarating and challenging career in the art world selecting and installing exhibitions, lecturing about art, and supporting and working with artists. She has now come to a time in her career where she crosses over to the artist side of the art world, culminating with her first solo gallery exhibition. “On the Other Side: New Works by Carrie Johnson” is now on display in the Kortman Gallery in downtown Rockford.

“After being in the art world for so long, I have felt a need to personally express myself creatively,” says Johnson. “I have been fortunate to be around the creative energy of other artists, who not only inspire, but encourage artistic expression. Now I feel like I’m running alongside or falling in with them.” 

Johnson’s bold abstract works are not only visually striking, but have an engaging tactile quality, a result of her use of textural materials blended with paint and other unconventional surfaces.

“My work primarily focuses on composition and texture,” writes Johnson.  “Although there is greater meaning to each mark that is executed, I prefer the viewer form their own narrative about the piece - translate the mark on their own. None of the paintings are organic. Quite the opposite actually. Each gesture is throughly thought out and very deliberate.”

The July 5th Kortman Gallery opening reception for Johnson’s exhibit featured a live performance of ambient music by guitarist Rick Zillhart followed by cool sounds from Dj BISU (aka Erik Olson).

“On the Other Side: New Works by Carrie Johnson” on exhibit through August 31st. The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815-968-0123.

This year, “Symbol,” Rockford’s iconic grand sculpture by Alexander Liberman, turns 40! To celebrate, J.R. Kortman brings back the miniature “Symbol” souvenirs…available in two sizes. They’re not only cool mementos of our city, but also function as bookends, objet d’art, or a charming votive stand. And best of all, like “Symbol” itself, made in Rockford, Illinois USA!

Tallman & Weust have found inspiration for their contemporary/retro imagery from comic books, pulp era science fiction, hand-illustrated typography, and even music all with a graphic design sensibility.

Weust is a designer and printmaker who specializes in screen printing and photo lithography.

“I’ve always worked closely with bands and musicians and look to artists like Ray Pettibon,” says Weust. “I also love the the illustrator Daniel Clowes who uses a lot of bright colors in his work and taught me that you don’t always have to use black as your darkest value. I started replacing black with dark blues or reds and I found that it makes my work much more vibrant.”

Joe Tallman is an illustrator and screen printer who creates his art using a hybrid of traditional drawing and inking methods along with digital coloring techniques more commonly seen in modern illustration.

“I’ve always been intrigued by man’s relationship with technology in an ever-changing digital landscape,” says Tallman. “Sci-fi illustrators like Virgil Finlay blew my mind early on, along with comic book illustrators like Dan Clowes, Charles Burns and Adrian Tomine.”

According to Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky the exhibit should be an entertaining and engaging art experience. “Both Joe and Alison have a great sense of visual imagery that’s very well executed, imaginative, colorful and, most of all, fun!”

“Flat Planet” featuring art works by Joe Tallman and Alison Weust opens First Friday, February 2nd from 5:30 to 9pm and will be on display through March 31st. Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815-968-0123.

J.R. Kortman Center for Design...holiday shopping the way it should be...relaxed, fun, and special. Extraordinary gifts for the extraordinary people in your life!

J.R. Kortman Center for Design introduces two new ornaments to the Rockford Landmark Ornament Collection for 2017, the historic YMCA Log Lodge and a special edition of the Coronado Performing Arts Center, celebrating the theatre’s 90th year.
    “We are honored the Log Lodge was chosen as one of our community’s assets to highlight,” said Michelle Gorham, Chief Advancement Officer, YMCA of Rock River Valley. “Throughout 70 years, this building has played host to many celebrations from weddings to baby showers and more. Community members have made lasting memories in the Log Lodge and we are excited to honor those moments with this ornament.”
    “The Y Log Lodge is one of Rockford’s most intriguing and unusual landmarks,” says Doc Slafkosky, co-owner of J.R. Kortman. “In a way, you could say it’s hidden in plain sight, yet has such a great history and potential for future use because of its beautiful location along the Rock River.”
    The Coronado ornament features a beautiful hand-painted image of the the theater’s interior with it’s spectacular proscenium. The back of the ornament has the number “90” painted with stars representing the theater’s starlit ceiling.
    The original image for the Y Log lodge ornament was a commissioned painting created by Rockford artist Jeanne Ludeke and the Coronado was based on an image by Rockford illustrator Dean Munson. Both ornaments are limited edition deluxe versions, hand-painted inside larger glass spheres than previous ornaments and presented in a elegant midnight blue velvet gift box. The cost is $28. each.
      “We took those images to Beijing where the artist who hand-paints each ornament was able to transpose them on the inside of a clear ornament sphere, utilizing an ancient Chinese folk art technique” said co-owner Jerry Kortman. “It’s fascinating to see how our artist communicated visually with the Chinese artist through the language of art.”
     For more than 19 years J. R. Kortman Center for Design has been featuring hand-painted ornaments depicting Rockford landmarks sold year round at the downtown Rockford concept store and gallery.
    The Log Lodge ornament can also be purchased at all three YMCA facility locations. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the ornament at YMCA locations will help with renovation costs of the Log Lodge. Updates will include exterior renovations, log repair, lighting, flooring, windows and more.
        Besides the Log Lodge and Coronado “90” ornaments, the Rockford Landmark Ornament Collection includes the Prairie Street Brewhouse, East and West High Schools, St. Anthony Church, Blackhawk Statue, “Symbol” sculpture, two views of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House, a special edition of Memorial Hall,, and the North Main Street Armory. Other ornaments available in the Landmark Collection include, the Beattie Park Gazebo, the Faust Landmark Building, Coronado, and Midway Theater Buildings, the Woodward Governor building, and the Sinnissippi Burr Oak Tree.  Over the past 15 years the “Symbol” ornament has been the best selling ornament in the collection.
    “Other top sellers include four ornaments depicting different scenes of the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens and Nicholas Conservatory,” says Slafkosky.
    In addition to the Swedish Historical Society’s Erlander Home, other historic houses in the collection include the  “Limestone Mansion,” home to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, and the “Cobblestone House,” located at 2127 Broadway, one of Rockford’s oldest houses.    
    All the Landmark ornament images are individually hand-painted on the inside of a glass sphere, utilizing an ancient Chinese technique originally applied to “snuff” bottles. Each collectable ornament is a miniature work of art.
For more Info contact Doc or Jerry at 968-0123.

Two Rockford holiday traditions: J.R. Sullivan's "Hometown Holiday" and Rockford Landmark Ornaments! Purchase "Hometown Holiday" tickets @ J.R. Kortman and see the two new deluxe editions of the Rockford Landmark Ornament Collection, the historic riverfront YMCA Log Lodge & beautiful Coronado interior 90th anniversary..both come in an enchanting blue velvet gift box. Add to your collection! And,they also make great collectable holiday house gifts that will be treasured for a lifetime!