25 Rockford artists create small scale works for Kortman Gallery holiday exhibit


 One of the fond memories of urban Christmas shopping was looking in department store and shop windows and seeing the magical holiday displays in the front windows. Everything looked so exciting and alluring.
    The Kortman Gallery hopes to recapture that holiday shopping experience in its holiday group exhibition, “Window Shopping: Art within a Space” opening Friday, November 22nd, from 5:30 to 9pm.
    Twenty-four of some of Rockford’s most accomplished artists have been invited to create a small scale work of art that will fit within a 12 inch by 12 inch “window” box. The result is a dazzling array of media, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and mixed media.
    “The invited artists were not restricted by media or subject matter allowing each artist to work in their own creative realm,” said Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director. “The only restriction was size.”
    A series of small window boxes has been installed in the gallery to recapture a “window shopping” experience. Each work of art is displayed within its own space allowing the viewer to explore and discover each work of art as they walk around the room.
    “We hope that a visit to this exhibition, in a small way, emulates that magical holiday memory of looking into store windows and seeing an exciting Christmas gift you hoped you might receive,” says Slafkosky.
    Participating artists include: Stephen Warde Anderson, Lynn Fischer Carlson, Molly Carter, Jesus Correa, John Deill, Michelle Dorr, Drew Eurek, Fatherless,  Drew Helge, Brian Hierstein, Lisa Jimenez, Carrie Johnson, Brent Jones, Jeremy Klonicki, Norm Knott, R. Scott Long, Nancie King Mertz, Jeanne Reitsch, Cherri Rittenhouse, Scott Snyder, Joe Tallman, Brett Whitacre, Dysen White, Kyle Wolfe, and Betsy Youngquist.
    “Window Shopping: Art within a Space” a holiday group exhibition featuring works by twenty-four Rockford artists will open with a reception on Friday, November 22nd, upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The exhibit will run through January 11th, 2025. J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. The store and gallery will be open seven days a week starting Monday, December 2nd through Christmas Eve.
    The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.jrkortman.com or phone 815-968-0123.

John Deill presents New Works at Kortman Gallery exhibition, "Childs Play" now through November 16th


John Deill, one of Rockfordʼs most accomplished and admired artists, exhibits his newest works at the Kortman Gallery in Downtown Rockford. The exhibition titled “Childs Play” features new works by Deill including elegant paintings with detailed assemblage opening ArtScene weekend, October 4th & 5th.    
    Deill creates works often utilizing textured painting on canvas and found objects that he manipulates and integrates into his work resulting in distinctive and compelling pieces of art. Deill describes his work as “paintings with sculptural tendencies.”
     “My work has always been connected to the spiritual in art,” says Deill. “The guiding principle Iʼve used for years has been, ʻmy work must make reference to art's ability to transform one, from viewing on the outside to an experience on the inside.ʼ I hope that the body of work in this exhibition does just that.”
    Deill studied art at Rock Valley College and Rockford College. His artistic talent led him to sign painting in addition to his career as an artist. Over the years he has exhibited his work several times in the Kortman gallery including a solo show in 2009, and a two person show with his friend, the late Jim Julin in 2006, both celebrating their 50th birthdays, coincidently born hours apart at Swedish American Hospital.
    Kortman  Gallery director Doc Slafkosky says Deillʼs art appeals to a sophisticated sensibility. “The materials, the colors, the craftsmanship, and the subtle imagery in his art makes for work thatʼs imaginative and elegant,” Slafkosky says. “We are delighted to have John as our featured artist in the gallery for Fall ArtScene.”
    John Deillʼs “Childs Play” exhibition runs through November 21st. at the Kortman Gallery located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford. Admission is free and open to the public. For further information call 815-968-0123.


Ceramic artist Margret Hesler Hynes explores the art of kintsugi in new Kortman exhibition opening July 19th.

  

 Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with a lacquer of gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history on an object, rather than something to disguise.
    Rockford ceramic artist Margret Hesler Hynes inspired by this artistic philosophy has created a body of new works in an exhibition titled, “From Broken to Beauty.” Her show opens Friday, July 19th from 5:30 to 9pm in the Kortman Gallery, Downtown Rockford.
    “Mending the damage is not to hide or repair, but to accentuate and emphasize it.  This encourages the viewer to accept, celebrate, and see new beauty in the imperfections,” said  Hessler Hynes.
    Hesler Hynes has been creating intriguing works in ceramic for most her art career not only as an artist, but an art educator.
    “There’s an organic quality to Margret’s theme-driven ceramic pieces. Many of her works have recognizable elements incorporated into her hands-on approach to her sculptural vessels,” says Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky.
     She has participated in numerous shows in the Kortman Gallery including a solo exhibit in 2014 where she exhibited her nature inspired ceramic totems. Images of her past works are featured in “Collection,” an art book by published by Doc Slafkosky and Jerry Kortman of their personal collection of art and artifacts. She continues to make art in her retirement from teaching in the art department with the Rockford Public Schools.
    “From Broken to Beauty” featuring new ceramic works by Margret Hesler Hynes will open with a reception on Friday, July 19th , 5:30 to 9pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. Her exhibit will run through September 28th. J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm.
    The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.jrkortman.com or phone 815-968-0123.


Artist John Bell transforms nature’s relics into captivating bird sculptures for ArtScene Kortman exhibit

  
Rockford native John Bell sees inspiration for his work in nature’s fragments such as fallen tree branches, driftwood, or an abandoned wasp nest. Natural relics that he discovers become the found ingredients for creating unusual and captivating sculptures of birds.
Bell’s sculptures along with his evocative paintings will be featured in his solo exhibition, “John’s Birds” opening in the Kortman Gallery, Downtown Rockford (ArtScene weekend).
The unusual shapes and the colorful enhancements of Bell’s natural finds add to the eccentric characteristics of his sculptural birds giving them a sense of motion and fascination. The same sensibility in Bell’s sculptures can also be seen in his almost abstract paintings.
“I think of myself as a figurative artist whose work depicts birds as verbs rather than nouns,” says Bell. “While I always begin with a suggestive stick or particularly evocative brushstroke, the finished sculptures and paintings end up caring very little for my initial intentions. I choose to describe their own bodily limits and define their own space by pacing out the edges of their territory on the canvas or pedestal.”
   Bell, a Rockford native, shows his artwork in park districts, natural history museums, and the bed of his pick-up truck, primarily in the Midwest. He currently lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, Alanna, two dogs, and cat.
“I hope my work can serve as a small reminder that life does not proceed rationally— it constantly reinvents itself, bubbling over any container that we try to put around it,” said Bell.
 Gallery director, Doc Slafkosky says this is third exhibition Bell has presented in the Kortman Gallery.
“John has shown his intriguing art with us in 2008 and 2012,” said Slafkosky. “His first show in our gallery was with his twin sister, Katie, who is also a successful artist now living in Brooklyn. The “John’s Birds” show follow’s his mom’s exhibit, “Silk Scenes” by Sarah Bell in the Kortman Gallery. It’s wonderful to see this much creativity and talent in one family!”
“John’s Birds” featuring sculptures & paintings by John Bell will open with receptions on  April 19th & 20th, Friday, 5 to 9pm & Saturday, 4 to 9m. upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. His exhibit will run through June 30th. J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. 
The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.jrkortman.com or phone 815-968-0123.