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
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 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 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 ArtScene weekend in the Kortman Gallery!!! Presenting the works of Paul Pinzarrone, Rebecca Downing Pelley, & Ellie Pinzaronne...featuring music from DJs DAS & JohnRawFunk!
“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
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.
