Spring Plastic: Fun & Functional for both indoors and out...from J. R. Kortman Center for Design

Finally Spring!...and we can enjoy the outside once again. Here are cool things made of plastic that are both fun and functional: A 3 tiered serving tray from Koziol of Germany will ad sophistication to any picnic event along with plastic serving carafes and plastic totes...strong enough to carry wine bottles, etc. Plastic bowls and "boat" butter dish with knife from Alessi can go from fridge to table. The Lexon soft plastic radio for music & news anywhere. and the eccentric frog purse will be the hit of any Spring outing.


Spirituality & Nature Influence Margret Hesler Hynes’ Ceramics in Kortman Gallery Exhibit... Opening Friday, April 11th...featuring DJ's DAS & Edward Klutch

Margret Hesler Hynes’ career as an artist has centered around material from the earth. Her hand- modeled artworks, inspired by the notion of containment and spirituality in exceptional ceramic sculptures, will go on exhibit on Friday, April 11th in the Kortman Gallery. The exhibition titled “Creatures Formed in Earth” will be the featured exhibition for Spring ArtScene in the Kortman Gallery.

 Hynes has created unconventional “totems” with her clay figures that could be displayed both indoors and outside adding a fresh look to contemporary works of art influenced by ancient, non-western cultures.

 “Nature, specifically animals, have inspired my forms,” said Hynes. “Many geographic areas throughout the world and through antiquity have made use of jars and bottles as symbolic containers. I have borrowed from several cultures the idea of creating totems which are emblems of community in which organic images, such as animals, add to a sense of a universal and mythical past.”

Hynes is recently retired from her career as an art teacher for the Rockford Public Schools. She has been creating and exhibiting her ceramic art work for more than a generation.

The opening receptions for Margret Hesler Hynes’ Kortman Gallery exhibition, “Creatures Formed in Earth” will be both Friday, April 11th, 5 to 10pm, and Saturday, April 12th, 3 to 9pm.. DJ's DAS & Edward Klutch will be spinning cool music to add to the Spring ArtScene festivities for the Friday opening. The art show will run through May 31st.

The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford. For more information call 815.968.0123






The colors of Spring bring fun to functional and decorative gifts from J. R. Kortman Center for Design

Add splashes of color to your Spring baskets with gifts that are both functional and playfully decorative. Roberta, the latest wind-up robot from Schylling, echos the bright colors of Spring...collectable fun for both kids and adults. Alessi's bunny toothpick dispenser will be the star of your Easter table and the Alessi "rabbit and carrot" paper towel dispenser adds charm and color to your kitchen counter all year 'round. Two rabbits from Japan, one created in cast iron and the "bobble head" made of paper mache´ will look great anywhere in your home or office. Stop by and see these and other great gifts that celebrate Spring at J. R. Kortman Center for Design. Also, don't miss "Visual Moves" upstairs in the Kortman Gallery featuring works of Art inspired by Dance by 16 local artists, celebrating Rockford Dance Company's 40th Anniversary.

"Visual Moves" group exhibiton opens Friday, March 7th @ Kortman Gallery


This First Friday, March 7th, Kortman Gallery presents opening night of “Visual Moves,” a group exhibition of Dance inspired Art featuring works by 16 artists celebrating the Rockford Dance Company’s 40th Anniversary. An array of media will be featured in the elegant exhibition including painting, jewelry, assemblage, photography, ceramics, and mixed media. All proceeds from the sale of artworks will benefit the Rockford Dance Company. Stop by and visit with exhibiting artists and members of the dance company and celebrate this milestone in Rockford’s performing arts scene with this exciting evening in the Kortman Gallery!
The artists:
Nels Akerlund/Danielle Barton/Katie Bell/Sarah Bell/Michael Bugler/Rebecca Downing Pelley/Joanne Gustafson/Margret Hynes/Lisa Jimenez/Pam Kehoe-Peterson/Jeremy Klonicki/ Norm Knott/Johnathan Kuss/Mona Lindvall/Valerie Olafson/Philip Sooslof
Grand jeté Downtown this First Friday for great evening of art, food, and live entertainment at more than 12 venues within walking distance of each other!

Images of Ellie Pinzarrone's "Stiched Shrines: Contemporary Embroidery" @ Kortman Gallery

Here is a gallery view of extraordinary works of art by Ellie Pinzarrone now on exhibit in the Kortman Gallery. With her unconventional use of imagery and materials, Pinzarrone has taken embroidery to a new and exciting artistic level in this exhibition. All works are available for purchase. The Kortman Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm...enjoy lunch or dinner Downtown and experience reality shopping and intriguing art at J. R. Kortman Center for Design.

Artist Ellie Pinzarrone elevates embroidery to fine art in Kortman Gallery Exhibit...February 7th to March 3rd.

   Artist Ellie Pinzarrone looks at a 15th century Italian altarpiece painting and is inspired...not to create another painting, but to get out a needle, thread, beads and fabric and embroider. These seemingly folk art materials are the paint and canvas she uses to create imagery that would not be out of place in an medieval cathedral yet, at the same time, make for an exciting piece of contemporary art.

With her unconventional use of imagery and materials, Pinzarrone has taken embroidery to a new and exciting artistic level in an exhibition opening Friday, February 7th in the Kortman Gallery.

“I find inspiration through amalgamations of art historical sources...15th century Italian altarpiece paintings, shrines, and miniatures fascinate and amaze me,” says Pinzarrone.  “I intend my modern interpretations to be playful, straightforward, engaging, and pleasing to view.  I would like viewers to revisit art history and other iconic images with refreshed and curious eyes.”

“Ellie’s work is not only an refreshing and creative use of embroidery, but also brings a sense of humor to classical works with her choice of materials that she stitches into the images,” said Doc Slafkosky, gallerist for the Kortman Gallery.  “Her works are fun and entertaining pieces of art.”

Pinzarrone is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received her Masters of Arts degree from American University in Washington D.C. She is the daughter of Paul Pinzarrone and Becky Pelley. Both of her parents are accomplished artists and well known in the Rockford arts community. 

“Stitched Shrines: Contemporary Embroideries,” works by Ellie Pinzarrone will be will be on display through March 3rd..  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: “Stitched Shrines: Contemporary Embroideries,” an exhibition of works by Ellie Pinzarrone opening reception, Friday , February 7th, 5:30 to 9:00pm

When:  The exhibition runs through March 3rd. 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 

Kortman Gallery hosts Rockford Public Schools All-City Art Exhibit thorugh January 17th

The Kortman Gallery is pleased to be one of the hosts of the Rockford Public Schools All-City Student Art Exhibit. We are showing 3-D and 2-D works while Octane (just across the street) is displaying 2-D works from these young, imaginative, and creative student artists. The exhibition opens January 9th and will run through January 25th. Stop by both locations and see these colorful and exuberant works of art by students from Auburn, East, Guilford, Jefferson, and Roosevelt High Schools.