Chairs have been a part of every day life since the dawn of civilization. They have evolved from not only a purely functional piece of furniture, but also a statement of design, social strata, and comfort. For centuries the chair has appeared in works of art from ancient Egyptian scroll paintings to works by classical masters to modern day paintings and sculpture.
Kortman Gallery has invited twenty-six artists who work in different styles and media to create works of art inspired by the chair. The exhibition titled, “Sit. Chairs as Art” opens Friday, November 18th from 5:30 to 9pm in the downtown Rockford Kortman Gallery.“All twenty-five of these imaginative, accomplished artists have created works that either visually depict a chair in a painting, ceramics, photography, or sculpture…and some are actually functional chairs,” said gallery director Doc Slafkosky.
Clay artist Lynn Fischer-Carlson said she welcomes the challenge of creating a piece for a show that has a designated theme.
“It compels you to apply your artistic skills often in different ways,” says Fischer-Carlson. “You want to participate in the theme without sacrificing your own aesthetic vision or style.”
One of the inspirations for this exhibition was to recognize the 20th anniversary of the creation of “The Big Chair” by Rockford artist, Jim Julin who passed away in 2012.
“Jim created the chair for a Kortman Gallery exhibit in 2002,” said Slafkosky. “He built the large scale sculpture to honor his Rockford Swedish furniture manufacturing heritage. The Big Chair was placed on the then downtown mall in front of our gallery. It was acquired by Lon and Dick Behr and donated to the Rockford Art Museum’s sculpture garden where it stands tall today on North Main Street.”
Participating artists include Zoa Ace, Stephen Warde Anderson, Lynn Fischer-Carlson, Molly Carter, Jesus Correa, John Deill, Michelle Dorr, Fatherless, Roni Golan, Laura Gomel, Brian Hierstein, Jane Peterson Hooker, Lisa Jimenez , Carrie Johnson, Jeremy Klonicki, Jenny Mathews, Robin McCauley, Nancie King Mertz, Valerie Olafson, Jacob Polhill, Jane Weis Proudfoot, Louis Recchia, Joe Tallman, Alison Weust, Brett Whitacre, and Kyle Wolfe.
Meet the artists at the Kortman Gallery opening reception for “Sit. Chairs as Art,” a holiday group exhibition is Friday, November 18th from 5:30 to 9pm. The gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The exhibit is free, and open to the public. The exhibition will run though January 14th, 2023. For more information call 815-968-0123.
The store and gallery will be CLOSED October 17th through October 26th for VACATION! We will resume normal hours on Thursday, October 27th. Looking forward to seeing you when we return!
Growing up, Kyle Wolfe was always attracted to visually charged toys, video games, comics, and pop culture objects from the past. With a natural talent for art, he cultivated his artistic talent and curiosity that lead to a career not only as a multimedia visual artist, but an art educator.
On Friday, October 14th Wolfe brings his extraordinary visual, interactive new works to the Kortman Gallery in an exhibit he calls, “Imaginary Friends.” The opening receptions, coincide with this year’s ArtSene weekend on Friday, October 14 from 5-9pm and and Saturday, October 15, 4- 9pm.
Wolfe’s imaginative, innovative exhibit includes painting with acrylics or oil, on recently rediscovered found objects from his past like skateboards, shoes, and even telephone. His attraction to comics, video games and the visual culture of his youth is also the inspiration for digital and print work that will also be featured in this exhibit.
“My approach to creating has always been evolving,” says Wolfe. “I’m at point in my career where I feel the freedom to create in any way that moves me. This show has given me the opportunity to let go of control and express myself in multiple media utilizing anything that inspires me to become my canvas.”
Since his personal relationship to the imagery of pop culture was such an important part of his early life, he relates to his newly created visual images as his “imaginary friends.” Some of his art makes references to known characters like Pac-man, Muppets characters, etc. while other creatures in his eye-popping, colorful works are pure fantasy.
Many of his pieces will include an interactive QR code along side that will enhance and engage the viewers experience.
“This is going to be a fun and entertaining exhibit for all ages,” said Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director. “This is not just paintings on the wall. You will have a great time exploring the imagination and creative spirit of this expressive and inspired artist.”
This is Kyle Wolfe’s second solo exhibit in the Kortman Gallery. His first show in 2010 featured digital works called “A Thousand Words” creating images from visual fragments he created on the computer. Wolfe, a graduate of Northern Illinois University, teaches art in the Rockford Public Schools at Roosevelt High School.
“Imaginary Friends,” new works by Kyle Wolfe opens Friday, October 14th from 5 to 9pm and Saturday, October 15th from 4 to 9pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. His exhibit will run through November 12th. J.R. Kortman Center for Design & Kortman Gallery are openTuesday to Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11 to 5pm. For more information visit www.jrkortman.com of phone 815-968-0123
"Color is a power which directly influences the soul,” says emerging Rockford artist Valentina Fedoseeva quoting Wassily Kandinsky.
“Telling universal stories, is how I like to highlight the magical elements in our shared culture,” says Rockford artist Jenny Mathews.These two exuberant artists are teaming up in an expression of the colorful beauty of nature in “Botanic Flourish,” an exhibition of floral paintings opening Friday, July 29th in the Kortman Gallery, Downtown Rockford.
“Both Mathews and Fedoseeva have an artistic gift to create works that have universal appeal because of their classic painterly styles,” says Kortman gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “Jenny introduced me to not only the idea for this show, but also to Valentina, a newcomer to the Rockford art community.”
Valentina Fedoseeva was born and raised in Moldavia. Her work is influenced by her travel experiences that heave taken her to such colorful cultures as India and Central America. Nature is her inspiration as most of her works captures imagery such as flowers, botanicals, and landscapes.
“I love nature very much! It's the main source of my inspiration. Shapes, colors, and motifs are collected grain by grain in my subconscious,” said Fedoseeva. “When I enter the studio, something huge, something that cannot be described in words, seems to take possession of me.”
Jenny Mathews is a well-known and accomplished Rockford artist. She has exhibited work in a galleries and museums throughout the region including a 2019 solo exhibit in the Kortman Gallery. She is best known for her public art murals that have graced the Rockford urban landscape for years…her latest in Rockford’s North End above the Norwegian Restaurant at 1402 North Main.
“I enjoy creating small paintings and illustrations as much as large public murals,” said Mathews. “My artistic vision is driven by my love for bringing people together and my work aims to be the catalyst of a shared experience.”
Kortman Gallery opening reception for “Botanic Flourish,” an exhibition of floral paintings by Valentina Fedoseeva and Jenny Mathews opens Friday, July 29th from 5:30 to 9pm. The gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The exhibit is free, and open to the public..
“Botanic Flourish” will run though September 30th. For more information call 815-968-0123.