Yes, It's a steel! For a limited time, selected hand-polished stainless steel pieces from the beautiful designs of Alessi are available at 20% off at J. R. Kortman Center for Design. Perfect time to add to your collection or find something of quality and elegance for a wedding, anniversary, or personal gift. A cool deal for these hot summer days.
Hope your enjoying this hot 4th of July holiday week. And this year, First Friday downtown (July 6th) is right in the middle of all the celebrating. We will be open in the store until at least 9pm and, of course, the Kortman Gallery Bar will be open even later with Dennis Horton serving up some refreshing beverages along with Summer fun.
You listen to her fantastic music as one of Rockford's hottest performers...now you can listen to what Holland listens to on her iPod. Yes, Holland Zander's unedited iPod playlist will be the featured music upstairs in the Gallery Bar played through the coolest sound system from hear.more.music.
Plus, you won't want to miss "always hungry"...an exhibition of new works by John Bell.
So, stop by before or after the City Market or enjoying dinner in one downtown's great restaurants. We're right on the trolley route, so we're easy to get to no matter where you begin your First Friday evening. Have a cool & refreshing holiday week with J. R. Kortman Center for Design.
Celebrate the summer with an elegant work of exceptional design from the now classic collection by American architect Michael Graves. Celebrate this great country with great American design from hand-polished stainless steel made in Italy. The subtle reds and blues in Mr. Graves designs would work great on a 4th of July table setting or any time of the year. Summer is also the season for weddings...and Alessi style and design makes for for lasting, useful, and heirloom quality gifts that can be enjoyed by both the bride and groom. See these and other Alessi products at J. R. Kortman Center for Design.
"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give a child...he believed in me."
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
"The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get."
These Father's Day sentiments brought to you by Shannon Martin/Girl Designer Greeting Cards and J.R.Kortman Center for Design
John Bell exhibits figurative
abstract art at Kortman Gallery
Rockford native and artist John Bell returns home on Friday, June 8th to present his latest body of abstract, yet figurative work at the Kortman Gallery. The exhibition titled “always hungry” features paintings and small sculpture that are motion-filled images that take on a life of their own through muted colors and textured forms and shapes.
“I want my pictures to operate in the realm of potential—in imagining and bringing to life the near-limitless variety of form that life can take on to make itself unique and still survive,” says Bell. Even though Bell’s work at first glance looks abstract, as you look deeper into his art you can see, through imagination, movement and figurative images. As Bell writes in his artist’s statement, “I think of myself as a figurative artist who strives to depict animals as verbs rather than as nouns.”
Bell is a graduate of Boylan High School, with a B.A. from Grinnell College, and MFA from the Minneapolis School of Art and Design.
“John comes from a very artistic and creative family,” said Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director. “His twin sister Katie has a piece in Rockford Art Museum’s current Midwestern juried art exhibit, his mother, Sarah, is a former art teacher and artist in her own right, and father Kurt is one of the area’s leading craftsmen in historic preservation.”
The opening reception for “always hungry” exhibition by John Bell will be Friday, June 8th from 5:30 to 9pm and will be on display through July 21, 2012. The 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: “always hungry” an exhibition of paintings and sculpture by
Rockford native John Bell
When: Opening reception: Friday, June 8th, 5:30 to 9pm. The exhibition runs through
July 21st. Gallery & Store open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design,
107 North Main St.
Admission: Free
This First Friday @ J. R. Kortman Center for Design...you can shop 'til 9pm and relax upstairs in the Kortman Gallery where Michael LaLoggia will be tending bar and keeping the evening going with music from his very own iPod played through the fantastic sound system by hear.more.music. This is going to be a grand First Friday as we welcome Cheap Trick to the BMO and the opening of the new District Bar & Grill. Plus, this is the season opener for City Market! The Kortman Gallery is a great place to meet up with friends before or after any of these exciting events in Downtown Rockford. Kristy Luck's art exhibit, "Intimation(s)" ends on June 2nd. This may be your last chance to see her compelling art. Hope everyone enjoys a fun evening Downtown.
The management of the District Bar & Grill invited Kortman
Gallery to install a small exhibit of Rockford art. The new downtown
urban/sports/entertainment bar & restaurant on West State, just
around the corner from the Kortman Gallery, opens Friday, June 1st.
"We really appreciate the opportunity to expand the visual arts
downtown Rockford. The urban art selected for District is a great fit
for this exciting new venue. District owners Andy Roiniotis and Denny Trakas are really reaching out to the neighborhood and feeling the downtown vibe, " says Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director.
The exhibit includes paintings, prints, mixed media, and
photography. The art has an urban theme featuring works by Corey
Hagberg, Mario Martinez, Joseph Stanley Goral,
Jesus Correa, Frank DiGiovanni, and Ryan Davis.
To see images of Kristy Luck's "Intimation(s)" just click our "Kortman Gallery" blog/site above.
