First Friday, July 6...art of John Bell, Holland Zander's iPod playlist revealed, and Dennis Horton hosts the Gallery Bar


     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 summer with beautiful, functional design from Michael Graves & Alessi @ J. R . Kortman

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.

John Bell's "always hungry" art exhibit opens Friday, June 8th @ Kortman Gallery

                                                                                                     

                          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 

First Friday @ J. R. Kortman: Kristy Luck's "Intimation(s)" & Michael LaLoggia tending the Gallery Bar

 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.

 

 

Kortman Gallery installs exhibit of Rockford art @ District Bar & Grill

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.

Remember Mom this Mother's Day with a special gift from J. R. Kortman.

Mother's Day arrives this Sunday, May 13th. Take Mom to dinner downtown Saturday evening or Sunday brunch and present her with a lasting treasure from J. R. Kortman Center for Design...a beautiful necklace of pearls and crystals, or an elegantly designed functional piece from Alessi, or a sweet art glass heart from Robert Eickolt or Robert Held or Robert Birch, or even a bag of pewter hearts from Vilmain. Give her a gift certificate from J. R. Kortman so she can experience shopping at J. R. Kortman for herself! (photo: Lucy Slafkosky with daughter, Geri, 1945)

Dennis Horton rules the Kortman Gallery Bar, First Friday, May 4 @ 6pm 'til ?

 

 A fun First Friday is on it's way at the Kortman Gallery, May 4th. The Store will close at 6pm....just as the Kortman Gallery Bar opens upstairs featuring the works of Kristy Luck in an exhibit titled, "Intimation(s)." See this cool exhibit while you enjoy a drink served up by Dennis Horton from the Kortman Gallery Bar. Hear what's on Dennis' ipod...we're featuring music from Mr. Horton's unedited iPod playlist brought to you through the great sound system provided by hear.more.music. Meet friends and have a great relaxing evening, First Friday, @ Kortman Gallery and all over Downtown.

Pearls, Turquoise, and other colorful jewelry...new this Spring @ J.R. Kortman

With Spring in full swing and Mother's Day just around the corner on Sunday, May 13th, J. R. Kortman Center for Design presents beautiful new arrivals from the Beijing Pearl Market featuring chic and elegant designs from Joe Yuan Pearls...also...fun and colorful, casual jewelry distinctively from J. R. Kortman. As the wedding season approaches J. R. Kortman has bridal registration and gifts of extraordinary design from Alessi of Italy.