J. R. Kortman Center for Design / Kortman Gallery

    “Odd has become a constant for the way I respond to and digest the world around me,” writes Harlan in his Artist’s Statement for his Kortman Gallery exhibition, “it’s an odd world” opening Friday, April 23rd, Spring ArtScene weekend.
    Harlan’s idiosyncratic exhibition presents an eclectic mix of media including painting, illustration, photography, and embellished found objects. But all together, his seemingly unrelated works reflect his personal feelings and view of the world around him.
    “With the abundance of unknowns and possibilities in life, it can be easy to live in fear of the mystery and uncovered truths,” says Harlan. “However, stepping back and realizing how strange, how odd, living this human life is, helps me set aside fear.”
    “This is Andrew’s, or should I say odd’s first solo exhibition in the Kortman Gallery,” said Doc Slafkosky, gallery director. “His artistic perspective is definitely peculiar, but refreshing coming from a young, talented artist who is difficult to categorize. “it’s an odd world” is definitely an appropriate title for his intriguing, and often facetious works in this concept installation.”
    Opening receptions for “it’s an odd world,” featuring mixed media works by odd/Andrew Harlan is Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday, 4-9pm, April 23rd & 24th (ArtScene Weekend) in the Kortman Gallery, 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. Covid safe guidelines will be followed.
    The exhibit will run though May 31st. For more information call 815-968-0123.

Explore J.R. Kortman for an intriguing shopping experience in Downtown Rockford. Don't miss "Balance: Art of the Mobile" the current exhibition upstairs in the Kortman  Gallery, featuring unique mobiles created by eight artists, including Molly Carter, John Deill, Lynn Fiischer, Joel Hotchkiss, Jeremy Klonicki, R. Scott Long, John Verl McNamara, and Matt Richards. The exhibition will run through the end of January.

THANK YOU to all our customers for a successful holiday season here @ J.R. Kortman!

Holiday Hours: Open Tuesday & Wednesday (Dec. 29 & 30), 11-6, Thursday, Dec. 31, 1-4...Closed January 1-4.

We will resume normal hours Starting January, 4th: Tuesday-Friday, 11-6; Saturday, 11-5

    Artists Joel Hotchkiss and Matt Richards may live on different coasts, but they have two things in common: they both have made a career out of creating mobile art, and they both have their mobiles on exhibit in the Kortman Gallery.
    Hotchkiss of Stonebridge, MA and Richards of Portland, OR join six Rockford artists in “Balance: Art of the Mobile,”a holiday exhibition which is now open in the Kortman Gallery, Downtown at 107 North Main Street.
    “We are excited to show Joel and Matt who have years of experience creating mobile art, from small desk top kinetic sculptures to large public art installations,” says gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “But we also thought it would be great to challenge six Rockford artists who don’t normally work in this genre, to participate in this exhibit. And the result is a wonderful “moving experience” just to see what cool and fascinating works they’ve created.
    “Mobiles have been a part of the contemporary art world for decades since Alexander Calder created ‘moving art’ in the 1930’s inspired by the paintings of artists such as Mondrian and Miro,” says Lynn Fischer, Rockford ceramic artist and professor at Rock Valley College. “It was a little challenging for a clay artist to create mobile art, but I had a great time learning something new and be able to participate in this fun exhibition.”
    Mobiles are traditionally made of light metal that will move freely to make kinetic art. However, this exhibition, with featured works by artists like Lynn Fischer, John Verl McNamara, John Deill, Molly Carter, Jeremy Klonicki and R. Scott Long there are mobiles made not only from light metals like aluminum, but clay, wood, glass, steel, fabric, plastic, mylar, found objects, and even concrete!  
    “Balance: Art of the Mobile,” featuring mobiles by eight accomplished artists in mixed media is now open in the Kortman Gallery, located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The exhibit is free, family friendly and open to the public. Covid safe guidelines followed. The exhibit will run though January of 2021. For more information call 815-968-0123 or visit www.jrkortman.com.

 Rockford artist Valerie Olafson has reached another milestone in her life. In April she turned sixty years old. And as she starts a new decade in her life, Olafson has created an exhibition of her newest photographs in the Kortman Gallery, opening Friday & Saturday, October 9th and 10th

       The exhibition, titled “Old Bag” is the third in a series of photography shows she has exhibited in the Kortman Gallery…the first in 2000 when she turned forty, and the second in 2010 when she turned 50.

"Modern Design: The freedom to mix, to choose, to change." Explore J.R Kortman Center for Design Tuesday-Friday, 11am to 6pm & Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. Now on exhibit upstairs in the Kortman Gallery..."Eye to Eye:Here's Looking at You" featuring the works of Rockford artist, Norm Knott & Door County (Wisc.) artist, David Franke.

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