FALL
2022
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PRESIDENT
Keri Benhoff
PAST PRESIDENT
David Boccignone
EXECUTIVE TRUSTEES
Steve Bois
John Holevas
Daniel G. Saavedra
TREASURER
Greg Harlan
SECRETARY
Holly Squicciarini
TRUSTEES
Jim Bennett
Jordan Calgaro
Todd Fischer-Free
Matt Herbig
Jerry Kortman
Dana Martin
Steve Pitkin
TRUSTEES EMERITUS
Dick Behr
Rob Funderburg
Lisa Lindman
SUPPORT GROUP REPRESENTATIVES
Valerie Olafson | GVAF
Anne Boccignone | WAB
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR
Carrie Johnson
OPERATIONS MANAGER MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS + DESIGN
Sarah Axelson
ASSISTANT CURATOR
Frances Downey
INTERIM EDUCATION + ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Chloe Gale
Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. Located inside Riverfront Museum Park (a Rockford Park District facility), RAM is supported by memberships, individual and corporate contributions, and partially supported by a Partners in Excellence grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Proceeds from Women’s Art Board, Greenwich Village Art Fair, Art in Bloom, Fashion in Bloom, and the Rockford Art Museum Store provide additional financial support.
PATRONS
John Anderson
Lon and Dick Behr
Cheryl Bischoff
Anne and David Boccignone
Steve Bois
Liz Dickinson
Lynn Fischer-Carlson
Cathy and Rob Funderburg
Gail and Hugh Funderburg
Judy and John Graff
Paula Turner Grasso
Jeanne Gropp-Wedig
Patricia Hagman
Karen Vaughn Harding
Mary Heffran
Janella and Matt Herbig Margret Hesler Hynes
Vicki Johnson
Sally and Gary Jouris
Lisa and Mark Lindman
Diane Meltmar
Patty and Bob Rhea Stella Schroeder
Dave Schroepfer
Joan Stonecipher
Cathie and Bill Thiede list as of print date
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR
Happy Fall!
What an exciting summer we’ve had at Rockford Art Museum! From our feature summer exhibition, Shape of Light celebrating the International Year of Glass, to our ever-beloved fundraiser Greenwich Village Art Fair, it has been wonderful summer of art.
As we look to the upcoming months, we are delighted to host our popular exhibition, The Rockford Midwestern Biennial which opens on Friday, October 7th. This year is the 77th presentation of this juried exhibition which features 50 artists from the Midwest. We are rolling out some great programming for this exhibition so make sure to check out the Education page for more information.
In the following weeks after the exhibition opens, we will be welcoming back Art in Bloom and Fashion in Bloom! These popular fundraisers not only support operations at the museum but show the artistic beauty of floral and fashion design. Also, in December, the Women’s Art Board is hosting their annual holiday luncheon featuring returning presenter, Jenny Riddle. We can’t thank WAB enough for their continued support of the museum’s educational and exhibition-related programming.
Because of the generous sponsorship provided by Studio Weatlh Advisory Group–David Boccignone and Joan Stonecipher, we have been able to provide free admission for two of our featured exhibitions this year. If you are interested in continuing this important sponsor ship by providing free admission to everyone, contact me at cjohnson@rockfordartmuseum.org.
We rely on the support of our community to keep our doors open and that’s why your museum membership is so important. Membership dollars goes towards important educational programs, exhibitions and community outreach. We hope that you renew your membership or become a member today!
COVER: Renee McGinnis (Chesterton, IN) Nesting Protocols, 2022 oil and silver leaf on canvas Courtesy of the artist
RIGHT: Louise Pappageorge (Three Oaks, MI) AUEREOLE, 2022
crochet, metal leaf, patination Courtesy of the artist
Executive Director/Curator
Carrie Johnson
photo of Carrie Johnson by Shelly Mosman, 2019
IT IS OUR MISSION TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH VISUAL ARTS.
OPEN | THU–SUN, 10 AM—5 PM FREE ADMISSION SPONSORED BY DEAN ALAN OLSON FOUNDATION OCTOBER 7 THE ROCKFORD MIDWESTERN BIENNIAL EXHIBITION OPENING
GALLERY WALK | 5:15–6 PM MEMBERS PREVIEW | 6–7 PM FREE PUBLIC OPENING | 7–8 PM
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
Tatsuya McCoy’s painting Truth, Justice and the American Way (left) takes the comic book superhero Superman’s “S” logo and transforms it into a distorted meditation on the ideas we’ve come to associate with the logo. The title of this work serves a dual purpose. It is the character’s signature catchphrase, but it also encourages us to consider the weight and meaning of the words that compose the phrase and how they relate to the style and scale of McCoy’s painting. The rigid and clean style of the original symbol primes us to expect perfection and a clear distinction between good and evil, while the painterly and much less constrained, or “perfect” depiction seen in McCoy’s painting implies a less certain perspective on the ideals mentioned in the work’s title. One unique tool that Symbolism has at its disposal, is the use of signifiers or emblems, like the Superman logo, that have become familiar and weighted down with a collective cultural association or understanding. In the same way that an image of a green tractor might come to represent the agricultural tradition and a specific type of Americana, McCoy’s painting uses this wellknown pop culture symbol as an entry into a more complex discourse about the purportedly heroic ideals of truth, justice, and the “American way”.
In Catholic mythology Limbo is an afterlife that is neither Heaven nor Hell, but a third possible outcome for those who die in the favor of the Abrahamic God, but for one reason or another are unable to immediately enter Heaven. Throughout time, this has been colloquially interpreted to mean a sort of ambiguous space between Heaven and Hell, containing elements of paradise and minor elements associated with Hell. Julie Heffernan’s work tends to explore imagined psychological landscapes through the use of self-portraiture and tropes from historical painting; particularly the Rococo period. With Self-Portrait in Limbo (above), Heffernan paints herself in the middle of a flaming ring separating her from the lush, verdant world around her in this simple, mesmerizing, and distressing allegory.
Confronting death has been an artistic tradition since early humans began pressing compounds onto the walls of caves, but few artists have approached the subject as brazenly as Hollis Sigler. Sigler’s art offers a somber and crushingly honest guide through loss. Sigler didn’t face death as a generalized force that slowly recycles all life, but as something hostile and familiar sawing away at her unique and individual life. This particular painting was created in 1988, three years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, an illness that took the lives of her great-grandmother, her mother, and eventually killed her. Throughout her work, Sigler repeatedly uses depictions of clothing, trees, furniture, birds, and banners with heartbreaking expository text and titles. Her paintings take the form of emotionally and psychologically manifested spaces that combine rage, sorrow, confusion, and hope, and feel dreamlike and otherworldly. The dresses accompanied by home furnishings that repeatedly show up in Sigler’s work stand in for the artist and represent her, but they also represent the things that are left behind after death. In this way, Sigler’s objects and paintings became places to store memories.
Highlights from the Permanent Collection are researched and written by assistant curator Frances Downey
IMAGES
top left—
Tatsuya McCoy (American, b. 1962) Truth, Justice and the American Way, 1996 oil on canvas Collection of Rockford Art Museum Gift of Francis and June Spiezer bottom left— Hollis Sigler (American, 1948–2001)
When Memory Is Abandoned for Fantasy, 1988 monotype with painted frame Collection of Rockford Art Museum
Gift of Betty Cleeland in memory of Raymond T. Cleeland right—
Julie Heffernan (American b. 1956) Self-Portrait in Limbo, 2001 oil on canvas Collection of Rockford Art Museum Gift of Jeff Stevens
COLLECTION EXHIBITION EDUCATION
The 2022 Rockford Midwestern is the 77th presentation of Rockford Art Museum’s juried exhibition, which began in 1913 as an annual showcase of local artists, then expanded eligibility and was known as the Stateline Vicinity Show through 1998. Now a biennial show that surveys new work by contemporary artists across the Midwest, the competition was open to original artwork in any medium created since the last biennial by residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, or Wisconsin.
Juror Frank Juárez brings two decades of art education and arts management experience organizing local and regional art exhibitions, community art events, facilitating presentations, supporting artists through grant programs, and offering professional development workshops. Juárez is the Sheboygan North High School art department chair, SchoolArts Magazine contributing editor, and Artdose Magazine publisher.
Awards will be presented at the preview for members and exhibiting artists on Friday, Oct 7, including the prestigious Dean Alan Olson Purchase Award ($2,000)—chosen from the juror’s selections by Rockford Art Museum Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson for inclusion in the RAM Permanent Collection—plus Best of Show ($750), and two Juror’s Choice awards ($500 each), chosen by Juárez.
The Rockford Midwestern Biennial is organized by Carrie Johnson and juried by Frank Juárez. This exhibition and its related educational programming are sponsored by the Dean Alan Olson Foundation and Women’s Art Board; and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Juried by Frank Juárez
Colette Wright Adams Chicago, IL
Marcia Babler Libertyville, IL
April Behnke Chicago, IL
Jill Birschbach Evanston, IL
Molly Brennan Milwaukee, WI
Paul Burkholder Rockford, IL
Amy Cannestra Cudahy, WI
Gary Cudworth Geneva, IL
Sherri Denault Kankakee, IL
VA. dePintor Chicago, IL
Christopher Duran Chicago, IL
Drew Eurek Rockford, IL
Indra Freitas Johnson Evanston, IL
Maureen Fritchen Racine, WI
Richard Gessert Chicago, IL
Shelly Gilchrist Evanston, IL
Denis Hagen Hiawatha, IA
Samantha Haring Cincinnati, OH
Gayle Hernandez Belvidere, IL
Kristine Hinrichs Milwaukee, WI
Carol Irving Escanaba, MI
Joseph Ivacic Chicago, IL
Gretchen Jankowski Forest Park, IL
Mark Keffer Bedford, OH
Letha Kelsey Lodi, WI
Daniela Kouzov Greenbay, WI
Ruth Lantz Urbana, IL
J Myszka Lewis Madison, WI
Michael Litewski Zion, IL
Linda Marcus Milwaukee, WI
Ashley Martinez Rockford, IL
Renee McGinnis Chesterton, IN
Tom McHale Rockford, IL
John McNamara Rockford, IL
Maggie Meiners Winnetka, IL
Katherine Nemanich Evanston, IL
Ann Orlowski Madison, WI
Louise Pappageorge Three Oaks, MI
Marilyn Propp Kenosha, WI
Kimberlee Rocca Solon, IA
Katherine Rosing Madison, WI
Fran Sampson Oak Park, IL
Edwin Shelton Michigan City, IN
John Siblik DeKalb, IL
Jim Spelman Caledonia, IL
Spooky Boobs Cudahy, WI
Marissa Voytenko Glen Ellyn, IL
Joan Webster-Vore Hudson, IA
Sara Willadsen Sheboygan, WI
Laura Williams Chicago, IL list
Shelly Gilchrist (Evanston, IL) Solstice, 2022 acrylic & flashe on shaped PVC panel
Courtesy of the artist
THE ROCKFORD MIDWESTERN BIENNIAL OCT 7, 2022—JAN 22, 2023 | ROCKFORD ART MUSEUM
and Free Admission sponsored by Dean Alan
Foundation FRI, OCT 7 | MEMBERS OPENING FRI, OCT 7 | PUBLIC OPENING 5:15–6 PM | GALLERY WALK 7–8 PM | FREE ADMISSION 6–7 PM | MEMBERS PREVIEW
as of print date
Exhibition
Olson
Details and registration at rockfordartmuseum.org.
EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMMING
Exhibition-related programming is sponosored by a Partner’s in Excellence Grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Women’s Art Board of Rockford Art Museum.
EXHIBITION OPENING
MEMBERS ONLY GALLERY WALK | FRI, OCT 7 | 5:15-6 PM
MEMBERS PREVIEW | FRI, OCT 7 | 6–7 PM
FREE PUBLIC OPENING | FRI, OCT 7 | 7–8 PM
FREE, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Rockford Art Museum members are invited to join Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson and exhibiting artists for a Gallery Walk and Members Only Preview on Friday, October 7th. The Free Public Opening happens from 7-8 PM. Cash bar provided by Lino’s Restaurant.
PANEL LECTURE WITH EXHIBITING ARTISTS
WED, NOV 16 | 6–8 PM
FREE, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join us for a conversation with Rockford Midwestern Biennial exhibiting artists on their work, influences and philosophies.
ADULT DRAWING WORKSHOP
WED, JAN 18 | 6–7:30 PM $40 ($35 MEMBERS)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join Rockford Art Museum and artist Zach Mory for a one-of-a-kind drawing workshop! Zach will be teaching the intricacies of drawing the human face, but with a fun twist. Once you’ve mastered drawing the face, he’ll teach you how to create your very own cartoon!
COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR
FRI, JAN 20 | 10-11 AM
FREE, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED COFFEE PROVIDED BY ROCKFORD ROASTING CO.
Get a behind-the-scenes look into the process of curating the feature exhibition, The Rockford Midwestern Biennial, with Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson.
PORTFOLIO DAY
PORTFOLIO DAY
TUE, NOV 15 | 10 AM–1:30 PM
FREE, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Visit with arts professionals and discover the possibilities available for a career in the visual and graphic arts! Free student portfolio reviews are provided by many local and regional colleges and universities. Open to anyone in high school or older.
ADULT PROGRAMS
OPEN FIGURE STUDY WORKSHOP
TUE NOV 1, DEC 6, JAN 24 | 6–8 PM $15 ($13 RAM MEMBERS)
Join Rockford Art Museum for a laid back evening of drawing from the human figure. This is a self-directed workshop, but guidance will be available if needed. Poses will vary from 1 minute to 15 minutes, bring your own supplies.
YOGA WITH RHIANNON YANDEL
WED, NOV 9 | 6–7:30 PM $20 ($17 MEMBERS), REGISTER ROCKFORDARTMUSEUM.ORG
Join local Artist and Registered Yoga Teacher, Rhiannon Yandell for this 90 minute art and yoga workshop in our main gallery. First, you will learn more about the museum’s feature exhibition with a brief guided tour by Rockford Art Museum’s Assistant Curator. Then you will be guided through a meditation followed by a gentle, vinyasa style yoga practice suitable for all ability levels. This workshop is perfect for those who’ve always wanted to try yoga, those who have some experience, and anyone who wants to make more space for art and wellness in their lives.Participants are required to bring their own mats. Please register early as space is limited.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
CARTOON CLUB (AGES 6+) SATURDAYS | NOV 12, DEC 17, JAN 21 IN PERSON: 11 AM-12:15 PM $10 ($7 RAM MEMBERS)
Join us for some Saturday afternoon cartoons in our popular Cartoon Club! Each session will feature step-by-step drawing instructions, which can be followed along with or used as inspiration for your own unique vision!
STORYTIME WITH ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY EVERY SATURDAY | 9 AM FREE, ART ACTIVITY INCLUDED
We welcome Rockford Public Libary to The Studio at Rockford Art Museum for a free story and art activity every Saturday at 9 AM. No registration required. Storytime will not take place Christmas Eve, December 24 or New Year’s Eve, December 31.
COLLECTION EXHIBITION EDUCATION CHECK ROCKFORDARTMUSEUM.ORG FOR NEW AND UPDATED PROGRAM OFFERINGS PORTFOLIO DAY @ ROCKFORD ART MUSEUM TUE, NOV 15 | 10 AM–1:30 PM | FREE
