SPRING 2022
L BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PATRONS
PRESIDENT Keri Benhoff
John Anderson Lon & Dick Behr Cheryl Bischoff Chad Black Anne & David Boccignone Steve Bois Diane Jaroch Cain Anita & Fred Church Lynn Fischer-Carlson Gail & Hugh Funderburg Cathy & Rob Funderburg Paula Turner Grasso Jeanne Gropp-Wedig Patricia & Norm Hagman Janella & Matt Herbig Mary Heffran Margret Hesler Hynes Vicki Johnson Sally & Gary Jouris Lisa & Mark Lindman Patty & Bob Rhea Dave Schroepfer Joan Stonecipher Cathie & Bill Thiede
PAST PRESIDENT David Boccignone EXECUTIVE TRUSTEES Steve Bois John Holevas Daniel G. Saavedra TREASURER Greg Harlan SECRETARY Holly Squicciarini TRUSTEES Jim Bennett Diane Jaroch Cain Jordan Calgaro Jerry Kortman Dana Martin Steve Pitkin TRUSTEES EMERITUS Dick Behr Rob Funderburg Lisa Lindman SUPPORT GROUP REPRESENTATIVES Jenny Mathews + Tim Stotz | GVAF Anne Boccignone | WAB
JUNIOR PATRONS Amber & Guy Bucciferro Javier Jimenez Teri Turner list as of print date
STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR Carrie Johnson
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR Happy Fall! What an exciting summer we have had at Rockford Art Museum! From our feature summer exhibition, Technicolor Constellations, to our ever-beloved fundraiser Greenwich Village Art Fair, it has been wonderful seeing all of your faces again as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times. As we look to the upcoming months, we have a new sense of excitement by hosting an amazing Permanent Collection exhibition. My Way: African American Art from the Black South is a stellar collection featuring nearly 150 pieces of work by Black artists comprised of two major donations from local collectors. In the following weeks after the exhibition opens, we are thrilled to welcome 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 design. Also, Women’s Art Board is hosting an incredible 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 Janella and Matthew Herbig, we have been able to provide free admission for two of our featured exhibitions this year. If you are interested in continuing this important sponsorship by providing free admission to everyone, contact me at cjohnson@rockfordartmuseum.org. As we come out of a very difficult 18 months, Rockford Art Museum is still feeling the effects of the museum’s closure and cancellation of important fundraisers in 2020. We rely on the support of our community to keep our doors open! Membership dollars also go towards important educational programs, exhibitions and community outreach. We hope that you renew your membership or become a member today!
OPERATIONS MANAGER MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS + DESIGN Sarah Axelson ASSISTANT CURATOR Frances Downey EDUCATION + ENGAGEMENT MANAGER Jaymee Fedor ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT April Marque
Hope to see you soon!
Carrie Johnson Executive Director/Curator photo of Carrie Johnson by Shelly Mosman, 2019
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.
COVER: Lonnie Holley (American, b. 1950) Untitled (Sandstone), n.d. carving from manmade industrial waste Gift of James Hager Collection of Rockford Art Museum RIGHT: Purvis Young (American, 1943-2010) Head, n.d. paint on cardboard Gift of James Hager Collection of Rockford Art Museum
IT IS OUR MISSION TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH VISUAL ARTS.
GALLERIES OPEN | THU–SUN, 10 AM—5 PM FREE ADMISSION SPONSORED BY JANELLA + MATTHEW HERBIG
FEBRUARY 4
READING MATTER GALLERY WALK | 5:15–6 PM MEMBERS PREVIEW | 6–7 PM FREE PUBLIC OPENING | 7–8:30 PM
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ART TALKS: MARIE BARCELONA | 11:30 AM
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MANDALA WORKSHOP | 6–8 PM
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CARTOON CLUB | 11 AM–12:30 PM
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STORYTIME WITH RPL | 10–10:30 AM
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OPEN FIGURE STUDY WORKSHOP | 6–8 PM
MARCH 9
ART TALKS: AMANDA LANGENDOERFER | 11:30 AM
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YOGA IN THE GALLERIES | 6-7:30 PM
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STORYTIME WITH RPL | 10–10:30 AM
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YOUNG ARTIST SHOW: HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION OPENING | 1-3 PM
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CARTOON CLUB | 11 AM–12:30 PM
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CLAY CHARMS MINI CAMP | 10-11:30 AM
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OPEN FIGURE STUDY WORKSHOP | 6–8 PM
APRIL 2
STORYTIME WITH RPL | 10–10:30 AM
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SLOW ART DAY |
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ART TALKS: KARLA CLARK | 11:30 AM
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YOUNG ARTIST SHOW: YOUTH DIVISION OPENING | 1-3 PM
MAY 20
COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR | 10 AM
COLLECTION EXHIBITION EDUCATION left
Danny Lyon (American, b. 1942) Entering Prison, 1967-69 gelatin silver print Collection of Rockford Art Museum Gift of Temmie and Arnold Gilbert Entering Prison comes from Danny Lyon’s series Conversations with the Dead. For this body of work, Lyon spent fourteen months inside six Texas prisons. Given the uncommon authorization to freely document life inside of the Texas prison system, Lyon created a disarming body of work that gives us a glimpse into the lives of incarcerated Americans. Lyon’s photos of life inside the Texas prison system
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Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984) Dawn, Autumn Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, 1948 gelatin silver print (printed 1950) Collection of Rockford Art Museum Gift of the Karl Minert Family Dawn, Autumn Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee is a perfect example of the definitive style of photography Adams’ developed, which fundamentally changed the way many saw and imagined the American landscape. Adams’ career was guided by his love of the natural world. He documented the magnificence and enormity of the American
speak to the brutality of human subjugation and expose his unflinching dedication to the notion of freedom. In a 2014 essay, Lyon returns to this groundbreaking 1967 series with this reflection, “Prison is part and parcel of America, part of the American way. It’s like a cancer inside us. There are even prisons run by corporations inside the United States. In other words you can invest in prisons and make money by locking people up… For every severe sentence you steel yourself to hand out, you diminish something inside yourself. And when you insist on execution you kill something inside yourself. You kill your humanity. Be neither a slave nor a master. Be free”
wilderness not only to record its beauty, but also to petition those who saw his work to preserve what he considered America’s greatest treasure. In addition to his work as a photographer, Adams was an activist working to ensure that future generations would all have the opportunity to be captivated by the American landscape. Adams was a member of the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, and in 1936 he was sent to Washington D.C. to share his photographs with members of both Congress and the Senate and to lobby a bill that proposed the creation of Kings Canyon National Park.
Stop in and see four exhibitions curated from Rockford Art Museum’s permanent collection on view in our lower-level Anderson Gallery: White Field Distortion (on view through April 3rd) Inspired by the Midwestern winter, White Field Distortion features three paintings from Rockford Art Museum’s permanent collection that mirror the calm, meditative qualities of falling snow. All three works make use of a luminous white field of color, which tends to make them feel even more immense than they truly are. Their bright, clear palettes also reduce the illusion of depth that is common in paintings with a wider value range, or range of lights, darks, and midtones. These immersive, largescale works encourage you to step up close and examine, to stand back and take it all in, and most importantly to receive nature’s seasonal order to slow down and become reacquainted with the stillness of the season. Seeing America (on view through March 27th) Seeing America pairs the two disparate visions of a nation captured on film by the photographers Danny Lyon and Ansel Adams. Both considered pioneers of photography, Lyon and Adams each conjure striking portraits of the United States in the 20th century. While Adams captures America’s state and national parks, making a staunch case for conservation of natural lands, Lyon photographs prison conditions in a Texas penitentiary.
Infinity Mirror: Geometric and Post-Painterly Abstraction (on view through March 6th) Infinity Mirror: Geometric and Post-Painterly Abstraction features 19 works from Rockford Art Museum’s permanent collection, including works by two progenitors of the movement; Gene Davis and Frank Stella. In addition to featuring two of the founders of this style, this exhibition reveals a continuing lineage of artists who were inspired by the first generation of post-painterly abstractionists, and have continued to develop this distinctive style. Known for their flatness, simplicity, and precision, these works invite space for reflection and contemplation, as well as offering viewers a window into Abstraction’s most stoic and vivid interpretation. Corporeal Music (on view through March 6th) Ranging from explicit and realistic to loose and indistinct, these paintings and drawings express the continually evolving role of the human figure in contemporary art. The figure has long been a central focal point of art, and one of the greatest challenges and inspirations artists encounter. Corporeal Music compares eight different examples of figurative work across a range of mediums and styles. The variety of ways in which these artists portray the human body can be seen as representative of the complexity of the human experience and the artistic tradition of imagining humanity as the center of everything.
COLLECTION EXHIBITION EDUCATION BUZZ SPECTOR: READING MATTER FEB 4–MAY 22, 2021 | ROCKFORD ART MUSEUM Free Admission and Exhibition sponsored by Janella and Matthew Herbig Exhibition sponsored by Coleman CPA and Consulting, Inc, Greenlee | Emerson and Rockford Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
FRI, FEB 4 | MEMBERS PREVIEW 5:15–6 PM | GALLERY WALK WITH MUSEUM EXHIBITING ARTIST 6–7 PM | MEMBERS PREVIEW
FRI, FEB 4 | PUBLIC OPENING 7–8:30 PM | FREE ADMISSION
Stemming from the roots that gave rise to Blues, Jazz and Gospel music, My Way: African American Art from the Black South surveys a collection of 156 works of art representing the styles and practices of this incredibly unique and inspired group of 46 artists including 8 original quilts constructed by the Gee’s Bend quilters in rural Boykin, Alabama. Many of the works in this exhibition are part of two major donations to Rockford Art Museum made by Susan and Stephen Pitkin and James Hager. The Susan and Stephen Pitkin Collection is a gift of 22 pieces by a dozen self-taught African American artists, all of whom were previously represented in the Rockford Art Museum Permanent Collection: Archie Byron, Thornton Dial Jr., Bessie Harvey, Dilmus Hall, Theodore Hill, Lonnie Holley, Joe Light, Charlie Lucas, Mary T. Smith, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Felix Virgous, and Purvis Young. The Pitkin Collection is an important complement to the Hager Collection, further bolstering the museum’s focus on African American art from the Black South. The Hager Collection was donated to the RAM Permanent Collection in 1994 by local manufacturer James Hager. This collection of more than 100 works by Black artists from the South, serves as an important benchmark for the focus on African-American art by the RAM Collection. Veterinarian Looking at the Worms in the Tiger’s Droppings by Thornton Dial is one of many key pieces of the Hager Collection.
Joe Light (American, 1934-2005) Untitled (Farmer), n.d paint on plywood panel Gift of James Hager Collection of Rockford Art Museum
Purposefully chosen by the Pitkins to augment works represented in the original Hager Collection, the pieces in the Pitkin Collection focus on work rich in symbolism, constructed from material elements valued for their past purpose and experience. Primarily made from discarded materials, every element within the work carries a literal and metaphoric narrative. Materials are rendered into ensembles
Thornton Dial (American, 1928–2016) Goat House, n.d. wood, paint, metal, foam rubber, tape and plaster Gift of James Hager. Collection of Rockford Art Museum.
through a process where in many respects something is created from nothing. Every work in the Pitkin Collection is an exploration of this process and experience, reflecting, remembering and telling a story of personal and cultural moments unique to the African American experience in the United States. As artist Thornton Dial once said, “You got to use your art to preach something.” Artists include: Thornton Dial, Purvis Young, Lonnie Holley, Mary T. Smith, Joe Light, Lorraine Pettway, Mose Tolliver, and more. My Way is organized collectively by the Rockford Art Museum curatorial staff and Collections/Exhibitions Committee. The exhibition and its related educational programming are sponsored by Coleman CPA and Consulting, Inc., Greenlee | Emerson, Matthew and Janella Herbig and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and partially supported by a Partners in Excellence grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Women’s Art Board of Rockford Art Museum. This exhibition is further funded in part by a grant from Illinois Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
COLLECTION EXHIBITION EDUCATION Details and registration at rockfordartmuseum.org.
EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMMING
Exhibition-related programming is sponosored by an llinois Humanities Grant and Women’s Art Board of Rockford Art Museum.
COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR FRI, MAY 20 | 10-11 AM FREE, COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE PROVIDED BY ROCKFORD ROASTING CO. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED Get a behind-the-scenes look into the proocess of curating the feature exhibition, Buzz Spector: Reading Matter, with Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson. No registration necessary.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS SPRING HOMESCHOOL SESSION 1: WEDNESDAYS, FEB 9, 16, 23 SESSION 2: WEDNESDAYS, MAR 9, 16, 23 SESSION 3: WEDNESDAYS, APR 13, 20, 27 AGES 6-10: 10-11:30 AM AGES 10+: 12:15-1:45 PM $150 | $135 Members Each semester, Rockford Art Museum hosts three local artists who share their love of art and knowledge of significant art movements with our homeschooling community. Our spring 2022 sessions will focus on the themes of nature and the environment. Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org.
ADULT PROGRAMS MANDALA WORKSHOP THU, FEB 17 | 6-8 PM $25 ($20 RAM MEMBERS) Enjoy a relaxing evening of mandala-making with artist Elisa Ahmer. Elisa will guide you through a peaceful meditation practice after which you will create your own personal mandala with watercolors. This workshop is great for those seeking more tranquility and creative expression in their lives. All supplies will be provided. Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org. OPEN FIGURE STUDY WORKSHOP TUE, FEB 22; WED, MAR 30 | 6-8 PM $15 ($12 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. Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org. YOGA IN THE GALLERIES THU, MAR 10 | 6-7:30 PM $20 ($17 RAM MEMBERS) Take some time for yourself this March with certified yoga instructor and artist Rhiannon Yandell. First, you will learn more about the museum’s feature exhibition with a brief guided tour. Then you will be guided through a gentle yoga practice and meditation 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. Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org. SLOW ART DAY WITH ELISA AHMER SAT, APR 2 $ ($ RAM MEMBERS) Details
CARTOON CLUB (AGES 6+) SATURDAYS | FEB 19, MAR 19 IN PERSON: 11 AM-12:30 PM $10 ($5 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! Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org. STORYTIME WITH ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY SATURDAYS | FEB 19, MAR 12, APR 2 | 10-10:30 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 third Saturday at 10 AM. No registration required. CLAY CHARMS MINI-CAMP (AGES 6+) THU-FRI, MAR 24-25 | 10-11:30 AM $35 ($30 RAM MEMBERS) Enjoy your spring break with a little charmmaking! RAM Education Manager, Jaymee Fedor will guide students through the process of making charms, earrings, and necklaces out of polymer clay. All supplies are provided, and students can come ready with their own ideas or follow Jaymee’s prompts to create the fun and bold creations of their dreams! Space is limited, register at rockfordartmuseum.org.
CHECK ROCKFORDARTMUSEUM.ORG FOR NEW AND UPDATED PROGRAM OFFERINGS
MUSEUM EVENTS AND SUPPORT GROUPS WOMEN’S ART BOARD PRESENTS 2022 ART TALKS: WONDERS OF THE PRINTED REALM FEB 9, MAR 9, APR 13 DOORS OPEN 11:30 AM, LECTURE + LUNCH 11:45 AM $20 EACH ($16 WAB MEMBERS) LUNCH INCLUDED, RESERVATIONS REQUIRED This year’s guest speakers come to us from various corners in the realm of printed materials, each revealing insider aspects of the artistry within the design, processes, appearances and use of printed material culture. Speakers are local librarian and historian Marie Barcelona; Associate Dean of Libraries for Special Collections and Museums at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, Amanda Lingendoerfer; and Rockford artist and published author, Karla Clark. For tickets or more info call RAM, (815) 968-2787. 81ST YOUNG ARTIST SHOW SPONSORED BY WOMEN’S ART BOARD Since 1941, Rockford Art Museum has celebrated the strength and diversity of art programs in our area through the annual Young Artist Show student exhibition. The High School Division is a juried competition that features exceptional pieces by students in grades 9–12 within 50 miles of RAM, and the Youth Division showcases art by K–8 students in Winnebago County. Students and teachers receive free admission to RAM throughout the entire Young Artist Show. HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION | MAR 13–APR 10 JURIED EXHIBITION FREE PUBLIC OPENING + AWARDS SUN, MAR 13, 1–3 PM YOUTH DIVISION | APR 24–MAY 15 FREE PUBLIC OPENING + AWARDS SUN, APR 24, 1–3 PM
THANK YOU! WOMEN’S ART BOARD LUNCHEON | FRI, DEC 10 The annual Women’s Art Board Luncheon happened on Friday, December 10th in the galleries at Rockford Art Museum and featured returning presenter Jenny Riddle. Nearly 135 women attended this festive rendering of the history of Christmas at the White House. This luncheon (traditionally happening in October) is
THANK YOU! GREENWICH VILLAGE ART FAIR | SAT, SEP 18 Nearly 3000 fair-goers came out for this year’s one-day event to shop artists and vendors, enjoy something delicious from one of the many food trucks, grab a champagne cocktail at the brand new Spark Champagne Bar on the bridge and listen to live music
in the Burpee Amphitheater. It was a gorgeous day to be on the river and we hope you were able to join us! A huge thank you goes out to all of the volunteers and committee members that made this day happen and to our Presenting Sponsor Midland States Bank. Thank you to our other sponsors: Lon + Dick Behr, Dean Alan Olson Foundation; ABG Bag, Inc., Ford Tool, Nancy + Jeff Kaney, Mary’s Place; Illinois State Credit Union, Kortman Gallery + J.R. Kortman Center for Design, Rockford Area Art’s Council, TREKK Design Group; Gorman & Company, Rockford Mutual Insurance, WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, Wipfli, Women’s Art Board; Perryville Pet Hospital and Rockford Association for Minority Management.
EVENTS MY WAY MEMBER + PUBLIC OPENING OCT 8 ART IN BLOOM PREVIEW PARTY OCT 20 ART IN BLOOM ON VIEW OCT 21-24 FASHION IN BLOOM OCT 23 ANNUAL WAB LUNCHEON DEC 10
ROCKFORDARTMUSEUM 711 N. MAIN STREET ROCKFORD, IL 61103
Non–Profit Org US Postage PAID Rockford, IL Permit No. 1652
ON VIEW IN FUNDERBURG + KULLER GALLERIES MY WAY: AFRICAN AMERICAN ART FROM THE BLACK SOUTH OCT 8–JAN 23 IN ANDERSON GALLERY UNDER THE MAGNIFYING GLASS THROUGH NOV 21 EXERCISE IN FUTILITY THROUGH NOV 28 INFINITY MIRROR THROUGH DEC 12 CORPOREAL MUSIC THROUGH DEC 19
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Remember the Rockford Art Museum Store this Holiday season for fun and unique gifts!
EVENT RENTALS
at Rockford Art Museum
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APP Download the Rockford Art Museum app through the Apple store or access the web app at app.cuseum.com/rockford-art-museum. LOCATION RAM is located inside Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, seven miles from I-90 (Business 20 Exit). All exhibitions and events are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Free parking. HOURS open Th–Su, 10 AM–5 PM Image: Mindy Joy Photography
ADMISSION Free admission during My Way: African American Art From the Black South sponsored by Matthew + Janella Herbig Group Rate (10+): $2 per person CONTACT Office: (815) 968-2787 Store: (815) 972-2865
ROCKFORDARTMUSEUM.ORG
EVENT RENTALS at R o c k f o r d A r t M u s e u m
RAM galleries are ideal for weddings or corporate events accommodating up to 350 seated guests. The Studio is also available for meetings, workshops and smaller parties. For details visit rockfordartmuseum.org/visit/parties-rentals.