Come One, Come All!
Books on First once again is sponsoring "Find Waldo Local" in Dixon, all the month of July. Based on the children's Where's Waldo books in which we seek and find Waldo and friends in various locations around town and the world within the pages, children from anywhere can seek and find Waldo in 25 locations around Dixon, IL, including the Parks District building, the Next Picture Show art gallery, Discover Dixon Main Street Chamber of Commerce HQ and other fun places including of course, Books on First.
We have lots of prizes for those participating, those seeing Waldo in at least 10 spots and those becoming eligible for entry into drawings for Where's Waldo books as well as contributed prizes from There's Fun Inside and more. Get involved in a Dixon-wide search for Waldo and experience the Local Small Businesses all around town. The hunt ends in a "Bye, Waldo" party on Saturday, 1 August!

Julie Kennelly

Taft Gallery, June 1 – July 31

Julie is an Illinois-based oil painter whose work explores color, light, and the quiet beauty found in everyday life. Working primarily in oils, she creates landscapes, still life paintings, and pet portraits that blend realism with expressive color and atmosphere. Her work is especially inspired by the landscapes of Northern Illinois and New Mexico, where she lived for a decade. Many of the pieces in this collection reflect the dramatic skies, desert light, and rich colors of the Southwest that continue to influence her painting today.

Julie began painting in 1997 as a creative hobby while building a long career in commercial banking. Over the years, painting became an essential part of her life and eventually evolved into a second career following her retirement. Primarily self-taught, she developed her skills through independent study, years of consistent practice, and participation in workshops with other artists.

Now painting regularly from her home studio, Julie continues to create work inspired by nature, rural life, changing seasons, and the emotional connection people have with familiar places, things and beloved animals. Through her paintings, she hopes to create moments of warmth, reflection, and joy while encouraging others to reconnect with creativity in their own lives.

Around the Farm Art Exhibit
June 3 – July 18
Sponsored by Joy Meyer in memory of Gordon Meyer

This exhibition celebrates farm life and highlights the importance of agriculture in our area.

Artists include Jean Apgar, David Bingaman, Alice Blue, Dan Bowman, Jill Browne, Janet Cederlund, Bob Cholke, Dick Cholke, Janice Conkrite, Perry Eden, Connie Fry, Margi Forss, Laurie Friemuth, Beverly Garcia, Rob Gieraltowski, Charles Green, Timothy Griffith, Pam Hansen, Stephen Hart, Kat Heitzman, Mary Howe, Cora Hutchison, Bob Kapheim, Julie Kennelly, Linnea Koch, Robert Krajecki, Paula Kuehl, Bob Logsdon, Joy Meyer, Jeff Oesterheld, Joseph Popp, Sharon Saponari, Steve Toole, Mary von Tish, and Holden White.

The exhibit will be judged by Debra Cleary with awards presented at the reception on June 12, 6:00 - 8:00pm. Visitors will also be allowed to vote for their favorite piece with the People’s Choice winner announced at the close of the exhibit

Dan Grossmann
Lowden Gallery, July 1– August 30

My fascination for art began at a very early age. One of the first paintings that I was drawn to was an old faded Albert Bierstadt print that hung in my grandparents old farm house. I didn't know it then, but this print was of one of Bierstadt's hauntingly magnificent Yosemite masterpieces. I remember wondering how was it possible that someone could paint a picture so beautiful. At home, in our family room hung a gaudy framed furniture store print of a landscape by Robert Woods. It seems that every brush stroke of that painting had been laid down with perfect intent and I loved to look at it. The creation of these beautiful works of art was such a wonder to me and one day, I thought, I would like to give painting a try.

I was first introduced to oil painting in a high school art class. I really liked my art teacher but her knowledge about painting in oils was not much more than mine. And I didn't know anything! I think that I was the only student interested in trying to paint with oils. I was given access to all the oil supplies that were available in that classroom. With zero knowledge and not much guidance about materials and technique, I struggled through my first oil painting and knew that this was the medium that I would like to achieve some level of skill with someday.
After high school; two years of college, four years U.S. Navy, married my beautiful wife, started a family, worked a variety of jobs, moved a few times and all the while painted when I could. Some years went by when I painted very little to none. My wife and I retired several years ago. We moved from central Illinois to Lake Summerset where we spent our first two years here remodeling a very neglected house. We built a nice studio space in our home where I have enjoyed my pursuit of painting until this day.

I appreciate many styles and subjects of art. I am, however, inspired most by the landscape. You don't have to look to far to see that the Earth is an amazing and beautiful place. With the landscape, every day brings a new possibility of something beautiful that is unique from any other day that has been before.

I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all that exists came into being through Him. It is through the lens of this worldview that I see everything in this life, including the landscape. It seems that every painting that I do is still a struggle for me. I used to think that one day I would achieve a skill level that would somehow enable me to paint in total bliss without struggle. I am old now, and that day has not arrived and I suppose it never will. The joy and satisfaction of painting, however, far outweighs the struggle and I am grateful for each day I am given to create in my studio! It is my hope that people will be blessed by viewing my paintings and be reminded to be thankful for the wonder and beauty of this world.

Nurture is a mixed media art exhibit that focuses on artists' perspective of the concept of Nurture. Join us to experience the inspiration and expressive interpretation of Nurture though art.

Over three days in July 1863, war-weary Union and Confederate soldiers met at a quiet Pennsylvania crossroads and fought the bloodiest battle ever waged on American soil. The Gettysburg Story recounts the pivotal events and intimate human stories behind the clash that helped decide the fate of a nation, the same battle Abraham Lincoln would immortalize in his famous address. Narrated by actor Stephen Lang, the documentary uses sweeping cinematography to capture the full scale of the 6,000-acre battlefield, bringing legendary sites like Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, and the fields of Pickett's Charge vividly to life. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, not rated, and made possible through PBS.