Community Calendar

Please join University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners at their annual DeKalb County Garden Walk.

This year's event will include seven beautiful home gardens and one educational spotlight garden located in the DeKalb, Sycamore and Genoa areas. Attendees visit the gardens at their own pace on a self-guided tour. Master Gardeners will be onsite at each garden to answer questions and give guidance.

This is a rain or shine event; if rain is likely please dress for the weather and bring an umbrella with you. Please do not bring pets to the gardens.

A wristband is required for each attendee (over 13 years old) to enter into the gardens and may be purchased for $10 each.

Don’t miss the Friends of Rockford Public Library Summer Book Sale!

Stock up on a fantastic selection of quality used books, graphic novels, DVDs, and more. Prices range from $0.50 to $2.00. The sale will take place on the first floor, close to the Friends Book Store.

The Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques & Americana presents Around the Farm, juried art show that celebrates farm life and farming and highlights the importance of agriculture in our area in original works in a wide variety of media, Jun. 6-Jul. 12.

Larry Bond, Lowden Gallery, July 1 - August 31

Through the years I have experimented with different forms of 2D and 3D art .Acrylics, oil, charcoal, pen and ink, and watercolor have been my primary painting and drawing mediums; however, my first love is Watercolor.

In terms of competition and recognition I have won several awards, entered numerous art show competitions, and was accepted into the 2018 San Diego Watercolor Society’s International Watercolor Show. I have won awards from shows at The Next Picture Show, Dixon, Illinois, Norris Gallery, St. Charles, Illinois, and Illinois Watercolor Society Member Shows. I am a Signature Member of the Illinois Watercolor Society.

When asked to describe my style I often describe it as “realistic contemporary with an occasional abstract slant”. In short, I want the viewer to see the painting as mostly realistic and be drawn-in to the scene. I enjoy painting Urbanscapes, Abstracts and Rural Landscapes.

Sam Tucibat, Feature Wall, July 1 -July 31

Sam Tucibat is a retired instructor of photography and graphic design who taught for twenty years at Highland Community College in Freeport, IL.

Sam’s creativity is motivated by the wonder of exploring new visual territory through the powerful medium of digital photographic composition. His method involves combining photographs or parts of photographs into one visual space, building unique images that are greater than the sum of their parts.

June 1 – July 31: Taft Gallery - Artist Mary Howe

Born and raised on the Northwest side of the city in Chicago, Mary along with her husband George moved to the quaint town of Oregon Illinois in 2019. After raising two sons, a long career in retail management and real estate Mary finally found the time to dedicate herself to her favorite hobby of painting.

Mary continues to welcome the challenges of working through landscapes, still life and portraits as well as participating in the Rock River Valley Painters Guild Plein Air Group.

On Saturday, July 12, Dixon speaker and historian Tom Wadsworth will come to Oregon to present his research into Charles R. Walgreen and his connections to Dixon. The one-hour program includes over 100 rare photos and PowerPoint slides and will be held at the Coliseum Museum.

Walgreen started his drug store career in Dixon in 1891. By his death in 1939, he had built an empire of almost 500 stores throughout the nation. Wadsworth’s presentation focuses on Walgreen’s connections to Dixon and our rural area of northern Illinois.

Wadsworth, who has a national reputation as an engaging speaker, writer, and voice-over artist, was the morning anchor on WSDR radio in Sterling in the 1980s. His career includes 10 years in ministry, 10 years in radio, and 30 years in corporate communications. Now retired and living in Dixon, he holds two master’s degrees and a PhD.

The Next Picture Show community arts center in Dixon presents 2 juried shows through Aug. 9: "Abstract," an exhibit that explores artists who push the bounds of their 2-and-3-D artwork through abstraction; and "The Power of Words," exhibit that invited artists to find a fusion between word and visual arts in their works.

An opening reception and awards presentation will be held on Friday, Jul. 9, from 6-8 p.m.

Kickstart your weekend by diving into the art and science of coffee roasting from Rita and Ant, owners of Snowdrift Coffee in Roscoe, Illinois! Enjoy complimentary cold brew samples and an educational presentation with Q& A time, followed by a group hike on our trails. The trails are mostly flat and unpaved, and the hike distance can be up to one mile.

All are welcome to attend this free event. Please RSVP below to help us know how many people to prepare for. If we could offer accommodations to support your visit, please contact info@natureattheconfluenc.com or call 815-200-6910.

This annual competition is open to artists living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Freeport Art Museum's annual Regional Juried Exhibition (RJE) mission is to offer established and emerging artists the opportunity to debut work created in the last two years. Opening on Saturday, May 10, 2025, the show runs through July 19, 2025. As FAM has gained a distinguished reputation for displaying a wide range of contemporary art, this exhibition has become a visitor's favorite.

Each year, FAM invites a new juror to select approximately 50 artworks for inclusion, and to give awards for first, second, third place, and honorable mention. This year's juror is Rodrick Whetstone, an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design teaching in the Department of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Award winners are announced at the opening reception.

The museum is open 10-5 Tuesday-Friday; 12-5 Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday