Community Calendar

Andrew Raeside, Feature Wall - September 1 - September 30

It hit me in an instant to become an artist at the age of 12. I remember the moment like yesterday. A sudden spiritual rebirth and everything had changed. I have been working on that project ever since.

I attended the University of Northern Iowa and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting in 1980. I worked with disabled adults for a time in Dubuque IA. Then I relocated to New England where I taught Art and Music in a residential grade school for children with emotional and behavioral disorders now called Spaulding Academy. While working there I attended Plymouth State University and received a Master of Arts in Teaching.

I worked at Spaulding Academy for 27 years until I retired and returned to Dubuque to focus again on painting and become a member of the artist community in Eastern IA. My main focus in the arts has been the Expressionist and Abstract Expressionist approaches.

​ My current objective is to use abstract art to celebrate what connects us all together. The New York School of Abstract expressionists is my primary influence. They spoke about a collective unconscious, a concept held by psychologist Carl Jung. But it is not necessary to believe in anything magical to understand that we are all connected because we all have shared experiences. And we all respond emotionally to our experiences. When we look at a painting, we respond emotionally to what we are seeing. Even if the painting is completely abstract and makes no reference to anything in the physical world. We may not be conscious of our reaction but if we are paying attention, it is there. My wish is to make paintings that celebrate these emotional interconnections between us.

David Bingaman and Bob Logsdon, Lowden Gallery, Sept 1 - Oct 31

David Bingaman:

David Bingaman began his photographic journey in 1973 when he bought a Nikon camera and then backpacked throughout Europe and North Africa. Since that time, he has developed his skill in capturing landscapes as well as other natural and portrait subjects.

David lives on the Rock River in Dixon, IL with his wife Sarah where he pursues Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and amazing sunsets. He also travels extensively in the U.S. as well as Africa and South America to capture interesting subjects.

He has displayed his work at many area galleries and won numerous awards including Best Landscape Award at the Franklin Grove Harvest Festival, Best of Photography at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, First Place in Digital Photography at The Woodlawn Arts Academy, and Best of Show at the About Face and the Winter Scenes and Holiday Dreams Exhibitions at TNPS.
Picture

Bob Logsdon:

Bob Logsdon is an accomplished landscape photographer, residing in Grand Detour, Illinois. Bob is an extensive traveler who documents his traveling experience in his pictures. It is through photography that Bob introduces the viewer to his endless and challenging imagination

Ellen Mumford, Taft Gallery

As a child I really never had an interest in art. It wasn’t until my junior year in high school that I decided to take an art class due to the fact that I needed an elective course. Here I found my niche and won a summer semester art scholarship at the University of Illinois. During my college years I did not major or minor in art as I would certainly have become a “starving artist." However, I always took an art course.

My career as a civil engineering technician drove me to focus on math causing a conflict that was at odds with my artistic creative processes. So, during those 42 years of highway work I produced very little art, only mainly for my home. While considering future retirement, I decided it was time to “up” my art game. Because I had never considered watercolor, in 2012, on a whim, I enrolled in Graydon Cafarella’s watercolor landscape classes at The Next Picture Show gallery. I LOVED IT! To further my watercolor experience, I also painted with David Becker in Venice, Italy, and then every Thursday (fighting rush hour traffic!) with Dale Popovich of Palette and Chisel Art Academy in Chicago. When possible, I still paint with Dale at Dillman’s Resort in Wisconsin.

My work is eclectic at best but tends toward realism. I am always trying new methods, paints, topics, etc. As a “snowbird” I have recently joined Scott Hiestand’s acrylic wildlife/landscape classes and Gail Bokor’s experimental mixed media/abstract classes. Both are teaching in the Daytona Beach area. My paintings in this gallery exhibit their influence but also Graydon’s and Dale’s.
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I have won many awards for paintings created in all 3 mediums (most recently at TNPS Best of Show Abstract) but have only exhibited locally. Exhibiting at CMAAA is opening a new area of exposure of my art to the masses. I try not to be too philosophical about my art. I paint what I like and what brings me pleasure – and sometimes a challenge. In the words of Georgia O’Keeffe “I have but one desire as a painter - that is to paint what I see, as I see it, in my own way.”

Paw Prints: Artworks of Animals
August 1 - September 13
Reception: August 8, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

This exhibit focuses on the subject of animals, domesticated or wild: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. Artists are free to apply their own interpretation in representing the overall theme, from a small insect to a massive whale, and even fictional, mythological, or imagined creatures.
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Awards: The exhibit will be judged with awards presented at the reception, August 8, from 6:00 - 8:00pm. Visitors will also be allowed to vote for their favorite art piece with the People’s Choice winner announced at the close of the exhibit.

Our awards judge, Carol Bingham, grew up in a small town in central Illinois where she spent much of her childhood playing near rivers and streams. Early childhood experiences provide the basis of her paintings. Most of her work is in oil, but she has also used watercolor, acrylic inks, graphite, collage, and mixed media.

Carol has accepted numerous awards for her work. She received her BFA Illustration summa cum laude at NIU in DeKalb, IL.

We are giving this another GO as our August date was not just rained out...it was MONSOONED out!
Please join us Friday, September 12th for the FREE Summer Concert of the Year presented by BCU!
Featuring The GOOROOS and Cary Kanno!
With many thanks to Ed's Rental in Crystal Lake, we will have an outdoor dance floor, so wear your dancin' shoes because you won't want to sit once the performance begins! There will be a wide variety of genres of music as well.
We'll have Your Sister's Tomato serving up their delicious made to order Wood-Fired Pizza with their famous homemade pizza dough and fresh toppings!
We also have Mario's Cart offering authentic street tacos, quesadillas, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, churros and more! They also offer a children's menu!
This event is FREE to the community! Bring your blankets and tailgating chairs. There are picnic tables available too and are first come first serve and are placed further back on the property. If you'd like a reserved table upclose, you may consider a VIP package if you're looking for an elevated experience.
We do offer a VIP package that includes Reserved Upclose Seating, Tableside Cocktail Service for your convenience, Reserved Upclose Parking, plus a Swag gift! This offering is limited so get your tickets while you can! Very reasonably priced.
No outside Food or Drinks will be permitted at this event.
We love our 4 -legged furry friends, but No pets to this event please.
6:00pm Gates Open. Foodtrucks and Bar Open.
6:30pm Cary Kanno Opens the Night until 8:00pm
8:00pm The GOOROOS take the stage until 10pm
10:00pm Backstage Pass for VIP Ticket Holders Only (in Lou's Lounge & Includes Complimentary Desserts)
10:00pm Lawn remains open until 11pm for General Ticket Holders. Last Call 10:30pm
We hope you can join us in celebrating a wonderful summer at The Dole on the lawn (minus a monsoon this time!)

Join the pack! Open to everyone age 18+.

Meet our skaters & teammates, learn about our team and how to join the fun.

Bring skates & gear if you have any.

Internationally-acclaimed pianist Christopher Guzman will perform a lively set of dances by J.S. Bach, flanked by lush, art-inspired Romantic works by Liszt and Granados. The program also includes influential 20th century composer Bela Bartok’s Bagatelles—vivid and humorous vignettes brimming with playful, infectious rhythms. The recital concludes with Schumann’s Carnival Jest in Vienna, a suite of works firmly rooted in the Romantic tradition.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Artists' Ensemble Theater presents the musical comedy "Guys on Ice" - a.k.a. the ice fishing musical, Thursdays-Sundays, Sept. 4-21 in Rockford University's Cheek Theatre.

Meet Lloyd and Marv, two Wisconsin fisherman who are out on the lake for a day of ice fishing, beer, and deep thoughts about life, love, and the Packers. With occasional visits from Ernie the Mooch, these irrepressible, irresistible guys will win your hearts.

Lloyd’s got troubles at home. Make no mistake, he’s crazy about his wife but she wants to go out to dinner for their anniversary. And that’s fine, only… their anniversary is this Sunday… Game Day. And Lloyd has tickets to Lambeau. The wife is steamed, and Lloyd just wants to spend some time focusing on fish. Marv has romantic troubles of his own. He’s got a crush on Connie at the Pick and Save. What he hasn’t got is the nerve to ask her out. So Marv is also concentrating on fish. Fish are less confusing. Don’t miss this delightful musical treat.

Homegrown
The Zac Brown Band Tribute Experience
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 | 8:00 PM

Tickets start at $43, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
The Zac Brown Band Tribute Experience, a one of a kind “Tribute” to the music of Grammy Award-winning, southern rock group Zac Brown Band. Homegrown faithfully re-creates the experience of a Zac Brown Band Concert.
Recommended: 12+

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Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Andrew Raeside, Feature Wall - September 1 - September 30

It hit me in an instant to become an artist at the age of 12. I remember the moment like yesterday. A sudden spiritual rebirth and everything had changed. I have been working on that project ever since.

I attended the University of Northern Iowa and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting in 1980. I worked with disabled adults for a time in Dubuque IA. Then I relocated to New England where I taught Art and Music in a residential grade school for children with emotional and behavioral disorders now called Spaulding Academy. While working there I attended Plymouth State University and received a Master of Arts in Teaching.

I worked at Spaulding Academy for 27 years until I retired and returned to Dubuque to focus again on painting and become a member of the artist community in Eastern IA. My main focus in the arts has been the Expressionist and Abstract Expressionist approaches.

​ My current objective is to use abstract art to celebrate what connects us all together. The New York School of Abstract expressionists is my primary influence. They spoke about a collective unconscious, a concept held by psychologist Carl Jung. But it is not necessary to believe in anything magical to understand that we are all connected because we all have shared experiences. And we all respond emotionally to our experiences. When we look at a painting, we respond emotionally to what we are seeing. Even if the painting is completely abstract and makes no reference to anything in the physical world. We may not be conscious of our reaction but if we are paying attention, it is there. My wish is to make paintings that celebrate these emotional interconnections between us.