The opening reception and awards ceremony for "The Human Form” Art Exhibition at The Next Picture Show occurs on Friday, June 9, from 6-8 p.m. The awards are announced around 7 p.m.

Mary Woolf Pearson performs this evening’s live music. Taught by her creative mother from age two, Mary was classically trained and finessed her unique interpretive style from there. Mary upholds her own private instruction studio in Byron, IL, and continues as a church music director, both of which she has done for 20+ years.

The Human Form” Art Exhibition, formerly known as “About Face,” has broadened its scope. Expanding from portraits, this show celebrates the art of the human form. It is an all-media exhibit of both 2D and 3D original work created and signed by the artists.

The exhibition runs from June 2 through July 15, 2023. Free and open to the public during gallery hours, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This show’s judge: Debra Cleary is an artist and art educator. She has exhibited her artwork at local galleries and has been a participating artist at fundraisers. She creates abstract paintings that are multilayered, inspired by nature, and incorporate movement, textures, and colors. Debra received her Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Northern Illinois University and her Master of Art in Art Education from Eastern Illinois University. She has been an art educator in the Amboy, Illinois, school district for the past 26 years, has taught artists ages five to adult, and has been selected to present workshops for fellow art educators at the state and national levels.

The Human Form Art Exhibition is sponsored by Axiom Wealth Management of Dixon, IL. We are grateful for this sponsorship.