Community Calendar

An encore of Bernadette Curl-Woodruff's solo collection of photographic art will be shown at the DeKalb Area Women's Center from August 1 to August 31, 2025.

We invite you to join us for a RECEPTION celebrating her work on Friday, August 22nd from 6pm to 8:30pm. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. Live music TBD.

The show is titled STRANGE LOOKING CREATURE and is a life-sized photographic exploration of how she sees/is seen in this world. Using hybrid analog/digital techniques and equipment, her work is also informed and augmented by her previous professional experiences as a metal and wood worker.

If you cannot join us at the reception, we hope you will be able to stop by the center sometime during the 1 month run.

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.”

Greg La Mont, Feature Wall

Greg has been fascinated with art and artwork since he was young, always experimenting with wall art, illustrations, mechanical drawings, and caricatures for the high school yearbook to name a few.

Intrigued by creating in many different genres, he kept building upon his knowledge bank. A self taught artist, he brings an eclectic mix to his body of work.

He enjoys visualizing and creating work in varying mediums, and has been showing locally in the surrounding area for years now.

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.

The Next Picture Show community arts center in Dixon brings back its Farms and Barns art exhibition, a celebration of the beautiful surrounding area and all vistas that inspire a love of the open land, including interior, still life and animal depictions, Aug. 13-Sept.13. The gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm.

The opening reception and artist award ceremony will take place on Aug. 15 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

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.

Support Nature At The Confluence by purchasing a rubber duck (or a handful of ducks) which will race down Turtle Creek at our Community Fire & Drum Circle on August 14th at 6:00pm. The first three ducks to cross the finish line win a prize! All funds raised help us to continue offering our many free and low-cost educational programs.

Prizes
1st place- $100 cash and $20 giftcard to Dairyhaus
2nd place- $75 cash and $20 giftcard to Dairyhaus
3rd place- $20 giftcard to Dairyhaus and brand new pair of trekking poles

Join the tradition of celebrating summer at The Confluence! All are welcome to gather for the purpose of joy, peace, and communal music-making. Drumming is optional- experiment with a provided instrument or stop by simply to enjoy the fire, listen to the music, and make a s’more. This is a free, family-friendly event and there is no registration. Drumming is led by David Stocker, with occasional guest leaders.

May 15th – Healing Sound Bath led by Missy of The Sacred Tree at 6:00 pm, followed by fire and guided drumming. Sponsored by Joe Dencker Agency – Country Financial
June 12th – Guided drumming and flow art demonstration. Sponsored by First Community Credit Union
July 10th – Belly dancing lesson led by Kristin Loehr at 6:00 pm, followed by fire and guided drumming. Sponsored by Cornerstone Credit Union
August 14th – The Great Turtle Creek Duck Race at 6:00 pm, followed by fire and guided drumming. Sponsored by First National Bank and Trust
September 11th – Fire and guided drumming. Sponsored by Mid States Concrete

August 14 @ 7 pm
A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. Based on the William Goldman novel “The Princess Bride” which earned its own loyal audience.

Release date: October 9, 1987 (USA)
Director: Rob Reiner
Running time: 1h 38m

P.T. Barnum may be the biggest name, but he was only a small part of the story of the circus. William Pack takes you on a fantastical journey through the history of the circus, from Phil Astley’s creation of the modern circus in 1768 to Dan Rice, “the most famous person you never heard of,” to the incredible feud between Barnum and the Ringling Brothers. You’ll hear stories of triumph, disaster, and the grand adventure of the travelling circus.

The program is free and does not require registration. Popcorn will be provided. All ages are welcome.

For more information, please contact Britta at brittak@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2100.