Community Calendar

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.

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.
​
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.
​
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.

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

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.

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.
​
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.
​
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.

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.