Community Calendar

Rockford Art Guild Exhibit
Main Floor, December 12 – January 16
Opening Reception, December 13​

​In 1955, a group of 10 area artists formed the Rockford Amateur Artists, whose mission was to hone their expertise and expand community awareness of and exposure to the visual arts. Rockford Art Guild (RAG), as it is now known, is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their mission is to promote, exhibit, and preserve visual art, focusing on education and creative exploration.

Run, run as fast as you can, to the library to see the Gingerbread Man! Cozy up with your favorite blanky in our children’s story time room while Miss Stormy, and her friend ‘Gingy’, read and sing-along to their favorite Gingerbread Man tale. Following story time, stay for some warm cocoa and to decorate your very own ‘Sugar Cookie Man’.

This program is free and intended for ages 3-12. Younger children will need a parent to assist.

This program will be first come, first served, as space and supplies are limited.

For more information, please contact Stormy at stormye@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3310.

Chicago-based artist Michael x. Ryan gathers the quiet imprints we leave behind — from sidewalk stains and river paths to shower puddles and fallen tree limbs — and gives them form, weight, and voice. Through drawing, mapping, wood relief, and 3D printed objects, Ryan captures traces of human presence — the edge of a river, the imprint of a wet body, the marks on a street — and renders them as physical forms that evoke movement, memory, and place.

This exhibition brings together key installations spanning over four decades, from early works shaped by the Ox-Bow landscape to large-scale reliefs inspired by the streets of Chicago to one tree of interest on the family property in Woodstock, Illinois. By drawing attention to overlooked details, Ryan invites us to consider how our everyday movements shape the spaces we inhabit — and how those spaces, in turn, record and reflect our presence and passage through time.

Homecoming: In Color celebrates the reopening of Rockford Art Museum after a year-long renovation closure. This exhibition features a selection of popular pieces and hidden gems, showcasing the rich diversity of our revered collection. Come witness the power of art and community as we welcome you back to a vibrant space of creativity!

Select members of the Plein Air Painters Of Rockford (PAPOR) are exhibiting their interpretations of "The Thankful Path" to coincide with Klehm Arboretum's event by the same name. A selection of 24 original artworks is on display December 2 through mid-January 2026.

PAPOR posts their activities and Art results on their Facebook fan page - Plein Air Painters of Rockford

Join us on Sunday, January 4 at 1:00 pm at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau for a free screening of the bat documentary The Invisible Mammal hosted by DeKalb County University of Illinois Extension.

The Invisible Mammal tells the captivating story of a dedicated team as they strive to protect North America's bats against a deadly disease rapidly spreading across the continent. Filmmaker Kristin Tièche takes us on a thrilling journey as women bat scientists fight to save a species from the deadly white-nose syndrome (WNS). This film follows Project Fat Bat, a potential solution to help rebuild healthy bat populations across North America.

At once a nature film, a science film, and a character-driven adventure film, The Invisible Mammal will immerse you in the world of bats and forever change the way you feel about these amazing little creatures.

Please RSVP to the DeKalb Extension office at 815-758-8194 or cahandel@illinois.edu if you plan to attend so we know how many to expect.

A $1.00 donation at the door is appreciated to help defray the cost of the screening.

Call or email program coordinator Connie Handel with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation at cahandel@illinois.edu or 815-758-8194.

Welcome back to the Fiber Arts Club!

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, local fabric shop owner Rachael of MAD Fabric + Studio will present on the history of feed sacks and how they were repurposed. A staple in rural economic sewing, feed sacks are cotton bags used throughout the mid-19th century until the 1950s to transport dry goods such as grains, animal feed, soap, tobacco, and more. Rachael will bring reference examples of feed sacks and some materials for attendees to make a small quilt block with authentic feed sack pieces.

All skill levels are welcome to learn a new technique or bring your own project to work on. This club is an open format to try out different fiber arts and form a community of fiber friends! Enjoy tea or coffee and comforting background music. Intended for teens and adults. No registration is required.

For more information, please contact Emily at emilyk@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 6106.

Chicago-based artist Michael x. Ryan gathers the quiet imprints we leave behind — from sidewalk stains and river paths to shower puddles and fallen tree limbs — and gives them form, weight, and voice. Through drawing, mapping, wood relief, and 3D printed objects, Ryan captures traces of human presence — the edge of a river, the imprint of a wet body, the marks on a street — and renders them as physical forms that evoke movement, memory, and place.

This exhibition brings together key installations spanning over four decades, from early works shaped by the Ox-Bow landscape to large-scale reliefs inspired by the streets of Chicago to one tree of interest on the family property in Woodstock, Illinois. By drawing attention to overlooked details, Ryan invites us to consider how our everyday movements shape the spaces we inhabit — and how those spaces, in turn, record and reflect our presence and passage through time.

Homecoming: In Color celebrates the reopening of Rockford Art Museum after a year-long renovation closure. This exhibition features a selection of popular pieces and hidden gems, showcasing the rich diversity of our revered collection. Come witness the power of art and community as we welcome you back to a vibrant space of creativity!

Select members of the Plein Air Painters Of Rockford (PAPOR) are exhibiting their interpretations of "The Thankful Path" to coincide with Klehm Arboretum's event by the same name. A selection of 24 original artworks is on display December 2 through mid-January 2026.

PAPOR posts their activities and Art results on their Facebook fan page - Plein Air Painters of Rockford