Community Calendar

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.”

No One Ever Sees Indians: Native Americans in Media, “Are you watching closely?”

This presentation by Ernest Whiteman III is loosely structured as a three-part magic act. Ernest discusses the many representations of Native Americans in media, how far back these depictions go, and how these representations inform audiences’ perceptions of Native peoples and issues. This presentation reflects the ideology of lived experience, ownership of culture versus the authorship of expertise of Native representation, and its reductive constructs. Ernest will show that what people know and see about Native Americans in the media has always been an illusion.

He is a Northern Arapaho filmmaker, artist, writer, and media educator. Ernest is the Co-director of First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc. a non-profit film festival supporting Native American directors. He teaches an upper-level communications course, “Native Americans in Media” at the University of Wisconsin Parkside.

Program Logistics
The presentation takes approximately 60-90 minutes depending on the level of audience interaction.

Rotary Rocks the Raue: The Chicago Experience
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 | 7:00 PM

Tickets start at $63.

(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
The Chicago Experience is the nation’s premiere tribute to the legendary band “Chicago.”

The Chicago Experience is the ultimate tribute concert honoring the legendary rock band Chicago! You will experience a group of devoted musicians blending to recreate the sound and feel of Chicago’s hit songs that have spanned generations of fans. The Chicago Experience invites you to reminisce about a timeline in your life with memories of the music you fell in love with and cherish to this day. You’ll enjoy hits from Chicago Transit Authority’s 1968 self-titled album, like Beginnings and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, as well as Chicago’s 80’s hits like Hard To Say I’m Sorry, Hard Habit To Break, and You’re The Inspiration. You’ll enjoy classics like 25 or 6 to 4, Make Me Smile, Just You ’n’ Me and more radio hits, plus several “deep album cuts”. The Chicago Experience combines rockin’ guitars, stunning vocals, and sizzling brass to transport you to an unforgettable evening of Rock with Horns.

Recommended: 12+

This performance is sponsored by and is a fundraiser for:

——

*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.

Enjoy our Award-Winning Farmers Market every Sunday at The Dole Mansion from 10am - 2pm!

Fantastic Variety of Farmers, Food Purveyors, Artisans, Food-Trucks, Live Music, Brunch Beverages and Complimentary childrens entertainment! Free Face Painting and Balloon Creations! Plus Roaming Characters ready to delight and take photos with! Come on out and spend a few hours with us for a Sunday Funday experience!!!

Improve your knowledge of English and become more comfortable speaking in everyday situations. Practice basic English grammar concepts in conversation, learning how to ask and answer questions, expanding your vocabulary, and learning to understand the sounds of spoken English.

This class is intended for adult participants at a low intermediate level of speaking English or higher, but all are welcome to attend.

On September 2 this class will be held in the Bilder Family Meeting Room.

This program requires registration. There will be limited seats for unregistered patrons.

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

For centuries, we have known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science can provide insights into optimizing your physical and cognitive health as you age. Join the Alzheimer’s Association at the library for a presentation exploring the links between a nutritious diet and a healthier brain. We will use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. Registration is required. Please sign up at: https://woodstock.librarycalendar.com/events/month

Enjoy our Award-Winning Farmers Market every Sunday at The Dole Mansion from 10am - 2pm!

Fantastic Variety of Farmers, Food Purveyors, Artisans, Food-Trucks, Live Music, Brunch Beverages and Complimentary childrens entertainment! Free Face Painting and Balloon Creations! Plus Roaming Characters ready to delight and take photos with! Come on out and spend a few hours with us for a Sunday Funday experience!!!

Prepare for swoon-worthy reads and lively conversations with fellow romance lovers! We meet each month to discuss our latest romantic read-- sharing thoughts, feelings, and favorite moments along the way. From steamy westerns and eerie sci-fi love stories to sweeping historical romances, our carefully chosen selections span the full spectrum of the genre. Whether you're a longtime romance reader or just starting to explore, you'll find your perfect match here!

September: Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
October: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
November: The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

Books are available in Adult Services. No registration is required. This book club is intended for adults.

For additional information, please contact Amy at amyf@dkpl.org or call (815) 756-9568 ext. 2150.

Improve your knowledge of English and become more comfortable speaking in everyday situations. Practice basic English grammar concepts in conversation, learning how to ask and answer questions, expanding your vocabulary, and learning to understand the sounds of spoken English.

This class is intended for adult participants at a low intermediate level of speaking English or higher, but all are welcome to attend.

On September 2 this class will be held in the Bilder Family Meeting Room.

This program requires registration. There will be limited seats for unregistered patrons.

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

Want some practical tips on how to rid your property of invasive tree species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle? Join Sarah Michehl from The Land Conservancy to learn how to control these species, as well as native tree and shrub replacement recommendations. Also, attendees will learn about the Conservation@Home program and how our local native flora can make a difference to the ecological health of McHenry County.