Community Calendar

Live music very Wednesday thru Saturday. Artists are listed on the Anderson Gardens website. This is event FREE and open to the public!

Join us for our Midweek Matinee film series!
Take a midweek break with our monthly Wednesday matinees featuring timeless and award-winning films at the Woodstock Opera House. Coming Wednesday, March 18 at 1 PM, don’t miss The Bucket List, the uplifting 2007 dramedy about living life to the fullest. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star as two terminally ill men who escape the hospital with a to-do list of things to experience before they “kick the bucket.” From skydiving to world travel, their journey is filled with humor, heart, and the deep bond of unexpected friendship. Directed by Rob Reiner, The Bucket List is a moving reminder that it’s never too late to start living.

The Prairie Arts Council hosts an exhibit of paintings by Princeton native Brian Taylor during the month of March in the Prairie Arts Center Gallery.

Brian Taylor says about his works, "The art presented is a reflection of doodles and patterns practiced over many years. As time evolved, the practice was refined into its own colorful and unique style, evoking influences of various concepts from surrealism, abstract and indigenous art. The natural world is also an influence through travel, time working in arboriculture and landscape design.”

The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays, March 7 - 29 from 1:00-3:00 PM.

www.PrairieArts.org
Facebook.com/prairiearts

This is a monthly book club for seniors 60+. Explore a variety of engaging genres, with books provided by the Galena Public Library. Enjoy relaxed discussion, lively conversation, and the company of fellow readers -- plus a good cup of coffee and a sweet treat!

Learning English can be difficult, and pronouncing the words correctly is a real challenge. In this six-week workshop you’ll learn to pronounce consonant and consonant blend sounds, practice hearing and saying the 20 vowel sounds of English, and learn how to pronounce common prefixes and suffixes.

This program is for adults. Registration is required.

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

The Environmental Study Group offers the third in a series of lectures on the cost of living with climate change. The series shares information on how climate change impacts people in Northwest Illinois now and in the future. It will be held at the Freeport Public Library, located at 100 E Douglas Street in Freeport in partnership with the Northwest Illinois Trails Foundation, the University of Illinois Extension, the Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance, Illinois Sierra Club, and the City of Freeport.

On Wednesday, March 18th Dr. Trent Ford will speak on Climate Change Impacts in Illinois: From Farms to Forests. Dr. Ford is the Illinois State Climatologist and has been with the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois since 2019. He is an expert in climate and climate change and its interactions and impacts, especially as they relate to water. Trent leads climate and drought monitoring, research, and data collection for the state of Illinois. He and his team work with communities, industries, and state agencies on issues related to weather, climate, and climate change in Illinois.

Future lectures are on April 8 and May 6. For details check the Freeport Library events calendar link listed below. The series is free and open to the public. Each session will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a lecture and time for questions and discussion on the topics presented. Refreshments will be provided. For further information, refer to https://freeportpubliclibrary.librarymarket.com or ESG Facebook page @esgroup32.

America the Beautiful Art Exhibit
February 4 – March 21
Sponsored by Ron Bry

Awards Reception
February 13, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Judge: Stuart Roddy
Music: Jim Kanas & Roger Hintzsche

Participating artists include Cindy Bear, Alice Blue, Richard Born, Bob Cholke, Rick Davis, Connie Fry, Beverly Garcia, Chuck Gregory, Timothy Griffith, Dan Grossmann, Stephen Hart, Kat Heitzman, Maggie Isaacs, Bob Kapheim, Julie Kennelly, Linnea Koch, Paula Kuehl, Bob Logsdon, Colleen Logsdon, Henry Matthiessen III, Joy Meyer, Gary Pearson, Joe Popp, Stephonie A Schmitz, and Joseph Virbickis.

Joy Meyer

Taft Gallery Artist, February 1 – March 31

Joy Meyer earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art and Art Education from Northern Illinois University. She retired in 2005 after teaching art for thirty years, the last twenty years at Rock Falls High School in Rock Falls, IL. Joy also taught many workshops for both teenagers and adults during her career and shortly after retirement. She has won numerous awards for both her painting and her teaching.

Joy has enjoyed working in many different media including watercolor, pen and ink, pencil, glass etching, stained glass, and silk painting, but the medium she has chosen to specialize in during recent years is Acrylic Painting. She enjoys working in a fairly realistic style using primarily bright, cheerful colors. Her actual painting techniques vary depending on the subject matter being painted and the mood desired, often using many techniques within a painting to better represent the details within the painting. Joy also enjoys the challenges of working in an increasingly wider variety of subject matter.



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!

Blooming Fusion returns to The Next Picture Show after its successful debut in 2024, bringing back a vibrant 2D art exhibition inspired by flowers, plants, and gardens. Running February 18 through March 28, 2026, this juried show highlights fresh perspectives and creative connections rooted in the natural world. The exhibition features original works in watercolor, oil, acrylic, mixed media, pen & pencil, and charcoal.

The gallery is open 10-4 Wednesday-Saturday or by appointment.