Community Calendar

Parents, are you looking for fun ways to keep your kids engaged this summer? Bring them to Camp Creativity — a series of interactive activities designed for school-aged children and led by Northern Illinois University students. Fuel your child’s curiosity and watch their creativity come to life!

This program is limited to the first 20 children. Sign-up will begin at the children’s desk one hour before the event.

For additional information, please email Theresa at theresaw@dkpl.org or call (815) 756-9568 ext. 3350.

Draw, craft, or make-and-take and display your creativity at Teen Art Club! We’ll have new projects and art materials to try at every meeting.

This program is intended for teens in grades 6-12. No registration is required but this program is first come, first served as supplies are limited.

For additional information, please contact Jesus at juanb@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3401.

Join us to learn about Ho-Chunk culture from Bill Quackenbush, who serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Recently, Wisconsin’s State Historical Society made a significant discovery of a 1,200 year old dugout canoe on Lake Mendota, in Madison Wisconsin. What came along with this dugout canoe discovery were many additional questions about where, how and why it had been discovered in that location of the lake. Join us as we discuss how the Ho-Chunk and other Tribes reacted to this discovery and how they became a factor with its use as an educational opportunity within their tribal communities and the public.

This program is welcome to all and the intended audience is ages 10 and up. Please register in advance because seating is limited. $5/person.

Carrie: the Musical is a powerful show the explores challenges that students and young adults experience worldwide. Clinical health professionals will be available to open discussions and incite positive change through art.

Grease
June 11-14 & July 16-20
Suggested audience: Pre-teen and up

Welcome to Rydell High, class of 1959! The stage sizzles with the swagger of the “T-Birds” and the sass of the “Pink Ladies” in Grease, the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll musical. Head greaser Danny Zuko and sweet newcomer Sandy Dumbrowski attempt to rekindle their “Summer Nights” romance while the gang revs up the fun with unforgettable hits like “Greased Lightnin’,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” and “Alone at the Drive-In Movie.”Channeling the iconic sounds of Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley, Grease is a celebration of the 1950s that has captured hearts on Broadway and beyond. Join us this summer for nights of bobby socks, leather jackets, and pure nostalgia—because summer nights never felt so good.

This annual competition is open to artists living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Freeport Art Museum's annual Regional Juried Exhibition (RJE) mission is to offer established and emerging artists the opportunity to debut work created in the last two years. Opening on Saturday, May 10, 2025, the show runs through July 19, 2025. As FAM has gained a distinguished reputation for displaying a wide range of contemporary art, this exhibition has become a visitor's favorite.

Each year, FAM invites a new juror to select approximately 50 artworks for inclusion, and to give awards for first, second, third place, and honorable mention. This year's juror is Rodrick Whetstone, an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design teaching in the Department of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Award winners are announced at the opening reception.

The museum is open 10-5 Tuesday-Friday; 12-5 Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday

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.

Sam Tucibat, Feature Wall, July 1 -July 31

Sam Tucibat is a retired instructor of photography and graphic design who taught for twenty years at Highland Community College in Freeport, IL.

Sam’s creativity is motivated by the wonder of exploring new visual territory through the powerful medium of digital photographic composition. His method involves combining photographs or parts of photographs into one visual space, building unique images that are greater than the sum of their parts.

June 1 – July 31: Taft Gallery - Artist Mary Howe

Born and raised on the Northwest side of the city in Chicago, Mary along with her husband George moved to the quaint town of Oregon Illinois in 2019. After raising two sons, a long career in retail management and real estate Mary finally found the time to dedicate herself to her favorite hobby of painting.

Mary continues to welcome the challenges of working through landscapes, still life and portraits as well as participating in the Rock River Valley Painters Guild Plein Air Group.

The Next Picture Show community arts center in Dixon presents 2 juried shows through Aug. 9: "Abstract," an exhibit that explores artists who push the bounds of their 2-and-3-D artwork through abstraction; and "The Power of Words," exhibit that invited artists to find a fusion between word and visual arts in their works.

An opening reception and awards presentation will be held on Friday, Jul. 9, from 6-8 p.m.