J. R. Kortman Center for Design / Kortman Gallery

At the entrance to the new downtown Rockford Public Library, stands a grouping of 17 abstract “lollipop” forms in subtle colors that represent humanities various skin tones. The sculpture called, “Carrying the Dream” commissioned by the Rockford Area Arts Council, celebrates racial equity and diversity.
    An exhibition with the same title, inspired by the sculpture, opens in the Kortman Gallery on April 24th & 25th (ArtScene weekend) in the Kortman Gallery in downtown Rockford. “Carrying the Dream” exhibition features five of the artists who were involved in the creation of the this public art project.
    These five artists will present not only their conceptual proposals for the sculpture, but also their own works, which includes paintings by Nathan J. Taylor and Nancie King Mertz, sculptures, and mixed media works by Jeremy Klonicki, John Verl McNamara, and Tim Hawley.
        Seven Rockford artists were invited to contribute to the project with each presenting concepts for the sculpture. As a collective, they chose a design and actually built and installed the work that now stands at the library entrance at Wyman and Mulberry. Those participating artists include Nathan J. Taylor, Tim Hawley, Jeremy Klonicki, Nancie King Mertz, John Verl McNamara, R. Scott Long, and Betsy Youngquist.
    “This should be a fascinating exhibit, since it was the public sculpture project that brought this artists from different disciplines together to create something significant for the community,” said Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “Patrons will be able to see how the sculpture evolved through visual concepts created by each of these artists, but also see works that these artists are individually known for.”
    “Carrying the Dream” featuring concepts and works by five artists will open with an artist’s receptions on Friday, April 24th from 5 to 9pm, and Saturday, April 25th from 4 to 8pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The opening dates are part of the Spring ArtScene weekend. The exhibit will run through June 6th. 
    J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information phone 815-968-0123.

    “The inspiration for my oil paintings comes directly from me,” says Eurek. “My thoughts, ideas, and memories are then abstracted into a visual story on canvas”
    A solo exhibition of Eurek’s newest works will open in the Kortman Gallery in Downtown Rockford on Friday, February 6th from 5:30 to 9pm. The show titled, “Figures of the Soul,” will feature works primarily in oil, charcoal, and graphite.
    Eurek, a Rockford based artist, has been actively painting and studying art for over 20 years. This will be his first solo show in the Kortman Gallery. His art exists in the space between pure abstraction and figurative representation with a strong emphasis on line, color, and intuitive mark making.
    “My work explores the tension between structure and spontaneity, allowing form to emerge, dissolve, and reassemble throughout the painting process,” writes Eurek in his artist’s statement. “Layers of color and line reveal evidence of revision and decision making, emphasizing the evolution of each piece from its initial gesture to its final state.”
    “We’re pleased to have Drew’s vibrant and energetic work in the Kortman Gallery,” says gallery director, Doc Slafkosky. “His art is personal and intuitive and reflects his enthusiasm and exuberant attitude he has toward his work as an artist.”
    “Figures of the soul” featuring new works by Drew Eurek will open with an artist’s reception on Friday, February 6th from 5:30 to 9pm, upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. Eurek’s exhibit will run through April 11th. 
    J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.jrkortman.com or phone 815-968-0123.

On November 21st, J.R. Kortman Center for Design starts it 40th year in business in Downtown Rockford. To celebrate this milestone, the Kortman Gallery has invited 25 accomplished artists to exhibit in “year40,” a holiday group show opening Friday, November 21st.
    “The invited artists have consistently, over the years, created superb works of art and are still involved in the art community today,” says Doc Slafkosky, co-owner and Kortman Gallery director. “Each of these enduring artists has been featured in the Kortman Gallery in multiple group and solo shows. Their exhibitions represent each of the four decades of art that was displayed in the Kortman Gallery…starting with the first exhibition featuring paintings by Cherri Rittenhouse, who also served as the gallery’s curator until 1990."  
    “We have been fortunate and privileged over the years to have exhibited, not only these great artists, but also many other talented and remarkable artists,” says co-owner Jerry Kortman. “They have all contributed to the success and longevity of our business.”
    To commemorate the business’s 40th year and this milestone art show, J.R. Kortman has created a 2026 calendar that features images of each of the 25 artworks on display in the “year40” exhibition. The desk-style calendars will be available for purchase through the run of the show which ends on January 10th, 2026.
    Slafkosky and Kortman purchased and renovated the historic, Barloga designed building at 107 North Main Street in 1985 and opened J.R.Kortman Center for Design on November 20th, 1986. The vision for the store and gallery was to bring an entertaining and quality shopping experience, with an emphasis on great design and fine art, to Downtown Rockford.
    J.R. Kortman has become the longest running retail establishment still operated by the original owners in Downtown Rockford.
    Participating artists include: Zoa Ace, Stephen Warde Anderson, Sarah Bell, Lynn Fischer Carlson, Jesus Correa, John Deill, Michelle Dorr, Fatherless, Matt Herbig, Brian Hierstein, Margret Hynes, Lisa Jimenez, Carrie Johnson, Norm Knott, Jenny Mathews, Robin McCauley, Valerie Olafson, Paul Pinzarrone, Steve Pitkin, Louis Recchia, Cherri Rittenhouse, Joanlee Stassi, Brett Whitacre, Kyle Wolfe, Betsy Youngquist.
    The “year40” holiday group exhibition featuring 25 artists will open with an artists’ reception Friday, November 21st from 5:30 to 9pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. The exhibit will run through January 10th. J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. 
    The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information phone 815-968-0123.

Rockford artist Michelle Dorr’s art works featuring portraits show not only her love for animals, but also her passion for bold, bright colors. Her exhibition “Michelle’s Groove: In Loving Color” which opens Friday & Saturday, October 3rd & 4th in the Kortman Gallery, offers a visually charged, colorful group of new paintings.

Not only her art is colorful, but she is surrounded by color in her home…her painting goes beyond her canvases to an environment she has created both inside and outside the house in her patio and backyard.

Dorr has been painting pet portraits for over 20 years. Her use of color and attention to detail, especially the subjects’ eyes, creates fun and lively portraits of pets, farm animals, wildlife, humans and other creatures.

“My inspiration comes from the connection humans have to animals and the important roles they play in our lives,” says Dorr. “The title of my show, “Michelle’s Groove: In Loving Color” comes from a playlist of 346 songs created on Spotify of music that I like and inspires me while I’m painting. I also want to emphasize ‘loving color’ to express not only my passion for animals, but also for bright, bold colors…so I thought it was the perfect name.”

Dorr grew up in a family of artists. Her sister, Sherrie Dorr, is also an accomplished artist, as was her father.

“I grew up in a family of artists and crafters and creativity filled my childhood,” said Dorr. “My father was a commercial artist by trade, but his true passion was pastel portraits and landscapes. His studio was at home and I spent many hours watching him create and learning his techniques to bring the subject alive, especially the eyes.”

“Michelle’s portraits seem to capture the spirit of an animal because of her attention to the eyes,” said Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director.  “The old adage that the eyes are the windows to the soul, is certainly characterized in her engaging paintings. The charm of her works is that they create a personal relationship between the image and the viewer.”

“Michelle’s Groove: In Loving Color,” featuring new works by Michelle Dorr will open with an artist’s receptions on Friday, October 3rd from 5 to 9pm, and Saturday, October 4th, from 4 to 8pm upstairs in the Kortman Gallery, 107 North Main Street in Downtown Rockford. Her openings dates are part of the Fall ArtScene weekend. Her exhibit will run through November 15th. 

J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. The opening event and gallery are free and open to the public. For more information phone 815-968-0123.