Newsletter for January 2018
From 700 visitor log entries in 2013 to over 5,000 visitors in 2017
Greetings!

As 2017 comes to a close, we are filled with memories and with gratitude for an amazing year in our Center for the Arts. We have exciting plans for 2018. Stay tuned to hear about new art exhibits, musical and theatrical offerings, classes, festivals, arts events and more!

These Arts offerings are for YOU, so let us know what you would like to see more of in the future. Also, if it fits your lifestyle, please volunteer with us. We have a great time and it’s highly rewarding!

Wishing you a wonderful year to come.


Carole Sullivan
Executive Director
Magical "Masquer-Aid" Ball
January 20, 6:30 pm
Join us for the festive Magical Masquer-aid Ball, guaranteed to warm the coldest January night!

Sponsored by Galena Guide.

A portion of your ticket price will benefit the Galena Center for the Arts. Appetizers, Wine, Beer and Dessert all included.

Limited tickets available, so make your reservations!

For more info and to purchase tickets, go to:

A Feast for the Eye, Food in the Arts
Continues through February 4, 2018
A Feast for the Eye, Food in the Arts will continue throughout the month of January. Come to see a kitchen raid for Twinkies , hand crafted cutting boards, a recipe for appetizers, place settings and serving pottery pieces for scrumptious dinners, and even an interpretation of Jell-O. The show will surprise and delight you! 


We are looking forward to the next exhibit, opening on February 9, Women of the Americas , a one woman show by Janet Checker.

The gallery is open 1-4 pm, Thursday through Sunday.
Regional Artists Gallery
Our galleries will be closed January 18-28 for "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Days." (Other events will take place as scheduled.)

Please join us on January 19th at 10 am to help. Bring your enthusiasm!

There will be soup and cookies to power us through the day.

Call or email to let us know you will be coming.    779-214-0261  

Works of Fine Art from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin artists
Feeding the Arts
Our illustrated cookbook has been a great success! Celebrating food and art is always a good thing, and it has brought us the benefit of continuing our mission to bring art to the community. Thank you!

It never goes out of style—a gift for yourself, birthdays, Valentine's Day, or the perfect hostess gift. 
Available for $18 in our gift shop, Piggly Wiggly, Galena Wine and Cheese, Grateful Gourmet. Whispering Winds at Midwest Medical Center, and Prairie Ridge Gallery.
Upcoming Events
Open Studio and Feature Gallery Opening
January 12, 5-7 pm
Artwork of our studio artists will fill the Artists Circle through
February 4. On Friday, January 12 from 5-7 pm the artists will have their studios open for you to chat with them about their creative process.

 We have a wide variety of work—paintings and drawings by Al Elsbree; baskets by Kris Doyle; custom frames by Courtney Moser; rosemaling by Janet Eggleston; oils, acrylic and watercolors by Cathy Dorwick; acrylic figural paintings by Chris Warner; embroidery by Karen Wilson; glass art by Denise Tollensdorf; and vibrant paintings and jewelry by Jan Ketza.
Kris Doyle working in her studio
The Feature Gallery will have a new exhibit by Sally and Dwight Bischel. Dwight and Sally have captured the beauty of our surroundings in watercolor, oils, and photography. Both landscapes and floral depictions will be represented in their work. They moved to Galena in 1992. Sally was an art director in various advertising firms in Chicago and ran her own graphics design firm in Evanston and Galena. Sally recently passed away; Dwight now resides in Dubuque.
A Bowl Full of Hope
Please join us!
Sunday, January 14, 11-2 pm
Galena High School ceramic classes are collaborating with the Center for the Arts for an “empty bowl” project, to raise money for the Galena Food Pantry. Each class member will make two bowls to donate, under the direction of art instructor Diane Siese. Local artisans will also donate some professionally made bowls.

The public is invited to the event, to choose their favorite bowl from about a hundred hand-made bowls, which will then be filled with their choice of delicious soups donated by local restaurants. After enjoying their meal of soup and bread, the diners take their bowls home. 
The proceeds from each meal will be donated to the Galena Food Pantry.
Songwriters Showcase features
River Glen
January 18, 7 pm

River Glen is a deft songwriter and powerhouse multi-instrumentalist from Dubuque, IA. He creates lyrically-driven music that blends elements of folk, pop, rootsy-rock, blues, and hip-hop. His performances are upbeat, engaging, and tasty like biscuits and gravy.
As the recipient of the 2017-2018 Iowa Arts Council Fellowship for music, River continues to proudly represent his home state by bringing his brand of Iowa Grown Folk-Pop to audiences across the Greater Midwest, the Northeast, and Canada.


Visit:
for upcoming performances, music, videos, and more.

Sixty Days of Stitching at the
Royal School of Needlework
January 21, 2 pm
Karen Wilson will present a program about her experience studying at the Royal School of Needlework in England to learn the art of needlework.
She will display examples of her work including: appliqué, blackwork embroidery, crewel embroidery, goldwork embroidery, needlepoint canvaswork, silk shaded thread painting, and whitework embroidery.

Everyday Mysteries
January 27, 2 pm
Karen Stockwell, an author and fiber artist, will have a book signing and reading on Saturday afternoon.

This collection of poetry delves into the nature of love, making sense of a violent world, and how to nurture ourselves and our families, discovering the meaning of our lives along the way. She will also display her current artistic endeavor of marbling, both on paper and fabric, which was used in the cover design of her book.


All River Road Talent hosts a monthly art drive the first weekend of each month. All River Road Talent is a synergy of artists building a cultural and visitor awareness of artistic talent in the Galena region of NW IL. January ARRT tour dates are 6 & 7.
Your Opinion Matters
Please consider sending a review of a performance or exhibit that you have attended to:
or to any other of the travel guides.

We need your help to let guests to Galena know that we're here, and to plan on visiting us.
Artist's Studio
  Upcoming Workshops and Classes
Poetry Workshop
Four weekly sessions start January 11, 1 pm
Gamboling through words

like lambs

springing

in new grass.

Tasting a tempting smorgasbord

of poetic structures.

Seeking

where your own

song lives.

Unwrapping

the joyous gift

of

poetry…
Cathie Elsbree will open the world of poetry to you, teaching poetic structures and how to choose the perfect words to tell your stories.

Four sessions, January 11, 18, 25, and February 1. 1:00-2:30 pm, $40. Please call to register 779-214-0261 . We have a limit of 12 students.

Tie-Dye Workshop
January 20, 10 am-noon
Laura Scoles will teach the ancient art of shibori, interpreted into the modern-day art of Tie-Dye.

She will guide you through the process to make two tea towels using professional dyes and methods for colorfast results. Saturday, January 20th, 10 am-noon, $28.50. Please call to register by January 13th,  779-214-0261 . We have a maximum of 12 students.

Classes
Yoga with Marion the Bubble Lady
Tuesday at 10:00-11:30 am
(Continues on January 9)
Lower level of the Center

Mindful Yoga with Kate Miller
Wednesday at 4:30-5:30 pm
(Continues on January 3)
Lower level of the Center


This ongoing class integrates mindfulness with yoga and breath-work.
 
Participants are guided in basic Hatha Yoga postures to their capacity while maintaining moment to moment awareness, utilizing the breath to enhance flexibility, exploring boundaries and limits in a gentle and caring way. Each class ends with deep relaxation.
Announcing a New Member of the Center's Board of Directors
We are pleased to announce that Alan Jirkovsky has joined the Center’s Board of Directors.

Al has over 30 years of experience in the Financial Institutions industry with Continental Bank, Bank of America, and Bank One, including responsibilities that extended to Europe and Asia. His experience in strategic planning,
management science, corporate finance, international treasury, and foreign exchange sales and trading also has enabled him to teach numerous seminars for corporations and bank management, and he has taught strategic management as an adjunct professor at the University of Dubuque’s MBA Department since 2010.

Al is married to Sue and has two daughters and four grandchildren.
Al and Sue have visited Galena since the 1970s, lived here part time since 1998, and relocated here full time in 2011.

His interests include travel, photography, music, food, and golf. Al’s business backgrou1nd and interest in the arts will be of great value to the Galena Center for the Arts as he joins our Board of Directors.
Volunteer of the Month - Janet Eggleston
Whether she is sitting at the gallery desk or working in her studio, Janet Eggleston greets visitors with a friendly, welcoming smile. As a retired minister of the United Methodist Church, she is experienced at putting people at ease. After being pastor to various congregations across northern Illinois, she returned to her roots in the Galena area in 2016. Since then, she has contributed her time and enthusiasm to the Center for the Arts and to developing her artistic skill.

If you stop by Janet's studio at the Center, you may find her working on a piece of rosemaling, a traditional folk art from Norway. Literally meaning “rose painting,” this decorative art form involves the meticulous painting of stylized flowers, leaves, and scroll designs on wood.
With Norwegian heritage on her mother's side of her family, Janet became interested in this style of painting when, on a whim, she took a class in 2015.

Since then, she has taken other classes and continued to develop her skill. After retiring, moving back to Galena, and renting one of the Center's studios, for the first time she has had both the space to spread out and the time to do more painting. Although she modestly considers herself a beginner at this challenging art, her ability is obvious in her work.

Besides the pleasure of painting in her studio, Janet enjoys and is impressed by the diversity of the Center's offerings, from the exhibits and performances to the yoga classes. “It is a great asset to the community,” she says, “a real gem!”   
Heads-up for Events in the Works
Hearts for the Arts
February 3, 1-4 pm
A Valentine celebration
is being planned for Saturday afternoon, February 3, featuring handmade Valentine and spring cards along with heart-themed art items, all donated for the event. This exciting new event will be open to the public where folks can shop for Valentine cards, romantic art and gifts, while enjoying some sweet treats and get into the Valentine and spring mode.

 Would you like to help us create some Valentine Cards? We have card stock available at the Center for you to use in making your cards. Stop in Thursday through Sunday 1-4 pm to pick it up. Please bring your completed cards and artwork by February 1st.

For more details, thoughts or questions, contact Linda Yutmeyer Dupasquier at 815-777-9500 and at  [email protected] , Glee Bilderback at 815-777-2935, or  [email protected] . or the Center at 779-214-0261.
Sunday Salon
February 18, 2 pm
Dubuque Chorale Cadenza Concert
Save the date! Cadenza will be performing at the Center on February 18!

In the fall of 2012, the Dubuque Chorale added a chamber choir called Dubuque Chorale Cadenza.

This mixed-voice group of 16-24 select singers performs for community service organizations and other community events, and also presents pieces at regular Chorale concerts.
 Look for more information about the concert in the February newsletter.
Art Wanted for Broad Ideas!
Six week show opening March 2, 2018
Broad Ideas is an Art Show that celebrates women! Join us for this dynamic exhibit and the exciting related events. For more info, visit BroadIdeas.org .
Thank You!
  • Carol Bell
  • Cathy Buck and Jeff West
  • Jo Carroll Energy
  • Roger and Harriet Dart
  • Janet Eggleston
  • Al and Cathie Elsbree
  • Mark and Sheila Haman
  • Joan and Dick Harmet
  • Justin Jackman
  • Phil and Terri Jackman
  • Jan Lavacek
  • Steve Lundgren
  • Emily Painter
  • Poopsie’s
  • Charlene Buran Price
  • Unposed Photography
  • Craig Pratt
  • Mark Robinson
  • Gary Seymour
  • Leslie Waltman
  • Rob and Chris Warner
  • Janet Zehr
Wish List!
  • We wish you an art-filled and meaningful New Year!
Remember our hours have now changed to 1–4 pm, with only one shift per day. If you need help signing up, just call 779-214-0261 and we can assist you.
Gallery Volunteers

We are so grateful for all the wonderful volunteers who assist our visitors and are ambassadors for the arts in Galena.

Because of your generosity, January shifts are filled. Thank you!

We still have a few days in February open and will be putting up March dates soon. 
Please forward our newsletter to your friends and relatives. They can click below to receive their own monthly update. Thanks for sharing our news with others!
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Thanks so much for your support of the Galena Center for the Arts!
  Galena Center for the Arts | www.GalenaCenterfortheArts.com | 779-214-0261 Contact us by e-mail-- [email protected]
Newsletter produced by Dennis Waltman