Dear Friends of the Arts, |
|
More and more as we continue renovations, we are able to add exhibits, classes, and performances at the new Center, and that feels good. What a joy to hear the laughter and excitement from the kids in the Acting Camp, and to see an audience on their feet applauding and cheering a vibrant performance by Ginny Luke. It makes all the work from so many people come to life.
Speaking of work, we have a couple of work opportunities for the right people. Karen Wilson, our long-time, multi-talented Office Manager, will be retiring in a couple months, and we will need to fill her position. And we also are looking for a marketing/promotion staff member. For more info, email Carole or call her at 815-402-3111.
It’s been exciting going to the mailbox the last few days, and pulling out handfuls of membership renewals and new memberships. It’s inspiring to have so many enthusiastic people involved with the Galena Center for the Arts!
I look forward to seeing you at our coming Summer Reflections art opening, and at our Garden Party Fundraiser at the beautiful LinMar Gardens.
Wishing you a beautiful and art-filled end to the summer.
|
|
It’s been a busy month for construction at the Center. We have the walls constructed for our upstairs business office, and more progress toward getting the elevator functional. Still lots to do there. We are trying to cover multitudes of details, like new fire extinguishers and security cameras, as well as finish paint. Some areas look great; others are still obviously in construction. We have to live with that for a while. In the performance area, the concessions area is finished, with counter tops and cabinets installed. After a long wait due to supply issues, most of the doors have now been installed. And we have started to get some outdoor art, with more to come. Hope you will stop by to see our progress soon! |
|
We are thrilled to have this sculpture by Gail Chavenelle as the first artwork on our grounds. Be sure to check it out the next time you come to the Center. |
|
The sculptor Gail Chavenelle, with her newly installed artwork Resilient Generations.
|
|
Summer Reflections Exhibit |
|
August 5 through September 25 |
|
Soon the waning days of summer will be upon us (or are they already?), and we’ll all be reflecting on Summer 2022. How have you spent your summer? Have you had happy, relaxed, firefly-and- butterfly-watching days? Or have you had fun-filled, art-filled, construction-filled, very busy days like we have here at the new Center? Our talented regional artists are already excited to be sharing their “Summer Reflections” with the community for our next exhibit and have delivered new artworks to us at the Center! |
|
Improv Show
Wednesday, August 3
|
|
Don’t miss our free improv show “Hello my name is…” on August 3! The show kicks off at 6 pm in the Center’s theater.
Galena’s newest improv comedy troupe will perform both long form and short form sketches, all inspired by audience members and improvised on the spot!
|
|
Open Mic
Come and make music!
Tuesday - August 9
|
|
At 6:30 pm on August 9, Lenny Wayne will host an open mic. We invite
musicians of all ages to join us for an evening of musical camaraderie.
Show off your talents or just sit and listen. There will be a sign-up, and a two-song-per-turn limit. Upstairs at the Center.
|
|
Sounds From the Cellar
Friday August 12
|
|
Sounds From the Cellar kicks off on Friday, August 12 and features two artists from Galena High School. Hayes Noble headlines with his band mixing 90s indie with modern noise rock. Singer-songwriter Liliana Asta will open playing acoustic folk-pop.
|
|
Doors open at 7:00 pm with music beginning at 7:30 pm.
Admission is $5 at the door.
|
|
Songwriters Showcase
Bruce Moon
Thursday, August 18
|
|
Join us for another Songwriters Showcase on August 18! Our featured musician for August will be Bruce Moon, with guitar accompaniment from Mike Hawksworth. The music starts at 7 pm.
Bruce Moon is a singer-songwriter, art therapist, and painter. Since the 1960s, Bruce has been playing guitar and writing music as a solo artist and in various duos. He has recorded a number of CDs and performs regularly at small concert venues. Many of Bruce's original songs are inspired by his experiences at the psychiatric hospital, where he was an art therapist for 22 years.
Opening for Bruce Moon will be Sarah Lentini.
This event is free, but donations are appreciated.
|
|
Mike Hawksworth and Bruce Moon |
|
"Support the Arts"
Garden Party
August 21, 2-4 pm
Linmar Gardens
504 S. Prospect Street in Galena
|
|
Please join us at our 2nd annual “Support the Arts" Garden Party!
Linmar Gardens hosts a stunning collection of annuals and perennials that bring color to this enchanting landscape nestled upon a limestone bluff overlooking historic Galena. Explore the dozens of fountains, sculptures, and various notes of whimsy among the flora and fauna, and enjoy tasty treats and beverages. It’s a perfect place to visit with friends and appreciate the Art of Mother Nature.
|
|
|
|
We are so grateful to Bob Burton and Hal Martin, who once again are donating the use of their amazing garden space. |
|
Advance tickets may be purchased from the
Galena Center for Arts website by clicking on this link.
All proceeds from this event benefit Galena Center for the Arts.
|
|
We are excited to feature Galena Center for the Arts studio artist Joan Wallace this month. Joan became interested in painting in her 50s when she decided to take art classes in the Chicago suburbs where she was living at the time. That soon sparked Joan into taking more painting workshops in different states and attending classes for 2 years at the American Academy of Art in downtown Chicago on the weekends. After some time and experience, Joan enjoyed teaching painting classes in studios in Long Grove and Lake Zurich, Illinois. Twenty years ago, Joan moved to Galena and soon got involved with the Galena Artist Guild, which she very much enjoyed. While Joan’s current focus is on still life painting, she has also painted a number of portraits for commission and pleasure. |
|
Some thoughts from Joan: “First, let me say how delighted I am to have a studio at the Galena Center for the Arts! I had a painting studio at home in my basement complete with windows, good lighting, space, a sink and plenty of storage. But the hard thing about working at home is working at home--housework, cleaning, cooking, laundry and all those things that distract, interfere and postpone the moment! Second, there isn’t the same joy, energy or camaraderie of painting at home that there is painting at the Center, where so many different artists are creating, exhibiting and performing. How can an at-home studio compare with a place that offers beautiful facilities, live events and performances, classes and workshops? The Galena Center for the Arts is a very special home away from home!” |
|
John Erickson Trio
September 16th and 17th
|
|
Plan ahead to attend the John Erickson Trio, a powerhouse, tuneful, Chicago jazz combo on either September 16th and 17th. This trio has been delighting audiences for over 10 years with its unique arrangements of familiar pop & jazz classics, and its gorgeous original compositions. Not to be missed! |
|
The Scarecrows are coming!
The Scarecrows are coming!
|
|
The Scarecrows are about to return to Galena! Every fall, the Galena Center for the Arts encourages fellow scarecrow enthusiasts to have some fun and create their own scarecrow to display at their home, business, or in front of the new Center building at 971 Gear Street.
Historically, scarecrows have usually been dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds. The Galena scarecrows are meant to attract, rather than shoo away, and may include a wide range of materials, from metal to wood to straw, and a range of whimsical and fanciful costumes and poses.
Please join in the fun and have your scarecrow up and ready by September 20. If you decide to display your scarecrow at the Center, please contact Carole to find out when to bring it to the Center. Once our “scary” friends are in place and have returned to our landscape, a map will be shared locating the scarecrows around town, so that you may see how many you can find! If you want to have your home or business on the map, let Carole know by September 10. Scarecrows are encouraged to stay up through October 31.
|
|
_________Dancing Ghosts at The Workshop
|
|
Scarecrows at Prairie Ridge___________
|
|
Golf Outing Fundraiser
September 29
|
|
Join Galena Center for the Arts for our first Golf Tournament Fundraiser on September 29!
The fun kicks off at Galena Golf Club with a 12-noon shotgun start. Galena Golf Club is located at 11557 US Highway 20 West in Galena.
The tournament includes an 18-hole round of golf for your 4-person team, followed by a sit-down dinner in the clubhouse.
All the proceeds from this event will help us finish our new building renovations!
|
|
To register, please download the registration form here.
|
|
September
- 7 - Table Reading
- 15 - Songwriters Showcase: featuring Lenny Wayne and Pearl Olson
- 16, 17 - John Erickson Trio
-
20 - Scarecrows! Art That Stands Out In Its Field Exhibit
- 23 - Cemetery Walk indoor performance
- 29 - Golf Outing Fundraiser
October
- 20 - Songwriters Showcase
December
- 4 - Ladies Must Swing concert, at Turner Hall
|
|
Recent Activities
at the Center
|
|
Ginny Luke performed a captivating high energy concert of electric violin and vocals, with backup by Tony Brown on guitar and Jesse Luke on cello.
If you didn’t get a chance to attend the concert, you can view it on Facebook Live at this link: GalenaCenterForTheArts
|
|
Two lucky young musicians getting to play with the professionals in a masterclass led by Ginny Luke. What an opportunity! |
|
July Songwriters Showcase featured music by the Guthries, Scott and Erika, and Chad Aaron Olson, Jr., for our first showcase in the new performance space. |
|
The students had a great time at Acting Camp 2022, taught by Cindy Tegtmeyer, with assistance from Jay Dickerson, Michael Crawford and Jan Lavacek. |
|
We hope you enjoyed our Emergence exhibit in June and July as much as we did! With over 50 regional artists exhibiting in our first live, in-person exhibit in two years, we were thrilled to welcome patrons from all over the Midwest and beyond (California! New York! Texas!) to see the regional artistic talent right here in the Galena area. Thanks to all who came out to support and enjoy this event! |
|
Moo-ving by Patricia Mitchley |
|
Corporate Spotlight
for August
|
|
Baranski Hammer Moretta & Sheehy Architects
First Community Bank of Galena
Galena Country Tourism
|
|
We are very appreciative of the many businesses that have become Corporate Members of the Center, and will be featuring them monthly in our newsletter as a way of letting everyone know the many ways they reach out to help their community. |
|
Baranski Hammer Moretta & Sheehy Architects have been Corporate Members since 2018. They have been enthusiastic sponsors for three spring radio plays. We are grateful for their expertise designing our building renovation plans, and their help with sourcing materials, equipment, and service providers for the new Center. |
|
First Community Bank of Galena has been a Corporate Member since 2017 and is a generous supporter of youth-oriented art activities. They sponsored three Youth Arts Festivals in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and sponsored the 2018 and 2019 outdoor Chalk Art Festivals. They have also been extremely helpful guiding us through the necessities of U.S. government grants during the pandemic. |
|
Galena Country Tourism is the official destination management organization for Galena Country. Their mission is to promote, develop and expand the visitor industry for the benefit of the local economy and community including the City of Galena and Jo Daviess County. They provide valuable event marketing support for Center activities, and have been a Corporate Member since 2017. |
|
- Patricia Allen-Stewart
- Jim Baranski
- Matt Blaum
- Elizabeth Boggess
- Pat Bull
-
Rich Carlini
- Gail Chavenelle
- John Cox
- Michael Crawford
- Bill Dicken
- Jay Dickerson
- Dan Dittmar
- Cathy Dorwick
- Gavin Doyle
- Jean Dregne
- Janet Eggleston
- EHMS Mechanical Services
- Elite Plumbing
- Cathie and Al Elsbree
-
Avery Fullerton
- Megan Gloss
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Mark Haman
|
|
- Barb Hocker
- Terri Jackman
- Kloss-Winter Electric
- Bonnielynn Kreiser
- Kim Kreiser
- Patricia Lehnhardt
- Lord of Love Lutheran Church
- John Martinson
- Paul and Nancy McMenamin
- Montgomery-Timmerman Construction
- Marion Roberts
- Colin Sanderson
- Denise Spielman
- Cindy Tegtmeyer
- Dennis Waltman
- Leslie Waltman
- Connie Warnsing
- Lenny Wayne
- Mary Weck
- Andy Willis
- Sandy Winge
|
|
|
|
It’s time to renew your membership!
Did you know you can become a member,
or renew your membership, online?
Click here for information about our
membership program.
|
|
We are thrilled that we now have over 500 members, and are eager to expand our programming so that we can offer something for everyone! We ask for no funding from the City of Galena, but instead count on our local and regional friends to support the important work we do, through memberships and donations. It makes a difference.
The Arts benefit education; the Arts benefit the economy; and the Arts offer a richer life for all of us. Please be generous with your membership and added donations, so that we can complete the construction in our beautiful new venue, and get all programming back on track.
|
|
Time to get involved! We still need greeters for the gallery, and volunteers to help with serving at openings, ushering at music and theatre events, garden maintenance, painting, and more!
If you would like to help out as a greeter, please go to
Signupgenius.com and choose the dates you would like to help. It’s not hard, and it’s so much fun to meet other art lovers, and show off our wonderful new space. For other volunteer opportunities, email Carole.
Thanks so much!
|
|
|
|
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 Northwest Illinois. The next ARRT tour is August 5-7. |
|
Support us with AmazonSmile Foundation Donations |
|
We invite you to show your support for the Center when shopping on Amazon. We are now established as a charitable organization for contributions via the AmazonSmile Foundation. The Foundation will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to us whenever you designate the Center as the charitable organization of your choice.
Here’s how to support the Center:
-
Visit smile.amazon.com (you need to follow this step each time you designate donations).
- Log in with your regular Amazon account information.
- Select “Galena Center For The Arts Inc” as your charitable organization choice.
- Begin shopping.
Thank you for your support! We truly appreciate your thinking of us when shopping with Amazon!
|
|
Please Donate
Please help us to advance our mission to
elevate and celebrate regional arts and artists.
|
|
To donate online click on This Link, or send your check to:
The Galena Center for the Arts
971 Gear Street, Galena, Illinois 61036
(815) 402-3111
|
|
To join the Galena Center for the Arts YouTube channel click on this link. When on YouTube click SUBSCRIBE. To receive notification of new videos click on the bell icon next to SUBSCRIBED then click on ALL.
|
|
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! |
|
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. |
|
|
This program is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. |
|
|
Don't forget to "Like" the Galena Center for the Arts on Facebook
Have a preferred email address? Please let us know.
Thanks so much for your support of the Galena Center for the Arts!
|
|
Newsletter produced by Dennis Waltman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
