Dear Friends of the Arts, |
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One of our members recently shared with me that what he appreciates so much about our Center is that it is a place where we bring the Arts together. I especially thought of that as I enjoyed the live music during our Artist Sunday event (thank you David Resnick, Susan Lipnick and Joan Harmet!) as visitors looked at our art exhibits, shopped in the gift shop, talked with our studio artists, and hummed along with the music. Our mission is to support the arts and artists--all of them, from painters to poets to performers--and to make the arts accessible to our community. We are working hard to do that.
In a few days, many of you will receive our annual appeal mailing. We hope you enjoy looking at our collage of event highlights and reading about the great progress we made at the Center this year. We have wonderful visions for the coming year and beyond, and lots more to do to finish the project. If it is comfortable for you to do so, we hope you will donate to make further progress possible. It is because of the generosity of our community and beyond that we have achieved what we have, and we are so excited to invite you into our new space.
Wishing you the very best for the Holidays, and hope to see you soon at the Center.
Carole
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The Center's Winter Hours
Thursdays through Sundays, 1-4 pm.
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We will be closed on December 24 and 25.
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Progress Report for November
Gift Shop Opens
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The long-awaited gift shop officially opened to the public on Thursday, November 10th. Due to the additional space at our new location, more unique items than ever before are available. Among the many items, one can find jewelry, books, prints, metal sculptures, pottery, knitted scarves and headbands, clothing, and cards…and more cards. And just like snowflakes, each card and each piece of art is unique. Be sure to stop by during the Center’s open hours (1:00 – 4:00 pm, Thursday through Sunday) to find that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift made by local artisans for those special people in your life.
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Our Feeding the Arts recipe book is always a welcome gift!
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Sunday, December 4, 2 pm
Galena Center for the Arts presents Ladies Must Swing
at Turner Hall
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The 18-piece big band group, Ladies Must Swing, takes the stage for a FREE holiday concert December 4th at Turner Hall in Galena. Take a step back in time as this high-energy ensemble channels Glen Miller and Duke Ellington in big band hits such as “Take The ‘A’ Train,” “In The Mood,” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” as well as holiday favorites. If big band swing is your thing, you won’t want to miss this!
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The current Building Bridges exhibit will continue throughout the remainder of 2022. We are thrilled that a number of art pieces have already sold. So, if you’ve already been in to see the exhibit, we encourage you to return to see what is new. And if you have not yet found the time to see it, you definitely do not want to miss the varied interpretations of metaphorical bridges or the artistic rendering of literal bridges. Or perhaps simply come to ponder
the value of building bridges.
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Art enthusiasts enjoy the exhibit. |
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As an excerpt of Dorothy Joslyn’s poem reminds us, building bridges allows us to "cross confidently over the span/ of rocks and whirlpools, of time and place,/ into common territory where we can/ stand up together, blend our voices/ into a message of reconciliation,/ calm the rising tide of anger, and/ grow closer to where our energy/ sparks connection." |
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Evan Lewis
Kinetic Art Installation
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We are excited to announce that three of Evan Lewis’s kinetic sculptures are now on display outside the Center. Lewis’s work has been featured in the major motion picture “Twister” as well as installations in prominent locations across the U.S. His interest in kinetic wind-powered art has led him to work primarily in metal, mostly in stainless steel and aluminum.
The largest piece of this current installation is entitled “Three Liner.”
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Evan Lewis in his workshop/studio in Mineral Point, Wisconsin
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The artist shares: “It is that lifelike quality that I focused on in designing the sculpture to appear as a bird or a fish on a journey through space and time. At times it appears to struggle and then to soar, a metaphor for our own process of discovery in our lives. If we observe the sculpture repeatedly over time it becomes a talisman or a forecaster of our own experience right now and forever.”
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Even though the winter season is upon us, nature still blooms in the Youth Gallery. From flora and fauna to mountain scenes and sunsets, the many aspects of the natural world are portrayed by National Art Honor Society students from Galena High School. Thirty-four students have their “tiny” artwork displayed.
We welcome you to come in to view the current exhibit. Where else can you see flowers growing on the moon?
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Visions of Nature Art Opening
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Main Gallery: When the gallery reopens in January, a new exhibit-- New Year, New Art--will fill our gallery spaces. Perhaps you are experimenting with a new medium, a new technique, new tools, new content, or a completely new style. Maybe you have ideas that have been percolating on the back burner. Now is the time to bring them forward! Venturing outside comfortable zones is scary, yes, but also stimulating. Embrace the new opportunities of a new year.
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Special Exhibit Gallery: The theme for the special exhibit space: Color it Neutral. You might create a Notan or play with all the values between white and black. Perhaps you might create something graphic and dramatic in black and white. You might choose to focus on the colors of winter, seeing the many colors in a colorless landscape, or you might add a single pop of color. You might want to work with ink, or alter a colored photograph to achieve a desired mood.
Contact Sandra at
for more details.
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Calling all Artists and Authors! |
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Broad Ideas Art Show
Returns for Year 6 at
Galena Center for the Arts
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Broad Ideas is a community arts event committed to inclusion by dismantling patriarchy and misogyny. We need you! There is power in telling our stories. If in need of inspiration to get creating, this year’s theme is, “What Makes You Feel Strong?” Artwork is due February 18, 2023, with pieces for Spoken Word due soon after.
For more information and to view our calendar of events,
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Culver’s Share Night-December 13 |
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Culver’s goes to great lengths to give back charitably, and we are excited to partner with them!
For Culver’s Share night, you will have the fun of having members from our Board of Directors wait on you! The Center will benefit by having 10% of sales 4-9 pm the night of the Share Event, 5% of online sales Monday through Friday of that same week, as well as any “tip” money left that night.
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Featured Artist – Courtney Knockel
Courtney attributes her love for art to her high school years, when she spent much time in the art classroom, taking every art elective available. After high school, she attended UW-Madison where she earned an Art Education degree. She currently resides in Cuba City, Wisconsin.
When she began selling art, it was by commission; family and friends saw her talent and requested paintings. Although Courtney is appreciative of the commissioned artwork opportunity, she finds it a challenge to “find [her] own voice and style” when doing work for others. Given her young age, she has plenty of time to work on her developing style.
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Courtney and her paintings. |
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Acrylic and oils are her mediums of choice. The paintings currently displayed in the gallery, which were college assignments, feature rusted cars. Her preference of subject matter is quite different: feminine subjects, nature, and flowers. The value of art, according to Courtney, is its ability to “communicate across cultural divides.”
Courtney has been exhibiting her artwork in the gallery for the past three years. Her prints can also be found in the gift shop. Galena Center for the Arts has been a welcoming place and “a good fit” for Courtney. We look forward to seeing what direction Courtney’s art will take in the future.
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Recent Activities
at the Center
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It’s always wonderful to get together just to make music! |
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We gathered to say good-bye to our longtime friend and wonderful artist, Janet Checker, surrounded by her amazing artwork. |
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LoveNotes had everyone tapping their toes
at a performance at Prairie Ridge.
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Songwriters Showcase featured the many talents
of Sophia Landis and Bruce Tessmer.
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The Julien Chamber Choir inspired us with
musical descriptions of "Vices and Virtues."
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Many of the Center’s studio artists, including Al Elsbree (pictured),
were present for the Artists Sunday celebration.
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Thank you to David Resnick, Susan Lipnick and Joan Harmet (pictured) for filling the center with the twinkling of festive tunes. |
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Kinetic artist Evan Lewis was on hand to visit with attendees. |
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A big thank-you to all who helped prepare our annual appeal mailing. |
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Lee Adami has been a member of the Center for years, and you have seen her in some of our table readings. She is the director and choreographer for Plaid Tidings, at Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, Il, running December 1 through 11. For a show filled with music and holiday cheer, get tickets at www.Timberlakeplayhouse.org.
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In the spirit of the season, we would like to extend
a heartfelt thank you to ALL of our corporate members!
We are deeply grateful for your steadfast support and generosity!
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- Jim Asta
- Jim Baranski
- Elizabeth Boggess
- Marty Busch
- Busch Music
- John Cox
- Cathy Dorwick
- Jean Dregne
- Janet Eggleston
- Cathie and Al Elsbree
- Cathy Elwell
- Galena Gazette
- Galena Kids
- Joan Harmet
- Mary Carol Harris
- Kathy Leonard
- Susan Lipnick
- Carole Mantey
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- Laurie Mattas
- Paul Murray
- New Earth Animals
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Emily Painter
- Bob Palagi
- Kay Primrose
- Gail Raven Bauer
- David Resnick
- Marion Roberts
- Sarah Roodhouse
- Alison Schoenrock
- Irene Thraen-Borowski
- Dennis Waltman
- Leslie Waltman
- Connie Warnsing
- Lenny Wayne
- Andy Willis
- Sandy Winge
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- Postage Stamps
- Tissue Paper for the Gift Shop
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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!
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Support us with AmazonSmile Foundation Donations |
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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:
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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!
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Please Donate
Please help us to advance our mission to
elevate and celebrate regional arts and artists.
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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
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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.
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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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This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. |
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This program is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. |
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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!
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Newsletter produced by Dennis Waltman |
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