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May Newsletter

Get out on the greens! Enjoy beautiful Eagle Ridge while

supporting the Galena Center for the Arts! Golf - Prizes - Fun

To access link to register and link to view donation levels and golf packages click.

Dear Friends,

Spring, in all its beauty, is here both indoors and out. I revel in the evanescent glory of the flowering crabapple trees surrounding the Center, as well as the more permanent beauty in the blooms that are immortalized in paint and pastels in our gallery. If it's a rainy day and you need cheering up, it's the perfect place to visit.

I am happy to report that we now have our sign up on the Rt. 20 side of the building. While the road construction is an inconvenience for all of us, it may offer you the opportunity to go slower and take a look at the new sign! Many thanks to all who donated to help make this happen.

May brings a number of events, from our Radio Show to Songwriters Showcase to our annual Golf Outing. We have a special treat for you on May 24, when we will present a concert of tuba, guitar, bass & drums performing jazz, blues & ballads, led by Ralph Hepola. Find details on all our programming below.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Carole

Become a Member!

Did you know you can become a member,

renew your membership, or donate online?

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To learn more about membership options and benefits click.

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To donate online click or send your check to:

The Galena Center for the Arts

971 Gear Street, Galena, Illinois 61036.

Center Open Hours

11am to 4pm, throughout the summer months, on

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Click here for the Center's Calendar

Current Exhibits

Special Exhibit Gallery

Barbara Heitzman and Pamela Hiatt

You have through May to view wonderful art from our regional artists as well as our featured artists: Barbara Heitzman, a Dubuque pastel artist, and Pamela Hiatt, a Dubuque oil artist. In fact, Barbara has brought in several new paintings to replace those that have sold. 

Barbara Heitzman

Pamela Hiatt

Current Events

Spring Radio Play

Lady Windermere's Fan

by Oscar Wilde

May 2, 3, and 4, 2024, 7 pm

May 5, 2024, 2 pm

Travel back to the world of old time radio, complete with captivating sound effects and the charm of commercial jingles, as Oscar Wilde’s masterful social comedy pokes at the concepts of social status, gender politics, morality and secrecy.

Tickets: Adults $25, Students $10 Available here: click

Sponsored by

Exact Pest Solution; Baranski, Hammer, Moretta and Sheehy;

and Eagle Ridge Inn and Spa

Songwriters Showcase

Scott Cornwell and Roy Schroedl

Thursday, May 16, 7pm

Scott’s music is rooted in rock, folk, soul, bluegrass, old time, and funk. He performs on the many unique acoustic and electric banjos he has built.

Roy’s specialty is performing acoustic rock on 12-string acoustic guitar. His vocals channel a cross between Tom Waits, Jimmy Buffett and Cat Stevens.

Refreshments available - Free to attend - Donations appreciated!



Special thanks to sponsors Mark and Mary Ellen.

Garden Clean-up

Saturday, May 18, from 9am to 1pm

Don your work clothes and help spruce up the grounds and flower beds at the Center. Several areas around the building need attention, mostly weed pulling. We will have flowers available for planting and (hopefully) mulch. A limited number of garden tools will be available, if you have a favorite tool, please bring it.

To maintain the gardens, the Center is also looking for volunteers to take responsibility for a specific plot, assist in general by pulling weeds, watering as needed, etc.

Ralph Hepola Jazz Concert

Friday, May 24, 7pm

Jazziz Magazine has called Ralph Hepola “A musician who plays the language of contemporary jazz on the tuba.” His quartet will perform a concert funded by a grant awarded to Hepola by John Stites Jazz Awards of Michigan.

This virtuoso tuba player joins with guitar,

bass & drums in a mix of jazz, blues & ballads!

Free to attend, donations appreciated

Plan ahead for summer!

Theater camp for kids,

led by Jay Dickerson

Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 19, for ages 10-13 (1-4pm each day). In this 5-day intensive acting class, students will have fun with theater games, explore improv skills and dive into some scene study work. Develop your skills in this beginning-level class!

Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26, for ages 13-18 (1-4pm each day). Students will learn--and perform on Friday--a radio show at the Galena Center for the Arts! Perform sound effects, disappear into different characters, and get the feel of an actual radio show at the center, culminating with a performance of the show 3pm Friday.

$125 per student--Scholarships available.

Click for more information

Upcoming Classes

Guided Open Studio

Open Studio will continue from 1 – 3pm

but only on the second Monday of each month.

This will begin in June and continue monthly thereafter.

There will be no Open Studio in May.

• Practice the principles of drawing and painting in these facilitated classes (not instructed).
• Bring your own supplies and reference material.
• All mediums welcome, but please avoid products that emit toxic fumes.
• Cost: 5 dollars a class for members, 10 dollars for non-members.
• Studio open to beginners as well as seasoned artists.
• A still life will be set up in the classroom.

Figure Drawing

A reminder that the next figure drawing session will be Thursday, May 9, from 5 to 7pm and will be held thereafter on the second Thursday of each month.

Do not miss this opportunity to sketch a live model for only $10. Session facilitated by K. Kriesel.



Click for more information.

Intermediate Watercolor

We lacked enough students to run Barbara Mathews’ class in April; therefore, we are rescheduling it for August 10^th and 11^th. Hopefully, on a weekend, fewer people will have work conflicts. Please click to see the Center's website for more information.

Click to check out Barbara’s Facebook page to see the beautiful work she does!

Coming Events

Special Exhibit Space

Planted: Trees

Opening Reception

Thursday, June 6, 5 - 7pm

Plan now to attend our next Opening Reception on June 6 from 5 – 7pm. In addition to the Regional Art Gallery, which always surprises and delights, the Special Exhibit space will honor trees in all their majestic beauty and other tree-inspired art.

Painting by Julie Ferring of an Effigy Mound site

If you're interested in exhibiting, please contact Sandra Evans at gallerymanager@galenacenterforthearts.com

Galena Chalk Fest

Saturday, June 15, 8am - 3pm

Join us for a day of chalk artistry, food & fun.

Check our website soon to register to compete!

Studio Spotlight

Joy Nebergall

If you haven’t yet met Joy Nebergall, you have likely noticed, and remember, her vivid depictions of birch trees in the Center’s art gallery these past several months. Joy prefers acrylics, laying the paint on thickly with a palette knife, painting in a style best described as abstract realism. Joy has always been drawn to birch / aspen trees, and pinecones.

Her art career in retirement is quite a contrast to her previous professional life as a physical education teacher. She also coached several sports and organized her school's Special Olympics. In fact, Joy coached tennis for the Special Olympic World Games.

Joy painting in her studio.

Get on the Waitlist Now

Want to create, but lack the space, the privacy, the quiet? Studio artists who currently rent a space at the Center cite all these reasons and more for loving their studios, and, currently, the waitlist is short!

If interested in a studio, please contact Sandra Evans at gallerymanager@galenacenterforthearts.com.

Save the Dates

June 4-5 - Table Reading of the play Lettice and Lovage, by Peter Shaffer

June 6 ---- Art Exhibit Opening: Regional Artists Gallery and special exhibit ---------------Planted, Trees

June 10 -- Guided Open Studio

June 15 -- Chalk Fest

June 20 -- Songwriters Solstice Showcase

Recent Activities at the Center

Regional Artists Gallery and Special Exhibit Opening

Our artists filled the galleries with wonderful artworks, appreciated by many at the opening event!

Wolf Wood Burning Class

Student mastering the art of woodburning in Marie McDonough's class.

The Forest Stone

What magical performances of The Forest Stone! We are so proud of these talented young actors, as well as our seasoned performers!

Poet Laureate Ceremony

Theodore Williams (center) was appointed Galena’s first ever Poet Laureate!

Songwriters Showcase

April’s fantastic Songwriters Showcase featured:

L A Suess, Thomas Burns, Don Myers, Scott Stieber and Don Greenwood.

Relief Carving and Printmaking Class

Students create original designs in Jennifer Mally's class.

Sunday Salon - Tunes and Tales

Dr. Evelyn Dias at the piano, and Ron Jenkins as narrator, enthralled the audience at Tunes and Tales with musical stories of Tom Thumb, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Peter and the Wolf.

April Opening of Student Gallery

Members of Galena High School's National Art Honor Society at their art opening.

Friends of Charlene Price

Friends of Charlene Price gathered at the Center to wish her well at a party organized by Cathy Dorwick and Marie McDonough. We will miss this wonderful artist in Galena.

Photo, l to r: Marie McDonough, Charlene Price, Cathy Dorwick

Click here for the Center's Calendar

New Galena Center for the Arts sign

Our new sign has been installed! It can be seen at the rear of our building,

while traveling Hwy 20. Many thanks to those who generously donated!

THANK YOU!

WISH LIST

• Ushers for the Radio Show, Lady Windermere's Fan, May 2-5

Volunteer!

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!

All our volunteer opportunities are easily accessed through www.signupgenius.com.

On the main page, click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right. Don’t let the “Our Mind-reading Device is on the Fritz” message confuse you. Fill the “SEARCH FOR A SIGNUP” box with the email volunteers@galenacenterforthearts.com and all upcoming events will be visible. This includes Gallery Openings, Theatrical events, Gallery Greeters, etc. This should make it easier for everyone to match interests with activities.

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 May 3 - 5.

Please Donate

Please help us to advance our mission to

elevate and celebrate regional arts and artists.



To donate online click, or send your check to:

The Galena Center for the Arts

971 Gear Street, Galena, Illinois 61036

(815) 402-3111

Click for the Center Website

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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.

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Thanks so much for your support of the Galena Center for the Arts!

Newsletter produced by Dennis Waltman