Your turn: In celebration of the vibrant Rockford art community
Since 1987 the Rockford Area Arts Council RAAC has supported the biannual Rockford ArtScene with venues located throughout Rockford.
This allows artists utilizing various media to display their work and be available to discuss with the public and share insights into their creative process. For all of the loyal patrons who make this event a highlight of their cultural calendar, this event is a treasured opportunity to celebrate the local art community.
Historically, without a determined effort to develop a supportive infrastructure, the individual artists strive to become known and often struggle in obscurity. My goal is to illuminate not only the historical depth of artistic talent and accomplishments in the Rockford community but also share the important contributions of those noble patrons of the art who enrich our cultural milieu significantly.
Many art patrons are fully aware of J.R. Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Owners Doc and Jerry opened their gallery in 1986 and it immediately became a nexus of art appreciation and curatorial excellence.
Together, they integrated every aspect of the progressive forces of art creation in Rockford. Kortman Gallery fused the creative cauldron of cutting edge art by working closely with Rockford College (University) with acclaimed art professors Robert McCauley, and Andrew Langousses.
For over 40 years, Doc and Jerry amassed an impressive collection of a wide spectrum of local artists in a tremendously varied range of media. We are fortunate that they decided to publish a portfolio of their esteemed collection.
On April 21 their book "COLLECTION" became available for sale at Kortman Gallery.
The Lovely Sally and myself rushed to Kortmans to purchase the FIRST book sold. Both Doc and Jerry signed our edition, and we enjoyed discussing the artists profiled in the book, which we were also blessed to have in our collection.
They shared they will be gifting a copy to all the artists profiled in the book. For anyone interested in the cultural history of such an important topic, I would commend this gem of artistic documentation which will provide deep insight into the artist fulcrum of dynamic artistic virtuosity, which is such an immeasurable part of our Rockford community.
May the Lovely Sally and myself be the first to laud and commend how this important celebration, a work that speaks to the joys that collected, curated, historically documented, pantheon of artists, and their profound works celebrates in us all and burns with an incendiary lust for the eternal illumination that great art manifests in each of our souls.
Thank you Doc and Jerry for sharing this important celebration of important historical significance.
Rockfordians Rick Roberson and "the Lovely Sally" have a passion for collecting work by local artists.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: In celebration of the vibrant Rockford art community
