Next Up: We are holding a group exhibit at the Clinton River Arts Center from July 2 through August 23 and will have a reception on July 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. Several members will be exhibiting and you might enjoy a trip to visit this gallery! Gallery hours are: Wednesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. and the address is 229 Fifth Avenue South.
Currently we are displaying works by various members done in earlier years - so we can see what progress we made! This exhibit is up through July 5, and below are a couple of samples.
Geneseo Fine Art Exhibit 2025 is in the books: the show opened on May 4 through May 27. Below and at right are photos of some of the award winners from the May 4 reception. Thanks again to The Cellar Restaurant for hosting the reception!
Above are Sharon Michaelsen and Sue Elliott earlier works. Also on exhibit are works from Karen Vroman, Karen Stewart Casper and Joyce Mattan. They are fun!
Marinn Cisna of Galva, IL is pictured with her Best of Show entry, “Bringing Her Home” done in oil.
Pictured above left are Tessa Wilebski of Geneseo, who received the 2nd Place/Shirley Burnett Memorial award for her entry “A Neighboring Castle” in pencil. At right is Serina Nimrick of Geneseo, with her Youth Excellence 1st winning entry “Spring Blooms”, done in acrylic.
Pictured above left are Aryanna Stahr of Andalusia with her entry “Made in U.S.A.” (graphite/colored pencil) which received the Youth Excellence 2nd award and at right Lexi Gordon of Geneseo with her 3rd Place/Dick Carlson Memorial award winning entry “Still Life” (acrylic).
Pictured here are Jackson Parchert of Rock Island, at left, with his graphite entry “The Blessing of Davion” which received the Youth Honorable Mention 1 award, and Joyce Mattan of Geneseo with her oil pastel “Moon Over the Barn”, Honorable Mention 1 award.
Artwalk 10 in Geneseo was a blast! Many people were in the gallery to see Joyce Mattan working in pastel, Karen Vroman doing copper tooling and Les Hoste working in watercolor. We were also taking art in so it was a busy day but weather was wonderful!
Pictured are Sue Elliott and Joyce Mattan at ArtWalk 10. Fun day in Geneseo!
Below are some past fun photos from events. :-)
New member Jeanne O’Melia presented two Chinese Brush Painting classes in March. Above is Jeanne (in red hat! :-) ) with the class attendees and their work.
Members, clockwise from top left, Elaine Hofman, Mary Copersmet, Joyce Mattan, Sharon Michaelsen, Lexi Gordon and Les Hoste on a gallery studio day.
Karen Vroman photographing our cyanotype class projects for our FaceBook page. Class was great fun!
Sharon with a pastel of our mascot, Clancy. He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge but is not forgotten. <3
Mike Lawrence of Rock Island is pictured here with his 3-Dimensional Award winning entry “Box of Antiquities.”
Karen Vroman of Erie is pictured with her watercolor “Chickens in the Cornfield” which received the Honorable Mention award. Karen is quite talented with her use of negative space and turns it into something so positive!
Sunny Roberts of Seaton, IL is pictured here with her photograph “Milky Way at Midnight” which received the Youth Honorable Mention II award.
Two award recipients were unavailable for photos. They include the Honorable Mention 3 recipient, Rick Lodmell of Wilton, IA for his acrylic painting “Stark” and Kathy Williams of Waterloo, IA for her photograph “Daddy/Daughter Dance-Age 4”. Congratulations to all of the award winners and many thanks to all of the entrants!!
This exhibit involves alot of work but it is SO REWARDING to see the work entered and celebrate the artists who are creating such wonderful work!
Our thanks to Geneseo Foundation, The Cellar Restaurant, Central Bank Illinois, Wyffels Hybrids, Inc. and Vorac Pharmacy in addition to Blick Art Materials for their sponsorship. They and our patrons and members are greatly appreciated!!
Our thoughts go out to the family of member Warren Hadley who passed away on 2/14/2025. Warren was a great man and talented artist and will be missed.
Member Shirley Burnett passed away in late October, 2024 and is also missed for her great spirit and talent.
The Geneseo High School Awards Night was held on May 7. RutabagA provided scholarships to two recipients - the Decnie Jeschke Memorial Award (provided by Pauline Swanson in honor of her granddaughter) was awarded to Emma Skovranski of Colona and the RutabagA Art Scholarship was provided to Antonio Ramirez of Colona. Antonio and Emma are pictured above with Karen Stewart Casper of RutabagA who presented the awards. Congratulations to you both and best of luck in your artistic endeavors!
Want to support the arts? Enjoy working with other artists? Join our nonprofit side, RutabagA, the Heart of Regional Art, NFP! Stop by the gallery and ask a member for further details.
Here's a sampling of the community enrichments our members have been involved in over the years.
Sponsoring a regional judged art competition, the Maple City Fine Arts Exhibit, for 35 years and now starting our own, the Geneseo Fine Art Exhibit, begun in 2023.
Partnering with civic groups to provide low- and no-cost instruction for children.
Leading art projects for life enrichment at area senior care facilities.
Teaching art for local home-schooling families.
Teaching classical fine art techniques.
Bringing nationally-known instructors to teach in Geneseo.
Painting community murals.
Giving time to area causes, such as Dress For Success, Henry County Humane Society, Braveheart Childrens' Advocacy Center, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and others.
Geneseo High School held its 2024 Senior Awards Night on May 1. Sharon Michaelsen presented the RutabagA Scholarship to Kay McAvoy and Pauline Swanson presented the Decnie Jeschke Memorial Scholarship to Kathryn Hogue. Above, from left to right, are Pauline, Kathryn, Sharon and Kay. Congratulations to these young women and we wish them well on their journey utilizing the fine arts!
Below is a group photo of members from late 2021. It is a pleasure to work with these artists and call them friends. Salute!
Blick Art Materials can be found online at: https://www.dickblick.com.