Greetings and Happy 4th of July! Joyce Mattan has the holiday-themed window for July. She is pictured at right with her beautiful work. Below is a photo of our student who is also exhibiting this month. Alaina has some fun work and we are so happy to have it on exhibit!! I could learn a few things from her!
We are planning to do some group painting times on 4th Thursdays from 10:30 to 12-ish. It’s great to work in a group, so look forward to enjoying this. July 23 and August 27 are the next few dates. Start now to get work ready for 2027’s Fine Art Exhibit!
Our regular hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting.
Alaina Drinkall is pictured above with Sharon. Alaina is a student at Annawan and has been drawing in sessions with Sharon. Her work is featured in our gallery during July and we will host an open house on Sunday, July 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Alaina’s work is nicely done and we love having a student exhibit her work. Keep it up! :-)
Our book bench is now installed at the Geneseo Public Library. Above are Geneseo Art League president Marie Skiles at left and our president Sharon Michaelsen at right. The Art League and Smith Studio and Gallery also painted benches. They are all different but all nicely done and we appreciate the library inviting us to participate!
The Geneseo Public Library’s reading gardened opened on July 1. Above a young butterfly fan is pictured in front of one of the butterflies. Fantastic!
RutabagA was honored to be asked to paint butterfly wings for the Geneseo Public Library. Above are the painters of the wings, from left to right, Karen Stewart Casper, Sue Elliott, Bob Claerhout, Joyce Mattan and Sharon Michaelsen.
Sharon’s granddaughter has some of her yiayia’s artistic talent. Here she works in the gallery on a project.
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
Joyce Mattan is shown above with her Independence Day-themed art. You may have seen some of her photo cards featuring the flags in the park. Joyce’s work will be in our window throughout July. Nice work!
The Geneseo Kiwanis Club has provided us with a grant for 2026 which is greatly appreciated. Above Tony Stoeger and Sharon Michaelsen are pictured upon receipt of the grant. Thank you so much for the support!
The Geneseo High School Awards Night was held on May 6. RutabagA provided scholarships to two recipients - the Decnie Jeschke Memorial Award (provided by Pauline Swanson and Jeremy Jeschke in honor of her granddaughter/his wife) was awarded to Hayley Henry and the RutabagA Art Scholarship was provided to Hannah Stone. Hayley and Hannah are pictured above with Sharon Michaelsen of RutabagA who presented the awards. Congratulations to you both! Best of luck in your studies/artistic endeavors!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE FINE ARTS? Want to share your skills, learn more or help other artists promote their work? RutabagA formed in Geneseo in 2016. We are a non-profit entity that promotes the fine arts and is open to the general public, high school age and up, by means of exhibits hosted, participation in Geneseo Chamber of Commerce events, hosting an annual art exhibit and regular gallery activities. We would like new members to join us and welcome meeting you.
We are also a for-profit entity which sells work by artists who are juried in by the non-profit members. Artists have the opportunity to display their art, host and exhibit, offer classes and display their work at local businesses. Art sold in the gallery is charged a commission based on the artist’s level of participation. At this time we would like more members who can be active to spread the joy of creating art!
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.
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.