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Emphasis - January 27

Rich Egger speaks with representatives from the Galesburg Civic Art Center, the West Central Illinois Arts Center in Macomb, and the Buchanan Center for the Artsin Monmouth.

Galesburg Civic Art Center

Director Heather Norman said two exhibits will open Friday, February 3.  The main gallery will feature works by photographer Rich Ankeny and the painter Marianne Vick.  The new Blick Gallery will showcase works by Jared Lacy. 

Norman said shows for the main gallery are often scheduled up to two years in advance. She said the smaller Blick Gallery allows for a little more leeway in scheduling.

"We wanted to have a more flexible space that will allow artists to show their recent work," Norman said. "Our goal is to keep it somewhat unscheduled. "

Norman said the 46th annual GALEX national juried exhibit and competition will open March 10 in the main gallery.

West Central Illinois Arts Center

Board President Sean Genovese said the Young Artist Series will open in early February.  The annual show features art work by students from the region's schools.

Art created by high school students will be displayed February 3 - 11, works by middle school students will be featured February 17 - 25, and the work of elementary school students will showcased March 2 - 10.

Genovese said the WCIAC building facade will soon be power washed and sealed while leaving the Wyne Dry Goods "ghost sign" intact.

"Having one (a ghost sign) that's complete - that has the whole sign there - is rare," Genovese said. "Having one that's on the front of a building is almost unheard of, and the combination is very, very rare indeed."

Genovese said the lower sign across the front of the building will be changed so the lettering and style mimics the ghost sign.  He said that will allow the building to further blend in with the historic nature of the courthouse square.

Buchanan Center for the Arts

Director Susan Twomey said the exhibit featuring the work of Erik Ohrn, "The Itch Becomes A Wound and I Get More Lost in My Room," has been extended until February 10.  The next exhibit will feature the works of sculpture Rob Reed and printmaker Joshua Bindewald. It will open on February 17.

Twomey said there are also building plans for the Buchanan Center.

"My dream is to open up the second story," Twomey said.  "I'd like to be able to have some of our children's theater work done up there,  some of our painting classes - it would be nice to expand our classroom space."

She said yoga classes, poetry slams, and many other events could also be held on the second floor.

"We're working actively to make our county seat the cultural cornerstone for our community and we're working hard toward that end."

Twomey said the annual 64 Arts juried exhibit will open August 31.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.