April 17th - August 7th, 2021

For The Birds Invitational

Alice Hargrave - The Suffragette Conference of Birds after Farid Attar

Endangered and Threatened by Barry Treu

Alice Hargrave – The Suffragette Conference of the Birds after Farīd Attar & For The Birds

The Freeport Art Museum is excited to present two new exhibitions that focus on birds as the subject matter. Chicago artist, Alice Hargrave brings a site–specific photographic installation with immersive sound and fabrics. Titled:  The Suffragette Conference of the Birds after Farīd Attar, the artist works with sound wave patterns of actual bird calls from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, printed in each species' natural hues.

This recent work presents a gathering of female birds by weaving together their particular vocalizations – referencing both the iconic Persian poem from 1177 – The Conference of the Birds and the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. This epic poem, in which the birds of the world unite to seek truth and wisdom, is a parable for our time. 

RECORDED SATURDAY MAY 22, 2021

 The second exhibition, "For The Birds," is an invitational featuring 26 Illinois artists depicting birds with realistic and more abstract artistic approaches. Since the 1970's birds have experienced a drastic reduction in numbers – 27% fewer makes 3 billion gone. The canaries in the ecological coal mine are telling us something. This exhibition celebrates birds as metaphors, biological wonders, and indicator species. Birds' astounding range of aesthetic beauty, with between 9,000 and 10,000 species, affords ample inspiration for any artist. As a subject matter, birds are irresistible, filled with beautiful colors, striking patterns, and uplifting songs. They can also represent our souls' darker reaches – witness the collective nouns – "an unkindness of ravens" and "a murder of crows."

These two exhibitions will remain on display in the museum's main galleries until Saturday, August 7th. Several participating artists will have items for sale in the museum store for the exhibition's duration.

Other avian art displays in the museum will be: The National Art Honor Society of Freeport High School, showing recently made work in the Student Gallery, a collection of hand-carved birds by self-taught carver Russell Buttel in the same gallery, and 29 bird portraits, titled Endangered and Threatened in the Contemporary gallery by Barry Treu.

Elsewhere, the Freeport Camera Club will have selected bird photography on display at the Freeport Public Library, 9 East Coffee at 9 East Stephenson St., and Higher Grounds Coffee at 1709 S West Ave.

Numerous bird-related events are scheduled in collaboration with the Freeport Public Library, Winneshiek Playhouse, and the Northwest Audubon Society. More information is available on the museum's website and Facebook page.

THE SURVIVAL BY DEGREES REPORT: 389 BIRD SPECIES ON THE BRINK - JULIET MODEROW

RECORDED APRIL 29, 2021

Notable among these events will be the visit of Christian Cooper.

Christian Cooper is a writer and a board member of New York City Audubon. After a video of a racist confrontation while he was birding in Central Park went viral, he drew on that experience to author the Black Lives Matter comic "It's a Bird" for DC Comics. That continued his decades-long activism for racial justice, LGBTQ equality, and expanding democratic access in American society. In June, he will be here to meet with youth at the Boys and Girls Club and later, with teens and adults, to discuss birding and racism in person and as a Zoom event - the date and time will be announced.

Insight/Incite

The work in this exhibition began in 2016 as our social landscape began to change after the elections.

The violence, injustice, and social upheaval have led directly to the creation of these images. Some of these works were exhibited in print shows in North Carolina, Chicago, and New York in direct response to events happening there. The Freeport Art Museum has generously invited us to display these pieces and others together for the first time. Images on the wood panel such as “F#$% Off Nazi Punks!” and “Cocktail Hour” with their overtly colorful and socially conscious messages hung together with our large-scale more abstract works on paper. This exhibition will highlight the celebration of high and low culture found within our work and practice over the last decade. The democratic nature of the print medium allows us to get our message from the gallery and collector to the street and the public as well. We use the tools of mass production to create one-of-a-kind works of art as an act of rebellion. Using established images (such as Kool -Aid man, the Statue of Liberty, etc.) we attempt to re-wire viewer associations. Our collaboration relies heavily on improvisation and chance in an effort to entice and stimulate the viewer with an acerbic wit and ever diligent eye, always asking; who is controlling the message?

Fatherless Print Posse is a Rockford, Illinois-based artistic collaboration between Javier Jimenez, Greg Lang, Ben Rider (U.K.), and David Menard. Since 2010 Fatherless has been known for a variety of large-scale graphics that use appropriated and manipulated imagery to explore socially conscious ideas through printmaking, painting, collage, and installation. Their work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in many public and private collections.

A Life Together in Art

May 15 through August 1, 2020

 A Life Together in Art looks back at two artists, Merl and Gladys Rourke - Blackwood, who, through superb teaching and notable accomplishments enriched the lives of Freeport students and adults alike. Their activities in painting, print, illustration, and dioramas for the Stephenson County Historical Society have left an indelible mark on this community. Merl Blackwood painted regional scenery including local homes and familiar countryside. Gladys Rourke Blackwood created wonderful illustrations for a number of children’s books—including one she wrote. Together, they collaborated on a series of woodcut prints and the well-loved dioramas featured at the Stephenson County Historical Society.

Image: Chopin’s Polonaise

Synesthesia - Roger Goodspeed

August 20 - October 9, 2021

Freeport artist Roger Goodspeed is part of 4 % of the population that shares a unique condition known as Synesthesia. When Roger listens to music, his brain manifests visual sensations. Each of his abstract paintings bears the title of the music he listened to as shapes and colors formed in his mind. Synesthesia is a rare condition, but with his painting skills, Roger renders his mental images with a richness that opens them to the viewer and makes us envious of his experience.

Sunset Harbor by Larry McCoy

Exhibition: Luminous featuring work by members of the Momentum Art Guild; August 20 - October 9, 2021

http://momentumartguild.org/

The Momentum Art Guild displays their recent work in Luminous, named after the 19th Century American movement among landscape painters, which emphasized observing and painting the effects of light. The defining characteristic of the movement was the recreation of light reflected from water surfaces and the atmosphere. Using this movement as a departure point, the Momentum Art Guild members have attempted to expand on this concept by allowing their creativity to explore a broader definition. Luminous will most surely take on a variety of meanings in their hands.

Phyllis Bergagna, Ellie Bartels, Diana Garrett, Roger Goodspeed, Jane Goodspeed, Fay Hughes, Larry McCoy, Nanette Mosher, Ethel Schroer, Fran Shriver, Kathy Wilken, and Ann Haag

In My Mind’s Mind - Carmen Turner

August 20 - October 9, 2021

https://www.instagram.com/carmen_turner__/

Carmen Turner of Rockford unveils recent works that embrace unexpected outcomes. Her process builds upon layers of early marks and shapes to arrive at organic forms. Mixing these with symbolic images, she recalls the natural world and echos an otherworldly life. The value in these layers is how they work together or oppose one another, forming the final piece. As Turner relates: "Much like every emotion, idea, or tangible object, what we perceive as one thing, is composed of endless circumstances.