Galesburg Community Arts Center

09/08/2026

Handbuilding with the clay-mazing Chris Dokolasa is this SATURDAY, SEPT. 12!✨ Whether you're brand new to clay or looking to strengthen your skills, this class is the perfect introduction to hand-building. Spend the morning exploring the three foundational techniques with Chris, and create one ceramic piece using each method.

📅 WHEN? Saturday, September 12 from 10am-1pm
REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103136-the-basics-of-handbuilding-with-chris-dokolasa
🔸 COST | $40 for the handbuilding class, plus $25 for the glazing session (separate date)
🔸 Open to ages 18+

Let's get messy! 🏺

09/08/2026

CALLING ALL k-12 ARTISTS! 🎨 The Kids Rock the Arts Contest at Walnut Grove Farm is back, and submissions are due by SATURDAY, SEPT. 26th at 3pm (deliver all entries to the arts center at 349 East Main Street).

Young artists in kindergarten through 12th grade are encouraged to participate with one piece of original, two-dimensional artwork. All work will be displayed at Walnut Grove Farm during Scenic Drive (first 2 weekends in October), with prizes judged by local artist Calista Shultz (a senior studying art at Monmouth College). 🏅 Work must be labeled with the student's name, grade level, artwork title, and contact information for artwork pick-up.

For more details, visit the Walnut Grove Farm website 👉 https://www.walnutgrovefarm.com/art-contest

⭐ Sponsored by Blick Art Materials + the Galesburg Community Arts Center

09/05/2026

Handbuilding with the clay-mazing Chris Dokolasa is only ONE WEEK AWAY!✨ Whether you're brand new to clay or looking to strengthen your skills, this class is the perfect introduction to hand-building. Spend the day exploring the three foundational techniques with Chris, and create one ceramic piece using each method.

📅 WHEN? Saturday, September 12 from 10am-1pm
REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103136-the-basics-of-handbuilding-with-chris-dokolasa
🔸 COST | $40 for the handbuilding class, plus $25 for the glazing session (separate date)
🔸 Open to ages 18+

Let's get messy! 🏺

09/04/2026

Join us for Whimsical Resin Jewelry with Wendy Dispennette on September 24th! ✨

REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/104562-whimsical-resin-jewelry-with-wendy-dispennette

Explore different techniques to create a variety of effects using silicone jewelry molds. Several earring and necklace molds will be provided, including plain shapes and more whimsical designs to satisfy quirky + bold humans! Each participant will complete 2 pieces of their choice: either 2 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, or one of each. Some of the materials you can choose from include glitter, pigments, alcohol inks, and dried flowers.

🔸 Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30-7:30pm
🔸 $25 per person
🔸 All materials provided. Ages 18+

09/03/2026

Paint like Monet, just a week away! ✨

Register today for GCAC's annual 🎨 Paint Crawl on Thursday, September 10th from 6-9pm! This year, crawlers will tackle Monet's famous impressionist lily pond as they create their own version of "The Japanese Footbridge" (1899), honoring Claude Monet 100 years after his death in 1926.

📅 Thursday, September 10 | 6-9 PM
🔸 COST | $35 for GCAC Members, or $40 for Non-members
🔸 REGISTER HERE 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103299-paint-crawl-monet-s-the-japanese-footbridge

Enjoy fun, themed specials and paint your way through downtown at . . .
🪷 Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli ()
🪷 Budde's Pizza ()
🪷 Fisk Bier & Wine ()
🪷 Opie's Bar + Grill ()
🪷 The Bar 65 (.65)
🪷 Galesburg Community Arts Center

09/02/2026

Have you visited our gift shop recently? 🛍 We've still got hundreds of wonderful items to browse, and plenty of fresh inventory as we lean into fall . . . all handmade by local + regional artists. Stop in and see for yourself!

🔸Open 11-4 Wednesday thru Friday
🔸Open 9-3 on Saturdays
(Hours may change seasonally)

09/02/2026

This 📅 SATURDAY, SEPT. 5th, don't miss out on an opportunity to paint the portrait from LIFE! The Portrait in Oil 🎨 will be led by Ana V. Fleming, and will run 10am-1pm. Open to introductory-level *and* experienced painters alike! All necessary materials will be provided (but you are welcome to bring your own paints and brushes if desired).

🔸 $30 for GCAC Members / $35 for Nonmembers
🔸 REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103127-the-portrait-in-oil-with-ana-v-fleming

Ana will cover the fundamentals of mapping out your portrait and the basic anatomy of the head, establishing your palette, and building form starting from large, abstract masses and slowly integrating detail.

If you know what you're doing, but simply want a little more practice painting from direct observation of a model, this class is also the perfect opportunity! Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

09/01/2026

Register today for GCAC's annual 🎨 Paint Crawl on Thursday, September 10th from 6-9pm! This year, crawlers will tackle Monet's famous impressionist lily pond as they create their own version of "The Japanese Footbridge" (1899), honoring Claude Monet 100 years after his death in 1926.

📅 Thursday, September 10 | 6-9 PM
🔸 COST | $35 for GCAC Members, or $40 for Non-members
🔸 REGISTER HERE 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103299-paint-crawl-monet-s-the-japanese-footbridge

Enjoy fun, themed specials and paint your way through downtown at . . .
🪷 Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli ()
🪷 Budde's Pizza ()
🪷 Fisk Bier & Wine ()
🪷 Opie's Bar + Grill
🪷 Galesburg Community Arts Center

Paint Crawl: Claude Monet's The Japanese Footbridge

08/29/2026

Members & Friends 2026 is on view through September 12th! 🖼

This year's award winners, selected by juror Todd M. Ettinger, are the following:

🔸 BEST OF SHOW: M. Royal, "Groundhog's Day/Wet Snow"
🔸 PAINTING AWARD: Michael McMillen, "Reflections of the Lie"
🔸 WORKS ON PAPER AWARD: Carine Brown, "My Fair Lady"
🔸 MIXED MEDIA AWARD: Neal Zahn, "Monarch Chrysalis"
🔸 FIBER AWARD: Pamela Brown, "4 Woven Glasses"
🔸 PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD: Joe Virbickis, "Bad Feather Day"
🔸 3D AWARD: Marcia Fox, "Family Reunion"
🔸 NEWCOMER'S AWARD: Emily Nyquist, "The Hunter"
🔸 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mary Hildebrand, "Autumn Pond" and "Emergence" by Wendy Dispennette

🔸 The Linda Lytle Memorial Award, chosen by a member of the Lytle family, was given to Betsy Zmuda Swnson's "Farm Silos"

Visit us and admire these striking works in person!

Many thanks to our 2026 exhibition sponsor Brightspeed Fiber Internet () ⭐

08/28/2026

Join us for Whimsical Resin Jewelry with Wendy Dispennette on September 24th! ✨

REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/104562-whimsical-resin-jewelry-with-wendy-dispennette

Explore different techniques to create a variety of effects using silicone jewelry molds. Several earring and necklace molds will be provided, including plain shapes and more whimsical designs to satisfy quirky + bold humans! Each participant will complete 2 pieces of their choice: either 2 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, or one of each. Some of the materials you can choose from include glitter, pigments, alcohol inks, and dried flowers.

🔸 Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30-7:30pm
🔸 $25 per person
🔸 All materials provided. Ages 18+