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Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

CMAAA

The Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques & Americana is a 501(c)(3) non-profit center where art and culture come to life!

The mission of the Coliseum Museum of Arts, Antiques & Americana is to organize, operate, and display art, antiques, Americana and history through permanent and rotating exhibits, special events, and presentations.

08/30/2026

The 19th Amendment and the Power of the Vote!
September 18
7:00pm – 8:00pm (Doors open at 6:00pm)
$25 – member rate/ $30 non-member
Register online at www.cmaaa.org/events--receptions.html

Anita Kallen and Catherine Thomson will present a special musical show that celebrates the law that affirmed women’s right to vote. With music by Sondheim, Lennon & McCartney, Parton, Porter, and others, Anita and Catherine weave in the story of women's suffrage. Don't miss this powerful performance that will take you on a musical journey through more than a century of voting rights history.

Audience Acclaim: "A wonderful performance by smart, strong women with beautiful voices, music, humor and a fantastic historical journey shared. "

"This show is touching and important. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking. It reminds me of how much I’ve taken women’s rights and liberty for granted. They were possible because of the long, painful fight by those who refused to give up their hopes and dreams."

"This was a wonderful show! Thoughtful, clever, funny, beautifully sung!

08/28/2026

Books for Sale at the Coliseum Museum

Many of you know about our reference library and annual book fair each November. Well we also have a growing bookstore.

Today we want to let you know about the latest addition to our bookstore shelves. “They Called Him Longman” by Beth George, (pen name is Georgia Lovett). Many of you will remember Beth from the White Pines Resort states: “If you enjoy a well written and deeply engaging story with adventure, historical fiction, romance and unexpected twists, this is the book”

Other books in the store incl;ude:
• Flack & Flame – Through the Eyes of a WWII Pilot – by Ken Williams
• I Walked Among Heros – Serving with the Most Decorated Boat Company in Viet Nam – by Clarence Butcher
• The Descent – A Halloween Novel – by Donna Kathryn Kelly
• Loki – The Playful Cat – by Lonnie Schaefer
• How to Get What You Want – Mastering the Art of Science and Persuasion – by Josh Bandoch

Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

08/25/2026

Moments in Monochrome Art Exhibit
October 1 – November 14
Sponsored by Merlin’s Greenhouse & Flowers

• Entry deadline: September 19

Artists who have entered include Cindy Bear, Elisa Boughner, Pam Bradford, Pam Hansen, Jeannette Mingus, Terry South, Joe Virbickis, and David Waters.

Monochrome or monochromatic is created using only one color or hue. Monochrome can use different shades of one color but by definition should contain only one base color. Artists are not bound by style and can be in artwork that is realistic (like a grayscale photograph or drawing) to completely abstract.

Awards will be presented by Judge Heather Shore. Heather is both an award-winning artist and art educator working in Northern Illinois. Her works reflect the variety of media and techniques she has been teaching for the past 22 years as a high school visual arts educator. Although the breadth of the media and techniques she teaches made for a long and difficult journey in finding her artistic voice; it did, however, influence her mixed media approach quite directly.

Submissions: You may register online at https://www.cmaaa.org/juried-shows.html

Entry forms are available at the Coliseum Museum. Artists accepted will receive information pertinent to drop off, pick up, opening dates, etc. Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

08/23/2026

Attention Authors…The 4th Annual Book Fair is returning this November 14 to the Coliseum Museum in downtown Oregon, IL and the registration period is now open.

Participating authors include Melissa Campbell, Patty Ihm, Constanza Mayer, Samuel McAdams, Amanda Ramsay McNeill, Sharon Meisenheimer, Nancy Mullen, Kasia Nowak, Carol Paur, Jannifer Powelson, El Rae, Lonnie Schaefer, Cat Stark, Bill Watts and Kelli Widger..

Authors may sign up online at www.cmaaa.org/events--receptions.html. For more information on the fair or for an application to display your book(s) contact us at 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected].

08/20/2026

Call for Artists
RRVPG Plein Air Art Show
September 2 – October 31

• Entry Deadline: Saturday, August 22

Artists who have entered include Carol Bingham, Dick Cholke, Janice Conkrite, Tom Linden, Nancie King Mertz, and Lucinda Winterfield.

Submissions: Open to all plein air artists. Paintings can be any medium, not entered into this show in previous years, and be at least 90% painted outdoors en plein air, no more than 10% painted in studio. All frames must be wired for hanging.

Awards: The exhibit will be judged by Jean Apgar with awards presented at the reception on October 9. Jean earned her B.F.A. and M.A. degrees in painting from Northern Illinois University. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in private and corporate collections in the US, and across Europe. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Art and Who’s Who in America, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Jean is also a member of artists’ organizations including WAOW, TWSA, NWS, SPIN, and the Art Guild of Rockford.

Fee: The entry fee is $35 for up to three pieces per artist. Please rank them according to preference. We may need to drop the 3rd piece due to space limitations.

Sales: Exhibited works will be considered for sale at the price indicated to include the CMAAA commission of 25% for any artwork sold.

Entries: You may register online at www.cmaaa.org/galleries--featured.html.
Artists accepted will receive information pertinent to drop off, pick up, opening dates, etc. Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques & Americana
124 N. 4th Street, Oregon, IL 61061
P: 815-595-5810 ● Email: [email protected]
www.cmaaa.org ● CMAAA
www.youtube.com/

Where Art & Culture Come to Life!

08/19/2026

The Coliseum Museum thanks Bruce Hill (Gallery Level), Lorena Malm (Artist), Mary Lou Meader, John Moehle and Timothy Griffith for joining, and Mary Crawford, Greg LaMont, Dennis Marsili, Joy Meyer (Gallery Level), Ellen Mumford, and Joanne Pennock for renewing their membership.

If you want to learn more about joining this exciting organization a member application is available on our website at www.cmaaa.org/membership.html

08/18/2026

The Pickard Collectors Club is presenting a new display at the Coliseum Museum in downtown Oregon. The display consists of more than 100 hand-painted porcelain pieces from the Chicago area during the golden era of china painting, 1895-1920.

08/16/2026

The Coliseum Museum hosts the Oregon Depot Series Those Were the Days Presents...”Mobility and the Small Town, 1900-1930: Transportation Change in Oregon, IL"

August 22, 10:00am at the Coliseum Museum.

Dr. Norm Moline, author of the book Mobility and the Small Town, 1900-1930: Transportation Change in Oregon, Illinois, will present the key points of his book at the Coliseum Museum on Saturday, August 22. The primary focus of the book is the rapid changes that communities were feeling during those years due to the arrival of the automobile. Transition from horse and buggy changed lives and communities dramatically.

Norm is a Professor Emeritus of Geography at Augustana College and received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He was selected as one of the advisors for a Turner Network four-hour series on the history of the automobile in the U.S. entitled "Driving Passion." The producers of that series chose Oregon to show some impacts of the automobile on average citizens and small towns.

08/14/2026

Moments in Monochrome Art Exhibit
October 1 – November 14
• Entry deadline: September 19
• Artist Reception: October 9

Monochrome or monochromatic is created using only one color or hue. Monochrome can use different shades of one color but by definition should contain only one base color. Artists are not bound by style and can be in artwork that is realistic (like a grayscale photograph or drawing) to completely abstract.

Specifications: Minimum overall size is 8” x 10” and maximum 60” x 60”. All frames must be wired for hanging. Pedestals are available for 3D work.

Fee: $25 for members or $35 for non-members for up to two pieces per artist.

Sales: Exhibited works will be considered for sale at the price indicated during the submission process to include the CMAAA commission of 25% for any artwork sold.

Awards: Awards will be presented by Judge Heather Shore at the reception on October 9 with live music by Grass Attack.

Submissions: You may register online at https://www.cmaaa.org/juried-shows.html

Entry forms are available at the Coliseum Museum. Artists accepted will receive information pertinent to drop off, pick up, opening dates, etc.

Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

08/13/2026

Some highlights of the Objects of Affection Still Life Awards presented at the opening reception at the Coliseum Museum on Friday, August 7.

Al & Jeannie Brown provided the great music and Judge Glenn Bodish recognized the following artists who entered their artwork in the exhibit that is now on display at the Coliseum Museum from August 1 – September 12.

Best of Show to David Van Delinder of Cherry Valley for the pastel on canvas, “Claudia’s Table”; 1st Place to Mary von Tish of Oregon for her watercolor, “Rock My World”; 2nd to Tamara Shriver, DeKalb, for her watercolor, “Touch of Autumn”; 3rd to Cindy Bear, Belvidere, for her watercolor, “Pumpkin Still Life”; And Honorable Mentions to Reylee Katner, Dixon, for her graphite pencil, “Held Dear”; and Beverly Garcia, Dixon, for her oil “Silver Demitasse”. In the photography category it was 1st Place to Bob Cholke of Rockford for “Siblings”; 2nd to Les Allen, Dixon, for “Fishing Lures with Tonic Bottles”; 3rd to Steve Toole, Ashton, for “Pears & Cherries”.

Visitors are also allowed to vote for their favorite art piece with the People’s Choice winner announced at the close of the exhibit on September 12. The Coliseum Museum is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm.

Address

124 N. 4th Street
Oregon, IL
61061

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18155955810

Website

http://www.cmaaa.org/, https://www.youtube.com/@ColiseumMuseumofArt

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