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+

08/27/2026

Join us on SATURDAY, SEPT 5th to learn the fundamentals of portraiture in oil paint while working from a live model! This class is suitable for all skill levels — some prior oil painting experience helpful, though not required. 🖼

📆 Saturday, September 5th from 10am-1pm
🎨 $30 for GCAC Members / $35 for Nonmembers
🎨 REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103127-the-portrait-in-oil-with-ana-v-fleming
🎨 All necessary materials will be provided (but you are welcome to bring your own paints and brushes if desired!)

Instructor Ana V. Fleming 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. The long open working time of oil paint will be used to our advantage to look slowly and carefully as we paint from direct observation of a live model.

08/27/2026

We had a packed day on Wednesday! 🦋 Thanks to everyone who participated in our free painting activity during the Cooke Park ribbon cutting, as well as those who joined us in the evening for our State of the Center Annual Meeting. We can't wait to see what 2026-2027 holds for the arts in our community!

Let's get messy! 🎨

📍Cooke Park Playground + Splash Pad (652 W. Second St.)
📍Members & Friends Exhibition, GCAC (349 E. Main Street)

08/26/2026

It's the final week to view the work of Emerging Artist Suzan Cherrington + the GCAC Studio Artist Tenants in the 2nd floor R.A.I.L. Gallery! 🖼 Stop in through August 29 to enjoy this selection of colorful, textured work.

✨ FREE and open to the public

🔸 Open 11-4 Wednesday through Friday
🔸 Open 9-3 on Saturdays

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

08/26/2026

TONIGHT! 🚨 Want to hear about everything the arts center has planned for the coming year? Join us this evening 📅 Wednesday, August 26th at 5:30pm for the State of the Center Annual Meeting.

Hear from our staff + board, ask questions, and be a part of something BIG! ⭐

08/25/2026

Join us for our next session of CritZ: Community Art Critique this SATURDAY, AUG. 29 from 1-3pm! 🖼 Bring a piece or two of your artwork to critique in a supportive, welcoming environment. No prior critique experience required!

REGISTER 👉 https://galesburgarts.networkforgood.com/events/103122-critz-community-critique-sessions

FREE! No cost to participate. ✨