On Friday, March 3rd, the Beloit Art Center held a gallery reception and awards ceremony for the 12th Annual Juried Photography Exhibit.  The lively, near-capacity crowd included gallery and community members, as well as the photographers who submitted entries and their families and friends. Awards were presented to the top ten photographers, with the top three entries receiving monetary awards.

The first-place winner received $150 and was awarded to Jeff McDonald for Very Large Array.  The $100 second-place award went to Paul Pinzarrone for Andromeda, and the third-place award for $50 was taken by Zach Hubner Schorsch for Grand Mosque. The seven other award winners in the top ten were James Meldrum for Big Hill Reflections, Heather Walker for Northern Lakes, Scott Ide for Weathered Dreams, Judy Robson for Tidal Pools Amelia Island, Randall Manus for Psycho Silo Saloon, Brenda Daniels for Slash and Philip Schorsch for Louvre. The People’s Choice Award went to Alexa Larson for Alleyway of San Juan.  

​The Beloit Art Center welcomes the community to view the exhibit through March 30. The Center is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. and is free and open to the public. Gallery and gift shop hours are Monday 10am - 2pm,  Tuesday - Friday 10am – 5pm, and Saturday from 10am – 2pm. For more information about gallery exhibits, classes, and events visit www.beloitartcenter.com.

First Place - Very Large Array by Jeff McDonald

Second Place - Andromeda by Paul Pinzarrone

Third Place - Grand Mosque by Zach Hubner Schorsch

More than 70 images will be exhibited during the month of March at the Beloit Art Center's 12th annual juried photography contest. On Friday, March 3, the Center will host a First Friday Gallery Reception from 5-7pm, with an awards ceremony beginning at 6pm. In the Bell Gallery we welcome local painter Carol Scott, who will be exhibiting her work in public for the first time.
 
Amateur photographers from the region submitted images to be reviewed by a group of three jurors. Each individually reviews the digital entries and gives them a score based on composition, creative and subject matter, and technical merit. The three scores are then tallied, determining the images that are accepted into the exhibit. The final in-person juror critique occurs after the images are delivered to the gallery. The results are kept under wraps until the night of the reception, at which time the top ten awards are presented, with the first-place award winner receiving $150, second place $100 and third place $50. A theme for next year’s exhibit will also be announced. The exhibit will be open for viewing from March 3 through March 23.
 
This year's featured photographers are:

Kathy Baker
Stuart Berg
David Buchen
Brenda  Daniels
Beth Doerrfeld
Samantha Harrison
Kristine Hinrichs
Zach Hubner-Schorsch
Scott Ide
Tom Jordan
Alexa Larson
Melissa Lauer
Paul Lindquist
Deb Lynch
Randall Manus
Jeff McDonald
James Meldrum
Diane Nichols
Ashley Phoenix
Paul Pinzarrone
Judy Robson
Kristine Schend
Brad Schmitt
Philip Schorsch
Heather  Walker
David Williams

 
The Bell Gallery will feature the artwork of Rockton artist Carol Scott. Born and raised in Winnebago, Illinois, Carol is a self-taught artist who enjoys bringing the beauty of nature onto canvas. Inspired by artists such as Chuck Black and Michael James Smith, Carol has found they challenge her to set the bar high in her work. “I have had a great amount of success with commissioned work, having sent my pieces all over the United States and overseas,” says Carol, “I hope that you enjoy the exhibit.” Last November Carol received a State Award at the Beloit Wisconsin Regional Artist Program (WRAP) Exhibit and will be a featured artist in the State WRAP Exhibit at the Pyle Center in Madison this July.​

Main Gallery - Kathleen D'Angelo

Main Gallery - Tony D'Angelo

Bell Gallery - Dan Kelly

​Beloit Art Center is pleased to announce the February exhibits which will open with a First Friday Gallery Reception on February 3 from 5-7pm.  A gallery talk featuring the artists will be held at 6pm.  Both exhibits will be open through February 23rd.
             
The Main Gallery will feature Kathleen and Tony D’Angelo.  As a painter, Kathleen has always found a connection with the natural world is integral to what she does. As she explains, “Light, the absence of light, shadow, and texture hold a fascination for me.”  Her exhibit entitled Wisconsin Landscape includes paintings from 1998 through the present. It represents a timeline of a self-taught painter’s struggles to successfully learn how to use watercolor, pastel, acrylic and other mediums. “At times my paintings are very realistic and other times they can become abstracted. I have come to realize that I have no need to settle down to one particular style of painting and enjoy the freedom of letting intuition and emotion direct my brush.” Tony’s art is presented in the form of two and three dimensions and often abstract. “Most of my work is not preconceived. I do not start with a distinct idea of the finished product,” he says. “My working style is more of a journey and exploration. I usually work in spurts, creative bursts. All of my work is to satisfy my sense of self.”
 
In the Bell Gallery we are pleased to feature the drawings and paintings of Janesville artist, Dan Kelly. “I started drawing with pencil at a very young age, filling sketch books with a variety of subject matter including landscapes, favorite musicians, athletes, and wildlife.” says Kelly.  For several years Dan’s choice of medium was pastel pencil.  Inspired by the work of Roby Baer, he dove into creating wildlife pieces and Roby was kind enough to assist with some helpful tips.  During lockdown Dan decided to give acrylic painting a try and has found it to be his preferred medium.  The Beloit Art Center would like to thank our main gallery sponsor LifeCircle  and Bell Gallery sponsor Angus Young Architects/Engineers for supporting the visual arts in our community.
 
February is gearing up to be a busy month at the Art Center.  Introduction to Digital Photography I class begins February 6th. We are offering a Still Life Charcoal Drawing workshop February 11th, and two pottery offerings are also set to begin.  For more information and to register visit  www.beloitartcenter.com 
 
In addition to classes and workshops, our weekly Open Studio Art Group, which meets on Thursdays at 5:30 is always looking for new attendees, as well as our monthly Photography Club, which meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm.
 
Beloit Art Center is free and open to the public and is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit and has established a mission of partnering with the community and regional artists to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, and studio space. Gallery and gift shop hours are Monday 10am – 2pm, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm. 

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To sign up for a class, please visit the classes and events tab on our website. 

​Beloit Art Center announces January exhibit and events
 
Beloit Art Center is pleased to announce the January exhibits with which will open with  a First Friday Gallery Reception on January 6th  from 5-7pm. A gallery talk will be held at 6pm. Exhibits will be open through January 26.

This month the Art Center will feature the paintings of The Madison Watercolor Society. Founded in 1983 by a small group of watercolor artists, this group continues to promote interest in watercolor and to support those who use this distinctive form of artistic expression. The Society is committed to learning and growing as watercolor artists and gather regularly to share their paintings, learn from well-known, professional watercolorists, and offer critiques for one another’s work.  Every year the group participates in  group exhibitions to display their work to the communities in which they live and work in. The Beloit Art Center appreciates the opportunity to share their work in the state-line area. For more information about the Madison Watercolor Society visit www.madisonwatercolorsociety.org

Calling all photographers! Beloit Art Center is now accepting submissions for the annual juried photography exhibit that is held at the art center every March. This community event gives amateur photographers from the area the opportunity to have their work displayed in a gallery.  Juried by a panel of three judges, the top submissions will be displayed in the gallery and awards will be presented on March 3, 2023 during the First Friday Gallery Reception beginning at 5:00 pm. Registration for the Juried Photography Exhibit and submission of images can be done online at www.beloitartcenter.com and is open until January 29, 2023 (by 2pm).

Not ready to enter a photography competition? Beloit Art Center also offers photography classes. In February, Intro to Digital Photography I will be offered. This course is for those with any type of digital camera who want to get out of Auto and start unleashing the creative potential of their camera. Students will learn how to utilize shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to control exposure and explore how aperture and shutter speed can be used creatively. They will also learn how a camera meters the light in a scene and the options our camera gives us to achieve the best focus. The four-week course will be held on Mondays in February starting February 6. Class will be in the first-floor classroom starting at 5:30 pm. Pre-registration is required by visiting beloitartcenter.com/classes.
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Beloit Art Center is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit and has established a mission of partnering with the community and regional artists to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, and studio space. To learn more visit www.beloitartcenter.com.  Gallery hours are Monday 10am – 2pm, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm. 

Beloit Art Center Photography Club welcomes award winning photographer Jeff McDonald for a gallery talk on December 14th at 6:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Jeff’s work is currently on display in the Main Gallery at Beloit Art Center. The exhibit will be open through December 29th.

During the event, Jeff will be discussing his photographs, techniques, and answering questions as attendees stroll through the exhibit. He has received numerous awards at local, regional, and international photography exhibitions. His broad photographic interests include black and white, long exposure, abstract, landscape, nature, birds‐in‐flight, microscopy, and high‐speed photography, along with photo illustration. Photography has been his passionate pursuit for over 15 years.

Also be sure to stop by the Beloit Public Library this month for a chance to see an exhibit featuring work by the Beloit Art Center Photography Club. Formed in 2021 this group is for anyone interested in connecting with fellow photography fans and meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00. Five of the group’s artists are part of the current show. They are Ellen Zarnick, Larry Horsfall, Beth Doerrfeld, Melissa Lauer, and Jo Ribordy-Christofferson. The photographs will be on display and available for purchase through the end of December.
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Beloit Art Center is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit and has established a mission of partnering with the community and regional artists to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, and studio space. To learn more visit www.beloitartcenter.com.  Gallery hours are Monday 10am – 2pm, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm.

Beloit Art Center welcomes the community to join us as we open our monthly exhibits with a First Friday Gallery Reception in conjunction with the downtown Holidazzle event on December 2nd from 5-9pm. A gallery talk featuring Main Gallery artist Jeff McDonald will be held at 6pm. The exhibits will be open through December 29th. The Center will also be featuring a Pottery Studio Open House during Holidazzle.
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Jeff McDonald's photography has been awarded medals at international photography competitions in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia and he was awarded the Photographic Society of America's Proficiency Distinction (PPSA) for his extensive international exhibition record. He is a four‐star exhibitor in both PSA Monochrome Projected and PSA Color Projected competition divisions. He has received numerous awards at local and regional photography exhibitions, including the Beloit Art Center's Juried Photography Show, over the years. His broad photographic interests include black and white, long exposure, abstract, landscape, nature, birds‐in‐flight, microscopy, and high‐speed photography, along with photo illustration. Born in west‐central Iowa in the late 1950's, he grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin. After receiving Bachelor of Music and Master of Business Administration degrees from UW‐Whitewater, he spent 18 years working in information technology and executive management with a large supplier of musical instruments and related products in the Milwaukee area. He later spent 14 years working at a community bank as its information security officer and a member of its board of directors. For the last five years, he has been accountant and IT director at a Whitewater company. He has served as board member of the Whitewater Arts Alliance for 7 years, including several years as its treasurer. He continues to chair the Annual Fran Achen Photography Competition. Photography has been his passionate pursuit for over 15 years.

In the Bell Gallery the art center is pleased to present  a selection of works from tenants, board members and volunteers at the center.  Featured artists include Steve Edwards, Jo Christofferson, John Hines, Mariclare Sheil, Pierre Charles and Ben Henthorn.
 
We also invite you to shop our artisan gift shop during Holidazzle. We have recently added many new items and seasonal gift items including textile offering by Kristine Moser,  holiday oranaments by Cheryl Kitzman, and original and prints by painter Lynette Redner.

Stop by the library in December for one more look at BAC exhibit at the Beloit Public featuring work by the Beloit Art Center Photography Club. Formed in 2021 this group is for anyone interested in connecting with fellow photography fans and meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00. Five of the group’s artists are part of the current show. They are Ellen Zarnick, Larry Horsfall, Beth Doerrfeld, Melissa Lauer, and Jo Ribordy-Christofferson. The photographs will be on display and available for purchase through the end of December.

Starting January 10, the Art Center will be offering a six-week wheel throwing pottery course. It will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. This class is intended for beginners and will start to explore the world of throwing on the potter’s wheel. Beginning with cups and goblets, students will develop the skills to throw bowls during the class. They will be introduced to the glazing methods needed to finish their unique creations. This is a beginner course, so all skill levels are welcome. Creativity rather than conventional forms will be emphasized in the class. The cost for the class is $150.00 and includes materials. Students will need to supply their own tools, apron, and hand towel. Tools can be purchased at the Beloit Art Center gift shop. Sign-up at info@beloitartcenter.com/classes soon, as this course will be limited to 6 students.

Thanks to our Fish Frenzy Fundraiser last summer, all classes are FREE for cancer patients undergoing treatment and wishing to participate.  Contact info@beloitartcenter.com to find out more  information.

Beloit Art Center is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit and has established a mission of partnering with the community and regional artists to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, and studio space. To learn more visit www.beloitartcenter.com.  Gallery hours are Monday 10am – 2pm, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm.

November 1, 2022 - Beloit, Wisconsin – Beloit Art Center Announces November Exhibits and Classes
 
Beloit Art Center  is excited to welcome thirty-seven regional artists to the Main Gallery in November for the Beloit Wisconsin Regional Artists Program (WRAP) Exhibit.  A First Friday Gallery Reception will be held November 4 from 5-7pm. A gallery talk will be held at 6pm.  The reception is free and open to the public.
WRAP originated in 1940 as an outreach program of UW-Madison and is now administered by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA). WRAP encourages nonprofessional, student, and emerging artists to create and exhibit their work across Wisconsin.  It is for people who have a serious interest in creating art. Each location coordinates a juror, who gives critiques and awards at the local workshops. These events also include an art demonstration or lecture. The top one third of artwork advances to the state exhibit, which will be held at the Pyle Center in Madison in September 2023.

Vibrant color and stunning craftsmanship mark the paintings of Marek Kossiba, whose work will be featured this month in the Bell Gallery. Born in Poland in 1940, Kossiba knew from an early age that he wanted to be an artist as he watched his mother create her own works of art.  As an adult he joined the Polish Navy and served with various merchant marine companies.  He spent twenty years sailing around the world. During those years he visited many galleries and museums that fed his dream to be an artist. At that time, he used photography to capture the world around him and the photographs served as a stepping stone to the paintings he later created. Marek came to the united States in 1985 and eventually settled in Beloit, where he lived and worked as an artist until his death. His paintings cover a wide range of subjects from landscapes and seascapes, to provocative, imaginative pieces that draw the viewer through layers of meaning. Today, Marek’s art is well known regionally and is found in many private and public collections in the United States and around the world.

Beloit Art Center is also pleased to announce the return of pottery classes. For our second offering in the series of fall/holiday workshops with new instructor, Rebecca Rehpohl, students will have the opportunity to create Holiday Ornaments. Rebecca joins the Art Center with 38 years of experience as a public-school teacher and 22 years as a community education art teacher. She is excited about her new home and the opportunity to build a thriving “clay community” in Beloit. The workshop will be held on November 29 from 5:30-7:30 pm and additional sections will be added if the demand is great. Students will be creating tabletop holiday trees and sugar cookie hanging ornaments. Using slabs of clay, students will cut, form, and individually decorate the ornaments to create their unique and special holiday keepsakes. No previous experience is needed.  Come and start your holiday season off with this fun and creative class. The cost is $35.00 and includes materials.
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Mark your calendar for more pottery offerings. There will be a six-week evening course for beginning wheel thrown pottery starting January 10 and a six-week evening class for hand-built pottery starting March 7. Details coming soon!
Beloit Art Center is located at 520 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit and has established a mission of partnering with the community and regional artists to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, and studio space. To learn more about Beloit Art Center visit www.beloitartcenter.com.  Gallery hours are Monday 10am – 2pm, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm. ​