Art is in the eye of the beholder, whereas swollen retinas are in the eye of the bee holder. Get soul-stung by provocative and powerful art with today's Groupon, which gets you a one-year membership at the Rockford Art Museum, located in the Riverfront Museum Park building. Choose from the following Groupons:
- For $12, you get a Student membership (a $25 value).
- For $25, you get an Individual membership (a $50 value).
- For $37, you get a Family membership (a $75 value).
Established in 1913, the Rockford Art Museum boasts more than 1,500 historical and contemporary art pieces from the local region and beyond. With 17,000 square feet of exhibition space, patrons can spend an entire afternoon exploring its collection, which focuses on modern and contemporary art, American masters from 1830-1940, exquisite photography, and more. Meander through Pause and Effect (opening in January 2011), an exhibit that presents videographer Gregory Scott's interactive art in relation to Joan Truckenbrod's digital media, or nosegrind into Full Deck: A Short History of Skate Art, a showcase of radical skate art from 1960 through present (coming in May 2011). In addition to free admission, members receive invitations to opening receptions and special events (including the Art in the Garden gala in August), subscription to its quarterly publication, a hockey jersey commemorating Van Gogh's brief stint as a Chicago Blackhawk, and a 10% discount to the RAM museum store.
Rockford Art Museum
The Rockford Art Museum has more than a century of creativity hanging from the walls in its galleries. It acquired its first piece in 1913 and has since collected more than 1600 pieces from local and international artists. Glass sculptures, 20th century American photography, and impressionist paintings vie for attention alongside the dynamic images of the American southwest from the Taos Society of New Mexico. The collection houses the detailed work of regional artists trained at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Royal Academy of Arts and the earthy, meaningful paintings of outsider art, such as Richard Burnside’s untitled painting of a cat made from paint and pinecone pieces.
Standing apart from the main collection, the museum’s RAM Art Annex houses educational programs and the museum store stocks an inventory of jewelry and glass pieces by local artists. The annual Greenwich Village Art Fair also shares art appreciation with the community. The fair gathers more than 100 artists in an atmosphere filled with live music.