2008 Rockford Midwestern | July 11 - October 5, 2008

Click here to see this year's AWARD WINNERS

The 2008 Rockford Midwestern marks the 70th presentation of Rockford Art Museum's juried exhibition, which began in 1913 as an annual showcase of local artists, then expanded eligibility and was known as the Stateline Vicinity Show through 1998. Now a biennial competition, the Midwestern is open to artists residing in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Original paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs were eligible. Artists were allowed to submit three entries for consideration. Juried into the exhibition were 101 works of art by 90 artists. Awards, including the prestigious Dean Alan Olson Purchase Award ($2000), Best of Show ($1000), First Place 2-D ($750) and First Place 3-D ($750), will be presented Friday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m., during the exhibition opening.

This year's juror was noted artist Robert McCauley, who recently retired as chair of the department of art and art history at Rockford College. A Pacific Northwest native, McCauley received his M.F.A. from Washington State University in 1972, and B.A. from Western Washington University in 1969. He was first featured in the 75th Exhibition by Artists of Chicago and Vicinity at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1975; numerous group and solo exhibitions have followed.

click here to download the 2008 Gallery Guide featuring artist statements from this year's accepted artists.

The 2008 Rockford Midwestern is sponsored by Art in the Garden and partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and Rockford Area Arts Council. The exhibition remains on display in Funderburg and Kuller galleries through Sunday, Oct. 5.

We gratefully acknowledge the DAO Foundation for its longtime funding of the Dean Alan Olson Purchase Award, presented to the artist whose work has been selected for inclusion in the RAM Permanent Collection.