Thursday, August 28 | 6 PM | Free
Rockford Art Museum | 711 N Main St. Rockford

Analog: Rockford’s Decade of Creative Rebellion celebrates the dynamic and innovative art scene of Rockford in the 1990s, showcasing local artists who left a significant mark on the community’s artistic landscape.

Café Esperanto, now known as Kortman Gallery, added to the cultural richness of the time by merging a cozy café environment with an art gallery, pioneered by Doc Slafkosky and Jerry Kortman. This eclectic venue frequently hosted exhibitions, providing local and regional artists with a platform to show their work, and became a beloved gathering place in Rockford’s downtown art scene.

Before the internet, Rockford Cablevision offered free public access channels that were only being used basically by government entities. Very little about the Rockford art scene was ever featured on local TV. So, Doc and Jerry (with the help of Doug Connell and Kevin Cronin) conceived “The Art Zone,” a half-hour TV show that would be a video document of the arts, artists, and cultural events in the Rockford area.

On Thursday, August 28th, Executive Director/Chief Curator Carrie Johnson will talk with Doc Slafkosky, Jerry Kortman, and Doug Connell.