Prairie Center of the Arts

Greetings to all former artists in residence and Friends of the Arts, This email is to let you know that Prairie Center has discontinued the residency program and is closing   the studios and the gallery. Joe and I celebrated our 60 th wedding anniversary this last October and we have come to the realization that it is time for the Prairie Center to move into a new phase.  This is NOT an ending, but just the BEGINNING of something new and we are happy.   We started Prairie Center in 2003 with a strategic goal of running a residency program for 15 years.   Joe and I have been honored to be a part of the art scene in Peoria for 16 years and to have provided over 200 artists with time and space to do research, be creative and to hone their art practice.   A s we survey the general state of residencies worldwide, we see that the number of residencies has increased exponentially which means there are greater opportunities for artists to be a...

2019 Prairie Center Alumni Show August 10-September 13 OPENING RECEPTION: AUGUST 10, 6:00 - 9:00 PM 75 former AIR'S to exhibit work Watch for more information Facebook and Instagram

JOIN US!  Friday May 3rd 6:00-8:00pm Prairie Center of the Arts 2019 Bradley University Senior Shows Bachelor of Fine Arts Show Graphic Design Senior Show

2019 Graphic Design Senior Show Friday, May 3rd -  6:00-8:00pm Prairie Center of the Arts Learn more at the event page online:  https://www.facebook.com/ events/279789052960023/

2019 BRADLEY BFA EXHIBITION AMY TROMPETER &  KATE WHERMAN EXHIBITION: MAY 1 - 8 RECEPTION: MAY 3, 6 - 8pm

FIERCE - WOMEN IN IRON EXHIBITION November 1 - 30, 2019 Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 13, 2019 National call for entries due: September 13, 2019 Submission Cover Sheet Organized by  Jam Lovell of Black Dog Metal Arts, LLC  & Kristen Tordella-Williams of Milsaps College To be hosted at Prairie Center of the Arts Watch for more information  All Women Iron Pour: November 2, 2019

Hand Bind Your Own Hardcover Book  Space available! Register now! 3-week class  Wednesdays: April 10, 17, 24  Time: 6:30-8:30pm  Class size: 8  Fee: $60.00 Learn the traditional method to make a beautiful 6x9 inch hard-cover book from scratch. You will explore sewing and forming the spine of the book, adding luxurious end papers and creating an attractive cover with Italian book cloth, embossing and decorative titling. There will also be demonstrations and discussions of alternative methods of binding.  The class will extend over three evening sessions. Our Instructor -  Robert Rowe  is dedicated to exploring the creative dimensions of the book form along with preserving the craft of fine printing and binding. His long involvement with letterpress printing and book arts has been shaped by over 35 years practicing and teaching art and design at the university level. He is currently professor of graphic de...

See our 2019 classes page to register COLLABORATIVE PRESENTATION TO CELEBRATE THE CULMINATION OF THE 37TH PRINT & DRAWING SHOW HOSTED BY BRADLEY UNIVERSITY AND PRAIRIE CENTER OF THE ARTS Screen Print and Letterpress Lecture & Workshop April 5th & 6th  Click here for full schedule Friday, April 5 Lecture @ Bradley University free & open to the public Saturday, April 6 Workshops @ Prairie Center of the Arts Fee $90 (Choose one) Instructors/Lecturers:  John Hitchcock of Hybrid Press and   Jessica Spring of Springtide Press

37th BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL PROGRESSIVE RECEPTION PLEASE JOIN US SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Progressive Opening Receptions: 4:00 – 5:30pm – ICC, Performing Arts Center 4:30 – 6:30pm – Heuser Art Gallery, Hartmann Center Gallery 5:00 – 8:00pm – Studios on Sheridan 5:30 – 7:30pm – Prairie Center of the Arts 6:00 – 8:00pm – Peoria Art Guild 6:30 – 8:30pm – Contemporary Art Center The Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition is the second-longest running juried print and drawing competition in the country. Every two years it features the best contemporary graphic artwork from around the globe. Traditional and non-traditional graphic media, including printmaking, drawing, book arts, and experimental techniques are represented in the show. Artwork by Cynthia Back, Landsdowne, PA  Andes: Urban Panorama #4, 2-block reduction woodcut, 2018

See Our 2019 Classes Page INTRO TO SCREEN PRINTING  2-week class  Saturdays: Sat Feb 23 & March 2  Time: 10:00am-1:00pm  Fee: $50  In this course students will learn the basics of screen printing. The instructor will demonstrate and guide students in preparing hand drawn and digitally printed art for photosensitive emulsion, creating stencils, preparing and exposing screens, and setting up to print both single-color and multi-color projects. This is a project-based course and students will be able to apply these techniques creating a print. Students of all levels are welcome, some Photoshop experience preferred, but not required. Material fee includes ink, newsprint and some paper.  Our Instructor, Artist Susan Czechowski, fell in love with screen printing twenty years ago when she was lucky enough to work on several pieces for Roy Lichtenstein. Since then, she has taught thousands of students silkscreen and printmaking techniques...

Holiday Card Printing Explore your creativity - make your own holiday cards with Susan Czechowski Saturday, November 17 Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm Age: 16+ Fee: $20

Hello All! This is just a reminder that our deadline for applications for our fall session of Residencies is fast approaching! Application deadline: May 15, 2018 Fall Session - September 3 to November 30, 2018 Be sure to apply! For details, check out the residency tab above!

Lots of exciting things happening today at the PCA! A friendly reminder that tonight is the BFA Exhibition and graphic design portfolio. Swing by and check out some awesome work! Our current resident Noah Otten has been setting up today to show you his work for 1st Friday! There will also be screen printing, letterpress, and a station to make slime, so bring the family by for art and a good time! And finally, today is the birthday of one of our residents, Dana Baldwin! She had a little surprise today at the studio. Happy Birthday Dana! If you see here today at Studios on Sheridan, wish her a Happy Birthday! Hope to see you all tonight for all of the exciting events!

Really excited and happy to welcome Noah Otten to his first week of his residency! He has been moving in this week and we cannot wait to see what he makes during his time here. Welcome Noah, we are glad to have you!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to our resident  Susan Czechowski  for being included in this years 2018 Rockford Midwestern Biennial!! Fantastic work Susan! We at the PCA are very proud! Here we have Susan(right) helping local Artist Trish Williams(left) screen print

Dana Baldwin is here on a project driven residency and is working on some really exciting things. She is currently collaborating with our other artist in residence, Elizabeth Klise. If you have not had a chance to check out Dana's work, be sure you do. We are so excited to have her here and to see what she is working on. Here is a sneak peek! Great work Dana!

Very excited to announce our new residents who have recently been accepted into the program for the summer. A huge congratulations and welcome to: Daniel Nagel Kayla Phillips Mona Gazala Noah Otten Molly Markow Felicia Cannon Jake Guzan Dawn Gettler We are very excited to have you all at the PCA and cannot wait for your arrival!

The Intro to Letterpress was a huge success! Everyone walked away with some really good work and had a great time! Thank you so much to Robert Rowe for putting the class on and sharing your knowledge with everyone! And thank you to everyone who signed up and came to the class! If you missed your chance to sign up for this one, don't worry, there will be more in the future!

Last week was a very busy, and very awesome week for both current and former residents! First, former residents Jessica Bingham and Heather Brammier had a collaborative installation showing at Western. Check out "Remember This" At Annex Gallery. Up until April 6th! Then not even three days later, our current resident, Barbie Perry, was featured in the group show "Seeking Light: Shedding Light." The show is located at the Peoria Downtown Library Gallery. Be sure to swing by and check out Barbie's awesome work. We at the Prairie Center are very proud of our residents and all of the fantastic work they do. Keep it up y'all!

Our Resident  Barbie Perry  is included in the exhibition "Seeking Light: Shedding Light"with three other artists currently up at the Main Library Gallery at 107 NE Monroe Peoria, IL. The show is up until the 29th and there is a reception this Saturday March 10th, from 2-4pm. Be sure to swing by and check it out! Really excited to see your hard work Barbie!