DIXON – A Midwest harvest of creative talent, October beckons with a bountiful showcase of visual artists, an exquisite song writer, and a brand new business joining in for Second Saturday's eighth monthly Art Happenings, Saturday, October 9, 6 – 8 p.m. at locations between 1st and 3rd Streets and Peoria and Galena Avenues.

We have an new venue!
First time venue, Butcher Block Antiques, showcases the work of several artists painting in the Rock River Valley. Featuring Nancy Rice Early, Alice Conrad, Jan Harvey, Tom Linden, Cindy Winterfield and Barb Lundeen, some will be onsite to discuss their work displayed in the front window of the store.

These artists along with others in their group will be showcased for the month of October in the front window at Butcher Block Antiques.

Nancy Rice Early of Oregon
For, Oregon artist, Nancy Rice Early, landscapes hold a special appeal. Living not far from forests and rivers, she's grateful she can easily be among the beauty of nature. With population growth and urban sprawl, open space is disappearing. States Early, "I worry what beautiful area will disappear next." Nancy explores her landscapes in three main ways, realistically, stylistically, and abstractly. In her realistic work, Nancy captures a fleeting moment, using watercolor, or oil to portray the dappled light and deep shadows of a forest trail, or to depict the translucency of rose petals. With acrylic paint and mediums, she works more abstractly. By spraying water and using fingers, she moves poured paint about the canvas to develop textures and watch images evolve from the surface as the paint settles and dries. She states, "I allow the paint to flow through me evoking memory of a peaceful morning or a glimpse of what the world might look like under the water's surface. I'm no longer as concerned if the painting is really an actual place, if it evokes a feeling of place, then I'm achieving my intent." Since relocating to Oregon in 2009, she finds new inspiration in the beautiful countryside, rivers and rolling hills of Northwestern Illinois. Her new paintings incorporate the countryside either realistically in plein aire watercolors or stylistically in her pointillism ink drawings.

Jan Harvey of Polo
Polo artist, Jan Harvey began her art study at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. taking drawing, watercolor and printmaking. She furthered her study with many other art classes as well as workshops with professional artists such as Tom Lynch, Del Decil, Mary Martin and Michael Gerry. Jan has conducted workshops for the Rock River Valley Painter's Guild and local garden clubs. Her country flavored watercolors are inspired by farm life as a 'Pinecreeker' in rural Oregon Illinois. In 2008 Jan took, the Best Oil Painting award at Phidian Art Show in Dixon, Illinois. Her current work is largely done in oil using a palette knife in plein aire. She especially enjoys painting gardens and old barns. Her gallery and studio are located in Polo, IL.

Tom Linden of Rockford
Rockford artist, Tom Linden works in oil paints as well as watercolor. He enjoys water media because of its unique properties, which allow him to create transparent glazes and a glowing contrast between light and dark values. His creative use of colors, patterns and textures capture the details that make his work come alive on paper. He enjoys oils for the ability to quickly build up intense colors and swiftly capture the effect of light on his subject. Currently, he has two paintings at the Burpee Museum in Rockford with an exhibit of artists painting wetland areas. His work has been included in numerous local, regional and national exhibitions, earning him signature status with the Northwest Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, North East Watercolor Society and Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society. When he's not painting, Tom teaches watercolor classes through Rock Valley College and adult painting workshops.

Singer Angie Pierce Jennings of Cedar Rapids
Once you've had your visual fill of Midwest impressions head on down to Books on First for a dose of the auditory view on the subject. The exceptional vocalizing of Cedar Rapids song writer/musician, Angie Pierce Jennings will transport you, bringing to light rural reflections of the most sensitive sort.

Angie Pierce Jennings was born and raised in Iowa. Growing up on a rural forty acres, she was suited for the quiet of the country. She kept her eyes open, her ear to the ground. She was always looking and learning. When she looked at faces, she studied them, and saw more than surface features. She felt the pulse of the land, and it set her imagination in motion. To make sense of it all, she wrote sketches, stories, poems, and journal entries. A decade ago, when she got her first guitar and started teaching herself to play, it was only natural that she would immediately begin writing songs. Lyrically driven pieces that expressed what she'd seen of the land, its wildlife, its people.

"Backwood", Angie Pierce Jennings' debut album, unearths a gifted songwriter with amazing sensitivity and depth. The songs are revealing and honest, and the echoes of the country can be heard in each one. Once you hear her beautiful voice, the room quiets and you're immersed in a well-told story. Her songwriting is like a secret being told, and right away, she has your ear. Hearing her words, really listening, is like searching your own memory.

Angie has a way of carrying the listener along with her to that rural countryside. It's there that she sings you her folk stories. Seeing Angie Pierce Jennings perform live is truly an event. Her voice is like flight, and it fills a space like wingspan. That voice, almost indescribable, is like a sturdy bird gliding above water, lifted on a thermal current. And the audience is lifted up on that thermal current with her, lifted in their own individual dreams. One audience member said, "I was just closing my eyes, thinking about riding my bike through the country, picturing myself free." Another simply said, "That was just what I needed."

NEW! Journey Yoga
The creative currents continue. Journey Yoga, a brand new Dixon business participates in Second Saturdays Art Happenings featuring art in the foyer and demonstrates the art of sculpting your body with yoga. Trein's Jewelry displays brand new Czech Art Glass, photos of Bohemian glass blowers, and exclusive "Trein's Collection, Leaves" pastels by Lisa Higby LeFevre. Water Front Gifts offers a "make and take" beginner level card making demonstration. The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe has music by John McLaughlin and visual art. St. Luke's features photography by Hope Greene.

Find all the venues by picking up a Mini Map at any participating venue to make the trek or go online at www.second-saturdays.com and download your own map detailing all of the happenings for October Second Saturdays.

ALL VENUES:

Trein's Jewelry
201 W. FIRST ST. 815.284.6626
Happening: New art glass from the Czech Republic and photos of glass
blowing by famous Bohemian glass blowers.
Ongoing: "Trein's Collection- Leaves" pastels by Lisa Higby LeFevre

The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe
219 W. FIRST ST. 815.285.3496
Happening: Music by John McLaughlin
Ongoing: CCAQ No. 9 "Attitudes" paper sculpture by Dawn Wolford Metallo
Ongoing: "Atmosphere" and "Time Passages" pastels by Lisa Higby LeFevre
Special: "Artini" martini

Waterfront Gifts
212 W. FIRST ST. 815.288.4500
Happening: Beginning Card Making Demonstration, Make and Take!

Books on First
202 W. FIRST ST. 815.285.2665
Happening: Music by Angie Pierce Jennings
Ongoing: Local artists on display

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
221 W. THIRD ST. 815.288.2151
Ongoing: Photography by Hope Greene
Ongoing: Historic Church open to public

Butcher Block Antiques
216 W. FIRST ST. 815.284.1204
Happening: Artists painting in the Rock River Valley: Nancy Rice Early, Alice Conrad, Jan Harvey, Tom Linden, Cindy Winterfield and Barb Lundeen.

Journey Yoga
86 S. GALENA AVE. 815.509.6479
Happening: New Business! Art in the foyer and Yoga Demonstration