*Flight Path* by Fatherless print collective

Day Trip: Art of Rockford, IL

Featuring a street art tour plus visits to the Rockford Art Museum, a local muralist’s studio, a collaborative print studio, and lunch at Anderson Japanese Gardens!

When: Thursday, July 17, 2025, 8:30 am–6:30 pm
Where: Locations throughout Rockford, Illinois; See below for pick-up and drop-off details.
Member Price: $205 per person
Non-Member Price: $225 per person

Mark your calendars for our bus trip to Rockford, IL, a city bursting with artistic energy and local charm! Join Art Encounter's Sarah Packer and Joanna Pinsky to meet a local artist in their studio, visit the Rockford Art Museum, explore the city's renowned public sculptures and murals, and more.

Artist Brett Whitacre with one of his murals

ITINERARY

Our morning begins with a tour of the city’s public art, featuring an abundance of exceptional murals and sculptures led by Kristin Paul, Executive Vice President of Go-Rockford. Then we’ll head to the studio of muralist Brett Whitacre, creator of expansive murals in Evanston, Chicago, and throughout the Midwest, to investigate his wide range of smaller works and installations in his 2,500 square foot working and gallery space.

Down the street from Brett’s is Fatherless, a unique print studio of four artists: Javier Jimenez, Greg Lang, David Menard, and Ben Rider (UK), who operate as a unit collaborating freely with each other’s ideas and imagery. Working with screen-printing techniques, they create one-off monoprints that will never be repeated in sizes ranging from small to wall-sized.

For lunch, we’ll head to Fresco at the Gardens to relax and enjoy art from nature in Rockford’s famous Anderson Japanese Gardens. Our day will conclude with a visit to The Rockford Art Museum to see Analogue: Rockford’s Decade of Rebellion, which celebrates the dynamic and innovative local artists from the 1990’s who impacted the community’s artistic landscape.

*Analogue:* *Rockford’s Decade of Rebellion* at the Rockford Art Museum

PRICE INFORMATION

Cost includes coach bus transportation to and within Rockford, entry to museum, guided tours, and lunch.

PICK UP & DROP OFF INFORMATION

Chicago pick up/drop off location: Ogilvie Transportation Center, southwest corner, Madison St and Clinton St, Chicago; bus departs 8:30 am, return drop off approximately 6:30 pm

Suburban pick up/drop off location: Edens Plaza parking lot, northwest side, 3200 W. Lake Ave, Wilmette; bus departs 9:00 am, return drop off approximately 6:00 pm

Questions?

Email Public and Member Programs Manager Sarah Packer at sarah@artencounter.org.