McLean County Arts Center

2020 Press Kit

 Table of Contents

Pitch
letter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………Page 1

News
Release……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………Page 2

Annual Amateur Exhibition

PSA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………Page 3

David Dow

PSA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………Page 4

Larry Kanfer
PSA……………………………………………………………………………………………………….Pa
ge 5

Background
Information…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………Page 6

Promotional
Piece…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………….Page 7

McLean County Arts Center Background Information

I. How did it all Begin?

 a. In 1909, Arthur L. Pillsbury designed the building that we now know as the
McLean County Arts Center. After the design was brought to life, the structure
was home to the First Congregational Church. Many different denominations
inhabited this building until McLean County Arts Center took over in 1979. The
necessary renovations for this building were completed with the financial help of
the community. The Arts Center is now home to all of McLean County’s arts
organizations. The McLean County Arts Center is located at 601 N East St,
Bloomington, IL.

II. What Do We Do?

a. Our Arts Center offers a wide variety of services to the community. We

present around twelve exhibitions throughout the year, which includes our annual
Holiday Treasures and Amateur Exhibitions. We love to show our support to the
aspiring artists of our community. We also offer a variety of classes, lectures, and
workshops for those interested in improving their artistic skills! In addition to the
exciting events we host, we also host two arts festivals annually. The Spring
Bloom Arts Festival is held in March at Illinois State University’s Bone Student
Center! The Sugar Creek Arts Festival is held in July at Uptown Normal. For
more information about our services and events visit www.mcac.wildapricot.org.

III. Who are We?

a. As a local Arts Center, it is our main priority to stay connected with the
members of the community. In accordance with this desire, we offer several
different volunteer opportunities with our organization. We also offer various
internship opportunities. Interns have the chance to learn the duties of art
administration from directing to marketing. We have a staff of 10 incredibly
talented instructors. They teach several different classes that focus on different
areas of art. Doug Johnson is our amazing executive director. He is responsible
for everything that goes on at the Arts Center. He cares deeply about contributing
a sense of community in all of our business.

12/5/20
Contact: MCAC Staff
Phone: (309) 829-0011
Website: mcac.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNSTEADY HANDS | DAVID DOW EXHIBITION

NORMAL, Ill. – The McLean County Arts Center will be hosting an exhibition for Unsteady Hands
by David Dow from January 15 – February 19, 2021 at Armstrong Gallery.

David Dow has led Wisecracker Design with Jim Neeley. Wisecracker Design is an interior and
product design boutique studio that has a broad range of creative capabilities and solutions for
a loyal portfolio of high-profile clients

“The successful entrepreneur, still yearning to be an artist. The native Californian, now living in
the twin cities of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois,” said David Dow.

David returned part-time to studio art and his love of clay and hand-building in 2017. He is
currently doing work exploring masks.

David wonders if masks hide who we are or allow us to become something we’re not? David is
inspired with masks by his travels during his childhood as well as the past 30 years with Jim.

David has found love and respect for diverse cultures that emerge through his clay “souls”
including African, Mayan, Amazonian and Southeast Asian features – sometimes these are
combined. Some key inspirations of David’s come from a long fascination with tribal masks and
their role as part of ceremonial costume.

For more information, contact MCAC Staff at (309) 829-0011.

###

About McLean County Arts Center

The McLean County Arts Center is located in Bloomington and encourages and promotes the
appreciation, study, cultivation, development, and practice of the Arts in McLean County. The
McLean County Arts Center is also a non-profit organization and the arts agency for McLean
County.
Contact: MCAC Staff
Phone: (309) 829-0011
Website: mcac.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LARRY KANFER EXHIBITION
NORMAL, Ill. – The McLean County Arts Center is hosting an exhibition for Larry Kanfer from
February 26 – April 9, 2021 with a reception Friday, March 5 from 5-7 p.m. in the Armstrong
Gallery.

Larry Kanfer is a photographic artist that is based in the Midwest. He is a longtime resident of
Urbana-Champaign and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1979. After Larry graduated
he opened his first photography gallery and still has it today.

“When someone looks at one of my photographs, I hope it evokes some emotion…a sense of
personal history, a sense of the land being worked, a sense of the fullness of time,” said Larry.

Larry tries to celebrate the subtle details of human existence and daily routines that are often
overlooked by highlighting these accidental discoveries in his surroundings. He believes that on
the surface the Midwestern landscape appears barren but, beneath the surface he sees layers
and layers of human efforts nurturing each other.

Larry has training in architecture that has taught him to view his surroundings analytically and
artistically. He uses these skills to create photographs that speak to viewers on an emotional
level through their composition and content.

Larry is most well-known for his Prairiescapes™, that brought acclaim to the Midwest with his
original artwork and calendars celebrating the subtle beauty of the American heartland.

For more information, contact MCAC Staff at (309) 829-0011.

###

About McLean County Arts Center

The McLean County Arts Center is located in Bloomington and encourages and promotes the
appreciation, study, cultivation, development, and practice of the Arts in McLean County. The
McLean County Arts Center is also a non-profit organization and the arts agency for McLean
County.

Contact: MCAC Staff

Phone: (309) 829-0011
Website: mcac.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

94TH ANNUAL AMATEUR EXHIBITION

NORMAL, Ill. – The McLean County Arts Center with be having their 94 th Amateur Art Exhibition
March 5 – April 9, 2021 with an awards ceremony on Saturday, March 6 from 2-3p.m. in the
Brandt Gallery.

This event is partly sponsored by the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

In this exhibit high school, university, and adult artists will be featured. Works of painting,
graphics, photography/new media, and sculpture will be selected for cash merit awards in each
category and division.

The artists featured could have a chance at being awarded the Merwin Medal to the most
outstanding artwork and the Ashely C. Ritter Most Promising Art Award to the artwork
exhibiting the most future potential.

For more information, contact MCAC Staff at (309) 829-0011.

###

About McLean County Arts Center

The McLean County Arts Center is located in Bloomington and encourages and promotes the
appreciation, study, cultivation, development, and practice of the Arts in McLean County. The
McLean County Arts Center is also a non-profit organization and the arts agency for McLean
County.
Pantagraph
Ms. Sierra Henry
sierra.henry@lee.net

Greetings Sierra,

My name is Sydney Daeschler and I am a Public Relations professional for the Mclean County Arts

Center in Bloomington, IL. I am making sure to uphold the best media for the Arts Center and to attract

people to raise attention for our company. I am reaching out to you in hopes you will be able to advertise

for our upcoming exhibits at the Mclean County Arts Centers. The events are:

David Dow: This event is on March 15th at the Armstrong Gallery. Dow specials in making masks out of

clay. Dow traveled as a child and in his past 30 years and his goal is to inspire others while making

masks. His work specials in determining if they hide who we are or allow us to become something else.

Larry Kanfer: This event is being held at the Armstrong Gallery on March 5th. The exhibit offers artist

Larry Kafner who excels his work through photography. Kanfer uses his photography skills to help create

pictures to inspire his audience and who views his work in an analytically and artist way.

94th Annual Amateur Exhibition: This annual event is at the Brandt Gallery on March 6th. It offers a

Merwin Medal award to the best painting piece of artwork. As well as a cash merit award in each

category and division.

I would be humbled if you were able to write for the exhibits at the Mclean County Arts Center.

For more information about the event coming up, feel free to contact me by email or by phone. Thank you

in advance for letting me reach out to you, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sydney Daeschler
Mclean County Arts center
630-890-3363
sedaesc@ilstu.edu
Use: April 25 - March 6
Time: 30 seconds
Organization: Mclean County Center
Title Example: 94th Annual Amateur Exhibition

THE MCLEAN COUNTY ARTS CENTER IS HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL

AMATUER EXHIBITION ON MARCH 6TH FROM 2 P-M TO 3 P-M AT THE BRANT

GALLERY. THIS EVENT FEATURES A RANGE OF ARTIST ALL THE WAY FROM

HIGH SCHOOL TO ADULT AGES. THERE WILL BE A MERWIN (MURR-win) MEDAL

AWARDED TO THE BEST PIECE OF ARTWORK. THERE WILL BE A CASH MERIT

(mar-IT) AWARD IN EACH CATEGORY AND DIVISION. THE PIECES OF ARTWORK

THAT WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE AWARD ARE PAINTINGS, GRAPHICS,

PHOTOGRAPHY, NEW MEDIA AND SCULPTURE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

MCAC.WILDAPRICOT.ORG.
Use: January 1 - March 15
Time: 30 seconds
Organization: Mclean County Center
Title Example: David Dow

DO YOU LOVE HANDS ON BUILDING WITH CLAY AND MAKING MASKS? MCLEAN

COUNTY ARTS CENTER IS HOSTING THE ARTIST DAVID DOW ON JANUARY 15TH

AT THE ARMSTRONG GALLERY. HIS WORK SPECIALS IN MAKING MASK OF CLAY

TO DETERMINE IF THEY HIDE WHO WE ARE OR ALLOW US TO BECOME

SOMETHING ELSE. THE MASKS ARE INFLUENCED (in-FLEW-ence) BY DOWS

WORLD TRAVELING DURNING HIS CHILDHOOD AND PAST THIRTY YEARS. DOW

IS INSPIRED TO SHOW OTHERS WHAT HE INSPIRES FROM HIS LONG FASCINATION

(fas-SIN-ation) WITH TRIBALS MASKS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT,

VISIT MCAC.WILDAPRICOT.ORG.
Use: April 28 - March 5
Time: 30 seconds
Organization: Mclean County Center
Title Example: Larry Kanfer

DO YOU LOVE TAKING PHOTOS OF? THE MCLEAN COUNTY ARTS CENTER IS

WELCOMING LARRY KANFER ON FRIDAY MARCH 3RD AT 5 P-M T0 7 P-M AT THE

ARMSTRONG GALLERY. KANFER IS A PHOTOGRAPHIC (FO-tog-raphy) ARTIST WHO

USES HIS SKILLS TO HELP CREATE PICTURES THAT SPEAK TO HIS AUDIENCE ON

AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL. KANFER TRAINING IN ARCHITECTE TAUGHT HIM TO

VIEW HIS SURROUNDINGS AS ANALYTICALLY (an-a-LIT-i-cal-ly) AND

ARTISTICALLY. KANFER BROUGHT ACCLAIM TO THE MIDWEST WITH HIS

ORIGINAL ARTWORK AND CALENDARS TO EMBRACE THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA

HEARTLAND. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT, VISIT

MCAC.WILDAPRICOT.ORG.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15v9_wifiNbbS6ZPn3phagYElkQA_-
5lVvypy8wBWPvU/edit?usp=sharing