Riverside Arts Center + Freeark Gallery

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Riverside Arts Center + Freeark Gallery

RAC hosts art exhibitions, classes, and special events. Exhibitions are free and open to the public

We offer over thirty art classes each term (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) for children and adults in mediums including clay, painting, fused glass jewelry, and printmaking. RAC also offers tours, field trips, and curricula-based workshops for public and private schools and professional development opportunities for teachers. Executive Director: Camille Silverman
Freeark Gallery + Sculpture Gar

den Director: Claudine Ise
Exhibition Committee: Anne Harris, Troy Klyber, Joanne Aono, Paul D'Amato
School Manager: Shawn Vincent

For information regarding classes, please contact School Manager Shawn Vincent at [email protected]

For information or questions regarding exhibitions, please contact Exhibitions Director Claudine Ise at [email protected]

09/02/2026

What we cherish here at RAC is art, creativity, and the infinite possibilities the two bring together. But there’s always something extra special when our community shows up to experience what we’re creating together.

Here are a few snippets from three big openings this past Sunday, August 30. What a beautiful day of art, conversation, connection, and community.

Thank you to everyone who showed up — for the artists, for the work, for the conversations, and simply for sharing a good day with us.

Now on view at RAC:

Rita Grendze | You Don’t Have to Love Me
FlexSpace
August 30 – October 31, 2026
A solo exhibition of sculpture, drawing, and installation, curated by Joanne Aono.

Barbara Ciurej + Lindsay Lochman | Domestic Disruptions
Freeark Gallery + Sculpture Garden
August 30 – October 10, 2026
Featuring collaborative photography by Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman, curated by Laura Husar Garcia.

Malgorzata Plummer | Home: Daily Wonders of Riverside
Riverside Town Hall
July 9 – November 11, 2026
A celebration of Riverside through the eyes of a local artist.

Gallery Hours
RAC galleries: Wednesdays 4–8 PM, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 1–5 PM
Riverside Town Hall: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–4 PM; Friday, 9 AM–3 PM.

Come see the shows, spend some time with the work, and make RAC part of your day.

We’ll see you in the galleries! ;)

08/29/2026

We’re back! 🎉

After our August summer break, we’re happy to announce that we’re returning with amazing new exhibitions, opening tomorrow, Sunday, August 30, from 3–6pm.

And there’s more: starting next week, we’re extending our gallery hours so there are even more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the art in both the Freeark Gallery and FlexSpace.

New gallery hours:
Wednesday: 4–8 PM
Thursday–Saturday: 1–5 PM

Come by, see the exhibitions, meet the artists, and spend some time with us. Everybody is welcome! 🖤

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FgaarAfJk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/26/2026

One more down! Today we started installing You Don’t Have to Love Me by Rita Grendzein RAC’s FlexSpace, curated by Joanne Aono—one of three exhibitions opening this coming weekend. The other two exhibitions are Domestic Disruptions by Barbara Ciurejand Lindsay Lochman in the Freeark Gallery, curated by Laura Husar Garcia, and Home: Daily Wonders of Riverside by Malgorzata Plummer at Riverside Town Hall. Please join us on Sunday, August 30, 3–6 pm. for inspiring art and good conversation. The receptions will be followed by a private cocktail hour at Quincy Street Distillery, located across the street from RAC. We hope to see you there!

08/24/2026

Join us for the artist reception of Home: Daily Wonders of Riverside by Malgorzata Plummer at Riverside Town Hall on Sunday, August 30, from 3-6pm, alongside the openings of two other exhibitions: You Don’t Have to Love Me by Rita Grendze in RAC’s FlexSpace, curated by Joanne Aono and Domestic Disruptions by Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman in the Freeark Gallery, curated by Laura Husar Garcia.

The receptions will be followed by a private cocktail hour at Quincy Street Distillery, located across the street from RAC.

08/23/2026

Today we began the installation of Domestic Disruptions by Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman, curated by Laura Husar Garcia, which opens in the Freeark Gallery on Sunday, August 30, from 3-6pm. Two other exhibitions will also open that day: You Don’t Have to Love Me by Rita Grendze, curated by Joanne Aono, in the FlexSpace, and Home: Daily Wonders of Riverside by Malgorzata Plummer at Riverside Town Hall. The exhibition receptions will be followed by a private cocktail hour at Quincy Street Distillery; located across the street from RAC. You are all welcome to join us!

08/20/2026

We’re only days away from the installation of two exciting new exhibitions!

At the Freeark Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Domestic Disruptions features collaborative photography by Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman. In the FlexSpace, You Don’t Have to Love Me presents sculptures and drawings by Rita Grendze.

Across the street at Riverside Town Hall, you can enjoy Home: Daily Wonders of Riverside, featuring paintings by Riverside resident Gosia Plummer.

As a reminder, please join us on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. for an afternoon celebrating all three exhibitions. Stop by throughout the afternoon to meet the artists, curators, and members of the Riverside Arts Center community and explore the exhibitions.

The exhibition receptions will be followed by a private cocktail hour at Quincy Street Distillery, located across the street from RAC.

Featured works:
Rita Grendze, Untitled 2026.1, 2026. Watercolor, acrylic, and ink on paper, 6 × 6 inches. | Excerpt from the exhibition booklet essay by Joanne Aono, curator of You Don’t Have to Love Me.

Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman, Peony from The Fourth Kingdom, 2022. Archival pigment print, 28 × 22 inches. | Excerpt from the foreword by Laura Husar Garcia, curator of Domestic Disruptions.

Gosia Plummer, Riverside Library at Sunset, 2025. Oil on cradled board, 12 × 12 inches.

Exhibition booklets for Domestic Disruptions and You Don’t Have to Love Me will be available at the opening. PDF versions will also be available on the Riverside Arts Center website: https://www.riversideartscenter.com/exhibits_intro

Rita Grendze Malgorzata Plummer Quincy Street Distillery Joanne Aono Laura Husar Garcia Barbara Ciurej

08/19/2026

Fall classes now open for registration including Creation Station led by Mr. Tee!

Address

32 E Quincy Street
Riverside, IL
60546

Telephone

(708) 442-6400

Website

http://www.riversideartscenter.com/

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