CMAAA

06/01/2026

Oregon, We Need Your Help!

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, we're asking residents across Oregon to help make our community shine with patriotic pride.

If you live within the City of Oregon, please consider decorating your home in red, white, and blue. Hang your flags, display your patriotic decorations, and help create a community-wide celebration that honors our nation's history and the freedoms we enjoy today.

Whether your display is simple or elaborate, your participation will help make this milestone anniversary special for everyone. Let's show visitors, neighbors, and future generations what American pride looks like in Oregon!

🏡 Enter the Oregon 250 Home Decorating Contest
📅 Register by June 5
👀 Judging will take place June 7
🏆 Winners will be announced during the Flag Raising Ceremony on June 14 at the Oregon Coliseum

Every decorated home helps tell the story of our community's patriotism. Please join us and help make Oregon's celebration of America's 250th one to remember!

Sign up is simple! Let your American spirit shine! Call City Hall, DM us on Facebook with your address or sign up on the city website:

https://cityoforegon.org/250th-anniversary-of-the-united-states-most-patriotic-home-decorating-competition/

05/30/2026

The Coliseum Museum welcomes new art by Mary Crawford to our consignment gallery. Mary, who is based in Dixon, has created six watercolors including some abstract work which are now available to purchase at the Coliseum Museum. We are open Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5:00pm.

05/28/2026

Playwriting Workshop
Saturday, July 25, 2026
10:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by Donna Kathryn Kelly

Join us for Donna Kathryn Kelly's two-hour creative writing workshop developed for individuals who have minimal experience with playwriting. The workshop focuses on the fundamentals of playwriting techniques, including the development of credible dialogue and action. This dynamic, interactive program includes a writing exercise in which the presenter, who is an attorney, provides a brief overview of three Opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States. The first case involves a free speech issue; the second case is a landmark decision in the area of criminal law; and the third case surrounds the women's suffrage movement. Each participant will be asked to select the fact pattern from one of the cases as a backdrop for a play and then will draft a scene inspired by the particular case. Attendees should bring their own pen and paper to participate in the writing exercise.

Donna Kathryn Kelly [.com] is a poet, playwright, and novelist. Kelly's paranormal horror thriller, THE DESCENT: A Halloween Novel, was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project Manuscript Contest. Her latest novel, THE LION AT THE FALLS, was a finalist in the 2024 Killer Nashville Claymore Award Competition (Supernatural Category) and the third place entry in the 2024 West Virginia Writers' Competition (Book-Length Prose Category).

* Photo of Donna by Linda M. Barrett Productions.

This workshop is free but please register online at www.cmaaa.org/workshops.html. Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information. We are open Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm.

05/28/2026

05/26/2026

The Coliseum Museum welcomes the artwork of David Sweeney to our consignment gallery. David is from Pearl City, IL and he uses a number of methods to create his wildlife art including acrylic, oil, pastel chalk, and pencil & graphite.

05/24/2026

"We don't know them all, but we owe them all."

05/22/2026

Time is running out to enter the Around the Farm Art Exhibit showing June 5 – July 18, 2026

Entry Deadline: May 23

This exhibit will celebrate farm life and highlight the importance of agriculture in our area. Entries should be around the theme of farms, livestock, fields, machinery, harvest, agricultural heritage, and farm life. Artwork must be original including painting, mixed medium, drawing, sculpture, photography, and more. No AI.

Join artists like Jean Apgar, Alice Blue, Dan Bowman, Janet Cederlund, Perry Eden, Connie Fry, Beverly Garcia, Rob Gieraltowski, Timothy Griffith, Pam Hansen, Steve Hart, Kat Heitzman, Linnea Koch, Robert Krajecki, Joy Meyer, Jeff Oesterheld, Sharon Saponari, Mary von Tish & Holden White.

Awards: The exhibit will be judged by Debra Cleary with awards presented at the reception on June 12. Visitors will also be allowed to vote for their favorite piece with the People’s Choice winner announced at the close of the exhibit.

Fee: $25 for members or $35 for non-members for up to two pieces per artist.

Specifications: Minimum overall size is 8” x 10” and maximum 60” x 60”. All frames must be wired for hanging. Pedestals are available for 3D work.
Sales: Exhibited works will be considered for sale at the price indicated to include the CMAAA commission of 25% for any artwork sold.

Entries: You may register online at www.cmaaa.org/juried-shows.html. Artists accepted will receive information pertinent to drop off, pick up, opening dates, etc. Call 815-595-5810 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

05/19/2026

The Coliseum Museum thanks Deborah Sherman for joining, and David Van Delinder, Ruth Hanson-Hale, Dolores Kustom and Margi Forss for renewing their membership. If you want to learn more about joining this exciting organization a member application is available by contacting CMAAA at the phone number and email at the end of the newsletter. The application is also available on our website at www.cmaaa.org/membership.html

05/17/2026

People’s Choice winner
We are pleased to announce that “Storm Waves” by Tyler Farino of Chicago is the winner of the Focus on Photography People’s Choice Award. It was one of 59 works on display from April 1 – May 16.

2nd place was a tie between Bob Cholke for “Predawn Tribute” and Kate Reed for “Highland Heifer”. And coming in 3rd was a four way with “A Delicate Handling of Everything” by Les Allen; “Paint by Numbers” by Bob Cholke; “Split Rock Lighthouse at Dusk” by Stephonie Schmitz; and “Love is in the Shadows” by Stephonie Schmitz.

We want to thank all the artists for displaying their work at the Coliseum Museum.

05/15/2026

There are only two days left to see the 3rd Annual Focus on Photography Exhibit now on display until 5:00pm, Saturday, May 16

Participating artists include Les Allen, David Bingaman, Glenn Bodish, Bob Cholke, Rick Davis, Jane Erlandson, Tyler Farino, Jeanne Garrett, Timothy Griffith, Pam Hansen, Stephen Hart, Kat Heitzman, Maggie Isaacs, Bob Kapheim, Linnea Koch, Wolf Koch, Bob Logsdon, Jeff Oesterheld, Jennifer Osborne, Joe Popp, Wayne Proeger, Kate Reed, Stephonie A Schmitz, Deborah Sherman, U. A. Short, Steve Toole, Joseph Virbickis, Holden White, and Jon Wildman.