Speaker Series.

The Speaker Series kicks off as a series of free public talks by visual artists and cultural producers in Rockford, Illinois. This series provides a platform for the cultural producers to share their history, practice, and ideas with the Rockford area community. All talks will be recorded and submitted to the Rockford Visual Art Archive.

 
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Clydale Hilson & Leah Blake

FREE
Thursday, September 19, 2019
6:30 PM  7:30 PM

“Loft Ten 19, 1019 Third Ave. in Rockford’s Midtown District, opened in December.

Since then, the more than 4,000-square-foot space has welcomed more patrons than co-owners Clydale Hilson and Leah Blake expected.

They met years ago while attending Upper Iowa University classes in Rockford. They became friends and decided to open a new studio that would appeal to those in their twenties and thirties.

“We’re growing quickly,” Blake said. “I was kind of shocked.”

Blake invites artists to call them to book a showing. For events, she and Hilson charge $75 per hour for the first two hours and $50 an hour for the remainder of the event.

The gallery is open on Tuesdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. People also can call for an appointment.

Hilson and Blake have full-time jobs. He is a Rockford firefighter. She is an administrator at Milestone Inc. in Rockford.”

— Susan Vela, Rockford Register Star