Hosts
Hosted by Farmer John and Haidy Peterson, and Friends of the Farm/Rockford Artists Jeremy Klonicki and Jenny Mathews. Jeremy and Jenny have been seeking an opportunity to showcase Angelic Organics for a suitable event. The opportunity has arrived.

Family Friendly
This is a family friendly event. Kids are welcome. (Of course, it’s an art show, so there is no guarantee that someone’s button might not get pushed. Art can do that.)

Be Here Now?
As a farmer, I reside largely in the future–in plans, projects, projections…in vegetable maturities, equipment depreciation and building decay. I also reside to a large degree in the past—your CSA box was designed in the past for a future that arrives each week. Do I Be Here Now? Does farming let me Be Here Now? Not so much. Be Here When, Then? The way to now is through the past and the future.

A Wider View
I invite you to a wider view of the future this coming Saturday, October 6, a look into the world of tomorrow as dreamed and presented by Rustbelt artists. Paintings, sculptures, prototypes, illustrations, blueprints and fashion by artists Jeremy Klonicki, Jenny Mathews, Carrie Johnson, Betsy Youngquist, Jesus Correa, Breanda Fedie, Amy Dreibelbis, Ben Fairweather, Keelan McMorrow, Steve Nofsinger, Carmen Turner, Jarrod Hennis, Greg Lang, Joe Tallman, Allison Weust, Michelle Koch, Shawn Williams/The Core and Caravan Fabrics. 

An Enigma
“The World of Tomorrow Art Symposium is a bit of an enigma, looking both backwards and forwards in time, unfolding magically. It takes inspiration from advertising of the 1950s with its ‘look into the future’ theme, while simultaneously asking artists to reveal their thoughts and hopes for fifty to a hundred years into the distance. Futuristic outfits welcomed. Bonfire at dusk.”

The quote above is from the Facebook page for World of Tomorrow. Check it out often for event updates: www.facebook.com/events/274332656524237/.

All Are Welcome
World of Tomorrow is open to the public. It is part of Rockford Area Arts Council’s annual Fall ArtScene weekend. ArtScene in early October brings out thousands of art-lovers to galleries and studios all over Rockford (and in the case of World of Tomorrow at Angelic Organics Farm, well beyond Rockford.) ArtScene attracts so many fans because it is free, and it’s fun for both the browser and the buyer. There are over 38 destinations for ArtScene this coming weekend.  For more information, visit fallartscene.com.

Considering the buzz that The World of Tomorrow is generating, and the number of celebrated Rockford artists who will be presenting their work at Angelic Organics, we think there might be a large turnout at the farm. Our barns can probably host everyone who shows up.

Time Traveling Attire Encouraged!

Wander the Farmstead–Farmer John’s Life’s Work
The Angelic Organics farmstead is the ideal showcase for The World of Tomorrow and your time traveling attire. View Farmer John’s lifetime of work re-envisioning and re-purposing the buildings he grew up with. Just look around. There is no formal presentation, but feel free to ask Farmer John a question about the buildings if you see him standing alone and looking desolate. Farmer John says the buildings talk to him and tell him what to do—they don’t ask; they tell.

To learn more about the history of the farm buildings at Angelic Organics, visit the Metamorphosis of the Peterson Farmstead (Many farm building improvements have been made since this link was last updated.)

The Big Barn
Farmer John saw the future arrive in the 1950’s on a semi trailer in the form of gothic arched rafters for the new dairy barn that the Petersons were about to build. Farmer John milked cows twice a day in this barn from when he was 9 until he was 21. He has since been ushering the barn into the future, adapting it for hogs, then artists and performance events for the Midwest Coast, then a farm office and packing room for the fledgling Angelic Organics Community Supported Agriculture farm, and now vast spaces for showcasing art, spectacle and many of Farmer John’s costumes.

Once the Dairy Barn

Note the Lazure painting method in the Milk House entrance to the barn, painted by shareholders Tom and Nancy Melvin—the ceiling, hallway, and future bedroom off the hallway. Lazure painting was introduced by Rudolf Steiner to bring a living quality to otherwise monochrome surfaces.

Since I probably won’t be giving full-fledged tours of the barn, walk further down the hallway, take a left and behold the Feather Room towards the end of the  purple hallway. The walls of the Feather Room are an electric version of Lazure.

Lazured Ceiling of Milk House (photo by Nancy Melvin)

To learn more about the heritage of gothic arches and the design of social space, visit Farmer John’s Keynote The Farm as Social Organism and the Design of Social Space.

Mingle Magically
Visionary designs, boundless thoughts and fantastical ideas have the potential to shape the collective imagination or perhaps plant a seed that reveals itself in the distant future.  

Prairie Street Brewing Company
Prairie Street Brewing Company will serve beer and wine at World of Tomorrow. This should help with the mingling. 

Acoustic Sets
Acoustic sets will occur in the lounge loft throughout the afternoon and evening. The lounge loft is the loft of the smaller barn near the big barn. 

6 P.M. Presentation on Biodynamics by Farmer John in front of the Homage to Biodynamics in the Loft of the Big Barn This presentation will take place in a large loft, so audience size can be large. Anticipated Presentation Time: 10 minutes. If a repeat presentation, 6:20. Two minute synopses of the Homage to Biodynamics may be available from Farmer John upon request throughout the evening.

7 P.M. Fashion Show by Caravan Fabrics. Models will present from the four tall arched windows of the former Peterson Granary/Corn Crib. Observe the show from both outside and inside the Granary.