Arts Alliance
The Arts Alliance of Ogle County (AAOC) was founded in 1976, as a not-for-profit organization to rekindle and coordinate local involvement in the arts. Their mission is to enhance the quality of artistic life in the larger community of the county. AAOC does this by encouraging and initiating cultural experiences and events for the public. Events range from children's summer art cap, The Fields Project, and the Grand Detour Arts Festival.

The Alliance continues a long tradition of art in Ogle County that begin in 1898 when Lorado Taft and other like-minded authors, sculptors, painters and musicians established the Eagle's Nest Art Colony on the bluffs above the Rock River. Taft, a world famous sculptor, was the creator of the "The Eternal Indian," popularly called "Black Hawk." Other noted members of the group included Hamlin Garland, who wrote much of his Pulitzer Prize novel, Daughter of the Middle Border, while at the colony. Other members offered their expertise to the community such as noted architects, Pond and Pond, who designed the Oregon Public Library.

Many famous Eagle's nest Colony members and friends contributed paintings and sculpture to the citizens of Oregon. These are now on display at Oregon Public Library. An award-winning catalog of the library collection was published in 1984 through the efforts of the AAOC.

For more information:
Eagle’s Nest Art Group
Marsha Behrens
Conover Square
201 N 3rd
Oregon, IL 61061
815-732-7783

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