February is a busy exhibition month for Chesterton Art Center (CAC), with four separate exhibitions taking place both in their gallery at Chesterton Art Center and in galleries at partner sites in the community. CAC’s exhibitions by emerging and established artists champions local and regional artists that reflect our diverse creative community.
“Hope for a New Season: Duneland Photography Club Exhibition” will be on display at Chesterton Art Center,
February 2-28, 2026. A reception for the exhibition will be held on Saturday, February 7, 12-2 PM. The Duneland Photography Club is a group of individuals helping each other improve their photography skills through classes, photoshoots, meetings, mentoring, and community service. “Hope for a New Season: Duneland Photography Club Exhibition” can be viewed during CAC’s normal business hours: Mon–Fri, 11 AM–4 PM + Sat, 10 AM–2 PM. CAC is closed on Sundays.
“Dorothy Graden: Connection” is up at the Thomas Branch of the Westchester Public Library, January 9–March 31, 2026. Connection has always been at the core of Graden's journey, guiding her to explore what lies beneath the surface. Her art is objective and layered, drawing from the textures and colors of the earth and sea, as well as the ebb and flow of time and space. CAC @ WPL is a quarterly exhibition partnership between Chesterton Art Center and Westchester Public Library. "Connection" can be viewed at the Thomas Branch, 200 W. Indiana Ave, Chesterton, during normal business hours.
“Emerging Artists Society: Stories” will be on display at the Christopher Center Library, Valparaiso University,
February 2–28, 2026. In an age when many of us feel increasingly alone, stories remain one of the few forces capable of reconnecting us—to one another, to our histories, and to our sense of possibility. Stories travel across geography and time, shaping the ways we create, imagine, and understand our place in the world. A single story can change a life, not by demanding passive consumption, but by sparking new beginnings, new ideas, and new acts of creation. "Stories" can be viewed at the Christopher Center Library, Valparaiso University, 1410 Chapel Dr., Valparaiso, during normal business hours.
“In Conversation: The Annual Teen Arts Group Exhibition” will be on display at Red Cup Café, February 13–March 16, 2026. "In Conversation" showcases the vibrant creativity and unique voices of young artists, celebrating the freedom of self-expression and the power of conversation. "In Conversation" can be viewed at Red Cup Café, 117 Broadway Ave, Chesterton, during normal business hours. Please join CAC’s Teen Arts Group for a reception on Saturday, February 21, from 2-4 PM.
For more information about CAC’s exhibitions and programs, please visit www.ChestertonArt.org or call (219) 926-4711.
Chad Howell, Aurora Over the Florida Tropical House, photograph
Dorothy Graden, Sacred Brilliance, Mixed media on paper