McHenry County College is featuring an exhibit by artist Lawrence Agyei, titled “A Journey,” which is available to view in Galleries One and Two at the library, from now until April 12.

“A Journey” is a celebration of Agyei’s photography over the last few years, beginning with his origin in Chicago, to traveling the world to places like Ghana and various locations throughout Europe. The collection is a combination of documentary and portraiture.

Agyei is a Chicago-based visual storyteller who is inspired by his multi-cultural upbringing of Ghanan, Italian, and Midwestern life and the celebration of the juxtaposition between them.

With a focus on enhancing Black culture and the beauty of its people as a whole, he blends documentary photography with portraiture while taking cues from fashion.

Agyei has worked with many notable companies and brands such as Apple, Nordstrom, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Google, and many others. He has toured his work internationally with the exhibition The New Black Vanguard.

For more information on Lawrence Agyei, visit his website https://www.lawrenceagyei.co/#1 or his Instagram page: @lawrenceagyei

Find more information on art exhibits at MCC.

For more information or to be added to the mailing list for upcoming exhibitions, contact Trevor Power, gallery curator, at (815) 455-8785 or [email protected]

Send the kids to college this summer

Looking to keep your kids entertained and learning during school breaks? Look no further than the Kids and College Program at MCC. The program offers a variety of quality, affordable classes for students entering grades 1-9: Campers have the chance to engage and explore different learning skills that will expand their knowledge in many areas.

The summer program, start June 3 and run through August 9. A majority of the classes are available as one-week sessions. Campers can choose from more than 75 hands-on classes, including morning classes (9 a.m.-Noon), afternoon classes (1-4 p.m.) or both.  If both sessions are chosen, there will be a supervised lunch from Noon to 1.

“We have a great lineup of classes this spring break and summer for our new and returning campers,” said Tressman Goode, coordinator for the Kids and College Program at MCC. “We’ve added many new offerings such as culinary classes, first responders camp, watercolors, drawing, rowing, and more.”

Additionally, we’re proud to host the National Inventors Hall of Fame Camp Invention series from June 24- 27. This four-day camp, open to students entering grades K-6,  features a rotation of four adventures — In the Game, Let’s Glow, Operation Hydrodrop, and Prototyping Studio. It will be from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at MCC’s Shah Center in McHenry, space is limited, so don’t miss out.

“ Camp Invention offers an incredible opportunity for our campers to unleash their creativity and explore the world of invention” said Goode. “We’re excited to bring this enriching experience to MCC and inspire the inventors of tomorrow!”

With small group sizes of 15-20 campers per grade level, personalized attention from experienced teachers, MCC faculty, and camp counselors ensures an enriching learning environment. Classes will be  in person at MCC’s main campus in Crystal Lake, unless otherwise specified.

Visit https://www.mchenry.edu/kidsandcollege/ to register or for more information.

— By Gabe Graunke

Tartan Bistro to offer spring menu

McHenry County College’s popular student-run restaurant, Tartan Bistro, will be open to the public again. In addition to being the culinary degree program’s spring capstone course, the Tartan Bistro trains potential restaurant owners, executive chefs, pastry chefs, bakers, servers, bussers, and hosts.

The menu consists of Midwest classics with international influences. Prices stay at $25 or less and that includes an entree, vegetable of the day, choice of soup or side salad, unless otherwise indicated.

Tartan Bistro is currently open Wednesday and Thursday nights at 6, 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 with reservation only. The restaurant is currently only allowing parties of four or less. The restaurant will reopen on April 10.

You can make a reservation request by emailing [email protected] with a date, time, and size of party request. For the menu and more information you can visit www.mchenry.edu/tartanbistro

— By Madelyn Ostap