Have you ever wanted to try out an art studio class, such as wheelthrowing, screenprinting, or jewelry design, but haven’t had the time or money? Lillstreet Art Center is giving all of those interested in classes a free chance to come and try their hand at some different artistic trades this Saturday, March 2. From 12-4pm Lillstreet will invite visitors to try various classes for 1-2 hours to experience what a 5-10 week class would be like. Visitors are also welcome to check out all the different classrooms, galleries, studios and the Artisan Gift Shop. They will also tour Lillstreet’s brand new Lillstreet Loft from 12-4pm. This private 2,000-sq ft loft is designed to feel like an artist’s studio and is available for private rental and team building programs. So come check out all of Lillstreet’s facilities and try out a class! The schedule of events are as followed:

12-4  Kids Activities

12-1 Screenprinting of Paper

12-1 Handbuilt Slab Trays

1- 2Handbuilt Mugs

1- 3  One Bead at a Time

1:30-2:30 Band Rings

2-3 Wheelthrowing

2-3 Monotype Mania

2-3 Sewn Drawstring Bags

2-3 Printed Tote Bags

2-4  Throwing Big 

3-4 Sewn Drawstring Bags

3-4 Printed Tote Bags

3-4  Wheelthrowing

3-4  Bracelets 

Those interested can RSVP on Facebook.

If art classes do not catch your interest, Lillstreet is also excited to host the 6^th annual Empty Bowls Project to benefit First Slice, a local hunger-fighting organization. On Friday March 1 Lillstreet welcomes anyone to join them for a modest meal of soup and bread, served in a bowl donated by a ceramic artist. Each meal is $25 dollars, and the buyer can take the bowl home afterward. The sales of the bowls are first come first serve starting at 5:00pm. There will also be a silent auction of artist-crafted items during this time.

March begins with two days of fun at Lillstreet Art Center. From The Empty Bowls Project on Friday starting at 5:00pm, to the free art classes on Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm, you won’t want to miss out on these exciting events!

Lillstreet Art Center

4401 N. Ravenswood

Chicago, IL 60640

773-769-4226

www.lillstreet.com

Last week I had the chance to visit Paul Rinaldi's latest exhibit at Perimeter Gallery. Though tricky to find, because the exhibit is in the basement of the gallery, I am so glad the gallery directed me down the stairs to this intriguing show. Rinaldi's works at Perimeter are paintings that call for contemplation and nostalgia the moment you enter the room. The works are painted on various sized blocks of wood. The paint used is not oil or watercolor, but Rinaldi's own mixture of raw pigments, beeswax and small portions of other materials to make a thick but flexible waxy substance. Rinaldi controls the pigment in order to make the wax more opaque or more translucent, and in this he creates ethereal works, which take a hold of time and create a sacred space on the walls where they are hung. By painting certain sides of the blocks with bright colors, the blocks cast a glow on the white walls causing the blocks to hover in front of a world of thoughts and memories.

This exhibit is showing until February 23, so there is time to stop by this gallery and experience Rinaldi's work for yourself. You can see if you experience the same sense of contemplation and nostalgia as I did when I went to visit. Below, are some pictures of Rinaldi's work.

Perimeter Gallery

210 W. Superior St.

Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 266-7984

www.paulrinaldi.net

www.perimetergallery.com

Columbia College is hosting their 3^rd annual Holiday Market in conjunction with the reopening of ShopColumbia. The event will showcase their newly renovated space and allow you to see even more student and alumni works including fine arts, housewares, fashion and children’s gifts. ShopColumbia is a student art boutique that opened in 2008 and has been very successful in selling their art. Come join in on the celebration on Friday December 9^th from 11-7 pm with a reception from 4-7 pm and Saturday from 11-5pm. Warm beverages and holiday treats will be provided at the reception and make the shopping experience that much sweeter.

The ShopColumbia Holiday Market is a great place to find unique gifts for your friends and family, while also giving you a relaxing shopping experience away from the typical department stores. If you are not able to make it to the Market don’t worry your in luck, online shopping is now available. Artist collections will be on display in the Quincy Wong Center for Artistic Expression, and artists will be present to answer questions and discuss their works. What could be better then shopping, art, holiday treats, and meting the talent behind the art. Columbia’s Holiday Market is a refreshing outlet for holiday shopping.Once you find that perfect gift you will be offered free gift-wrapping with a $10 donation to Scholarship Columbia or with a $100 purchase.

Friday, November 18^th at 7pm, the National Museum of Mexican Art will be hosting a world book premiere for Chicanas of 18^th Street, a collection of testimonies from six Pilsen-based female activists. Meet the authors and take this opportunity to gain access to lessons learned from this movement and what it means for today’s Latino community. 

“Women discuss how education, immigration, religion, identity, and acculturation affected the Chicano movement (University of Illinois Press).”

Through in-depth interviews with the activists we get a look at the unique movements for social reform that took root and grew in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood.

“Highlighting the women's motivations, initiatives, and experiences in politics during the 1960s and 1970s, these rich personal accounts reveal the complexity of the Chicana Movement, conflicts within the Movement, and the importance of teatro and cultural expressions to the movement. Also detailed are vital interactions between members of the Chicana Movement with leftist and nationalist community members and the influence of other activists groups such as African Americans and Marxists (University of Illinois Press).”

Mary S. Prado, author of, Mexican American Women Activists: Identity and Resistance in Two Los Angeles Communities comments, “The personal testimonies allow readers to see the dynamics that transform community members into activists. This engaging study appeals to students and scholars of women’s studies, political science, sociology, and Latina studies.”

19^th street mural

Joe Allen, Pilsen resident, and author of People Wasn’t Made to Burn says, “Pilsen is a neighborhood that is aware of its own history, where the past is adored on the walls of the buildings and the viaducts that crisscross the neighborhood, but it doesn’t do it like a museum does to celebrate the past. [Rather, it is to] remember what has to be done today and the future.” 

Part of the Barrett Park mural on Cermak road  

Activism isn’t new to the historically revolutionary neighborhood and this book provides insights that have inspired and paved the way for future community members’ fight. 

Come a little early and check out the current exhibitions at the National Museum of Mexican Art, Dia de Muertos XXV (Day of the Dead), Neptuno, and Claro y Obscuro.

The National Museum of Mexican Art is located at: 

1852 W. 19^th Street, Chicago 60608

Normal hours are: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm

Visits are always free

Call for more info: 312-369-9294

This weekend is an exciting time for art lovers in Chicago. The annual SOFA CHICAGO is back, now with an extra emphasis on art & design. Visit Navy Pier Friday-Sunday to see a wide range of art presented by international galleries and dealers. You’ll find many rare objects and works of art, as well as have access to outstanding lectures. Experts are around every corner, so the opportunities to learn and explore are endless. Once again SOFA is partnering with The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art, so you may enjoy two fairs under a single roof. 

Visit sofaexpo.com to learn more about special exhibits and lectures at the fair to get the most out of your visit. This year’s lectures (click here for info) range from The Bluffer’s Guide to European Jewelry to Cartooning In Conflict: An Illustration of the Futility of War and It's the End of the World As We Know It...But My Art is Fine! A guide to protecting your art. Most of the lectures take place Friday and Saturday, with just one on Sunday, so plan ahead if you’re hoping to get in on the learning. Lectures are included with admission.  Tickets to the fair are available online, or at the door.  

There is certainly enough activity to keep you busy all three days this weekend.  Play hooky and come to the fair on Friday, or just wait until after work and catch some gallery openings Friday evening. Chicago Gallery News is providing a courtesy shuttle between SOFA, the Museum of Contemporary Art + the River North Gallery District all weekend. The shuttles will take you to openings on Friday.  On Saturday evening, there will be an extra stop at KM Fine Arts for their special fall exhibition, Eyes Wide Shut. KM Fine Arts is located on the 25^th floor the John Hancock Center, so you’ll have a fabulous view of the city and the lakefront from the gallery, not to mention cocktails! 

Several galleries in the River North District will have extended hours all weekend (including on Sunday!) and many will be holding opening receptions Friday evening. Take the free shuttle to Franklin + Superior and enjoy the opportunity to visit the culturally rich River North District where streets are lined with galleries and great restaurants. 

River North Gallery District

SOFA + Shuttle Hours

Friday: 11am-7pm  •  Shuttle: 12-7pm

Saturday 11am-7pm  •  Shuttle: 12-7pm

Sunday 12-6pm  •  Shuttle: 11am-2pm

For more information about SOFA and galleries visit: Chicagogallerynews.com