Having just moved to Chicago from California a little over a month ago, I see every gallery, studio, and art-related event that I attend with the fresh eyes of a newcomer.  The sheer enormity of the art scene in Chicago is awe-inspiring, and reminds me why I moved here.  Hoping to see a large amount of artwork without having to travel from gallery to gallery, I decided to visit the Flat Iron Arts Building during its monthly First Friday Event in Wicker Park/Bucktown.  Knowing that it involved open studios, I decided to dress casually and was glad that I did; the vibe there is definitely—refreshingly—laid back.    

Upon first entering the building, there is an information desk with flyers, artists’ cards, and a collection for the suggested five dollar donation.  From there, visitors are free to explore three floors—each a maze of hallways lined with art that lead to a variety of studios and galleries.

In many mainstream art venues, in order to meet the artist you must attend the opening reception—and even then, sometimes you aren’t so lucky (the artist may be busy or out of town).  The Flat Iron Arts Building differs from traditional art galleries, since studios are relaxed places where the artists can work.  Although the artists in the building are primarily up-and-coming, I was pleased that they were all present during studio hours, and friendly as that!  I was able to chat with artists not only about their work, but about the local art scene as well. 

Being an up-and-coming painter myself, I was curious about the venue; how does one get his/her work exhibited there?  Rather easily, as it turns out.  I was guided toward an in-the-know individual who kindly told me that if I filled out a liability form, I was welcome to hang my work there next month.  This came as a surprise because although I have been to open studio events in California, they were not on the same (massive) scale as the Flat Iron Arts Building, and if you were not a tenant of the studio building, your work could not be shown there. 

In addition to being a destination for discovering new artists, the Flat Iron Arts Building is also a place where you can give creativity a try yourself.  Through discussion, I learned about the existence of life-drawing classes that are open to the general public, hosted by tenants in the building.  Being a figurative artist, this sparked my interest, both as a drawing exercise and a way to meet other young artists in the area. 

A few weeks after my first visit, I’m still weighing the pros and cons of showing my work in this space.  Although I wasn’t given specifics about location, I got the impression that non-tenants are generally assigned to hallway areas, some of which are quite narrow and with a fair amount of foot traffic.  Because the monthly openings are casual events, the likelihood of meeting serious buyers could be low, and the risk of work getting damaged considerable (I have a recurring nightmare about someone spilling a glass of wine on my painting).  However, despite these potential drawbacks, the opportunity to get myself “out there” free of charge, in a comfortable, low-pressure environment seems well worth the risk. 

I think that the “all artists welcome” mantra of the Flat Iron Building is probably what steers some artists and patrons towards the facility, and others away.  For me, this all-inclusiveness is what I appreciate most about the venue. The Flat Iron Arts Building benefits local artists and the general public mutually; because of it, people can see the work of artists such as myself who have not yet been picked up by galleries or dealers. 
 

Michel Balasis, As If  (tenant)

Marketa Sivek, Red Sunflowers (tenant)

Chicago Artist’s Month (CAM) continues, and this weekend, on Saturday, October 13, Chicago Gallery News' Saturday Gallery Tours in River North and the West Loop will feature work by select Chicago artists on view in participating galleries.  On these tours, a gallery representative leads visitors to four art galleries in River North and the West Loop.  Tours are ongoing and happen all year round, but this Saturday’s tours are special CAM events.

The Jean Albano Gallery is leading the River North tour this Saturday, which will feature Chicago artist Gladys Nilsson’s vibrant, compositionally intricate watercolor paintings.  Visitors on this tour will also get the chance to visit the Roy Boyd gallery, which is currently hosting its 40^th anniversary exhibition.  Perimeter Gallery and Addington Gallery are also taking part in the River North tour.  To participate, meet at 750 N. Franklin Starbucks by 11am. 

Gladys Nilsson, Jumping, Jean Albano Gallery

 Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery will be leading the West Loop tour, which features “Palisades,” the gallery’s first solo exhibition for Los Angeles based contemporary painter Elisa Johns.  Johns’ oil paintings display a combination of abstract, dream-like landscapes and distorted figures, which fuse together as a narrative mechanism. 

Elisa Johns, Muses, Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery

The Chicago Artists Month featured artist Jeremiah Lee’s cigar box guitars are being exhibited at the Packer Schopf Gallery, another destination on the West Loop tour.  At 3pm there will be a music performance using the instruments from Lee’s show.  The Linda Warren Projects Gallery and Mars Gallery are also taking part in the West loop tour.  To participate, meet at 215 N. Aberdeen (Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery) by 1:30pm.  These tours are free, and no reservations are required.  For more information, including the tour schedules, visit Chicago Gallery Tours. 

But wait, there’s more!  This Saturday and Sunday from 11am-2pm at the Art Institute of Chicago, you can get interactive with the art at “The Artists Studio: Mini Model Sculptures.” Build a small-scale version of your favorite public sculpture, or design your own monument for your favorite spot in the city. This is a great activity for children and adults of all ages!  Visit their website for more information.  And if sculpture is your thing, there is also a Reception and Trolley Tour of Chicago’s Sculpture Exhibit on Sunday at 3pm that spans Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park/Bucktown.  For details about this sculpture tour, click here.

Picasso, Maquette, Richard J. Daley Center

Michael Young, Looking Up, Chicago Sculpture Exhibit

And we’re back with another edition of “Art in the Neighborhood”. Today, we’re featuring the energetic and funky neighborhood of Wicker Park / Bucktown. History shows that Wicker Park has been a long-time advocate for arts and culture. Veteran arts organizations such as the Chopin Theater, the Near Northwest Art Council, and the Flat Iron Arts Association were born here and continue to offer their services decades later (and for the Chopin Theater, over ninety years later). Some of the more recent additions to the culturally rich Wicker Park legacy include Park Schreck Gallery, Jackson Junge Gallery, and Pagoda Red.

Park Schreck Gallery

Located right off the lakeshore, Park Schreck Gallery celebrated their first anniversary in June with a show featuring a diverse group of emerging talent, 80% of whom are Chicagoans. Founded upon the belief that in-person viewing is the best way to enjoy art, this gallery is dedicated to finding and showcasing contemporary artists eager to connect with buyers. If you’re in town, make sure to catch Into the Void, a solo exhibition featuring Steve Amos.  His bold and fractural abstract paintings will be on display until July 30^th. Like Park Schreck on Facebook follow them on Twitter or stop by any day of the week except Tuesday, between the hours of 11am and 6pm.

Jackson Junge Gallery

Just a five-minute walk away, Jackson Junge Gallery  is located directly south of Park Schreck, on Milwaukee. Also a newbie to the Wicker Park arts scene, this three-year-old gallery is co-owned by Chicago artist Laura Lee Junge  and partner Chris Jackson. Jackson Junge spotlights Junge’s personal work, but also shows other contemporary “guest” artists throughout the year. As an added bonus, co-owner Jackson offers custom framing services on site. Currently showing at Jackson Junge is an exhibition of Kavan Geary’s glowing and ethereal photography, entitled Illumination, closing on July 1^st. Keep up with the Jackson-Junge duo on Facebook  and Twitter. Visit the gallery any day of the week between 11am and 8pm, or 12am – 5pm on Sundays.

Pagoda Red

Walk only a couple blocks north to the northernmost corner of Wicker Park for an escape to the Far East. A connoisseur of Chinese furniture and decorative arts for nearly fifteen years, Pagoda Red provides an authentic taste of both contemporary and traditional Asian style. The showroom opened in 1997, making this gallery the most mature of the Wicker Park group. Most of their inventory, from seating and lighting to original paintings and scrolls, can be viewed both online and in store. While scrolling through their extensive online collection, make sure to “clip your favorites” to create a personal wishlist.  Like Pagoda Red on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or stop by the gallery Monday through Saturday from 10am – 6pm. (And don’t forget about Pagoda Red’s sister storefront in Winnetka, located at 902 Green Bay Road.)

For more information on North Side galleries and art spaces, consult CGN's North Side district listings.

If you’ve been patiently waiting for more from Dumela Contemporary African Art since last summer’s show, fret not - the waiting is nearly over.  Roscoe Village’s August House Studio will once again host Dumela’s annual summer show featuring original paintings by emerging and established artists from Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. 

Represented artists create vibrant and evocative work in acrylic, oil, watercolors, pastels and mixed media – all handpicked by Dumela’s owners, Nancy McDaniel and Leila Green, during annual visits to Africa.  Dumela has longstanding relationships with African artists, from whom the artwork is purchased.  Dumela then selects custom framing that compliments each piece from a local Chicago company, and assembles their annual sale to share this artwork with the public.  Don’t miss this once-a-year show and sale!

June 1-30, 2012
Opening reception on Friday, June 1, 5:30-9pm

August House Studio  |  2113 W. Roscoe, Chicago, IL 60618
Visit during regular studio hours: Fridays 5-9pm, Saturdays 1-6pm, Sundays 12-6pm;  or contact Nancy McDaniel to schedule a private viewing appointment: 773-477-2404 or kabusinze@comcast.net.

Dumela’s Adventures from the past year...
In August 2011, Dumela excitedly hosted a favorite Zimbabwean artist, Charles Nkomo, for 5 days.  Charles had come to the USA to spend time at a friends’ gallery, Amazwi, in Saugatuck, Michigan. Following his stay there, Charles came to Chicago where Dumela held a show of his work at The Frame Factory - Dumela's long time and exclusive framer.  The show was attended by many clients, fans and owners of the artist's work.  Charles fell in love with Chicago’s scenery, restaurants, and even some shops... Old Navy and DSW!
 
Dumela co-owner Leila Green traveled to South Africa in March to attend the wedding of a close friend's son.  While there, she met with several artists: Charles Nkomo, Patrick Rapai, Ruziwo Katsidzira, and others.  For the first time, she met a young artist named Petros Mwenga, and did not like the work he initially showed her, but thought he had talent and agreed to meet with him again.  After their second meeting, things clicked and she bought a painting from him.
 
Nancy McDaniel, Dumela’s other co-owner, wasn't able to make a trip to Africa in 2011, but through various channels did manage to get some new work from two artists she knows well - Stephen Njenga and Martin Bulinya.  More recently, Nancy has had her hands full with a (troublesome) painting purchased from a Zimbabwe artist, James Jali.  The painting was unsigned when originally purchased, so it was taken back to Harare by a friend, signed by the artist, and was ready to ship back to the US.  The travelers (en route back the US themselves) thought it would be easier, cheaper and faster to mail the painting to Dumela once back inside the US border.  Sadly, as so many people can relate to, the painting is still floating around somewhere in UPS land, after being shipped from Maryland on May 2.  Needless to say - unless there's a shipping miracle - that painting will not be in this June's show, but hopefully will arrive in time for the 2013 show! 

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Whaam!, 1963. Magna and oil on canvas. 172.7 x 406.4 cm (68 x 160 in). © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. Tate: Purchased 1966. Photo ©Tate, 2011.

The Art Institute of Chicago presents a colorful exhibition of old favorites and lesser-known works in Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, opening to the public on Tuesday, May 22.  The retrospective samples five decades and over 160 works by Lichtenstein (1923-1997) grouping bodies of work into familiar categories of the artists’ oeuvre, i.e., cartoon and comic paintings that staked his place in the Pop scene of '60s, a series in black and white, a variety of enlarged brushstroke paintings. 

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Look Mickey, 1961. Oil on canvas. 121.9 x 175.3 cm (48 x 69 in). © National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery of Art. Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein, Gift of the artist, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery.

Many will recognize Lichtenstein’s more well-known works like Look Mickey (1961), Drowning Girl (1963), and others in his notable comic-like style of large halftone dots, but other bodies of work felt refreshing amidst the more familiar arenas – a grouping of bronze and brass Art Deco sculptures; a room filled with small drawings, sketches and studies for large paintings; a series of nudes and Chinese landscapes.  These more obscure groupings were the highlights of the exhibition for me, a Lichtenstein fan, because they provided a glimpse into his career that I had not seen before.  I’ve seen the large painting, Ohhh…Alright… (1964) several times, and while I still enjoy examining the canvas, I very much appreciated seeing the tiny study from which it stemmed. 

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Ohhh…Alright…, 1964. Oil and Magna on canvas. 91.4 x 96.5 cm (36 x 38 in). © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. Private Collection.

Lichtenstein was born in New York City in 1923 and studied at New York’s Art Students League prior to attending Ohio State University where he earned both his BFA (1946) and MFA (1949).  Before completing his studies, Lichtenstein was drafted in 1943 to serve in the U.S. Army, where he was on active duty in Europe beginning in 1945.  When he returned from the Army, he attended and taught at Ohio State until 1951 when he married and moved to Cleveland.  After several successful shows and a gaining reputation in the artworld, Lichtenstein returned to New York and continued making work.

Like other Pop artists, Lichtenstein’s work blends characteristics from seemingly far different realms: fine art, mass media, advertising, comics.  Lichtenstein continued to combine these different characteristics throughout his career with the use of large Benday / halftone dots seen in work that was done early in his career through some of the last series the artist completed in the nineties.  The Brushstrokes series is a prime example of the pairing of mass media with fine art.  In his large canvases, Lichtenstein depicts expressionist brushstrokes, drips and splatters.  From a distance, those gestural marks are the first thing the viewer picks up on, but upon closer inspection, the halftone dots come into focus as does the juxtaposition of the almighty Abstract Expressionist marks against the dot pattern used in mass-produced print materials.  It is this kind of unconventional pairing in Lichtenstein’s work that appeals to me, while examining what is depicted and how it is depicted. 

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Brushstroke with Spatter, 1966. Oil and Magna on canvas. 121.9 x 152.4 cm (68 x 80 in). © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. Art Institute of Chicago, Barbara Neff Smith and Solomon Byron Smith Purchase Fund.

James Rondeau, Dittmer Chair and Curator, Department of Contemporary Art at the Art Institute states “Lichtenstein is rightly recognized for being a foundational Pop artist who created some of the most iconic works of the 20^th century.  But these works – the comic strips, the war imagery – represent only part of Lichtenstein’s decades-long career.  Our aim with this exhibition is to explore the full range of absorbing contradictions at the heart of Lichtenstein’s work – starting with the paradox that Lichtenstein systematically dismantled the history of modern art while becoming a fixture in that canon.  Lichtenstein, we hope to show, was a profoundly radical artist with a lasting impact on the history of 20^th-century art.”

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Landscape in Fog, 1996. Oil and Magna on canvas. 180.3 x 207.6 cm (71 x 81.75 in). © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. Private Collection.

Following its run at the Art Institute through September 3, the retrospective will travel to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., the Tate Modern, London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Art Institute member days for Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective have been extended through Friday, May 18.  The museum will be closed to the public during the NATO summit, from Saturday, May 19 through Monday, May 21, and the public opening date for the retrospective is Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective
May 22 - September 3, 2012
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603

Roy Lichtenstein, American (1923-1997). Untitled, 1959. Oil on canvas. 86.5 x 71.3 cm (34.0625 x 28.0625 in). © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. Private Collection.