• From the print edition of the May-August 2013 issue of Chicago Gallery News

Chicago artists are always up to something new. Below we’ve picked out highlights we think you shouldn’t miss this season.  New picks will be posted in the upcoming months.  If you have your own picks to recommend, please leave them in our comments section. We are always proud to promote what Chicago artists are up to here and around the world. - CGN

Theaster Gates - 

Musuem of Contemporary Art (MCA)

Above: Top: Theaster Gates, 12 Ballads for the Huguenot House, 2012. Performance view, Documenta 13, Kassel, Germany. Bottom: Installation View, Documenta 13, Kassel, Germany. Images courtesy of Kavi Gupta CHICAGO I BERLIN

13th Ballad, an installation by Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates, is an extension of the artist's 12 Ballads for Huguenot House, which was co-produced by the Museum of Contemporary Art for dOCUMENTA (13), the international art exhibition in Kassel, Germany. For 13th Ballad, Gates creates a new large-scale installation in the MCA's Kovler Atrium that comprises objects and materials from the Huguenot House, along with a monumental double cross sculpture and carved wooden pews which create an ecclesiastical ambience to suggest that art museums, like churches, are sites of pilgrimage and thoughtful contemplation. 13th Ballad is accompanied at the MCA by a series of collaborative performances and is on view May 18-October 6, 2013. www.mcachicago.org

• Artistic notecards by Tony Fitzpatrick

For the first time, you can buy eight of artist Tony Fitzpatrick’s drawing collage images at a time for under $20!  Packs of four images printed on eight notecards are now being sold through Chicago’s The Found, a handy source for all things printed. The No. 9 Birds series is created from Fitzpatrick’s original art. $16.50 at www.thefound.com

Fitzpatrick's notecards feature a series of four birds from his drawing collages

• The Chicago Project (various artists)

Catherine Edelman Gallery

2013 marks the ten-year anniversary of The Chicago Project, started in 2003 as an online-only gallery devoted to unrepresented photographers in the Chicagoland area. In an effort to promote local talent, Catherine Edelman put out a call for submission to all local photographers to submit work on an ongoing basis, in an effort to expose local artists to an ever-increasing worldwide audience. This summer CEG presents The Chicago Project V: Selections from our Online Gallery. Artists in the exhibition are Clarissa Bonet, Eddee Daniel, Juan Fernandez, Justin Chase Lane, Peter Hoffman, Paul Marquardt, Jessica Tampas, Anthony Vizzari and Jacob Watts. The entire show can be seen online at www.edelmangallery.com

Above: Top: Clarissa Bonet: Paths, 2011, from the Chicago Project at Catherine Edelman Gallery; Bottom: Jacob Watts, Celebration, 2012

• Vivian Maier’s photographs

Bridgeport Art Center and Russell Bowman Art Advisory

Vivian Maier's striking photographs of people and scenes around Chicago were discovered in a thrift shop here in 2007.  Maier worked in Chicago as a nanny for 40 years, and this summer two spaces feature her photographs: 

• May 30: Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows: slide presentation by Rich Cahan + Ron Gordon. At Bridgeport Art Center.

www.bridgeportart.com

• June 21-August 17: 

Vivian Maier, Summer in the City, at Russell Bowman Art Advisory

www.bowmanart.com

Vivian Maier, Untitled (Vivian's Shadow with Flags), July 1970, Edition 4/15. At Russell Bowman Art Advisory June 21-August 17

MDW Fair 2012 is back and happening all weekend starting off with the Vernissage Opening Party tonight, Friday November 9 from 7pm-12am.

MDW Fair first debuted in spring 2011 as a gathering of independent art initiatives, spaces, galleries and artist groups from the Chicago area.  This year’s fair is a collaborative project between the Public Media Institute, Document, Roots & Culture, and threewalls featuring more than 75 exhibitors, publishers, and performers. MDW Fair highlights artist-run activities as well as grassroots and independent culture.

The Friday Vernissage Event invites the public to join in celebrating with food, drinks and music. From 7– 8:30pm tonight the Propellor Fund Award Ceremony is honoring the 15 winners of the 2012 Propeller Funds award. Propeller Fund is a grant for self-organized, public, and collaborative projects and is administered by threewalls and Gallery 400 at UIC. Also from 7pm until midnight tonight on the second floor of Mana Contemporary Chicago will be opening night festivities, including performance programs and libations.

For a detailed list of performances, events, and a complete list of participants throughout the weekend please check out MDW Fair 2012’s website.

When:

Saturday, November 10: 12-6pm

Sunday, November 11: 12-6pm

Where:

Mana Contemporary

2233 South Throop Street, Chicago

Attention art lovers! The holiday season has arrived and we’re inviting you to celebrate in an artsy way. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of terrific holiday prices on fine art all over Chicago for every budget! Give the lasting gift of art to a loved one or treat yourself this holiday season.

Chicago Gallery News is offering you a special insider guide on where to find this season’s specials.

Galleries Maurice Sternberg

This well-known gallery has 25 beautiful paintings starting at just $2,000.  Visit their space in the John Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan and enjoy an arty getaway when you’re in the hustle and bustle of Michigan Ave.

galleriesmauricesternberg.com  

Don Southard  

Nicholas Kilmer 

Project Onward

Friday, December 9, 12-5; Saturday, December 10, 10-4

This program at the Chicago Cultural Center is hosting a Holiday Sale and Portrait Slam, selling original artwork, hand-painted ornaments, decorated cards, and creating customized portraits (artists are willing to work from photographs too).

www.ExploreChicago.org

Roy Boyd Gallery

Dec 11 + 12, 1-6pm

The gallery is opening up their storeroom for you!

Ann and Roy from Roy Boyd Gallery will be displaying work that has been shown in the gallery over the past few decades –some works will be familiar + others a surprise-stop by for this unique peek! Royboydgallery.com

Chicago Urban Arts Society

Dec 18, 12-5pm

CUAS has last minute holiday shoppers covered - they’re hosting the Windy City Artist Alley, where artists, printmakers, illustrators + DIY artists who work in all genres and styles will set up, ready to fill your last minute shopping needs. It’s a great opportunity to check CUAS’s new space too at 600 W Cermak Rd.

chicagourbanartsociety.org

J2 Gallery

The gallery is offering a 20% discount off all limited Edition Reproductions by L. Lee Junge. And there’s no need to wait in line-order online at j2gallery.com and get free shipping using the promo code: LT0C9P

Additionally, photographer, David Mayhew is offering high quality limited Edition photographs both framed and unframed beginning at $110! Call 773-227-7900 for more info. 

L. Lee Junge 

David Mayhew 

Illinois Artisans Program Holiday Art Spree

December 14-16,10-3:30

Meet 20 artisans, learn about their craft, and purchase one-of-kind pieces at the 3-day Holiday Art Spree at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph at the Clark/Lake El Stop.  See an assortment of work from hand-woven table settings, printmaking, glass, paintings, and jewelry!  kschneider@museum.state.il.us

Explore more art online and stay up to date on art events throughout the year at Chicagogallerynews.com  

   Krisanne Johnson  

Glass Curtain Gallery presents Black Gossamer, a group exhibition opening November 17^th where several artists are exploring black identity.

Glass Curtain Gallery comments, “An anxiousness exists among people of color because there is still an expectation to "perform," explain and react to one's Blackness in society, maybe even make excuses for it, both within and outside "black" culture. One outlet utilized to express this dichotomy is through dress.”

“This exhibition showcases the work of black contemporary artists who use and draw inspiration from clothing, fashion, textiles and fabrications to explore and uncover recent revolutions in black identity.” (Class Curtain Gallery)  

 Wangechi Mutu 

Black Gossamer exhibits an impressive collection of work from several artists, including New York based Kenyan artist, Wangechi Mutu. Mutu’s work has been shown in venues such as: the Tate Modern, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, MOMA, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, and at the Royal Academy in London.

Other artists include: Aisha Bell, Sheila Bridges, Myra Greene, Marlon Griffith, Krisanne Johnson, Kalup Linzy, Ebony G. Patterson (colum.edu/Student_Life/DEPS/)

Black Gossamer will include multiple opportunities to attend gallery talks and hear from some of the artists as well as curator, Camille Morgan. See below for a list of corresponding events.

Marlon Griffith, LOUIS (from the Powder Box School Girl series), 2009 

Located at 1104 S. Wabash on the 1^st floor of the historic Ludington building at Columbia College, Glass Curtain Gallery exhibits emerging and mid career artists. By presenting museum-quality exhibitions, workshops, and visiting artist lectures, Glass Curtain acts as a catalyst in the dialogue for students in the arts. 

Ebony G. Patterson 

For more information about the exhibition click here 

Exhibition Programming

November 17: Opening Reception 5:00-8:00pm

November 18 : "Taboo Fashion and Chameleon Identities" Gallery Artist Talk with Artists Aisha Bell and Ebony G. Patterson, 11-12:30pm

November 22: Critical Encounters Cafe Society discussion with artist Myra Greene and Curator, 4-6pm

February 1: Closing Reception - African American Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration, 5:30 - 7:30pm

The 41^st annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House is a unique opportunity for all you art lovers to get a self-guided walking tour of the world of the working artist. The event is taking place Friday September 30^th to Sunday October 2nd at the Chicago Arts District. Sixty artists will participate in this open house tour of their home, studio, theatre, dance space, or gallery, and be there to answer any questions or to just simply discuss their art. Friday begins with CS:41 The Curated Show Opening Gallery from 6:00 to 10:00 and features The Hollow Exhibition. Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 7:00 will be the time allotted for visiting with artists and really experiencing art at its source.

This event is the only one of its kind and is an important part of Chicago’s cultural history, as it helps integrate the public into the local artist’s space. Founded by Mrs. Annelies Podmajersky and local artists in 1970, it has held on as an important event in the art world ever since. This neighborhood also helps support the city’s creative community with a similar event called 2^nd Fridays, in which every 2^nd Friday of the month galleries, and other artist spaces open new shows.  The century-old buildings are occupied by a variety of artists who consistently create a “fresh and dynamic” space. The Pilsen East neighborhood is a place where many artists come to seek space for their creativity and launch their artistic careers. This event allows the public to interact and learn about the artist’s works, inspirations, and creative processes.

Friday September 30th: 6:00 to 10:00 pm, Opening Gala at CS:41 The Curated Show, Hosted by Chicago Arts District

Saturday and Sunday october 1st and 2nd: 12:00 to 7:00 pm, time to visit the world of the working artist