<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1740178268/dslr1ptjsn4tfhdyfddi.jpg"> By GINNY VAN ALYEA DARKROOM&nbsp;is the Museum of Contemporary Photograph's annual renowned benefit auction featuring premier artworks and one-of-a-kind arts experiences by emerging and established contemporary artists from around the world. It's also a really good party. Taking place on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Columbia College in Chicago's South Loop, this year's event will once again by a festive night in support of MoCP's important programming. When an event takes place year after year, we want to know what will make this year's event different from the rest. I asked MoCP Director Natasha Egan and this year's DARKROOM co-chairs, Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson what we can expect and look forward to - from great art, an important photography award, and some old-school bidding. <h6>CGN: Tell us what we can expect from this year’s DARKROOM benefit.</h6>Expect to step into an immersive atmosphere where light and color blend, shift, and interact, creating a vibrant, ever-changing experience. Dynamic projections and fluid hues will set the stage for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and celebration—all in support of MoCP. A lively auction will feature stunning photographic works from artists across the globe, alongside fantastic food from The Gage, drinks from Orin Swift and Sovereign Brands, and sweet treats from Pretty Cool and Sugar Bliss—all generously sponsored by our partners. SmartBar’s DJ Alejandro Zerah will keep the night flowing with the perfect mix of beats and atmosphere. Whether you're bidding, mingling, or simply soaking it all in, DARKROOM 2025 promises to be a night you won’t want to miss. <h6>CGN: Why is the museum’s fundraiser more important than ever this year?</h6>The arts are facing some complicated headwinds—funding challenges, shifting priorities, and an ever-evolving cultural landscape. But one thing remains clear: spaces like MoCP are more vital than ever. DARKROOM directly supports the museum’s ability to showcase groundbreaking photography, offer free exhibitions and programs, and champion artists at every stage of their careers. Your support ensures that MoCP continues to be a thriving hub for creativity, conversation, and visual literacy in Chicago and beyond. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1740178268/cmjri0gmxd2hnjzet79h.jpg"> <h6>CGN: I hear clipboards and indecipherable handwriting are back in style. Will I be able to put my phone away at this party?</h6>Absolutely! We’re embracing the old-school thrill of paper bid sheets—so get ready for some dramatic last-minute scribbling and friendly elbowing at the auction. But if you spot something you must have and don’t want to risk a bidding war, you can still snag it instantly with our “Buy It Now” option…on your phone. Otherwise, let’s keep the digital distractions to a minimum—after all, nothing beats the excitement of watching your friends panic as they try to outbid you with a pen! <h6>CGN: What if someone has to miss the big night, but they really want to bid on a work in the auction?</h6>No problem! You can still be part of the action. If you can’t attend in person but have your eye on something special, contact Jaclyn Silverman at jsilverman@colum.edu, and she’ll work with you to place an absentee bid. Or, if you’re the decisive type, you can use the Buy It Now option online—and 25% of the purchase price will be tax-deductible! Don’t miss your chance to take home a stunning work of photography while supporting MoCP. <h6>CGN: Please share a little about this year’s Silver Camera award recipient, Vera Lutter.</h6>Vera Lutter is a visionary artist who quite literally sees the world through a different lens—transforming entire rooms and shipping containers into massive pinhole cameras. Using the camera obscura technique (which, fittingly, translates to darkroom), she creates large-scale, inverted images that challenge our perception of time, space, and memory. She’s a trailblazer in the field of photography, and we are thrilled to honor her with this year’s Silver Camera Award. <h6>CGN: Anything else you’re dying to tell us about DARKROOM 2025?</h6>Yes! If you haven’t yet, get your tickets now—because you won’t want to miss this one. And come ready to celebrate, bid, and maybe even leave with a new piece of photographic history. For all the details on tickets, the auction, and how to participate, visit <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/events/darkroom-2025/" target="_blank">mocp.org/events/darkroom-2025/</a> now! # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1740178269/kkjcvhwtfrmsimtlazpu.png">

MoCP's Darkroom Returns February 27

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1740177620/syvoivokisp1ow92s5be.jpg">Carl Hammer By CGN Staff After four and a half decades in business, Chicago mainstay Carl Hammer is closing his eponymous River North gallery in just a few weeks on April 1, 2025. CGN Publisher Ginny Van Alyea interviewed Hammer this past fall. You can <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/carl-hammer-45-years-of-steady-change" target="_blank">read the interview here</a>. In a shared statement this week, the gallery announced, "The Carl Hammer Gallery will close on April 1, and the current exhibition provides a historic representation of what Hammer envisioned for his gallery forty-five years ago. He opened the Hammer &amp; Hammer Gallery at 620 North Michigan in Chicago in 1979 while maintaining a full-time English teaching position at Evanston Township High School.” His “singular vision for the gallery was to present the very best of American folk and outsider art to a public that had limited knowledge or appreciation of such material. Carl haunted flea markets and antique shops, in and beyond the upper Midwest, becoming known for his discriminating eye, finding extraordinary examples of folk art and material culture.” With the work that he found—”examples of tramp art, memory jugs, objects made by inmates, one-of-a-kind shop signs, sideshow banners, waterfowl decoys and unique handmade objects”—many examples of the folk art were by artists who were unidentified, and others didn’t refer to themselves as artists. Carl represented them all with the utmost respect. The gallery soon became a gathering place for the growing community of Chicagoans intrigued by and embracing art from beyond the mainframe.” Early shows included Bill Traylor, S.L. Jones, Minnie Evans, Frank Jones, and other self-taught artists, but he promoted Chicago’s homegrown talent, including Gregory Warmack (aka Mr. Imagination), Albert Zahn, Joseph Yoakum, Lee Godie, William Dawson, Aldo Piacenza and Lee Godie. In the 1990s Carl represented the Henry Darger estate and expanded beyond the genre of self-taught artists.” He also drew from emerging artists at Chicago art schools, including Hollis Sigler, Ken Warneke, Chris Ware, Fred Stonehouse, Mary Lou Zelazney, ‘CJ’ Pyle, Martin Mull, Vanessa German, David Sharpe and Elizabeth Shreve. The gallery also showed Chicago Imagist artists and work by Roger Brown, Karl Wirsum, Ed Paschke and other Chicago artists. Hammer “extends his heartfelt thanks to the uncountable people–artists, fellow gallerists, clients, critics, curators, educators, scholars and students for their unequivocal support and for sharing in the years and joys of Carl Hammer Gallery.”

Carl Hammer Gallery Announces Closing after 45 Years

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739993324/fuggnt32cejc5c1omds3.jpg">Image:&nbsp;Jennifer Armetta, CAB Executive Director. Courtesy Chicago Architecture Biennial. Photo: Noah Sheldon. By CGN Staff Jennifer Armetta, a Chicago-based gallery owner, has just been named the new Executive Director of the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB). Armetta is well-known in Chicago, since for three decades Armetta she has been actively working with artists, collectors and others in the art world. She founded her first gallery in Chicago in 1996, Jennifer Armetta Fine Art, before moving to Los Angeles in 2000, where she continued her work as an art advisor. In 2004, Armetta returning to Chicago. Around that time she served as one of the founding members of the MCA Chicago’s acquisition board, Emerge, which is dedicated to bringing emerging artists into the museum’s permanent collection. In 2020 Armetta took on the role of Owner and Director of Aspect/Ratio Projects in Chicago, a gallery founded in 2012, by Jefferson Godard. Initially founded as a gallery focused on video art, Armetta oversaw the evolution of its programming to include emerging and mid-career, interdisciplinary artists focused on painting, photography and sculpture. In fall of 2021 Aspect/Ratio Projects changed its name to ENGAGE Projects, highlighting Jennifer’s personal mission of engaging with artists, communities and patrons in order to make art and its community more accessible to everyone. Armetta maintains deep and long-standing ties to the civic, fine arts and business communities in Chicago. She holds a seat on a number of boards, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; the Chicago Artists Coalition; The Chicago History Museum Costume Council and Artists in Public Schools.&nbsp; As the Executive Director of CAB, Armetta will leverage her extensive and wide-ranging experience working in both the fine arts and corporate sectors as she spearheads fundraising and programming initiatives along with securing new corporate and public sponsorships. Each facet of her role will remain oriented towards both solidifying CAB’s international presence and expanding its impact on and contribution to the city of Chicago. CAB 6 will be open to the public and on view from September 12, 2025 through February 28, 2026. The hub of the Biennial will once again be the Chicago Cultural Center, located in downtown Chicago.&nbsp;To learn more about Jennifer's appointment,&nbsp;please visit CAB's&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(109, 198, 221);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=51d9a79e08fd7f7dbb49c27a6&amp;id=d4f70e5617&amp;e=3dc58ca038" target="_blank">website</a>.

Jennifer Armetta, Chicago-based gallery owner, named Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) Exec. Dir.

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739911086/qn8cdc2bpi2ojwmyixai.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/on-fire-part-ii-surveying-women-in-glass-in-the-late-twentieth-century" target="_blank">On Fire Part II: Surveying Women in Glass in the Late-Twentieth Century</a>Exhibition begins February 19Racine Art Museum <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739911087/lyidnac6ln8ecqa4ixyc.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/new-works-by-michael-hedges" target="_blank">New Works by Michael Hedges</a>Exhibition begins February 20McCormick Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739911090/yskinketzxe0qjyjezgo.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/alberto-aguilar-a-factual-accont" target="_blank">Alberto Aguilar: a factual accont</a>Opening: Friday, February 21, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PMENGAGE Projects <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739911091/h6cwb6k1fikdn7lqqx6l.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/pipilotti-rist-supersubjektiv" target="_blank">Pipilotti Rist: Supersubjektiv</a>Exhibition begins February 22Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739911093/kocjdjrdjp4jxfhqubrt.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/picturing-community-stories-in-photographs-with-the-evanston-history-center" target="_blank">Picturing Community: Stories in Photographs | with the Evanston History Center</a>Opening: Sunday, February 23, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PMEvanston Art Center

New Exhibitions Opening February 19 - 23

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739900835/yml1hegpcpxrwx3t2krr.jpg"></h4>Chicago artist Caroline Kent poses for a portrait at her studio in Humboldt Park on Jan. 29, 2025. Kent is the talent behind a large, site-specific mural in Chicago’s Union Station and forthcoming exhibitions at the Smart Museum and Patron Gallery.&nbsp;Manuel Martinez/WBEZ<h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2025/02/12/chicago-art-caroline-kent-abstract-union-station-mural?utm_source=Newsletter_Weekly-Non-Member&amp;utm_medium=WBEZEmail&amp;utm_campaign=News_Newsletter_Weekly-Rundown_News_20250215&amp;utm_content=2/15/2025&amp;DE=WBEZEmail" target="_blank">Meet artist Caroline Kent, whose bold mural is transforming Chicago’s Union Station</a></h4> Caroline Kent stands in the center of her Humboldt Park home studio, surrounded by works in progress. Along one wall, four massive abstract paintings are partially complete, while smaller linen canvases sit scattered across her worktables. Nearby, adding to the vibrant energy of the space, is a collection of cut-paper shapes: experiments for a new project.But at the moment, Kent, 49, isn’t discussing her to-do list. Instead, she trains her eye on her cat, precariously perched above the studio space atop a partition wall. Via WBEZ Read CGN's fall 2024 profile of Kent <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/caroline-kent-confidence-on-canvas" target="_blank">here</a> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/02/14/art-institute-chicago-french-old-masters-gift-jeffrey-carol-horvitz" target="_blank">Art Institute of Chicago gifted more than 2,200 French Old Masters</a></h4> The&nbsp;<a style="color: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 254, 250);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/keywords/art-institute-of-chicago" target="_blank">Art Institute of Chicago</a>&nbsp;(AIC) has received a massive gift of French art from the collectors Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz. Comprised of almost 2,000 drawings, 200 paintings and 50 sculptures by legendary artists like Jacques-Louis David and François Boucher, the donation reflects the scope and depth of the Horvitz collection, renowned as the largest privately held trove of French Old Master works in the US. Via The Art Newspaper <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/13/artist-s-work-pulses-new-life-after-open-heart-surgery-and-series-hallucinations" target="_blank">Artist’s Work Pulses With New Life After Open-Heart Surgery and a Series of Hallucinations</a></h4> A serious health scare became an unexpected catalyst for change for a Chicago-based artist. While recovering from open-heart surgery in 2021,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(20, 78, 150);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sharcoulson.com/" target="_blank">Shar Coulson</a>&nbsp;experienced trippy visions that ultimately shaped her artwork. The paintings she made are the focus of&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(20, 78, 150);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://imss.org/nightsight-shar-coulson/" target="_blank">“NIGHT SIGHT: Illuminating the Mind’s Eye Through Darkness,”</a>&nbsp;an exhibition at the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(20, 78, 150);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://imss.org/" target="_blank">International Museum of Surgical Science</a>&nbsp;— the Gold Coast museum of medicine that also boasts a healthy contemporary art program. Coulson spoke with WTTW News about her unusual encounter with the healing powers of art and science. Via WTTW

What We are Reading: 2/18/25

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739333917/oekxxx9awpzcem4teue1.jpg">Gallery view at Griffin MSI By GINNY VAN ALYEA An especially creative and inviting opportunity to visit, or return to, if you haven't been in awhile, the newly renamed Griffin MSI, formerly the Museum of Science and Industry, is to experience an expansive, multi-generational visual arts exhibit that has been displayed annually at Griffin MSI since 1970.&nbsp;Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition&nbsp;features paintings, drawings, fine art prints, sculpture, mixed-media, ceramics and photography by African Americans, including youth artists between the ages of 14 and 17. The exhibition opened earlier this month, and the crowds in attendance on a cold Sunday when I visited with my family, were significant and energetic. Though all the works in this year's exhibition are viewable online, the chance to see them in person and in proximity to other works will only be possible through the end of April. There are works by very young artists and pieces by professional, older artists. abstract works juxtaposed with figurative ones, and serenely lit sculptures encased in acrylic. Each work is also, if available, for sale. The museum's website makes it possible to contact individual artists directly, as well as see which works received <a style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/black-creativity-juried-art-exhibition/awards" target="_blank">awards</a> this year. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739333918/gjzovsiwde1zrr0rmo75.jpg">Alice Aida AyersLIBATIONSHand sewn quilt, fabric, beads, threads<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(136, 136, 136);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.aliceaida.com/" target="_blank">Artist info</a> The art exhibition is but one part of Griffin MSI's celebration of African American achievement in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics through its Black Creativity program. Black Creativity offers a wide range of targeted, culturally relevant STEAM education programming supported by the Museum’s&nbsp;education initiatives, reaching over 10,000 students, their teachers, and their families in underserved Chicago neighborhoods each year. MSI says it aims to achieve four main goals through the program: <ul><li>Provide exposure for African-American youth to careers, educational pathways, and other opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math.</li><li>Deepen students’ engagement with STEAM through hands-on learning.</li><li>Increase access to Griffin MSI and its resources to African-American students and their families.</li><li>Showcase African Americans and their contributions, past and current, to the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.</li></ul> Between now and the end of April, make the trip to visit Griffin MSI to see Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition as well as all the museum has to offer both visitors to the city as well as locals. This exhibition&nbsp;is now open through April 27, 2025 and&nbsp;is included in Museum Entry. Note: On Feb. 15 and March 15 the museum offers an opportunity to enroll young innovators in a one-day&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(254, 80, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://msichicago.emlnk1.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDV6Gd558v0_5MhORr3XAjjdHzjMY2X5TGJIXL55WtyUy.0OJy23Jzit9vjNYxbHPHJXOe" target="_blank">Curiosity Camp</a>&nbsp;about the trailblazing pilot Bessie Coleman. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739333918/ungnsxb1vmxclgnddybj.jpg">Kevin WestWhen Sunday ComesOil<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(136, 136, 136);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://kwestfineart.com/" target="_blank">Artist info</a> ﻿

"Black Creativity" Returns for Annual Viewing at Griffin MSI

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739247166/mhm1oeznsty9gtbhhx1n.png">Cynthia Burr By ABBEY KOT Since 2016, Vivid Art Gallery has given the community of Winnetka an opportunity to view and learn about an array of artists and mediums, giving prospective buyers the unique opportunity to further curate their spaces through their selections. This week we discuss the business model and practice with owner and curator, Cynthia Burr. &nbsp; Chicago Gallery News: Vivid Art Gallery offers visitors a unique viewing experience, with multiple artists always on display. How do you feel this model has impacted your visitors’ experiences over the years? Cynthia Burr: Many galleries are located in art districts or tourist areas where customers stroll leisurely and, if they happen to see a piece they like, they buy it.&nbsp;Here on the North Shore, the experience is more intentional.&nbsp;People come in because they are looking for a painting for over the mantle, for example.&nbsp;So if we have only one artist’s work on the walls, the probability that there will be a fit is not great.&nbsp;But with examples of 25 artists’ work hanging in the gallery, there is a better chance that they will find artwork that speaks to them.&nbsp;Having multiple artists’ work hanging in the gallery also exposes people to art that they might not want in their home but that they find interesting and want to learn more about.&nbsp;We represent artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, mixed media, thread, scratchboard, lithography, photography, and ceramics.&nbsp;This provides visitors with the opportunity to be educated about many different art forms if they are interested in learning. CGN: A business which offers multiple services also takes strict management of all departments to ensure that customers are receiving the best possible experience. Have there been any challenges or learning experiences that stand out to you when it comes to overseeing numerous aspects of the gallery? CB: Obviously, I had a lot to learn about the art business when I opened the gallery!&nbsp;I think that forming partnerships with key collaborators has been important to making sure that customers have a great experience, from framers to installers to shippers. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1739247167/k7y5smyirrcvzztbu6sv.jpg">A view of the gallery CGN: &nbsp;A large part of your mission is to promote community and conversation about art in Chicago’s North Shore Neighborhood. Why do you feel it is so important to foster creativity and a love for the arts? CB: It seems that so many people on the North Shore are uncomfortable walking into a gallery, much less buying art. They don’t feel knowledgeable about art, and that takes them out of their comfort zone.&nbsp;It’s so important to make art accessible, and we have worked hard to create a “safe” place for people to come in, look around, and ask questions.&nbsp;Sometimes they buy, sometimes they don’t, but they will have had an experience that makes them more comfortable going into the next gallery. Our goal is to make art approachable, so that more people will experience it and interact with it. &nbsp;&nbsp; CGN: Have you noticed any overarching themes in your career that you feel have shaped you and your current business practices?&nbsp; CB: Professionalism, personal relationships, and going the extra mile are keys to success in any business. &nbsp; CGN: Your professional background is not in the art world, but rather working with nonprofits and major corporations. Is there any advice you would give to those looking to make a career change into a field that aligns with their passions?&nbsp; CB: Do it!&nbsp;The skills and knowledge that accrue during someone’s career are almost always translatable to their passion. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://vividartgallery.net/" target="_blank">VIVID Gallery</a> is located at 895 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, IL

An interview with local art dealer Cynthia Burr of Vivid Gallery in Winnetka, IL

An Interview with Cynthia Burr

EXPO CHICAGO Shares First Details on Spring 2025 Fair

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783300/jjyfduju0ysgj2h1p1mq.jpg">From left: The Seldoms and Elmhurst Art Museum, Wafaa Bilal at the MCA, and MoCP's annual DARKROOM benefit. CGN adds to its calendar of art events daily, and there is no shortage of new exhibitions, openings, art fairs, talks and family art events to explore. We have put together a preview of what is coming up the rest of this month. Events happen throughout the city as well as in the suburbs and within a days drive. Whether you have an hour after work or you are looking for a weekend road trip, take a look and do a little planning in order to take a step into the world of art. Everyone is welcome! Highlights are organized by event type. Dates vary and are subject to change. –&nbsp;GinnyCGN Publisher <h3>• Family Events</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783301/arxbn0vmfgtdhvfs8pes.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/family-day-filling-the-paige" target="_blank">Family Day: Filling the Paige</a></h4> Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/smart-museum-of-art" target="_blank">Smart Museum of Art</a> Discover how artists featured in&nbsp;The 50th&nbsp;create their work in unexpected ways. Families&nbsp;will experiment with pattern, printing, and repetition using unique art-making techniques such as printmaking, paint, and ink. Drop in; all families and kids of all ages are welcome.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783302/udied1aqszdsxzegezbx.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/family-day-comfy-cozy" target="_blank">Family Day: Comfy Cozy</a></h4> Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-art-chicago-mca" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)</a> Spend the afternoon crafting your own incense, tea, and heartfelt art. Family Days are always free for kids and their grownups! <h3>• Performance and Screenings</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783302/xknwz1sgybd8ltxahkux.jpg"><h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/insert-coin-documentary-screening-and-discussion" target="_blank">Insert Coin Documentary Screening and Discussion</a></h4> Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-cleve-carney-museum-of-art-ccma" target="_blank">The Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA)</a> In conjunction with the&nbsp;Insert Coin&nbsp;exhibition&nbsp;at Cleve Carney Museum of Art, enjoy a special screening of the documentary, “Insert Coin,” followed by a panel discussion with key members of Midway Games featured in the documentary. “Insert Coin” is the amazing behind-the-scenes story of the making of Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and other massive videogame hits.&nbsp; <h4> </h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783303/jshphn4euf3usgbit70i.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-seldoms-an-evening-of-dance-inspired-by-the-earth" target="_blank">The Seldoms: An Evening of Dance Inspired by the Earth</a></h4> Friday, Feb 14, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elmhurst-art-museum" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a> <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theseldoms.org/" target="_blank">The Seldoms</a>, a contemporary Chicago-based dance troupe, perform excerpts from three celebrated works:&nbsp;Floe&nbsp;(2020),&nbsp;GRASS&nbsp;(2021), and&nbsp;Superbloom&nbsp;(2023). Inspired by themes of the museum’s current exhibition&nbsp;Sustenance &amp; Land, such as climate, nature, and transformation, these innovative works are followed by a lively discussion with the dancers. The program includes light bites, beverages, and exhibition viewing. <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783304/fkda4tgkirzmlzzz0s08.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/arvie-smith-crossing-clear-creek" target="_blank">Arvie Smith: Crossing Clear Creek</a></h4> Feb 8, 2025 - Mar 22, 2025Opening: Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/moniquemeloche" target="_blank">moniquemeloche</a> Arvie Smith: Crossing Clear Creek is the artist’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. Smith is a 2024 recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship in Fine Arts, with an artistic career spanning over four decades.&nbsp;His ongoing passion for advancing social and racial justice is reflected through his narrative paintings depicting historical and contemporary policies, influencers, bigotry, and institutional white supremacy, transforming the history of oppressed and stereotyped segments of the American experience into lyrical two-dimensional master works. <h4> </h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783304/bgstj2li7svheow0i1cj.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-tale-of-today-materialities" target="_blank">A Tale of Today: Materialities</a></h4> Feb 7 - Apr 25, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-driehaus-museum" target="_blank">The Driehaus Museum</a> A Tale of Today: Materialities, an expansive contemporary exhibition that invites viewers to discover the history and architectural richness of the Museum through the eyes of artists who are rooted in the Midwest. In the autumn of 2023,&nbsp;the Driehaus Museum held an open call for submissions, asking artists to identify a material from the Museum, research its history, and produce site-specific responses that connect the fabric of the building to distant shores, traditions, and ideologies. The commissioned works connect the past and present in original and compelling ways, linking different cultures to specific materials and&nbsp;allowing visitors to see the Nickerson Mansion through different perspectives. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783305/plbsfotrns2twjmwalss.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/wafaa-bilal-indulge-me" target="_blank">Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me</a></h4> Thru Oct 25, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-art-chicago-mca" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)</a> Indulge Me&nbsp;is a major survey of renowned artist Wafaa Bilal (b. 1966, Najaf, Iraq; lives in New York, NY). Crucially, the exhibition will take a comprehensive look at Bilal’s myriad practice, highlighting the development of his work across decades and placing it in conversation with broader art histories. It will also explore cultural cannibalism—that is, how culture (specifically the culture of the other) is used, disassembled, and consumed. <h3>• Art Fairs and Markets</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783306/fs5lldsgnvo1vu3vjz2d.jpg"> <h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/west-loop-contemporary-fine-art-expo" target="_blank">West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo</a></h4> Feb 21–Feb 23 Featuring over 40 invitation-only artists from 8 states, this Midwest inaugural event takes place at Plumber's Hall,&nbsp;the historic&nbsp;Beaux-Arts building in Chicago's trendy and convenient West Loop. <h3>• Galas and Benefits</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783307/sprjlnteutaszr0zk6i9.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/celebrate-25-years-of-arts-of-life" target="_blank">Celebrate 25 Years of Arts of Life</a></h4> Saturday, Feb 22<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/circle-contemporary-arts-of-life" target="_blank">Circle Contemporary (Arts of Life)</a> Come raise a glass, meet the artists, eat some cake, and be part of a celebration dedicated to art and community. Here's to the next 25 years! Join us as we mark a milestone—our 25th anniversary of championing creativity, vision, and the arts. Longtime supporter and Guest of Honor&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 153);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://artsoflife.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=676dcf6750de4694fd657fca1&amp;id=bb20c9c8dd&amp;e=ed6a12e728" target="_blank">Cindy Shanker</a>&nbsp;will join us to commemorate this special occasion. <h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783307/fngr7yieheffyqx5eojd.png"></h1> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/events/darkroom-2025/?mc_cid=701f6072cd&amp;mc_eid=62775191de" target="_blank">DARKROOM 2025: Annual Benefit Auction Party</a></h4> Thursday, Feb 27Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) DARKROOM&nbsp;is MoCP’s renowned benefit auction party featuring premier artworks and one-of-a-kind arts experiences by emerging and established contemporary artists from around the world. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783308/jjhzp7d5dtt3w0xbippc.jpg"><h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/jmkac-gala-2025-this-is-the-place" target="_blank">JMKAC Gala 2025: This is the Place</a></h4> Saturday, Feb 22<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/john-michael-kohler-arts-center-jmkac" target="_blank">John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC)</a> The JMKAC Gala is an outta-sight celebration of how far we’ve come since the 1960s and our 1967 grand opening. There’ll be dinner from The American Club, a fabulous auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and far-out treasures, an open bar, valet parking, and more. It’ll be a gas! <h3>• Last Call - Closing Soon</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783308/zttxd3tixm9pnaocibyc.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/kayla-risko-interiors" target="_blank">Kayla Risko: Interiors</a></h4> Thru Feb 15<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/65grand" target="_blank">65GRAND</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738783309/owb5qlm2gmvggbxcc6xg.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/home-sweet-home-nostalgiaish-3" target="_blank">Home Sweet Home: Nostalgia...ish 3</a></h4> Thru Feb 15, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-truborn" target="_blank">Chicago Truborn</a> "Home Sweet Home: Nostalgia...ish 3" dives deeper into reimagined vintage, thrifted, and found objects. This time, it’s more expansive, more playful, and filled with even more unforgettable creations. <h5>View the CGN Calendar <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">here</a>. Updated daily. </h5> #

Highlights from CGN's art calendar this month

CGN Art Preview: February 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711963/e6tgytpajvqt8nk7ysqz.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/paul-simmons-blank-slate" target="_blank">Paul Simmons: Blank Slate</a>Exhibition begins February 6Wadsworth Family Gallery at Lewis University <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711966/zdrnfmpmmme97rgw7hms.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/reception-for-mel-watkin-birdland" target="_blank">Reception for Mel Watkin: Birdland</a>Opening: Friday, February 7, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMARC Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711968/cz7jsvv7h1pc4uya5oiv.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/black-lives-matter-exhibition-a-reckoning" target="_blank">Black Lives Matter Exhibition: A Reckoning&nbsp;</a>Opening: Friday, February 7, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMDragonfly Gallery &amp; Creative Spaces <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711971/z750c3tz78s8lnadj15n.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/alliance-group-show" target="_blank">'ALLIANCE' Group Show</a>Opening: Friday, February 7, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMVertical Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711972/keyqp76tazzz2x0hi8dn.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-tale-of-today-materialities" target="_blank">A Tale of Today: Materialities</a>February 7The Driehaus Museum <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711974/bhk1rlk74d2xkevlhvud.png"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/arvie-smith-crossing-clear-creek" target="_blank">Arvie Smith: Crossing Clear Creek</a>Opening: Saturday, February 8, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMmoniquemeloche <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738711975/cwkwzaglsh7yrykxfch4.jpg"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/allison-svoboda-in-defense-of-beauty" target="_blank">Allison Svoboda: In Defense of Beauty</a>Opening: Saturday, February 8, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMOS Projects

New Exhibitions Opening February 7th & 8th

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738180297/ad3w5sxqi1yxihmheqa1.jpg"></h4>Credit:&nbsp;Alden Studios for RAMSA. Rendering of the South Portico renovation<h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/museum-science-and-industry-renovate-south-portico?share-code=17381780515021665-194b39bef22&amp;utm_id=gfta-ur-250129" target="_blank">Griffin Museum of Science &amp; Industry lands $10M grant to renovate historic South Portico</a></h4> The Griffin Museum of Science &amp; Industry was awarded a $10 million grant to renovate its historic South Portico and reopen its original entrance with added amenities.The project, which is supported by the grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation — the largest donation in the foundation’s history — aims to increase accessibility to the museum, add modern amenities such as a cafe and create a new public space connecting the museum to the Columbian Basin and the rest of Jackson Park. Via Crain's Chicago <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/emmanuel-macron-louvre-renovation-mona-lisa-2602990" target="_blank">The Mona Lisa Will Get Her Own Room at the Louvre, Vows Emmanuel Macron</a></h4> Just a few days after French newspaper&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/avaries-degradations-saturation-le-rapport-confidentiel-qui-alerte-sur-letat-du-musee-du-louvre-22-01-2025-VHQGISLZM5D4ZBALW3KURS44VI.php" target="_blank">Le Parisien</a>&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/louvre-leaked-letter-crumbling-infrastructure-2600955" target="_blank">leaked a memo</a>&nbsp;in which Louvre director Laurence des Cars expressed extreme concern for and dissatisfaction with the museum’s dilapidated state and increasing inability to adequately support the millions of visitors it draws each year, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered some major news. Standing in front of the iconic&nbsp;Mona Lisa&nbsp;painting by Leonardo da Vinci—the crown jewel of the museum’s collection—Macron announced a major renovation estimated to be worth upwards of €700 million ($730 million) as well as a new, custom-built room to exclusively display the&nbsp;Mona Lisa. <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/year-of-the-snake-art-2601795" target="_blank">As We Enter the Year of the Snake, Let’s Revisit the Serpent’s Starring Role in Art</a></h4> On January 29, it’s time for the celebration of Lunar New Year across many parts of Asia, from Korea to China and Southeast Asia, and among those of the Sinic cultural heritage scattered across the world. As we enter the Year of the Snake, we take the opportunity to revisit the starring roles of this mystic animal in art. Snake is the sixth animal sign in the 12-year zodiac cycle and based on traditional Chinese calculations, this is the year of Wood Snake.&nbsp; Via Artnet

What We're Reading: 1/30/25

Via PR The Hyde Park Art Center announced this year's&nbsp;participants in HPAC's&nbsp;Jackman Goldwasser Residency.&nbsp;Radicle Studio Residents&nbsp;are rooted at the Art Center from January to December through high-quality, free studio space where artists make work, research new projects, have access to the Art Center’s broad international network of artists and resources, and connect with a dynamic public.&nbsp; 2025 Radicle Studio Residents are:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GcPGEcwZ2FXHepkkelQAPOd3T2OSjmBgsPFlShZE0JBHkwtDe8BE0o2eKrLHl18spM3UC9JXQgyYsqwudAccfANPVSq3eFbMx8E9X52rhOb6RtCJQisrdYmzZF54LNlCQt&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Sabba S. Elahi</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GciREcwWL9HpacwTg4M7yx8hhAmf_-0km6Q-qmWgGzJwzKV4neefYiK3F_vszTkjBm6cxmgjquZ-TQJwW4joFlRdFFBQ0eKmkmHEX8WbITBgUV_GWCycuOR-HuQ6rDClgH&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Leticia Pardo</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GcFiQVEbXXJMIjzj_iDHFmhxsPHGcm-S9M_ftKJ9xpP9OhfwRTXXE0BfW3wWbPZc-WLfc_wnWMXW5yf14DQGM2HBBpkeqPk8lbp7BXj5IMffEpBRGmygcaNoH5szmpTop0&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Norman Long</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GcFCdjCyyIRDLEmUA1UBykMRFdJQtBQoN0Jbvqvo0mw06mBZhYcJxh6wtI09lN8mITXLDxcKbnwRdOPxBgjYR8v1OTB7LH1rQWFZgcf4NqHJ9tRnpk9BQ94dSochi2VoGQ&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Irene Hsiao</a> As part of the&nbsp;Visiting Residency Program, Chicago’s only international residency, HPAC is welcoming&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GcA0ULu48HfruMkWnBq4gBFtpBnkRotih7a2iuXPvpZQSDFhNvZY6EvcWoKr5iWx_XvedAl7AUzfJqK2pEGYcB-k-qpLnaCWp7wu3CuZ0QT7jE_cl8-PJ3VL_7PybFNEsS&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Yonamine</a>&nbsp;(March 3 – 28),&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7Gc0FgjzzvX5RKCstdWjq0daqLL-lcmifcsMRv_a7k7AoQek8OhUSRQpldJJWU76P1NCCwy82fde1fZreWmNnrvlFpPa_DLniGbYAnsRNZaqNS8e1C0u7HP-nuY_78kaNTusC0M4QAGa74=&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Iris Ping-Chi Hung</a>&nbsp;(April 28 - May 9), and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 183, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGk_9pSbAa7GcmpTW3dPcQ-1HOlJiXPPRCzeTXV4CRYVVRHoW7VPG54Jq2nuFzhlk7kJ47lceTsnFGIj06qd75pXd1lQ1z6aJU24zoOeZS4SHCFjuVvq_w4fy0QzCBvQ3ZQqUY4KJnI6q&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">Keren Kroul</a>&nbsp;(July 21 –&nbsp;August 1). The Jackman Goldwasser Residency connects artists deeply with their own practice in the context of HPAC's vibrant, multifaceted community. Each year, the program invites international, national, and Chicago artists and curators to complement their mode of production with increased attention towards reflection, reconnection, and research to spark new ideas and considerations of local and global art practices.&nbsp; The Residency takes place in the Center's&nbsp;Guida&nbsp;Family Creative Wing and&nbsp;supports both local and visiting artists and curators. By linking practitioners from different communities, the program aims to galvanize an international network of artists, curators, academics, arts administrators, educators, practitioners, and researchers invited to consider themselves peers and colleagues participating in a conversation that transcends national, cultural, and political boundaries. <a style="color: rgb(45, 44, 46);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/residency-2/" target="_blank">Details</a> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://oq8cplyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CAzCIAvcK0IIRU1-Opk6cbFFgPoemla3pQsBf7nnC78PO7GMNdshGr7RbTi4Lzmx22LAfSnrocWsRxT9sM_Q0tei8g9UwozQUQmHZ7FHYEp-qFkKZdW8avpz1dlXH0rSTOx15EeeheRWbUu_7TOYje7dwOvtPCNd4-lwAekcdQ761wEM3cBn8g==&amp;c=YgAm3N0L-9Js6qI6XxW85hO6S-L07qnMYDbTo_joYqqTzxlyjMq7gA==&amp;ch=7BR6WkcnR3U4_R5YVxNACwMXtvp8CFNofi4TXnaOeKWbG2-E4xK67A==" target="_blank">MORE INFO</a>

Hyde Park Art Center Announces 2025 Residency Artists

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105334/kziffowcvybcc6eoibwm.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/transcendence" target="_blank">Transcendence</a></h4>Opening: Thursday, January 30, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMgallery 1871 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105334/fgbf4zj2j65ux3jvlsip.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/regina-agu-shorelines" target="_blank">Regina Agu: Shore|Lines</a></h4>Opening: Thursday, January 30, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PMMuseum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105335/syhsm6iudtvxilbuvqg5.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/woven-being-art-for-zhegagoynakchicagoland" target="_blank">Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland</a></h4>Opening: Saturday, February 1, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PMBlock Museum of Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105336/fifvu6yxlsuprccimspv.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/unearthing-pinar-aral-and-mirentxu-ganzarain" target="_blank">Unearthing: Pinar Aral and Mirentxu Ganzarain&nbsp;</a></h4>Opening: Saturday, February 1, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMSoNa Chicago Contemporary Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105337/aufgu70queqfrgnbcrmj.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/documenting-the-future-an-ai-photography-show" target="_blank">Documenting the future: An AI Photography Show</a></h4>Opening: Saturday, February 1, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMPerspective Photo Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738105337/rknign3gdxhgsz2ayubd.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/six-decades-in-the-darkroom" target="_blank">Six Decades in the Darkroom</a></h4>Opening: Sunday, February 2, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMGallery Seven

New Exhibitions Opening January 30 - February 2

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738006882/g32mmvbhxey7rdjdvzyn.jpg"> By CGN Staff On a quiet, narrow street in Lincoln Park in Chicago, something very old is a uniquely new addition to the neighborhood. Wrightwood 659 announced recently that for the first time in nearly three centuries, a historically significant marble statue of the Greek goddess Athena has been acquired and is now on view to the public. Halsted A&amp;A Foundation acquired the Roman statue, which dates to the first half of the first century CE. It is installed in the very modern, concrete-clad Tadao Ando-designed atrium of Wrightwood 659 beginning Saturday, January 25. Halsted A&amp;A bought the statue in 2023. Prior to making the journey to Chicago the sculpture had been in the same British family for nearly 260 years. Since the new acquisition, a team of conservation specialists has studied the&nbsp;Halsted Athena&nbsp;to determine its condition and the safest way to display it.&nbsp;The statue is a actually made from multiple parts. The head is from one sculpture, carved during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (31 BC-14 CE), while the body is from another, carved during the time of Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE). “Like many sculptures sold in Rome in 18th-century Italy, the figure is composed of ancient and modern fragments. The practice of piecing together sculptures was not invariably an attempt to deceive customers. Rather, many buyers preferred complete pieces, even if composed of unrelated parts," notes Halsted A&amp;A curator Karen Manchester. "Now, scholars, students and visitors will be able to study the statue of Athena closely and interpret it from many perspectives, including those of art history, restoration practices and gender studies,” Manchester added, offering a window into a rich yet complex classical past. Tickets are $15 and must be <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://tickets.wrightwood659.org/events?utm_source=wordfly&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=1-23-25&amp;utm_content=version_A" target="_blank">purchased in advance</a>. Images: Statue of Athena, Roman, first half of the first century CE, marble, height 74.5 in., Halsted A&amp;A Foundation. Photo: Daniel Eggert (@DesigningDan). ﻿<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1738006883/dlad3yxg6bfmkppe57zk.jpg">

A 300 year old statue of Athena comes to Wrightwood 659 in Chicago

A Piece of History Comes to Lincoln Park

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737659403/txse6xhx5wck3lucxjgf.png">A question from the NYT's Impressionism quiz. <h5>Time is always in short supply, but our attention spans are shrinking too –&nbsp;meaning that in between all of our busywork we need some high-quality distractions to give us a brain break once in awhile. Games that are finite, like Wordle, keep the addition in check, which is what three recent games we found via the New York Times, The Met, and Artle from the National Gallery of Art. Have fun, and learn some art in your downtime –&nbsp;just don't forget to get back to work!</h5><h5> </h5><h5>– CGN</h5> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nga.gov/artle.html" target="_blank">Artle</a></h3><h6>Discover artwork and guess the artist in 4 tries. A new artist puzzle is available daily. From the National Gallery of Art. </h6> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/01/16/arts/design/impressionism-quiz.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rU4.6Zhm.pag9DN55sL-M&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">Le Quiz</a></h3><h6>An Impressionism-themed game from the New York Times lets you identify the Monet smudge, match the image to the painting title, identify Manet vs Monet, and more. You can play again and again but the questions will not change.</h6> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://artlinks.metmuseum.org" target="_blank">Art Links</a></h3><h6>The Metropolitan Museum of Art has launched a new short-session game,&nbsp;Art Links, that invites players to identify common threads and intriguing connections between works of art. This mobile-first, browser-based, blockchain-powered game presents an innovative way to engage with the Museum, and offers the opportunity to collect special in-game NFT badges and win exciting in-person and digital rewards.&nbsp;The serialized game, which releases new challenges weekly, features over 140 works of art from across The Met collection.</h6>

Online Gaming, but it's also Art...

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737607093/jawsfxcgazoouccumq5a.jpg">Exterior view of South Side Community Art Center renovation and addition, at night, from S. Michigan Ave. Courtesy SSCAC &amp; Future Firm.&nbsp; VIA PR CHICAGO – The<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sscartcenter.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC),</a>&nbsp;the country’s oldest, independently run, and continuously operating Black arts institution, today announced its planned rehabilitation and expansion. An official Community Design Unveiling&nbsp;will be held on February 22 at 1:00 pm at Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S Indiana Ave. SSCAC invites those interested in learning more about the project to attend.&nbsp; SSCAC’s mission is developing and showcasing Black artists at every stage of their careers. The addition and rehabilitation project is estimated to cost up to $15M.&nbsp; Designed by Future Firm (architect), wrkSHäp&nbsp; kiloWatt&nbsp;(historic preservation architect), and to be built by a joint venture of general contractors Brown &amp; Momen, Inc.&nbsp;and Berglund Construction, with the advice of&nbsp;URBAN ReSOLVE&nbsp;(development advisor), the project will add over 10,000 square feet of space to the Center, which will expand visitor capacity by 398%, and provide accessibility to people with disabilities.&nbsp; The development team is diverse and local.&nbsp; The project will expand the Center’s capacity for exhibitions, art practice, research, and community engagement. Upon completion SSCAC will be able to facilitate many more exhibitions and interactions with Black artists while increasing access for community members, researchers, arts administrators, historians, and educators.&nbsp; The Center is working closely with the development team, including consultants and contractors, to ensure that the project aligns with SSCAC’s values and it advances equity and community-based development opportunities. Project-enabling work continues over the next few months, with plans to begin construction of the addition and rehabilitation of the historic house later in 2025, and plans to complete the project in late 2026. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737607094/ggiej2iongdy1mzm0eav.jpg">Exterior aerial view of South Side Community Art Center addition, including universally accessible entry ramp. Courtesy SSCAC &amp; Future Firm.&nbsp; The rehabilitation and expansion are supported by the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Arts Council, the Driehaus Foundation, Terra Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Commonwealth Edison,&nbsp; the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation (Climate Initiative) as well as other generous private donors. The rehabilitation and expansion plan utilizes design approaches that honor the building’s historic character while introducing new spaces and upgraded building technology to meet the needs of the next generation of artists and visitors, and the Center’s significant on-site archives.&nbsp; The addition, planned for the rear of the original building, will provide a backdrop to SSCAC’s historic facade, creating a clear dialogue between the past and future. State-of-the-art systems, including a geothermal well field and solar-ready roof, will support the project’s LEED Silver goal, reflecting SSCAC’s commitment to sustainability and efficient operations for decades to come. New museum-grade galleries will provide spaces to preserve and exhibit SSCAC’s collection and loaned works. New flexible classrooms, improved archival storage areas, and updated office spaces will equip the center to support artists, educators, and staff. A rooftop gathering space will provide much-needed event space.&nbsp;&nbsp; A new stepped terrace, evoking the original and iconic front stoop of the Center, will further connect SSCAC to its neighborhood, welcoming Bronzeville residents and visitors alike. The project will both expand and modernize the Center, while honoring its rich legacy.&nbsp; The building’s facade will celebrate the pattern of nail holes found in the historic Margaret T. Burroughs Gallery,&nbsp;through the implementation of a custom perforated exterior panel system. Evocative of the nail holes created by previous generations of artists’ exhibiting in the gallery, the exterior panel system creates a symbolic link to the past, while allowing dappled natural light to enter the Center, creating an ethereal space and place to celebrate the work of Black artists for generations to come. SSCAC was named a Chicago Landmark in 1994, a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2017, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.&nbsp; The Center's transformation builds on its 85-year legacy as a hub for Black visual art and culture, creating a space that honors its storied history while embracing a sustainable and inclusive future. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737607095/fic6yvnkvhyilhts5k7f.jpg">Interior view of historic ballroom in South Side Community Art Center. Courtesy SSCAC &amp; Future Firm.&nbsp; Founded in 1940 by preeminent Black artists of the day, the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sscartcenter.org/" target="_blank">South Side Community Art Center</a>&nbsp;(SSCAC) is where both established and emerging creators find their voice. At that time, Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs&nbsp;was one of the center's youngest members, and she would go on to leave an indelible legacy upon Chicago's art ecosystem.&nbsp; As it has for over eight decades, the center accomplishes its mission through dynamic educational programs, exhibitions, talks, and always a focus on community. It has stood as a beacon for the arts, serving as a vital resource locally, nationally, and internationally.&nbsp;&nbsp; “Sitting on the shoulders of those who came before us, we are thrilled to be able to preserve the legacy of the South Side Community Art Center, while creating space to celebrate and inspire the next generation of Black artists,” said Monique Brinkman-Hill, Executive Director of the SSCAC.&nbsp; “As we celebrate over 85 years in operation, we look forward to continuing our work with the development team and members of our community to ensure our historic home and expanded campus will continue to serve this community for the next 85 years.”&nbsp; With experience working on Chicago’s South and West sides, Future Firm has a strong commitment to the power of architecture to contribute to a more equitable and thriving community combined with a focus on arts and culture projects.&nbsp; Their recent projects include the Bronzeville Winery, Justice of the Pies, The Silver Room, Revolution Workshop, and the new Korean Art Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago. "We are excited and honored to collaborate with South Side Community Arts Center, to use architecture and design to support the organization's mission of creating space for Black artists and their work,” said Ann Lui,&nbsp;principal of Future Firm. “We describe ourselves as architects for changemakers and are so excited to help provide flexible, functional, and memorable spaces for SSCAC that will serve the organization and its community at large. It's an exciting opportunity to look for ways a building can help to do that work: from the scale of a single wood panel&nbsp; to a spatial vision for growth and change in the coming decades."&nbsp; As the oldest Black art center in the United States still operating with its original mission in its original location, the SSCAC and Future Firm are working closely with&nbsp;wrkSHäp | kiloWatt&nbsp;to preserve its legacy while creating space to support the artists of the future. “As a little girl growing up in Chicago’s South Side and South Suburbs, I learned about Dr. Margaret Burroughs’ incredible legacy as an SSCAC founder from my parents and maternal grandmother who lived near SSCAC,” said k. kennedy Whiters, RA, principal of wrkSHäp | kiloWatt. “Decades later, as a preservation architect, I am excited to support the SSCAC community in ensuring that the future of its Bronzeville home is a sustainable one that honors its historic fabric and meets the needs of the present and the future.” “I am thrilled that the City of Chicago has joined the State and many foundations and individuals to make this project a reality,” said Third Ward Alderperson&nbsp;Pat Dowell. “I am also excited that the entire project team is committed to ensuring that this project benefits our community - both during construction and long into the South Side Community Art Center’s future.” "As a longtime advocate for minority contractors in Chicago, I’m proud this project creates meaningful opportunities for diversity while supporting the cultural growth of the South Side Community Arts Center," said Ernest Brown,&nbsp;President &amp; Founder of Brown &amp; Momen, Inc.&nbsp;"For me, this project represents more than just construction—it’s an opportunity to enrich the cultural fabric of the Bronzeville community,” said Hansel Whiteurst, Senior Vice President of the building division of Berglund Construction. “It’s a privilege to be part of a project that will provide a space for artistic expression and create lasting opportunities for local engagement and growth." “We are thrilled that after 85 years, we can build on the vision of Margaret Burroughs and so many other artists in our community to create a space that will inspire the next generation of artists, celebrate Black art, and create real impact not only in Bronzeville but across Chicago and beyond,” said Twyler Jenkins, Co-President of the South Side Community Art Center Board.&nbsp;

South Side Community Art Center Announces $15M Expansion and Rehabilitation

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431724/kb0hezi66o20gs7yam7n.jpg"></h1><h6> </h6><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ginny-krueger-the-transcendental-garden" target="_blank">Ginny Krueger: THE TRANSCENDENTAL GARDEN</a></h3> Opening: Friday, January 24, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Epiphany Center for the Arts <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431725/v6jsqikbhmvpldzxdoii.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/it-takes-a-long-time-to-stay-here-paintings-by-jordan-ann-craig" target="_blank">It takes a long time to stay here: Paintings by Jordan Ann Craig</a></h3> Exhibition begins January 25 Block Museum of Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431726/qgtqbwvtmkdmst2lyj3y.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/john-behnke-false-guides" target="_blank">John Behnke: FALSE GUIDES</a></h3> Opening: Saturday, January 25, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Epiphany Center for the Arts <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431726/tm1a5jpkoey1jl6wtskr.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/legacy-as-lexicon-a-stand-in-for-my-voice" target="_blank">legacy as lexicon: a stand-in for my voice</a></h3> Opening: Saturday, January 25, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Goldfinch

New Exhibitions Opening January 22 - 25 (Part 2)

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431167/mpocb0y2kfcdbqtepbnw.jpg"></h1><h1> </h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/this-is-not-an-exhibition" target="_blank">this is not an exhibition.</a></h1> Opening: Wednesday, January 22, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431168/p7up6yli0axp5h8rvp9e.png"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/cosmo-whyte-the-mothers-tongue-pressed-to-the-grinding-stone" target="_blank">Cosmo Whyte: The Mother’s Tongue, Pressed to the Grinding Stone</a></h1> Opening: Thursday, January 23, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Arts Club of Chicago <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431168/phofiy9oghkc6qinkz00.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/albert-oehlen-and-kim-gordon" target="_blank">Albert Oehlen and Kim Gordon</a></h1> Opening: Friday, January 24, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Corbett vs. Dempsey <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737431169/ivqpkrdhppzglyno7ai0.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/sustenance-land-five-artists-consider-our-relationship-with-the-earth" target="_blank">Sustenance &amp; Land: Five Artists Consider Our Relationship with the Earth</a></h1> Opening: Friday, January 24, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Elmhurst Art Museum

New Exhibitions Opening January 22 - 25 (Part I)

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737064201/rvjrdyeseysmutscepwy.jpg"></h4>The Palisades fire approaches the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The building behind is Villa de Leon. Photo: Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images. <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/los-angeles-fire-relief-fund-2598664" target="_blank">Major Art Institutions Launch $12 Million Fire Relief Fund for L.A. Artists</a></h4><h4> </h4>A coalition of local and international cultural institutions, led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, have announced a $12 million emergency relief fund for members of the Los Angeles arts community affected by the wildfires that have devastated the city since January 7. Via Artnet <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts-culture/2025/01/13/chicago-arts-funding-trump-grants-dcase-individual-artists-program-iap?subscription=true&amp;utm_source=Newsletter_Daily-Rundown-Non-Member&amp;utm_medium=WBEZEmail&amp;utm_campaign=Daily_Newsletter_Daily-Rundown_Sponsored_20250113&amp;utm_content=1/13/2025&amp;DE=WBEZEmail" target="_blank">Under Trump, national arts funding is in question. In Chicago, can the tap stay on?</a></h4> Local artists like Johnson have, in recent years, benefited from a grant program run by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) that gives money directly to individual artists, performers and filmmakers. This year, that grantmaking is under close scrutiny as COVID relief monies dry up, philanthropic support for the arts shifts and the level of federal arts funding becomes a glaring question mark during a second Donald Trump presidency. During his first term, Trump became the first president of either party to propose defunding the National Endowment for the Arts — an effort that&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--color-link-text-theme);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/15/arts/trump-arts-nea-funding.html" target="_blank">ultimately failed</a>. Chicago, meanwhile, is accepting a new round of applications for its&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--color-link-text-theme);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/culgrants/programs/individual-artist.html" target="_blank">direct-to-artist grant program</a>&nbsp;until Jan. 15. Advocates and artists alike say this program is a steadying force in an arts economy in major flux. And while the cultural affairs department has pledged to keep it, officials won’t say how much funding will be available to the program this year. Via WBEZ <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/arts/design/nick-cave-jack-shainman-gallery-art.html" target="_blank">In an Extravagant New Gallery, Nick Cave Goes Big in Bronze</a></h4> The typical gallerist moving to TriBeCa spends a small fortune making their new space look like the derelict former warehouses that originally drew artists downtown because they were cheap. It’s the kind of contradiction that makes the art world what it is — an over-the-top luxury business with a disingenuous devotion to Minimalism. But it can feel a little grating sometimes, and that’s why I was so delighted with the frank ostentation of Jack Shainman Gallery’s new TriBeCa flagship at 46 Lafayette Street, and of its complementary opening show, “<a style="color: var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://jackshainman.com/exhibitions/nick_cave_amalgams_and_graphts" target="_blank">Nick Cave: Amalgams and Graphts</a>.” Via NYT

What We're Reading: 1/16/25

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737063117/rfwe82jyjjddj3kiobby.png"> By CGN Staff via PR We have been anticipating Intuit's reopening this year, and now the art space is announcing a new name for a new chapter. President and CEO Deb Kerr shared the following message this week. "It’s rare that a museum gets the opportunity to rebuild, reimagine and rebrand everything from the ground up—physical space, digital experience, even name and logo. For us, it has been a time of complete renovation and innovation while always nurturing the founding spirit of the 34-year-old organization until now known as Intuit: The Center for Outsider and Intuitive Art. On April 25, we will re-open our doors to the public with three times the space, a stunning new logo and our name downsized to just three defining words that reflect our growth into the Intuit Art Museum or IAM.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like the art we share, Intuit is a place of wonder where unexpected and fortunate discoveries happen every day. My vision is that Intuit is recognized as the most accessible and welcoming museum space in Chicago—if not the entire country. If someone has never visited a museum before, I want Intuit to be their first museum experience. I’m excited to invite you to join us for a series of grand re-opening activities over April 24-27—which is the same weekend as EXPO Chicago, the city’s largest art fair. Mark your calendar, and stay tuned for more details."&nbsp;—Deb Kerr, President and CEO

Intuit Art Museum reopens in Chicago and has a new name

Intuit Art Museum to Reopen with New Name and Expanded Space

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888632/jdng5zodus6pb6oeel9a.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/david-sharpe-works-on-paper" target="_blank">David Sharpe – Works on Paper</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMCarl Hammer Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888633/hs5bic7nnqsnxez7z2q8.png"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/gallery-night-mke-receptions" target="_blank">Gallery Night MKE Receptions</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMLily Pad | West <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888634/hhmzgbi42617prh2gxah.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/acred-motherhood" target="_blank">$acred Motherhood</a></h5>Opening: Saturday, January 18, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMWoman Made Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888635/kacs6ihkehpqebalkih1.png"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fragments-of-the-familiar-nature-in-abstraction" target="_blank">Fragments of the Familiar: Nature in Abstraction</a></h5>Exhibition begins January 17Bridgeport Art Center <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888637/de6rc8r5h8ffpprtit77.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/tom-burtonwood-difference-and-repetition" target="_blank">Tom Burtonwood: Difference and Repetition</a></h5>Opening: Saturday, January 18, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMBert Green Fine Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888638/uzaowyj3kufqjhgthl0w.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/beyond-frames-black-women-collectors-shaping-chicagos-cultural-heritage" target="_blank">Beyond Frames: Black Women Collectors Shaping Chicago’s Cultural Heritage</a></h5>Opening: Saturday, January 18, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PMSouth Side Community Art Center <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888639/hhd2ysjtn1e1zaeew5pk.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/art-activism-policy-power-exhibition" target="_blank">Art, Activism, Policy, Power Exhibition</a></h5>Opening: Saturday, January 18, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PMMuseum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)

New Exhibitions Opening January 15 - 18 (Part 2)

By GINNY VAN ALYEA Last fall artist Tony Fitzpatrick shared he was working on another book. As he gets closer to publishing the book, he shared excerpts with CGN as well as what led him to create this latest project, a familiar concoction of poetry and art about Chicago as well as how an artist finds inspiration in the everyday. "Back when I started drawing pictures in earnest, I couldn't afford paint," recalls Fitzpatrick, "But I had every kind of Prismacolor and graphite pencil known to man. I preferred drawing, something about that first mark's impact – it was immediate. I love drawing with brushes, pencils, etching needles, you name it. Anything that slakes that caveman's thirst for&nbsp;making a mark on something...&nbsp;I liked all manner of surfaces, from copper plates, slate Boards, really good art paper as&nbsp;well." He said the experience was simple, and transformative, "It was me and my Pencils." Fitzpatrick rented a storefront for $75 a month&nbsp;in Villa Park. He recalls it had an unusual address: 125 1/2 S Villa. The 'half' he never understood, but he says he accepted it because he found out very young that you don't want to piss off the Post Office. In fact, he went out of his way to convey a sort of delivery friendship. "One of the things I did," he explains, "was make art on blank postcards and mail them to myself. I made sure I got mail everyday at that&nbsp;weird address." Thinking about those early days, Fitzpatrick says he intends to revive the postcard mailing again soon, except he will actually mail them out to people he knows and whose address he has. Early on Fitzpatrick says he realized that having his own space&nbsp;to go and draw everyday was a thorough kind of freedom. "It was&nbsp;my 300 square feet of the American dream, and I could do whatever the fuck I wanted in it.&nbsp;It was a kind of gravity. I always had someplace to go. I could make the world I'd imagined there." The freedom didn't mean perfect days. The artist had by then gotten into a fair share of trouble. He says plenty of people he knew were skeptical of him, even considering him a weirdo and an outcast. He was barred from most of the bars and establishments he'd been thrown out of for fighting. No longer drinking, Fitzpatrick says he set about drawing. "I drew what I remembered, what I loved. I drew Birds, naked Women, characters from cartoons and Sunday comics. I drew a lot of Boxers, both famous and unknown. I drew petty criminals I knew, sad stories, many images from Coney Island from a visit to New York. I drew whatever was in my heart–the world I would come to inhabit." CGN will share an update when Fitzpatrick's book is published. Follow Tony Fitzpatrick on <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/tonyfitzpatrick9/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for art and updates <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888351/m4wootu6vcf6gfjoytla.jpg"> <h4>A STORY OF A CHICAGO PLACE...MANNY’S</h4> You go through the cafeteria line at Manny’s and you marvel:Brisket. Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches as big as yourhead—and as garlicky as a Greek waiter. A heart attack on aplate, accompanied by a huge, salty, dill pickle and a potatolatke. You yuck it up with the sandwich guy and he enhancesyour pile of meat even more. You can eat here. Meaty stuff. The kind of meal you want beforethey execute you. The kind of sandwich you eat with a friend,then take the other half home for dinner, and breakfast thenext day...and maybe lunch as well. Look around. There are City Hall creatures, cops, aldermen,Streets and San guys with yellow neon vests and meter maidsshoveling down slices of pie. There are deals being cut. Bondsbeing haggled over. Ticket quotas pondered and the grimybusiness of the sidewalk being brokered. The preferred music?The ringing of the cash register.The preferred currency: green cash money. They frown a little when you hand them the debit card with thechip in it; it’s another pain-in-the-ass-thing the new centuryhas grafted onto everyone. You also get the shit-eye if you areone of those who babbles on your cell phone in the middle ofthe cafeteria line, even at your table. People are trying to eat,Numb-Nuts. Nobody wants to hear your bullshit here. Take itoutside, Schmuck-O, because here, people are eating orworking—like it’s always been, since Moses. I see a guy slide an envelope across the table with a wry smile.“Christmas card,” he says. The guy across from him wordlesslyputs it in the kangaroo pocket of his hoodie without so much aslooking up or saying thank you. There is a lady walking an Irish Wolfhound in front of thewindow. The dog is excited; he can smell the meaty goodness. Ialso notice he is wearing dog boots, and not happily. A guycomments, “Jesus Christ, she put shoes on the dog. Look! He'strying to kick ‘em off! He don’ want to look like a jag-off in front ‘athe other dogs.” They meander by, the hound alternately fightingwith his goofy boots and sniffing at the meaty air he isenshrouded in. He looks confused. There is a valet there—a big burly guy in a neon yellow vest,quietly watching the street and reading the traffic for the slow-roll of an incoming parking task. They’ve remodeled the joint, butit hasn’t taken away any of the atmosphere in the least—and thisplace has atmosphere in spades. If someone asked me to take them to ONE place which definesthis city, I might take them here. Or to night court at 26th andCalifornia. Or Ricobene’s for a breaded steak sang’wich. Or Armyand Lou’s, except...it’s gone now; and maybe the bounty of greatMexican joints in Pilsen. I’d also include the Maxwell StreetPolish and hotdog joints—the one built in the middle of a usedcar lot at 56th and Western is among my favorites. These places are adorned in the colors of urgency, of exigence:rich reds, yellows and sequential blinking lights. As a kid Ithought these places were what a heaven was supposed to looklike: a carnival of lights and color and food smells. There was thispromise here, that you would never be hungry, and the worldwas not merely a well-lit nowhere, but a wondrous place full oflights and magic and hope. It was a mystery that you solvedevery time it got dark and those lights were on. I can’t eat Manny’s fine sandwiches anymore; my cardiologistswould blow a gasket. But I can watch as other people enjoy them.About the only thing I can eat there anymore is the Jell-O and thecoleslaw, and who the fuck wants to eat that? For me, the best thing to eat there was the pastrami. Damn, it isgood—greasy, salty, garlicky and piled high on rye with a bigslice of dill pickle and a latke. This might be the best thing I haveever eaten. I never could get through a whole sandwich, but mydog Chooch was very happy to share the second half with me aday later. We were smelling very special after a Manny’s binge—Ialways blamed the dog. It is one of those places where one is happy for the lack ofchange. Sure, they remodeled it, but damn if they didn’t preservethe character of the place—inhabited by and for working people. There are no conversations about beer programs, or sommeliers.This is belly to belly, elbow to elbow—a joint that caters to theelementally hungry. The kind of hungry you get if you operate ajackhammer or a cement mixer; or hoist dumpsters for Streetsand San. There is nothing delicate here. Even the City Hall guysare the worker bees—the ones who actually DO the work theirbosses take credit for on the news. It is one of those eateries thatgrinds out the goods and tastes like the city we claim to be, hearty and good. One of the best things to do here is to just overhear stuff—noteavesdrop—but overhear the great thoughts of people on breakfrom work...airing out things they don’t say around their bosses. Things like this: “You can’t get it with too much peppers—you don’t want thesang’wich you’re eatin’...to be eatin’ YOU.” “If I had a face like his...I’d paint my ass and walk on my hands.”“Oh yeah, he’s got a face for radio.” I love hearing the curbside philosophies and stories, the hard-earned bits of knowledge that come from punching a clock andgrinding it out forty hours at a time and wondering what the hellit is all for—the American horse sense of the people who builtthis city. This is the school nobody ever tells you about: thenative intelligence that comes from being a citizen, the act of faiththat working people carry out every day that keeps this citylurching along. One time when I was there, years ago, I heard this gem: “Myboss laid it out for me like I was a fuckin’ twelve-year-old. Hesays, ‘It don’t have a goddamn thing to do with luck, pal...it’sgot everything to do with chance.'” Which, for some reason, makes more sense to me every day that I live. * <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1736888351/yqko4ealpwddv9fzvu31.jpg"> <h4>MOTOR GYPSY (Menlo, Iowa) for Charlie</h4> * This piece and poem was written about a friend I wentthrough rehab with in 1983. He was the first person I everknew who died of AIDS. In fact, he died of it before they wereeven calling it AIDS... Charlie did an immense amount of good before passing away.He guided a great many people into recovery and was a fontof hard-earned wisdom about addiction. I saw this old-timerig suspended 25 feet above the ground in Menlo, Iowa andimmediately thought of Charlie: a long-haul trucker who'dalways wanted this kind of old-timey Mack truck with thebulldog hood ornament. In my book? The man was a Saint...__ Truck. Charlie hauled peaches from Georgia to San Diego,Pears and apples from Yakima, Washington toLincoln, Nebraska and Rock Island, Illinois. Perishables. On a clock.28 Hours.46 hours.Black crank sprinkled intothe endless river of Thermos black coffee.Hands shaking off the nods.He played Charlie Richand George Jones songs on his 8-track.Under the pitch black Montana skies,his eyes blurred and he sawcomet grease and meteor showers.Under an arc of star lights,he pulled over and slept.He'd seen it all, man –hunger, thirst, restand half the angelsin a skittering dervish onthe 3,365 miles betweenOregon and Boston;every mile marker and weigh station from A1A to Pacific 1. He tried not to think aboutthe truck stop blowjobs.The ones he got,the ones he gave,and wondered if he'd ever stop shakingor recognize the phantom in the mirror ever again. He ground his teeth to nubs.His clothes barely fitand were damn near falling off.The older over-the-road guys would say to him,in a hush, "This is where you disappear brother.This is how.” Charlie found himself driving south on Pacific 1toward Escondido and he noticed the ocean.He was startled to realize he'd never stepped into it.Never felt the warmth of the Pacific on his skin.He pulled the 18-wheeler over.He left his boots in the rig. He walked through the warm sandweeping a child's tears,right into the surfand the linen-like motion of the tide,and for the first time in his life,he sang. Motor Gypsy.Fly. *

Tony Fitzpatrick poetry and art book excerpt 

Excerpt from Artist Tony Fitzpatrick's Upcoming 2025 Book

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001515/zbmv9n5km5xv88hks72b.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/diana-guerrero-maci-paintings-for-birds" target="_blank">Diana Guerrero-Maciá: PAINTINGS FOR BIRDS</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMSecrist | Beach <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001516/l45dmngfdlpgjnibkqk4.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/kayla-risko-interiors" target="_blank">Kayla Risko: Interiors</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM65GRAND <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001517/qufc5vlbt15rtkej4xsa.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luis-gonzlez-palma-un-recuerdo-un-sueo-a-memory-a-dream" target="_blank">Luis González Palma: Un Recuerdo, Un Sueño | A Memory, A Dream</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMOld Friends Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001517/jbjwbfedp33v0ibzkyve.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/tom-eslinger-left-to-my-own-devices" target="_blank">Tom Eslinger: LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMEpiphany Center for the Arts <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001518/bc8sjkjymcqwxpgirzh3.jpg"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/dangerously-whimsical-a-solo-exhibition-by-kate-harrold" target="_blank">Dangerously Whimsical A Solo Exhibition by Kate Harrold</a></h5>Opening: Friday, January 17, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMJackson Junge Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737001519/i6fsajen5tuicebhfjqj.png"> <h5><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fields-of-vision-the-landscapes-of-diane-washa-and-peter-batchelder" target="_blank">Fields of Vision: The Landscapes of Diane Washa and Peter Batchelder</a></h5>Exhibition begins January 15Lily Pad | West (Milwaukee, WI)

New Exhibitions Opening January 15 - 18 (Part I)

<h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/los-angeles-fires-art-world-true-colors" target="_blank">How the Los Angeles Fires Have Affected the Art World</a></h4> Though the fires are still burning, we’re starting to get an understanding of just how devastating the damage is for Los Angeles. In the arts-and-culture community, dozens of people, if not hundreds, have lost their homes, and in some cases decades’ worth of artwork—artists lost their studios and personal holdings, while collectors lost their entire troves. Via Vanity Fair <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/greater-los-angeles-wildfires-insurance-art-loss-1234729986/" target="_blank">‘One of the Most Impactful Art Losses Ever’: Insurers Start to Assess LA Wildfire Damage</a></h4> As fires raged across&nbsp;Los Angeles&nbsp;this week, due to the ongoing Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, numerous artists, collectors, and arts professionals have reported losing their homes and art collections&nbsp;in the affected areas. While it is still too early to truly assess the damage, art insurers and conservators told&nbsp;ARTnews&nbsp;that they expect it to be extensive. “This is going to be substantial and possibly one of the most impactful art losses ever in America,” Simon de Burgh Codrington, fine arts insurance specialist and managing director at Risk Strategies, told&nbsp;ARTnews&nbsp;in a phone interview. The devastating losses, de Burgh Codrington added, are expected “to be much more impactful than Sandy was to the art world.” Via ARTnews <h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/mary-miss-greenwood-installation-des-moines-settlement-2597948" target="_blank">Mary Miss Installation at Des Moines Art Center Set for Removal Following Legal Battle</a></h4> The Des Moines Art Center in Iowa has reached a settlement with Mary Miss more than nine months after the groundbreaking land artist&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/mary-miss-sues-des-moines-art-center-greenwood-pond-2464425" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;to stop the institution from demolishing an installation the museum said has become too costly to repair. In a surprise move, the DMAC and Miss agreed in court to release the details of settlement agreement, which are often kept secret. A copy of the settlement agreement provided by the Cultural Landscape Foundation, which had been aiding the artist in her efforts, shows Miss will be compensated $900,000 to drop her claims against the museum. Via Artnet <h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/arts/design/la-fires-art-collector-warhol-haring.html" target="_blank">Art Collector Says He Lost Warhols and Harings to L.A. Fire</a></h4> As the flames grew closer and closer to his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and his teenage daughter pleaded with him over the phone to evacuate, Ron Rivlin decided to flee, taking three Andy Warhols with him, all that he could carry.“I grabbed those, and as I was leaving, I saw the fire ahead of me on the hill,” Rivlin said. Via NYT Image: Ron Rivlin, an art collector, lost almost everything in his house in the Pacific Palisades fire. Credit: Tag Christof for The New York Times