Friday, October 9th
1. 45th Annual Pilsen East Artists’ Open House
Chicago Arts District
1821 S Halsted St, Chicago, Illinois 60608
45th ANNUAL PILSEN EAST ARTISTS’ OPEN HOUSE
2nd Friday, October 9th, 2015: 6pm – 10pm
Saturday, October 10th, 2015: 11am – 7pm
Coinciding with October 2nd Fridays, the Pilsen East Artists’ Open House is a well-loved neighborhood tradition, open to visitors to the Chicago Arts District and intended to showcase the amazing talent in our neighborhood. Now in its 45th year, the Pilsen East Artists’ Open House is an integral part of Chicago’s cultural history, and is one of the oldest continually-run annual arts events in Chicago and the Midwest.
The Open House is a self-guided walking tour of the intimate world of the working artist. Not only can visitors experience the 30+ galleries that comprise the Chicago Arts District, but they are also invited into the otherwise private artist residences, studios, and work spaces. Visitors can experience art at its source as they talk with artists, view and buy art, enjoy a performance, or stroll through the gardens of the Chicago Arts District.
The 45th Annual Pilsen East Artists’ Open House will feature the work of both established and emerging artists in Chicago’s oldest art community. Some neighborhood favorites include Xavier Nuez, Oscar Luis Martinez Fine Arts, the showPODs, Mary Lou Stewart, NYCH Art Gallery, Studio Oh!, TEMPLE Gallery, Maybe Sunday, and Bryan Sperry. Don’t miss this unique glimpse into the life and work of our many artists!
Event Dates:
Friday, October 9th, 2015: 6-10pm
Saturday, October 10th, 2015: 11am-7pm
Event Location:
This is a multi-location event in the form of a self-guided walking tour. The event spans approximately 6 blocks. The central location of the event is South Halsted and 18th Street in Chicago. Please visit the Info Center at 1821 South Halsted for maps and event details
Whispering Walls
Sarvin Haghighi Culley
An ongoing installation part of Chicago Artist Month events and organized by Chicago Arts District is coming to life via seven select storefronts on Halsted Street. The enhanced installation, presented as part of The Chicago Arts District’s Second Fridays, and included in Chicago Artists Month (CAM), runs September 11 – November 1, 2015.
“My intention with this installation is to share part of Persian / Iranian culture, which I’ve found many Americans have limited knowledge of”, said Haghighi. “With this installation, I hope to close the gap between the two cultures. And I’m thrilled this work will enjoy a greater audience now that it will be on display in the Halsted Street storefronts, and included in CAM programming.”
The enhanced installation speaks to a hybrid reality, born of an Iranian-US experience – anchored in the artist’s new home, Chicago. As such, the work is grounded in traditional Iranian customs, yet bears a distinct overlay of US/Chicago culture. The exhibit will come to life via seven storefronts along South Halsted and 18th Streets, in Pilsen. It will be comprised of mixed media, including: paintings, installations, sculpture and be very experiential.
2. Wall to Wall: Opening Reception
ArtSpace 1550: 1550 West Carroll Ave. 2nd flr
ArtSpace 1550
Grand Opening Reception
artspace1550.com
1550 W. Carroll Avenue, Second Floor Chicago, IL 60607
“Wall to Wall”, ArtSpace 1550’s Inaugural Exhibition will explore our fascination and dependence on the wall as a site for communicating ideas and feelings, creating aesthetic environments, and chronicling our visual history. This juried exhibition will features Chicago area artists. “Wall to Wall” runs from October 6 to November 1, 2015.
ARTISTS
Tim Arroyo – William Blake – Donna Bliss – Pía Cruzalegui – Laurel Feldman – Judith Roston Freilich – Sheila Ganch – Sharon Gilmore – Barbara Goldsmith – Donna Hapac Suzanne Horwitz – Kathleen King – Kevin Link – Michael Ochs – Sandra Perlow – Judy Petacque – Susan Redeker – David Richards – Kathy Blankley Roman Michelle Sales Richard Shipps – Jennifer Small – Randal Stringer – Lauren Sudbrink – Maureen Warren – Connie Wolfe
3. UNDER THE FREEWAY
Under a freeway in Chicago, RSVP for exact location
Under the Freeway is a project conceived by Connie Noyes after receiving a life-sized cardboard box in her studio. Located at the junction of I-94 and I-55 in Chicago the studio is less than 100 feet from where Chicago’s most invisible citizens make their home. The box arrived at a time when she was engaged with major designers, working on commissions for display in high-end public spaces. Visual awareness of the disparity of economic and social capital between classes was the catalyst for this work. Featuring Marvin Tate who will lead an improvised pop-up choir and singers from the Better Boys Foundation.
FOR THE EXACT LOCATION: RSVP HERE!! http://www.eventbrite.com/e/under-the-freeway-tickets-18160587807#
Sponsored in part by Chicago Artists Month. For more information visit: http://www.underthefreeway.org/
Saturday, October 10th
4. Doug Fogelson Discussion with Giovanni Aloi
inda Warren Projects
327 N Aberdeen, Suite 151, Chicago
Please join us at Linda Warren Projects Saturday, October 10 from 2-4pm! Chicago artist Doug Fogelson will discuss his work and his latest solo exhibition “Broken Cabinet” currently on view at the gallery through November 7th. Joining Fogelson will be SAIC Professor Giovanni Aloi.
In “Broken Cabinet,” Chicago artist Doug Fogelson highlights a disconnect between humans and the natural world. In his photograms, the artist places organic items like coral, coyote claws, moths and fox skulls upon photosensitive materials to create candy-colored shadows of these artifacts. Bringing the natural world into the manmade, Fogelson calls attention to the impact that mankind has on the environment; exhibiting the photograms beneath partially shattered glass, the artist emphasizes the fact that it’s most often at the hand of humans that various organisms are undergoing extinction.
5. Sculpture Among Us: Inspiring Communities Through Art with Chicago Sculpture International
Chicago area artists with Chicago Sculpture International present their work, followed by moderated discussions about what sculpture and art gives to communities and how they work with communities to create public art. This program features the following artists –
Nicole Beck: Nicole will present 2 short professional videos documenting two public sculpture installations in 2014 and 2015, “Amplifiers” a $250,000 collaborative, site-specific installation for the University of Illinois Urbana College of Electrical and Computer Engineering and “Spintronic” a 15′ sculpture installed in Lincoln Park on LaSalle Drive and Clark Street this summer. She will discuss the process for presenting public art.
Victoria Fuller: Victoria will present a power point presentation on the making of her large-scale sculpture, discussing the process of casting bronze, and working with cement and found objects, working with government agencies commissioning the artwork, and working with a community-based project involving volunteers and children. She will discuss the making of Global Garden Shovel (a 35 foot tall cast bronze sculpture made from cast plants and trees from various global regions of the world in Seattle, WA), Blue Whale (a cement whale sculpture with embedded tiles made by elementary school children in Naperville, IL), and Canoe Fan (a large fan made out of Canoes, on the banks of the Huron River in Ann Arbor, MI).
Christopher Newman: Christopher will show several examples of how his outdoor city and park sculptures enhance the community around them. The way that surrounding buildings and landscape relate to figurative or abstract sculptures gives added importance to the location. The sculptures capture similarities in their shapes, colors and size to people walking, cars passing by, and the trees, grass, and plants around them. As the community experiences these relationships, the sculptures and the places where they are placed are each given a unique identity.
This program is part of the 2015-2016 One Book, One Chicago season, exploring the theme “Chicago: The City That Gives”.
Sunday, October 11th
6. “Forgotten Cuba” Exhibition – Opening Reception
City of Evanston Civic Center
2100 Ridge Ave, Evanston, Illinois 60201
Local Evanston photographer Jerry Alt presents a fine art exhibition of approximately 50 works from his recent trip to Cuba. Framed, signed, limited edition photographs will be displayed. At the opening artist reception meet the photographer and learn more about the hidden gem that is Cuba.
All works on display will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be provided with a possible surprise visit of Cuban musicians. Door prizes will include a signed print from artist Jerry Alt, and a free photo session at Bordeaux Studio.
-THE END~
artnxtleveljournal.com 
Thank you Sergio! It was really a special night.