Friday, March 30, 2012

Michelle Stone Reviewed by Corey Nuffer!


Wowiw! Michelle Stone was reviewed by Corey Nuffer, read on! And look at the slideshow! h/t Peter Gray.

By Corey Nuffer on March 30, 2012

Michelle Stone’s Current Show:  View Slideshow on Flickr »

Michelle Stone | Gallery 175 | 175 W. Jackson, Loop | 312.781.2500 |
Now Thru April 4 | Hours: Mon-Fri 9-2:30 | Free

Decay never looked so good.

I wish there was a name for that compulsive, overwhelming urge of wanting to take a closer look. Curiosity, suspicion, fear—all these arise from this nameless state. Perhaps its power over us originates in that most ancient place of our reptilian minds where instead of fighting or flight…ing, we just stare for as long as we dare. This is the draw of Gallery 175’s newest installation by artist Michelle Stone and curated by Sarah Krepp.

Opening night for this exhibit drew a lot of people. The relativity of time pinched and forced into being a most unique first encounter with this art, reminding me how important it is to experience things from not just up close but far away. Like a hungry child peeping through a restaurant window, I watched the people on the other side of the glass. But without the wait, my experience would have never been so coveted, so studied from afar. Life on the other side of the glass and bustling people meant that when I finally crossed the threshold, I was primed for looking like I haven’t been for years.

Strange eruptions birthing and oozing out of the walls, the pieces didn’t quite hang but more like lived, as if this was a set for a Tim Burton film…or even Ed Wood—the lighting and resulting shadows were that eerie and severe. And the more you looked at the pieces, the more they seemed to move ever so, a team of Jim Henson puppet masters standing on the other side of the walls, hands inside, flexing and trembling the non-living curds of painted rot.

The first piece I looked at was “11.” It looked completely different from the rest of the collection: a slight, rectangular piece of metal fixed on the wall. Very clever, I thought. What does it all mean? I took about five or so photos, careful to capture all the angles. It made a huge impact on me. I was eager for the experience to swell with meaning as I made my way from piece to piece. It wasn’t until I had taken my last photo of the piece next to it – “10” – that I noticed the small, dark and crusty wad hiding about seven or so feet above my head. Clever indeed! I immediately started sweating, grateful for all the chaos opening night brings, for this meant that if I was lucky, no one saw me taking photos of what looked like part of a door stop. Why, oh, why can’t I keep this all a secret?! If only I had shame…

By this time, I overheard a man say that “11” reminded him of his father. This caught my attention, for 11 looked like ten pounds of crayons, melted and formed into a spiked mass with an occasional appendage or extended horned spike. He then reached out and ran his finger along a curl of yellow and marble-like hems of white and purple and green.

He did what I wanted to do: Touch. After all, there were no “Do Not Touch” signs. Then again, was that necessary? I think it would be necessary if this were a society in which we needed signs reminding others to not eat off of the plates of strangers when dining out. Do not touch? Sure. Fine.

The wall behind me held four more sculptures. “2” prickled with tufts of what looked like lava-hewn texture, like something spit up from the sun and on a trajectory meant for annihilation of whatever was in its path. “3” looked like it was decomposing, black and gooey. Over and over, these pieces affected just a little too much drama. And just as curious, I wasn’t sure why. The fifth installation took up an entire wall and was made up of over 30 pieces. Decay and beauty, face-like, animal-like, fairytale-like, nebula-like – they all conveyed and connived their way into ready-made forms for interpretation my mind was all too happy to offer up.

It’s not that some of them have yellow and white, but that they look like pus. It’s not that they’re shiny but that they look wet and ready to drip on the floor. It’s not that they are spiky and horned and crook’d with appendages and projections; it’s that some of them look malicious, threatening, dangerous. And it’s not that that they all look interesting; it’s that they all compel in the same way great beauty or deformity or something dangerous compel.

Stone is not only an artist but a recently retired art teacher and perhaps most interesting, an art therapist. So when she says that she’s curious about process and wonders “about growth—transformation and decay—as it relates to humanity,” I realize it’s no coincidence that such nimble ascension my mind makes to darker thoughts and emotions is by design. In short, Stone has managed an impossible. She has taken something that Americans are so reticent to talk about—death—and makes it something you not only want to talk about but to stare at and to think about in creative ways. Your father? Your mother? Your first pet? Stone’s exhibit might look like a bunch of spiny clumps hanging on a wall, but get too close, and they’ll look back at you, all the way into your soul.

Stone’s next exhibit will be at Ceres, a gallery in New York City, from April 24-May 19.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Spring Break Art Workshops for Kids at Avram Eisen Gallery in Chicago


Spring Break Art Workshops for Kids
Wonder Wear: Costume Making
 Spring break is next week.  Sign the kids up today!
Young heroes and heroines can make their own gear that sparkles or shines in our spring break art workshops.  We will use new and repurposed materials including fancy trims, ribbons, baubles, feathers, and more to create costume pieces that will make kid's imaginations soar and can be worn alone or as a complete ensemble.   
Tuesday, April 3
Take it From the Top: Masks and Head Gear
Wednesday, April 4
Fantasy Dress and Body Wear
Thursday, April 5
Finery and Frippery:
A Day of Jewelry Construction
1:30- 3:30 p.m. Each Day
Intended for kids ages 5 to 9 years.
Space is limited to eight students.
Three-Day Session Price: $110
Single Class Price: $42
Location:
5204 N Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 271-3008
Registration Required--CLICK HERE FOR FORM

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Jackie Moses at Phantom Gallery!


International Art Group
4161 N. Damen
Chicago IL 60613
847 217 7423

Opening Reception
Saturday, April 28 - 6-9 pm

Gallery Hours
week days 6-8 pm
week ends 1-8 pm

April 17 - May 15, 2012

Monday, March 19, 2012

Kim Laurel Two Group Exhibitions Opening 3/24


Hi Art Friends,
Spring is here and I'm participating in two great group exhibitions opening this coming Saturday, March 24th.
Daytime and Evening, hope you can make one or both!
Best
Kim Laurel

Day Event:
Cycle-Pedia 
at the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative

 

Opening Saturday, March 24, 2012
12:00 to 5:00pm 

This group exhibit features prints and works on paper 
with a wheeled things theme.
Pedal by for some cycling fun. 

          ©2012 Kim Laurel

The Cycle-Pedia exhibit runs from March 24th to April 30th
at
The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative 
4642 N. Western Avenue. 
Gallery Hours: Fridays and  Saturdays from 12:00 - 5:00 
or anytime by appointment.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evening Event:

Women's Works 
25th Anniversary Exhibition


The Northwest Area Arts Council presents
 this exhibit that showcases woman artists.

Opening reception March 24, 2012 

6:00-7:00pm Artists and NAAC Members

Gala Opening to the Public 7:00-9:00pm 

The show runs from March 8, 2012 – April 29, 2012

The 25th anniversary of Women’s Works is an occasion to reflect on the past, celebrate the work of today’s women artists and look forward to the future of the exhibit.
  
Women’s Works was created in 1985 from the efforts of a group of women who dreamed of a place where women could showcase their talent.

Old Court House Arts Center
101 N. Johnson Woodstock, IL 60098



fin


 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Jesse Howard in Aurora, IL

Jesse Howard, the Urban Abyss series, in Aurora, courtesy of the Aurora Public Art Commission, at the David L. Pierce Center, 20 East Downer Place, Aurora, Illinois, runs from now 'til April 20, 2012 (opened February 24). Note: hours are Wednesday through Friday, noon to 4:00 pm.


Judith Roth Art Sale at Palette & Chisel 3/31

Where? Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, 1012 North Dearborn, Chicago.
When? March 31st from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Featuring? Judith Roth, and others

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Nancy Charak at Cornelia Arts Building Open House 3/23

Nancy Charak, "Orpheus & Eurydice," 8"x8" watercolor on clayboard

The Cornelia Arts Building - Where Art Works
Please join us for the Spring Open House on Friday, March 23, from 6-10pm. 
CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING, 1800 W. Cornelia, Chicago, IL

The Cornelia Arts Building provides a unique, public art experience through regular open houses and tours. Meet local artists and explore art! Doug Birkenheuer, Jeff Bryner, Lauren Harlowe, Jeremiah Ketner, Reed Kirst, Basia Krol, Alley Maranto, Jason Messinger, Ahavani Mullen, James Pareti, Darrell Roberts, Judy Schumacher, Susanne Siegel, Scott Simons, Tiffany Stronsky, Kevin Swallow, Fraser Taylor, Eric Weinstein and ME!
Established in 1986, Cornelia is the only all-artist studio building on Chicago's Northside and a hub of creative practices. Over 40 local artists including: sculptors, painters, photographers, printmakers, jewelry designers and more!
Our quarterly 0pen studio tours provide a unique oppotunity for visitors to see inside the working artists' studio and to meet the artists.
Close to public transportation, free parking available.

Slip Twixt Cup and Lip, Caffeine Leftovers! Part 2!

No Caffeine mug show would be complete without the work of Gwen Jones, our esteemed quilter.
Contact Bill Whitside at wfwhiteside@earthlink.net. What's $10 to own this precious objet d'art?

Chicago Women Artists Celebrated at Northern Trust

Judith Roth: "Seated Dancer Revisited as Matador" oil on linen diptych, 72"x78"
Celebrating Women's History Month at Northern Trust
Over 70 terrific art works by Chicago area women artists of the CWCA!
CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March 1-31, 2012
Chicago Women's Caucus for Art (CWCA) Members' Exhibition at Northern Trust Bank
50 South LaSalle Street, at Monroe, Chicago IL.
OPENING RECEPTION THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 3:30-5:30 PM
Weekly Viewing Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, through March 31st

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Call for Art April Exhibition ARC on Damen in Chicago


Call for art- April Exhibition at ARC Gallery on Damen in Bucktown
Call for Art "Re/Invention"
ARC Gallery is proud to be hosting "Re/Invention", a non-juried, open-walls group exhibition. THIS EXHIBITION WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN OUR NEW SPACE AT 2156 N. DAMEN AVE IN BUCKTOWN. Please join with the ARC members and affiliates in inaugurating our new gallery.
This non-juried, open walls, small-works exhibition aims to explore ideas of invention and creativity and the solving of problems as it affects art-making. We are interested in notions about fabrication and the processes used in producing a piece of art. The only limitation is one of size. All pieces submitted should be either 12"x12" or 9"x12"(or 12"x9") but size variations are acceptable, with or without borders and/or framing . Artist may submit 1 image of a work that will be shown in the gallery for a non- refundable hanging fee of $25. You may show additional work, $15 for each piece that you plan to show. There is no limit on the number of works that you can submit and exhibit.
Exhibition Dates: April 11-28, 2012
Opening Reception and Grand Opening of the New Gallery: Saturday, April 14, 6-10pm
To download the prospectus:

Deadline for entries March 22

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Kim Laurel Closing Party Chicago Printmakers 3/8/12

Closing Party: Thursday, March 8, 2012 - Chicago Printmakers Collaborative ANNEX 208 S. Wabash
March 2012...go a little greener
CPC Pop Up Annex in the Loop....
We had such a ball at the Pop Up Annex on Wabash, that we printfolk decided to also have a
CLOSING Party:
Thursday, March 8th, 5 - 8 pm
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative ANNEX 
208 S. Wabash
February 9 - March 10, 2012
Last Week
ANNEX Daily Open hours
Weds - Sat: 11:30am - 5:30pm
There are still very cool things left on the walls to view and purchase, and we're kind of in a printmakerly party mood.
Our closing event is rumored to have a St. Paddy's Day theme, so wear the green or turn that color after imbibing too much free wine and artist-created snacks. Of course, this event is free.
Lucky you!
More info
contact:
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
info@chicagoprintmakers.com
www.chicagoprintmakers.com
773.293.2070

Monday, March 5, 2012

Slip Twixt Cup and Lip, Caffeine Leftovers!

Where to begin? The world famous, legendary artists of the Artists' Breakfast Group exhibit together for fun and frolic. Many of the exhibits start with the word "Caffeine!" Many of the artists make mugs; we have mugs for sale!
We're thinking $10 each; contact Bill Whiteside at wfwhiteside@earthlink.net.
Admit it, these are gorgeous.

ABG Does Dinner, Pics Now!

Oh, one thing, the reason Ruyell Ho is not in the picture is 'cause he's the guy taking the pictures!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Didier Nolet Art of Human Rights at Gallery 180 Chicago

This year, I am participating in The Art of Human Rights on March 10th, an exhibition and silent auction that showcases avariety of established Fine Artists, hand selected by Chuck Gniech, Curator of Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Exhibited work includes: painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture - available for purchase.Funds raised through The Art of Human Rights support our work to ensure that everyone has a roof over their head, access to health care, the opportunity to earn income to support themselves and their families, and to be treated fairly and with justice.
HeartlandAlliancebelieves that all of us deserve the opportunity to improve our lives. Each year, they help ensure this opportunity for more than one million people around the world who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety.
I hope that you will consider attending this event. Tickets start at $125 and it promises to be a lively and artful evening Thank you for supporting Heartland Alliance, The Art of Human Rights and helping us advance their work. We look forward to seeing you on March 10th!
Sincerely,
Didier Nolet
For more information on the event, please visit:www.artofhumanrights.com