Artists Run Chicago is an exhibition showcasing the energy and audacity of some of the most noteworthy artist-run spaces that have influenced the Chicago contemporary art scene over the past decade. Chicago has long been known for cultivating a strong entrepreneurial/Do-It-Yourself spirit in business and the arts. The participating artist-run venues have transformed storefronts, sheds, apartments, lofts, industrial warehouses, garages and roving spaces into contemporary art galleries testing the notion of “exhibition” while complicating the definition of art. Coinciding with the Hyde Park Art Center’s 70th anniversary, Artists Run Chicago reconnects the Art Center to its beginnings as an artist-run space by showcasing spaces that continue the legacy. p(callout). The participating artist-run venues have transformed storefronts, sheds, apartments, lofts, industrial spaces, garages and roving spaces into contemporary art galleries testing the notion of exhibition while complicating the definition of art. Artists Run Chicago draws attention to those outstanding spaces that continue to reinvent the artists’ molds that are unique to Chicago.
The Suburban installation was made possible in part by the generous contributions of County Materials Corporation, and Elston ACE Hardware (Hyde Park). Events for the exhibition were supported by Dominicks Finer Foods and Jewel Osco.
Featured Artist Run Spaces
1/Quarterly, 65GRAND, Alogon, Antena, artLedge, Butchershop, Co-Prosperity Sphere, devening projects + editions, Deluxe Projects, Dogmatic, Fraction Workspace, Fucking Good Art (FGA), Green Lantern, He Said-She Said, HungryMan, joymore, Julius Caesar, Law Office, LiveBox, Margin Gallery, Medicine Cabinet/Second Bedroom Project Space, mini dutch, Modest Contemporary Art Projects, NFA Space, Normal Projects, Old Gold, Polvo, Roots & Culture, Scott Projects, Standard, Suitable, Swimming Pool Projects, Teti, The Suburban, and VONZWECK. With special contributions by Imperfect Articles, INCUBATE, Mess Hall, Seven Three Split, and ThreeWalls.
Featured Artists
Matthew Adams, Sebastian Alvarez, Brandon Alvendia, Conrad Bakker, Rafael Barontini, Krista Birnbaum, Nick Black, Dawn Blackman, Laura Boban, Ben Brandt, Nicholas Brown, Burtonwood and Holmes, Anna Cambell, Juan and Ricardo Compean, Rodger Cooley, David Coyle, Joel Dean, Joseph del Pasco, Joe DeNardo, Paul Dickinson, Meg Duguid, J. Austin Eddy, Peter Fagundo, Adam Farcus, Carson Fisk-Vittori, Noah Furman, Tim Geers, George Gittins, Jacob Goudreault, Carrie Gundersdorf, Dannielle Gustafson-Sundell, Terrence Hannum, Van Harrison, Katy Higgins, Annie Holm, Gregory Jacobson, Kevin Jennings, Mathew Paul Jinks, Bob Jones, Alexander Jovanovich, Brian Kapernekas, Law Office, Caleb Lyons, Conor McGrady, Heather Mekkelson, Mess Hall Collective, Christopher Michlig, George Monteleone, Sarah Morgan, Lydia Moyer, Carrie Moyer, Ian Muirhead, Ryan Murray, John Neff, Rachel Niffenegger, Deirdre O’Dwyer, Julia Oldham, Kate Oppenheimer, Nora Oppenheimer, Amavong Panya, Jessica Paulson, Michael Pfisterer, Timothy Pigott, Annie Purpura, Bill Radawec, Eric Ravenstein, Michael Rea, Guy Richards Smit, Elvia Rodriguez-Ochoa, JT Rogstad, Tracey Rose, Ron Santos, Mindy Rose Schwartz, Adam Scott, Scott Short, Dave Sisson, Edra Soto, Alexander Stewart, Ben Stone, Amber Hawk Swanson, Astri Swendsrud, Georgina Valverde, Suzanne Waters, Oli Watt, Griff Williams, Ben Wolf, Vanesa Zendejas, and many more!
In particular, these artist-run spaces allow artists a platform for creating new work without restrictions while offering an extension of the artist’s studio practice. The network of artists exhibited in the space often end up working collaboratively as a support system, which informs the way each individual artist approaches his/her future work. The shows they produce can be interpreted as art projects rather than solely commercial endeavors. Typically, these spaces exist for several years and then disband. However, to call these spaces a failure is to miss the fertile ground they create for artists to experiment, show their work, and build a strong connection with other artists, writers, and curators that eventually help advance their career. Artists Run Chicago will include installations, performances, video, art objects and ephemera provided by artist-run galleries both currently in operation and those dearly departed. The artworks range from an evolving participatory painting and a gallow sculpture inspired by the Cook County Gallows to a kimchi-making demonstration and competitive ping-pong tournament on an artist-designed table. This exhibition is curated by Britton Bertran and Allison Peters Quinn with assistance from Jacob C. Hammes and Francesca Wilmott.
A program of events related to the exhibition will coincide with the Hyde Park Art Center’s 70 days for 70 years programming series commemorating the Center’s anniversary. Activities will range from bike tours of the artist-run spaces, cookouts, panel discussions, and public performances or reinventions of memorable happenings like an outdoor art event produced by joymore that once took place in an abandoned lot in Humboldt Park. In addition to the exhibition and events, the Center plans to build and house a permanent and public archive documenting Chicago’s past and present artist-run spaces through the gathering of materials for Artists Run Chicago.
A publication documenting the exhibition was produced by Threewalls/Green Lantern Press and is available through The Paper Cave.
PRESS
Artists Run Chicago, Frieze
Movers and Shakers: The Role of Artist-Run Spaces in Chicago, Chicago Artists’ News
