Opening
Friday - October 29, 2004 from 6-10pm
The
Kitchen Dance Exchange: Amy Mall*
Oct.
29 - Nov. 20, 2004
" The
Kitchen Dance Exchange is an installation which explores personal connection
to architecture and pattern. It began last fall after working on an organic
vegetable farm. The movements of harvest, planting, weeding as repetitive
gestures promted an interest in dance. Returning to Chicago and choosing
an apartment created further questions about the spaces we feel drawn to
and why. " - Amy Mall
*includes a special exhibit called "The Kitchen Table Story Exchange",
a collection of handmade books by over 16 people: Terry Baskin, Kelly
Stone, Shermin Ovid, Meta Kate Faulkner, Cheryl Weaver, Jeremy Hobbes, Janette
Zabel, Liz Neilson, Ria Fay Berquist, Veronica Cuculich, Fernando Vernom, Johnny
Hernandez.
"As an art maker,
I use the creative process as a way to investigate the world and build meanings.
I hold myself in a place between worlds and joining worlds. I am from Chicago
and I am from the Himalayas. I have many homes. I choose materials and processes
according to their metaphoric significance and their ability to guide me through
conceptual exploration. I am concerned with an integration of actions, studying
the interconnections between people and the Earth we live in. Repetitive activities
and patterns reveal encoded information about the past, present and future.
My art making is a means of communication, an interaction with community and
a vehicle for integrated learning. It is my tool with which I act, observe,
explore, interact, affect and enjoy my surroundings. I reinterpret my daily
tasks and ask many questions about natural processes of growth and decay." -
Amy Mall
Amy Mall is an artist, currently
living in Chicago with a B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute. She believes
in the full integration of living, learning, doing, and art. She divides her
time between Chicago and the Indian Himalayas.
Watch out for a
Free art dispenser outside Polvo during this month!
Polvo is a FREE art dispenser
site for "The Freedom of the Art", a show of art by the artists of
Little City, Esperanza, Arts of Life and El Valor Community Organizations.
12" x 12" mini-installation projects
this month's artist: Jaime Mendoza
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Running from Myself- A Self Portrait of a Bi-Polar Mexican
mixed media installation
Jaime Mendoza, 2004
also a mini-exhibit: Miguel Cortez
 Where did my mind map go? #1 oil on canvas $200 SOLD |
 Where did my mind map go? #2 oil on canvas $200 |
 Where did my mind map go? #3 oil on canvas $200 |
 Where did my mind map go? #4 oil on canvas $250 |
 Where did my mind map
go? #5 |
 Where did my mind map go? #6 oil on canvas $350 |
Mind mapping, supposedly an effective alternative to linear note taking, is a technique that was developed by Tony Buzan in the 1960s as a way of helping students make notes that used only keywords and images. They are much quicker to make, and because of their visual quality much easier to remember and review. Buzan says, "Your brain's thinking patter may be seen as a gigantic branching association machine, with lines of thought radiating from a virtually infinite number of data nodes."
Though drawn on a
two dimensional page, mind mapping represents a multidimensional reality
that encompasses space, time and color. Using this technique
as a starting process, this series of oil paintings began with a central
thought/shape and as each painting evolved, more shapes formed, branching
out, overlapping, adjoining, or overpowering each previous effect. What
results are completely abstract compositions based on trying to map out
my subconscious during that specific time.
- mcortez october 2004
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click to see a short MPEG clip 1 | click to see a short MPEG clip 2 |
Improvised music at Polvo Art Studio
1-5 p.m. on Saturday, October 30
Jason Goldstein, electric guitar
Alex Wing, electric oud & bass
Jon Mitchell, tenor saxophone & percussion
Sanjay Mehta, drums
Joel Wanek, upright bass
Jayve Montgomery, tenor saxophone & percussion
Daniel Godston, horns & percussion
18th
ST. Pilsen Open Studios
OCTOBER 30 and 31, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
32 spaces, 60+ artists, 18th Street to Cermak Rd., Western to Racine
18th STREET, PILSEN— On October 30 and 31 artists from the heart
of Pilsen will open their doors to the public in 18ST: Pilsen Open Studios,
the largest opening of Latino artists’ studios in the city.
The weekend event features 32 spaces—most of them private studios—and more than 60 artists. Dozens of artists who grew up in Pilsen or have lived or worked for years in the community will participate. Neighborhood cafes and community art spaces are also showing work from artists who have a connection to the neighborhood.
Participating artists include well-known painters, muralists, and printmakers as well as emerging artists.
Pilsen has long been known for its murals and culture, and dozens of artists’ studios and homes are scattered throughout the Mexican /Mexican-American neighborhood. This is the second year Pilsen artists have opened their studios.
There will be free shuttle buses between studios.
The event takes place the weekend prior to the Day of the Dead. A number of art spaces in the neighborhood will present Day of the Dead shows.
Free admission.
Participating artists include:
POLVO ART STUDIO shows cutting-edge, contemporary art, including 12"x12" “mini-installations.” Polvo co-founder artist MIGUEL CORTEZ is among those exhibiting, 773.344.1940.
Muralist HECTOR DUARTE is fabricating a mosaic tile mural to be installed on the CTA’s Western Avenue Station on the Douglas Branch of the Blue Line. Visitors to Duarte’s studio will see the 25 x 8 ft. work in progress, 312.633.9245.
Colombian sculptor and oil painter OSCAR BETANCOURT is creating his own sculpture garden behind his studio to exhibit his works, 312.243.0344.
Brothers JUAN AND RICARDO COMPEAN will show their paintings and prints as well as Ricardo’s tattoo art, 773.744.4044.
LETICIA RODARTE will show her paintings and handcrafts made from found objects and recycled materials, reciclartehandcrafts@yahoo.com
Visual artist MARK NELSON, a winner in the most recent round of Illinois Arts Council Fellowships, recently completed a documentary video featuring artists of Pilsen involved in this event. He’s showing paintings, constructions and “souvenirs” from his Gringolandia studio, 312.491.8926.
MICHAEL HERNANDEZ DE LUNA will exhibit his famous fake postage stamp art, 312.563.0554.
Latina artists ESPERANZA GAMA and DIANA SOLIS show paintings and drawings,
773-871-4969.
TIM ARROYO, who grew up in the neighborhood and moved back as an adult, is a digital artist, 312.733.7205.
Photographer AMIR NORMANDI will host the exhibit HEJAB featuring the works of 10 photography and photojournalism students studying at universities in Tehran, 312.942.1200.
FRANCISCO MENDOZA has been the lead artist on many of the neighborhood’s mosaic murals, including the Virgin of Guadalupe mural outside the 18th Street train stop and the murals outside the new Orozco school, 773.890.1433.
Cuban artist LILIANA PEREZ-REYNOLDS shows paintings and drawings, 312.738.1821.
Recognized Chicago
spray-paint artist RAHMAAN “STATIK” BARNES
has a number of murals in the area and shows his oil paintings and spray
works, 773.454.0233.
For a complete list of participating artists and map of studios see www.pilsenopenstudios.com