Many artists in Chicago work with wood as a key part of their practice, yet there have been comparatively few exhibitions that have surveyed the medium. That changes with the Chicago Urban Art Society’s Wood Worked, which gathers together sculpture from artists working in wood. Steve Reber has work in this exhibition and at the Cultural Center; Michael Rea is included, having just finished with his exhibition at the Elmhurst Art Museum, as is Juan Angel Chavez, whose large, wooden speaker-like structure greeted visitors to Art Chicago this year. With these and other artists very actively exhibiting, it will be interesting to see their work in dialogue together.

Abraham Ritchie, Flavorpill

Feature: Arts&Entertainment

Artists find solace with The Post Family

By Lauren Viera, Tribune reporter

July 28, 2011

There are plenty of artist collectives in Chicago, typically formed along the same parameters as apartment galleries — established by an art school student, in a low-rent, communal space with a few friends and a few hundred bucks, on a wing and a prayer.

The Post Family is one of these venues, which typically last about five years, sometimes fewer. Currently in its “make or break” fifth year, as Family member Chad Kouri explained recently, the group doesn’t like to think of itself as a collective as much as a creative incubator.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.

[ARTE] Q&A: Chicago Urban Art Society

by Adriana Diaz

As third-generation, Mexican-American Chicagoans, Peter and Lauren’s roots and life experiences are very present in their explanations of their influences and decisions in paving their path. Peter, formally trained at the American Academy of Art, first came into his own in graffiti art. Lauren, a University of Illinois-Chicago graduate, has a background in social work. Remezcla sat down with the Brighton Park sibs and talked art and community, as their not-for-profit celebrates its first anniversary this June.

Read Entire Article Here.

Lauren Pacheco + CUAS in Chicago Tribune

Expo helps Chicago artists connect

City event offers ideas for creative community

By Chris McNamara, Special to the Tribune

10:33 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2011

Chicago plays host to numerous art expos throughout the year, from Hyde Park’s 57th Street Art Fair to the long-running Old Town Art Fair.

But on Saturday, the city hosted a fair that focused less on the art than on those who make it.

About 150 vendors and dozens of presenters gathered in the Chicago Cultural Center for the annual Creative Chicago Expo. READ MORE HERE!

[EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT] Tale of 2 Cities: Chicago + Detroit

Six filmmakers from Chicago and six from Detroit’s films are presented in video installations. Their short and feature length documentaries, experimental films, and social exposes stand as communication about social and cultural relevance. The show moderates this cross city conversation.

Review: Pork & Politics Stuff It! Chicago Style

Dec 20, 2010

RECOMMENDED

Designer and street artist Ray Noland, famed for spray painting images of Barack Obama and Rod Blagojevich on Chicago streets and underpasses, pairs with the Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS) to present “Pork & Politics,” a group show in one of the Chicago Loop Alliance’s pop-up galleries. Visitors to the space are engulfed in a branded, commercial environment; Noland painted the walls yellow, red and blue, installed a yellow- and red-striped awning, and placed a red hotdog cart with yellow lettering in the center of the room. Read More Here.

From Mayor Richard M. Daley, December 2010

CUAS pop-up project write up!

Art pops into place in Loop

Empty storefronts get noticed when artists move in

By Lauren Viera, Tribune reporter

October 15, 2010

For centuries, the brick-and-mortar store has been the ultimate status symbol of the independently owned service provider’s success. After building a clientele base and squirreling away enough in savings, signing a lease on a space meant officially sealing the deal: A product’s worth was ensured with a roof over its head, and the responsible parties were, quite literally, put on the map. READ MORE HERE!

Art centers come home

Not everyone believes going to a gallery should be an intimidating experience; some local art spaces are doing more to welcome in the community

Urban Arts Society

Peter Kepha explains screen printing to students at the Urban Arts Society. (Tribune photo by Simon Brubaker / July 17, 2010)

On an industrial stretch of South Halsted Street stands a nondescript, red brick building. Its easily passable exterior deceives uncurious eyes. But once inside the Chicago Urban Art Society (2229 S. Halsted St., 773-318-9407, chicagourban artsociety.org), an exhibition and creative-use space, eyes may not know where to look first.

The 4,200-square-foot space, which opened last month as a nonprofit organization that promotes art and artists influenced by the urban landscape, is poised to continue a legacy shared increasingly among more art spaces in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs: doing more than showing exhibits in a gallery.

“In the Pilsen area you don’t really see these types of venues, much like a Hyde Park Art Center, where the doors are open and folks can come in, sort of meander,” said executive director Lauren Pacheco, who co-owns CUAS with brother and creative director Peter Kepha. “So Peter and I really sat down and said we want to be able to have community members walk through the space, ask questions, engage the artists, engage us, and then maybe take a class and experience and experiment with a particular medium.”

Posts tagged lauren pacheco