CSI Newsletter Archive

Our monthly email newsletter gives you tips on all the art happenings at Chicago Sculpture International in Chicago and beyond. Learn about art openings, exhibitions, sculpture installations, workshops, open calls for art and more. Join our email list to get the latest CSI News and Updates. If you are a member, click to submit your latest artist news to the CSI Newsletter.

Gene Skala 12/12/24 Gene Skala 12/12/24

December 2024 Newsletter

**CSI Showcased in Sculpture Magazine**

Chicago Sculpture International is being featured in the current November/December ’24 issue of Sculpture magazine, a bimonthly publication of the International Sculpture Center. The article highlights CSI programs from the past year, including the Ragdale Tree Project, the Sculpture in the Parks initiative with Chicago Park District, as well as indoor exhibits at CSI Project Space, and the Poetry of Sculpture group exhibit at Prairie State College.

News from the Grants Committee

Chicago Sculpture International has yet again been recognized for the organization’s success with an Arts and Culture Grant by the prestigious Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

This $25,000 award is granted to CSI through its continued function as a centerpiece in the artistic landscape of Chicago, where multiple communities can experience the intergenerational creativity of our members within Chicago and beyond.

Without continued contributing success of our membership base and stepping up of members to develop crucial roles in board/leadership volunteer positions, grants from organizations such as Driehaus Foundation (as well DCASE and IAC) would be impossible.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Anthony May, Grants Chair - anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Chicago Tree Project

Above (left): Franziska Seifert with her tree sculpture; (right) Hamburg tree sculpture inauguration

The Chicago Tree Project is now International

The Chicago Tree Project is now international, providing a model for the making of a work of art in the city of Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg artist Franziska Seifert has created the first tree sculpture there, and CSI member Christine Perri was invited to attend the recent inauguration and give a presentation on the Chicago Tree Project. For more photos and information about the artist, go to: https://www.chicagotreeproject.org/hamburg-tree-project/

News from CSI Project Space

Little but Bold! CSI Member Benefit Art Auction

The Little, but BOLD! CSI Member Art Auction exhibit runs until Sunday, January 26, 2025. An online silent auction of available works will continue throughout the run and available works can be viewed online or at the Project Space gallery (1912 N. Damen, Chicago, IL). Bid often and bid high!

Thank you to all bidders and winners, attendees, volunteers, and our sponsors for supporting CSI and making the evening a terrific success!

Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things un-monumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument. All proceeds will support the CSI exhibition and outreach programs and CSI members!

Participating Artists: Pinar Aral, Janet Austin, John Bannon, Lynn Basa, Jyl Bonaguro, Wallace Bowling, David Curry, Darlys Ewoldt, Lynn Floriano, Mirentxu Ganzarain, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Set Gozo, Carol Hammerman, Lillian Heredia, Terry Karpowicz, Kasia Kay, Kelly Lawler, Micki LeMieux, Marianne Lovink, Yicen Liu, Ellen Lustig, Deana Bada Maloney, Anthony Heinz May, Michelle Meyer, Jordan Mozer, Frederick B. Napoli, Thomas Plum, Paul Russell, Howard Sandroff, Marvin Shafer, David Skora, Gunnar Theel, Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, Roberta Ulrich-de Oliveira, Nancy VanKanegan, Patrick D. Wilson, Charles Yost, Shencheng Xu, and Haijun Zhang

In Memory of Ron Gard

Above: (right) Ron Gard’s sculpture *The Struggle Against Death*; (right) Ron in 2014 working in Lincoln Park on one of three tree sculptures, *Dying to Survive Nos. #3, #6 & #9*.

Ron Gard was an amazing designer, sculptor and person.

Ron owned and operated a prominent set building company in Chicago and returned to his first love of sculpture when he retired from the film and advertising industry. He was quickly recruited onto the Board of CSI, where he served as Treasurer for several years. Ron was an exquisite and exacting craftsman with a vast knowledge of materials and methods. His circle of peers was numerous and he was always ready to pitch in and help.

In 2020, Ivy Gard graciously donated the CSI Project Space Gallery to the members of CSI in memoriam of Ron's commitment to the organization.

Thank you Ron and Ivy, we love you.

Land Acknowledgement

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People's sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa - as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. To provide immediate assistance to Native American Communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city's American Indian Center here

Member News

Drawing You Outside: Artist Talk Series Part !

Oregon Caves National Monument Artist Residency and Drawing You Outside environmental project by Christine Forni

This project is partially supported by an Individual Artists Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events

When: December 19th, Thursday, 7-8pm
Where: Mana Contemporary, 2233 S. Throop St. Studio 421 in Chicago

Artist will share a video presentation and have a Q&A about Drawing You Outside at Oregon Caves National Monument artist residency. If you would like to hear more about getting a residency Christine will be sharing her proposal, her time there and the sculpture inspired by viewing microscopic views of the mineral collected by the National Park and stored in their library.

“Holiday at the Fields” exhibit at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

The "Holiday at the Fields Exhibit" at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park is a captivating showcase of artistic talent and storytelling. Each of the invited artist's small-scale works offers a unique insight into their perspectives and creativity. The variety of media used in the sculptures, from carved marble to wood to welded stainless steel, adds a fascinating dimension to the exhibit. The opening reception will be held on December 10th in the Pamela and John Henry Gallery and coinciding with the Ambassador Board's annual Christmas Party, which will likely create a festive atmosphere for attendees to enjoy the artworks as well.

Exhibiting Artists: Philip Shore, Brian Monaghan, John Bannon, Eric Lindsey, Gwen Yen Chiu, Jyl Bonaguro, John Himmelfarb, Jill King, and Terry Karpowicz

Bethany Cordero Artist Residency Exhibition

Join us for the culmination of Bethany Cordero’s artist residency at the Oak Park Art League. This show will offer a glimpse into the sculptural work she has been developing, exploring themes of identity, impermanence, memory, and the transitory nature of being. She’s excited to share this journey with you and invite you to experience these new works up close. Please come by and see what Bethany has been working on during her time at OPAL!

Fiat Lux in Sycamore Park, Davis, CA

Nicole Beck has recently installed Fiat Lux in Sycamore Park, Davis, CA. Last year Beck was contacted by the grieving parents of Karim Abou Najm who wanted to honor their son with a memorial sculpture at the site, blocks from their home, where the serial stabbing occurred. The City of Davis and UC Davis were rocked by a series of random stabbings last April that left two pillars of their community dead and one critically injured. Davis Public Art Commission wanted to collaborate with Nicole, the parents and family and the Phoenix Foundation in creating a site-specific artwork to both heal the community and honor the brilliant star that Karim was. Nicole stayed with the family while craning the work to site, completing the glass installation and speaking at a community unveiling ceremony. CSI partner Vector Custom fabricating was hired by Beck as the lead fabricator the 10 x 10 x 3 ft. stainless sculpture.

Pictured in the photo are the family of Davis Public Art Administrator Rachel Hartsough.

Scott Mossman: Pictures & Forms

November 8, 2024 to January 3, 2025

Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago IL

An active painter and sculptor since the early eighties, Scott Mossman’s work has always involved the relationships inherent in elements and objects within a given space. Through his sculpture, Mossman’s geometric forms interact with architectural elements within a space and comment on the viewer’s relationship with the work, and existing elements such as soffits, baseboards, ceiling height, windows, and doors, among other features within a space. For this reason, the viewer never finds his sculpture placed at eye-level, where one would find a painting, and subsequently, ignores the rest of the room. Mossman’s paintings also pose this challenge, as elements within the work, such as color, perspective, and composition, work together to push the limits of a flat canvas. Painted tableaus derived from postcard images are paired with illusionistic space to create windows within the canvas. In Mossman’s Pictures and Forms exhibit, he has chosen a handful of two- and three-dimensional works that are perhaps his largest and most complex ever.

Diane Ponder in Venice Biennale, Energy Center in Korea and SoNo Gallery

November 8 - January 11, 2025
SoNo Gallery, 1527 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL. 60622

Diane Ponder is exhibiting in the Climate Change group show at the Energy Center of Ulsan, Korea, part of the ECU in Palazzo Bembo in Venice Biennale and Gabriel Fine Arts of London.

The group show, “Lightness and Being” is at SoNo Gallery, 1527 N. Ashland, Chicago and. is open until January 11, 2025.

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

Pieces by Margie Criner

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

Call for Artist Exhibits at Harold Washington Library Center

The Music, Arts, Social Science and History Department, located in the Harold Washington Library Center is looking to schedule exhibits on the 8th floor beginning April 2025 through March 2026. Artists working in any visual media are encouraged to apply.

Deadline for submission is 5pm, December 15, 2024
Decisions will be announced by January 15, 2025.
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL

Selected artists will have an eleven-week exhibition in the 8th floor exhibit cases.

As part of each exhibit, were quest artists be willing to teach at least one tactile art or craft class to adult library patrons. Previous workshops have included drawing, printmaking, watercolor, illustration, book making, collage and knitting, among other topics. Workshops generally run 90-120 minutes with up to 15 adults. A small honorarium will be offered plus the cost of materials covered.

For submission requirements and to apply, please visit this link.

Eligibility: Visual artists who live in Chicagoland (city and suburbs).

Clay Fans Club Fundraiser

Fellow CSI Member in need of a kiln for a small studio at Bridgeport Art Center. Every bit of assistance will help. Go fund me link at https://gofund.me/73c0fae9

Sculpture Magazine Holiday Deal

Know someone who would love to stay informed with contemporary sculpture? Surprise them with a gift subscription to Sculpture, featuring 6 issues a year in print or digital format. The digital version includes a free downloadable app, ensuring they can access your thoughtful gift anytime, anywhere. Available for a limited time at 1 for $40 or 2 for $70.

https://sculpture.org/store/

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.

Cover photo:
Scott Mossman
Pink Curve, 2022
Acrylic on wood
22-1/2 x 26 x 17 in.

This is the newsletter for Chicago Sculpture International.
© 2024 Chicago Sculpture International. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Chicago Sculpture International
3141 North Hoyne Ave
Unit 4
Chicago, Il 60618 USA

Gene Skala 11/11/24 Gene Skala 11/11/24

November 2024 Newsletter

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Existing is Political

Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024
Gallery Hours: Friday 2-6 pm, Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
CSI Project Space at 1912 N. Damen in Chicago

“Existing is Political” explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles of "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.

Exhibiting Artists:

John E. Bannon, Roland Biermann, Heather Brammeier, Jyl Bonaguro, Charlotte Briskin, Andrew Cantu, Musa Ghaznavi, Carol Hammerman, Hoda Hasanpour, Sarah Holden, Azadeh Hussaini, Michael Gallagher, Set Gozo, Catherine Jacobi, Karl Johnson, Kelly Lawler, Micki LeMieux, Jose Trejo Maya, Thomas Plum, Marci Rubin, Dominic Sansone, Dena Sadik Daman, Zelene Jiang Schlosberg, Samuel Schwindt, Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, Nancy VanKanegan, Siwei Xu

The Curators of this show would like to begin by acknowledging that this gallery sits on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes, such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, and Sac and Fox, also called this area home.

In an election year marked by deep societal divides and contentious policies, "Existing is Political" takes on an urgent significance. As we witness ongoing genocides that continue to unfold with little intervention, this exhibition confronts the reality that existence itself can become a political act.

Through sculpture, painting, and mixed media, the artists in this exhibition explore how their identities, communities, and bodies are implicated in larger struggles for justice, visibility, and human dignity. Whether by resisting oppression, speaking out against erasure, or bearing witness to violence, their works make a powerful statement: in an era where not only rights are contested, but also who has them.

"Existing is Political" compels viewers to reckon with the consequences of silence, the weight of erasure, and the resilience of those who refuse to disappear. In a time when the stakes of existence feel especially precarious, this exhibition is a reminder that to live, to be seen, and to take up space is a profound and radical act of resistance.

– Musa Ghaznavi and Micki LeMieux, exhibition curators

Little, but BOLD!

CSI Member Benefit Art Auction

Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 from 5-8pm

CSI Project Space announces the Little, but BOLD! CSI Member Benefit Art Auction of small works at our member gallery space in Bucktown. On opening night, we will offer food, fun and fabulous art. There will be a live auction of 5 sculptures and a silent auction of over 30 sculptures. Buyers get to take art home that night!

Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things un-monumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.

All proceeds will support the CSI exhibition and outreach programs and CSI members. So please bid early, bid often and of course, bid high! The event is free but RSVP’s are required!

Click here to RSVP

Grant Awards for CSI

Chicago Sculpture International is proud to announce that it has been awarded another cycle of grants by both DCASE CityArts and IAC General Operating Support! Securing these grants allow CSI to continue shaping engagement with Chicago communities and neighborhoods (and beyond) with public art, exhibits at CSI Project Space gallery, and free education workshops at Lathrop homes Boys and Girls Club; to push accessibility of art while spreading its importance throughout the far reaches of CSI’s expanding platform. Thank you to CSI members and leadership for their continuing efforts to share vision and expression in exploration of creativity as a centerpiece for reconnecting communities and people through art!

IAC Creative Accelerator Fund Grant (for Individual Artists)

Deadline: November 20,2024

https://arts.illinois.gov/granting-opportunities/grants-programs/creative-accelerator-fund.html

More IAC Opportunities for Individual Artists

https://arts.illinois.gov/about-iac.html

Interested in learning more about writing grants for Chicago Sculpture International, or getting involved in CSI leadership? Reach out to Anthony at anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

Left: *The Struggle Against Death* by Ron Gard; Right: Ron Gard, circa 2014 with his sculpture *Dying to Survive* located at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West.

In Memory of Ron Gard

Land Acknowledgement

Member News

Scott Mossman: Pictures & Forms

November 8, 2024 to January 3, 2025

Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago IL

An active painter and sculptor since the early ‘80s, Mossman’s work has always involved the relationships inherent in elements and objects within a given space. Through his sculpture, Mossman’s geometric forms interact with architectural elements within a space and comment on the viewer’s relationship with the work, and existing elements such as soffits, baseboards, ceiling height, windows, and doors, among other features within a space. For this reason, the viewer never finds his sculpture placed at eye-level, where one would find a painting, and subsequently, ignores the rest of the room. Mossman’s paintings also pose this challenge, as elements within the work, such as color, perspective, and composition, work together to push the limits of a flat canvas. Painted tableaus derived from postcard images are paired with illusionistic space to create windows within the canvas. In Mossman’s PICTURES& FORMS exhibit, he has chosen a handful of two- and three-dimensional works that are perhaps his largest and most complex ever.

Diane Ponder in Venice Biennale

Energy Center in Korea and SoNo Gallery

November 8 - January 11, 2025

SoNo Gallery 1527 N. Ashland Ave.60622

Diane Ponder is exhibiting in the Climate Change group show at the Energy Center of Ulsan, Korea, part of the ECU in Palazzo Bembo in Venice Biennale and Gabriel Fine Arts of London.

Group show “Lightness and Being”at SoNo Gallery, 1527 N. Ashland, Chicago is open till January 11, 2025.

Image Credit: by Maia Peters

“Besides the Heaps” by Ei Cullina

Sculpture show on display featuring the work of Ei Cullina at Gallery 1619.
On display until November 15

Gallery 1619
1619 W. Summerdale
Chicago, IL

Gallery 1619 looks like another neighborhood “little free library” but a second glance reveals a high-art showroom featuring a rotating collection of pint-sized paintings, drawings and sculptures. Local artist John Airo hosts Gallery 1619 — a miniature art gallery — at 1619 W. Summerdale Ave. in Andersonville. The gallery has since secured work by artists from across Chicago and as far away as France and the Netherlands, and it is already booked until next July.

Nicole Beck to install Fiat Lux in Davis, CA

In November, Nicole Beck will be traveling to Davis, CA to install and unveil Fiat Lux, a site specific sculpture for Sycamore Park. The stainless steel, custom-laminated dichroic and prismatic glass commissioned work is a commemorative sculpture specifically designed to embody the life& spirit of Karim Abou Najm. Nicole was commissioned by a joint committee of Karim's parents, the Davis Phoenix Coalition and the City of Davis following Karim's tragic death by a mentally ill youth who went on a stabbing rampage in the city last year. The sculpture is intended to promote healing and well-being within the community. CSI member Vector Custom Fabricating collaborated with Nicole in fabricating the steel work.

Unveiling: Friday, November 22, 2024 at 4pm

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

September 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025

Above (left to right) *All is Not Lost, Swim,* and While I Sleep by **Margie Criner**

Weisses Gold

Work by Roland Biermann

September 8 - November 24, 2024

Weisses Gold is the title of Roland's current solo exhibition at Parsonage Gallery, Maine. At the centre of the show is a new Rheingold installation, consisting of hundreds of plastic bottles and containers in trash bags, car tires, oil barrels and other materials, all sourced locally in midcoast Maine. On the walls in the background are two large screen prints on tinplate panels, showing a plastic bag floating in used engine oil. The work explores the relationship between human greed, plastic and the environment and especially, our continued dependency on plastics and other oil derivatives, polluting oceans, atmosphere and soil.
www.parsonagegallery.org

69 for 69 A Magnetic Fields Art Show

Curated by Janelle O'Malley
Show running to November 30
Side street studio arts 15 Ziegler Ct, Elgin, IL 60120

69 for 69 is a nostalgic filled ode to Magnetic Fields album, 69 Love Songs. A love song, the most common and often banal tune on the radio. So pervasive the idea in music that how could anyone possibly make a love song that stands out. Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs bible thick collection uses every conceivable genre to explore the depths of the love song. Stephin Merritts’ lyrics take you through the stages of love spanning from lust, terror, excitement, denial, torment, passion, to tenderness. The most personal emotion is expressed in each song like a small epiphany about lusty human connection. The albums duality of absurdity and sincerity create a space for contemplation. As an homage to the album's 25th year in existence, each artist created a piece decoding a selected song of their choice. Each piece echoes 69 Love songs' sentimental goopiness and cynicism. The exhibition serves as a collective look into our perception of relationships and all the taboos that follow.

Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes

by CSI Members Catie Burrill and Samuel Schwindt
November 8 - December 11, 2024

Parlour and Ramp in November presents "Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes," a duo show of CSI members Catie Burrill and Samuel Schwindt. In an epoch riddled with mixed signals of luxury and economic subterfuge, Fur-dom Catie Burrill and Leather-dom Samuel Schwindt provoke seductive aesthetics to skewer cultural normativity. The exhibition delves into the intricate relationship between materiality and message, and the artists utilize charged materials to remix stereotypical stories. Potential energy permeates the work in a state of “uncommitted crimes” as Theodore Adorno wrote in a rallying cry to artists who work against the status quo and celebrate the counter-cultural.

https://parlourandramp.com

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

Northeastern Illinois University Spring 2025 Semester

Art + Design Visiting Artist Program

KEY DATES:

November 1 - 30: Open Call
Mid-December: Emailed Acceptances
January 3: Public Announcement of Spring Semester's Visiting Artists
January 13 - March 14: Visiting Artist Program Session 1
March 17 - May 16: Visiting Artist Program Session 2

Each semester, the NEIU Art +Design Visiting Artist Program offers two residency opportunities for emerging to mid-career Chicago-based artists:

The Visiting Artist Program strives to create visible connections between our diverse population of art and design students with working artists who embody these identities. This interaction provides invaluable insights and inspiration to our students, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques. Visiting Artists should demonstrate a commitment to their artistic practice and an interest in engaging with NEIU’s students and creative community.

Each Visiting Artist is awarded an honorarium and has 2-months full access to NEIU Art + Design Facilities specific to their project. Over the course of their residency, the Visiting Artist showcases their work in a public academic forum, leads a hands-on workshop and participates in a Portfolio Review Day for NEIU’s Art + Design students.

For more information, details, and benefit about NEIU's Visiting Artist Program and past residents, visit the website HERE.

Krasl Art Center – ART & ABILITY OUTDOORS

Project Budget: $10,000 all inclusive

Entries must be submitted no later than November 15, 2024

Important Dates:
Letters of Interest due November 15, 2024
Artist Selected December 20, 2024
Project Install May 12 - 23, 2025

Krasl Art Center (KAC) seeks artist proposals for an interactive, accessible, and multi-year outdoor installation in the East Garden of the museum’s campus to be installed May 2025. The selected artist will conceptualize, design, and fabricate a site-specific installation that must be structurally sound and creatively interactive with a specific lens of accessible, universally designed art that engages all ages and abilities. The artwork will be accessed by the general public at all times of day.

This project is open to artists and designers regardless of whether they have achieved a project of this scope previously. Creativity, vision, competence and drive are key characteristics required for its fulfillment. The goal is to have an artist-envisioned, visually unique and engaging artwork. There is not a mandated theme or use of materials.

Click here for the full RFP and to Apply

2025 Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Call for Artists

All work entered must be durable and freestanding. Each sculpture or sculpture proposal must be safe for the general public and be suitable and maintenance-free for this one-year outdoor exhibition. Each sculpture will be bolted to a concrete pad using Tapcon anchor bolts supplied by the artist.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation and de-installation of the sculpture, and all other expenses involved. Any costs over $1,500 are entirely the responsibility of the artist.

For more details and application, download the full RFQ here.

Call for Artist Exhibits at Harold Washington Library Center

Deadline for submission is 5pm, December 15, 2024

Decisions will be announced by January 15, 2025.

Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL

Selected artists will have an eleven-week exhibition in the 8th floor exhibit cases.

For submission requirements and to apply, please visit this link.

Eligibility: Visual artists who live in Chicagoland (city and suburbs).

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.

Land Acknowledgement

Cover image: View of mini exhibit at 619 Gallery by Ei Cullina

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.

Gene Skala 10/4/24 Gene Skala 10/4/24

October 2024 Newsletter

In Memory of Jan Petry

We are saddened to announce the passing of member, Jan Petry. She was an amazing sculptor and a big supporter of CSI.

Read her obituary here.

CSI Picnic at Chicago Botanic Gardens

On Sunday, August 11th, from 12-4pm Chicago Sculpture International hosted its Annual General Membership Picnic at the beautiful Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe. We toured the grounds and ate some delicious food on the rooftop terrace.

Huge Thanks to our Development Chairs, Patrick Wilson and Shencheng Xu, for arranging this delightful retreat! We would also like to extend our gratitude to Leslie Albrecht, Executive Assistant, Learning & Engagement, and Jennifer Schwarz, Vice President, Learning and Public Programs, at the Chicago Botanic Garden for their support and contributions.

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Little, but BOLD!

CSI Member Benefit Art Auction
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen Ave.

Submission Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024
Notification: Sunday, Nov. 10
Drop off artwork: Sat-Nov. 30, Sun-Dec. 1
Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
If your artwork is Unsold. Pick up artwork: Sun. Jan. 26 and Mon. Jan. 27

Submission Instructions:
Please submit 1 image only and all information using this online submission form..
CSI Project Space announces an open call for the CSI Member Benefit Art Auction of small works at our member gallery space in Bucktown. On opening night, we will offer 5 art works for sale at a live auction and the rest of the art works will all be on a silent auction. Buyers get to take art home that night!

Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things un-monumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.

Guidelines:
Applicants must be CSI members
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x 12 in.
2D and 3D work accepted - open theme small works
Wall mounted sculptures or sculptural work encouraged

Please note:
This is a fundraising benefit for CSI members. Each artist will receive a 50% commission of the sale price. But this is an auction, so please provide us with your minimum bid price. For example, if the piece is valued at $500 then the minimum bid could be $250 and the piece could sell for $250 and you the artist needs to be okay with that selling price, so please price accordingly. We are requesting exhibiting artists to help with Opening Auction Night and/or to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of the exhibition.

We look forward to viewing your submissions!
Holiday Cheers.

In Memory of Ron Gard

Ron Gard was an amazing artist, sculptor, and person.

Ron worked within set building in the Chicago film/advertising era and has also been advocating to get a permanent sculpture installed near Universal Studios.

In 2010, he sold his studios and shifted back to his first love of creating sculpture, and was recruited onto the Board of CSI, where he served as Treasurer. Ron was an exquisite and exacting craftsman with a vast knowledge of materials and methods. His circle of peers was numerous and he was always ready to pitch in and help.

In 2020, Ivy Gard graciously donated the CSI Project Space Gallery to the members of CSI.

Thank you Ron and we love you.

Land Acknowledgement

CSI Member Exhibition

Existing is Political

Chicago Sculpture International Project Space

Opening: Saturday, October 19, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024

“Existing is Political” explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.

Exhibiting Artists: John E. Bannon, Roland Biermann, Heather Brammeier, Jyl Bonaguro, Charlotte Briskin, Andrew Cantu, Musa Ghaznavi, Carol Hammerman, Hoda Hasanpour, Sarah Holden, Azadeh Hussaini, Michael Gallagher, Set Gozo, Catherine Jacobi, Karl Johnson, Kelly Lawler, Micki LeMieux, Jose Trejo Maya, Thomas Plum, Marci Rubin, Dominic Sansone, Dena Sadik Daman, Zelene Jiang Schlosberg, Samuel Schwindt, Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, Nancy VanKanegan, and Siwei Xu

Join us for fun, conversation, and Art!!

CSI PROJECT SPACE
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL

Gallery hours: Fri. 2-6 pm; Sat. 12–8 pm; Sun. 1-5 pm; or by appointment
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Member Outreach

Chicago Artist-Run Spaces Fair

On September 25, CSI participated in the Chicago Artist-Run Spaces Fair hosted by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Career and Professional Experience office and SITE Galleries!

Spencer Gale and Micki LeMieux talked with numerous students sharing information about our organization. The day was high energy with extra fun. There was a dancing gorilla afterward on Michigan Ave.

Member News

**Ribbon Cutting for Transmigration Sculpture**

Join us on Thursday, October 3rd from 5 - 6 PM at Mautene Court Plaza (1258 N. Milwaukee Ave.) to formally welcome Wicker Park Bucktown’s newest sculpture installation: Transmigration by CSI president Jyl Bonaguro! Celebrate this exciting new work funded by Special Service Area 33 with light refreshments and meet the artist behind the work!

Fragmented Memories: A Visual Diary

CSI Member Richard Pitts is having a solo exhibit at NoHo M55 Gallery in New York City. of his drawings, painting, and printmaking in collage format from the 1960s to 2025

Exhibition Dates: September 24th - October 12, 2024

Noho M55 Gallery
548 W 28 Street
Suite 634 New York, NY

(917) 675-6884
Email info@m55art.org
Gallery Hours: Tu-Sa, 12-6 pm

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

Weisses Gold

Work by Roland Biermann
September 8 - November 24, 2024

Weisses Gold is the title of Roland's current solo exhibition at Parsonage Gallery, Maine. At the centre of the show is a new Rheingold installation, consisting of hundreds of plastic bottles and containers in trash bags, car tires, oil barrels and other materials, all sourced locally in midcoast Maine. On the walls in the background are two large screen prints on tinplate panels, showing a plastic bag floating in used engine oil. The work explores the relationship between human greed, plastic and the environment and especially, our continued dependency on plastics and other oil derivatives, polluting oceans, atmosphere and soil.
www.parsonagegallery.org

69 for 69: A Magnetic Fields Art Show

Curated by Janelle O'Malley
Opening: November 1, 6-9 PM
Side street studio arts 15 Ziegler Ct, Elgin, IL 60120

69 for 69 is a nostalgic filled ode to Magnetic Fields album, 69 Love Songs. A love song, the most common and often banal tune on the radio. So pervasive the idea in music that how could anyone possibly make a love song that stands out. Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs bible thick collection uses every conceivable genre to explore the depths of the love song. Stephin Merritts’ lyrics take you through the stages of love spanning from lust, terror, excitement, denial, torment, passion, to tenderness. The most personal emotion is expressed in each song like a small epiphany about lusty human connection. The albums duality of absurdity and sincerity create a space for contemplation. As an homage to the album's 25th year in existence, each artist created a piece decoding a selected song of their choice. Each piece echoes 69 Love songs' sentimental goopiness and cynicism. The exhibition serves as a collective look into our perception of relationships and all the taboos that follow.

Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes

by CSI Members Catie Burrill and Samuel Schwindt
November 8 - December 11, 2024

Parlour and Ramp in November presents "Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes," a duo show of CSI members Catie Burrill and Samuel Schwindt. In an epoch riddled with mixed signals of luxury and economic subterfuge, Fur-dom Catie Burrill and Leather-dom Samuel Schwindt provoke seductive aesthetics to skewer cultural normativity. The exhibition delves into the intricate relationship between materiality and message, and the artists utilize charged materials to remix stereotypical stories. Potential energy permeates the work in a state of “uncommitted crimes” as Theodore Adorno wrote in a rallying cry to artists who work against the status quo and celebrate the counter-cultural. The exhibit opens November 8, with a reception from 6-9 pm, and an after-party 9-close.

https://parlourandramp.com

The following are not CSI sponsored projects but may be of interest to our members

City of Wichita Arkansas River Public Art Project

Deadline for submission is November 4, 2024

CNL Projects, LK Architecture and the City of Wichita invite artists and artist teams with a demonstrated history of completing complex, permanent, outdoor public art projects (and/or other relevant experiences) to submit their qualifications for one of three public art commissions for a $592,000 Arkansas River Public Art Project. This project aims to enhance the aesthetics, safety, and accessibility of the Arkansas Riverfront through downtown Wichita, building upon its character and topography to create unique experiences and spaces for the public. The project will complement and support adjacent development cohesively and seamlessly, creating opportunities for public art to enhance the experience of the riverfront and Wichita.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The selected artist(s) will collaborate with CNL Projects (Art Consultant), LK Architecture and the City of Wichita to conceptualize, design, fabricate, and install engaging, site-specific, permanent public art installations at one of three distinct, identified locations along the Arkansas Riverfront. Artists will select only one area for proposal based on the identified locations listed below. This commission involves the creation of new, integrated artworks that enhance the functionality and aesthetics of the designated areas. Each new commission should engage the general public and host one changing, perceived changing, or interactive element.

The project encompasses the following:

Design-team collaboration: The artist(s) will work closely with CNL Projects, LK Architecture, and the City of Wichita to ensure the seamless integration of the artworks into the overall design scheme of the riverfront development.

Commission of new works: The project entails the creation of original, site-specific artworks that respond to the unique context and character of each location.

Integrated art: The artworks will be thoughtfully integrated into the existing and proposed infrastructure and landscape, enhancing the functionality and visual appeal of the spaces.

Functional art: In some instances, the artworks will serve functional purposes, such as providing shade or concealing electrical systems, while also contributing to the artistic and aesthetic value of the riverfront.

The project will be overseen by the City of Wichita’s Design Council, which will provide guidance and feedback throughout the design phase. The City of Wichita, LK Architecture and CNL Projects will manage and oversee both the design and implementation phase. All parties are committed to ensuring that the selected artworks reflect the community's values and aspirations, contributing to a vibrant and engaging public realm along the Arkansas Riverfront.

Click here for more details and to apply

Image Credit: *Liberte* by Chris Wubbena

2025 Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Call for Artists

Deadline for submission is December 6, 2024, by 5pm

Exhibition Dates: April 25, 2025, to April 24, 2026.
All entrants will receive email notification of results by December 20, 2024.

The City of Perryville is excited to announce its annual sculpture exhibition beginning in the spring of 2025. As artists, you are invited to submit sculptures in consideration for Perryville’s Sculpture Trail located at Miget Park and historic downtown Perryville. The juror for this year’s selection of artwork is Jessica Lambert. This year, the juror will be choosing five sculptures from those entries submitted.

All work entered must be durable and freestanding. Each sculpture or sculpture proposal must be safe for the general public and be suitable and maintenance-free for this one-year outdoor exhibition. Each sculpture will be bolted to a concrete pad using Tapcon anchor bolts supplied by the artist.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation and de-installation of the sculpture, and all other expenses involved. Any costs over $1,500 are entirely the responsibility of the artist.

For more details and application, download the full RFQ here.

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Cover image: A new piece made of sculpted red oak called ecoaesteticism by Anthony Heinz May for the 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.

Gene Skala 9/9/24 Gene Skala 9/9/24

September 2024 Newsletter

News from the Outdoor Committee

Above: S. Thomas Scarff, *Goddess of Wind and Sand,* Bronze and aluminum, 15 x 7-1/2 x 3 ft.

Sedgwick Studios to Host Memorial for Tom Scarff

Sedgwick Studios will host a memorial to celebrate the life of longtime CSI member S. Thomas Scarff on Saturday, September 14th, at 3 PM. To attend the memorial, please RSVP to Siena Scarff at siena@sienascarff.com.

Location:
Sedgwick Studios 1544 N. Sedgwick Chicago, IL
(1/2 block south of North Ave. on Sedgwick St.)

Over a four-decade career as an artist, Tom established a national reputation for his large-scale sculptures, and he was a pioneer in the incorporation of lighting into sculptural work. His art was exhibited in several prominent venues, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, and various public art programs. He also served as the Odyssey curator emeritus for Purdue University for 18 years. Tom's work was recognized with many awards and honors nationally, including multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. He practiced out of Sedgwick Studios, a collective workspace supporting the work of several artists in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. Over the past decade, he spent more time in his painting studio on the beach at Michigan City, where he enjoyed the view of the lake and Chicago skyline on the western horizon.

Because Tom was a captivating storyteller, the organizers of the event would love to hear the stories he shared with his friends, family, and colleagues. If you have one you’d like to share, please send a brief 2-minute video (MP4) or a written story to Siena Scarff at siena@sienascarff.com.

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Top left: Allison Ford, *Spider and Baba Paska*, bottom left: Siwei Xu, *Nemophilist*, right: Shu Wang, *Humanization*

By Degrees III - 2024 Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: September 14 - October 4, 2024

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 6-9 pm

CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen Ave.

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.

The artists in this exhibit are enrolled in or recently graduated from a degree-seeking program. They have submitted works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third CSI annual juried group exhibition By Degrees.

Exhibiting Artists: Charlotte Briskin, Catie Burrill, Andrew Cantu, Andi Crist, Dena Sadik Daman, Allison Ford, Abby Franke, Dave King, Maddy Lee, César Benavente Oblitas, Shu Wang, Sishi Wang, yanqi feifei wang,
Siwei Xu

Image Credit: Top left: Allison Ford, Spider and Baba Paska, bottom left: Siwei Xu, Nemophilist, right: Shu Wang, Humanization

Land Acknowledgement

CSI Project Space Call for Entires

Existing is Political

Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024
Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024
Notification: Saturday, October 5
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, October 19, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday & Sunday, November 23-24, from 1-5 pm.

“Existing is Political” explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.

Applicants must be current CSI members. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
2D-3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Short paragraph statement about the work.
Artists must install their work.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added

Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/nhvWW3VKHjcGXZaGA

Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.

CSI Members Special Event

CSI Special Tour of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum

RSVP Deadline: Wednesday, October 16th

On Saturday, November 2nd at 10 am, CSI will have a special tour of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum. The tour will feature the upcoming exhibit. Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright (Photographs taken by, and taken of Frank Lloyd Wright). There is a $35 ticket fee for this event.

Click here to Register and Reserve your Ticket

Member News

Above: Christine Forni, *Looking for refractions in the light,* 2024, Glass, oil & acrylic on canvas and metal

Christine Forni solo exhibition, Natural Recall

Christine Forni's solo exhibition, Natural Recall, curated by Trevor Power at McHenry County College is located in both Gallery One and Two consisting of thirty sculptures and paintings. Her work addresses the shifting landscapes of nature and memory through methodically deconstructing and then reinterpreting relationships merging from the past to the present. The installations capture moments of solitude with terrain using light's interaction with glass, porcelain, reclaimed minerals, and pigments. The work merges unused remnants or overlooked relics to evoke, recall, and remember. Salvaged and mounted together like specimens, they form a “beautiful but broken” material memory of a point in time. Unlike precious specimens, these are not preserved under glass but placed vulnerably on the surface with their fragility on display.

https://www.mchenry.edu/artist/

Artist Talk and Reception: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Exhibition Dates: August 6 - September 13, 2024

2:30pm – Artist Talk, Luecht Auditorium, B170

3:30pm – Reception in Gallery One, A212x

Location: McHenry County College, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012-2761

Gallery Hours: Monday–Thursday 8am – 6pm, Friday 6am – 4:30pm

Above: Top left to bottom right: works by Stacee Kalmanovsky, Jay Wolke, Mia Capodilupo, Christine Forni, and Paul Gerard Somers.

Lure of the Local Color Wheel exhibition

Curated by Stacee Kalmonovsky with a grant from the Mundelein Arts Commission

Opening Reception, Friday Sept 13, 2024, 6 - 9pm, free and open to public
Local Food, Music, and Refreshments

Open to the Public: Sept. 14 - Nov 10, Saturdays and Sundays (11-5pm)
Artist Talks - Sat Sept 21 3pm-5pm

Location: 165 N. Archer Avenue, Mundelein IL
Sponsored by Tonality Brewing Company

Exhibiting Artists:
Allison Hausladen, Ann Ossey, Aruna Sarode, Ben Bates, Christine Forni, Diane Adamek, Ed Watson, Elizabeth Sullivan, Elliot Harold, Heather June Toser, Isabella Meltzer, Jay Wolke, Joan Ackerman-Zimny, John DePinto, John Hatlestad, Jonathan Pruc, Justin Ogden, Kate Uttich, Katherine Harvath, Katie Levy, Ken Krasinski, Kevin Shifley, Kim Childress, Kristen Neveu, Laura O'Connor, Lianne Johnson, Maggie Hazard, Mariko Harkin, Maureen Ivy Fisher, Mia Capodilupo, Michael Trahan, Mundelein Historical Commission, Paul Gerard Somers, Rachel Yim, Robert Hogan, Roberta Ulrich-de Oliveira, Roberto Ferrer, Rozanna Shambrook, Ruth Hutter, Samantha McDonald, Sara Graves, Sarah Mastalerz, Sinéad Carus, Sissie Halperin, Sparker, Stacee Kalmanovsky, Susan Berns, Tanya Leintz, Tell Draper, Theresa Fontana, and Tobin Fraley.

Image from top left to bottom right: Stacee Kalmanovsky, Jay Wolke, Mia Capodilupo, Christine Forni, and Paul Gerard Somers.

**Nicole Beck installs Sólace Star at Quincy Veterans Home**

Sólace Star by Nicole Beck was installed at the Quincy Veterans Home in the outdoor garden area of their Long-Term Care Facility. The work is 15’H x 71” sq. Stainless steel, custom-laminated dichroic and prismatic glass, with custom mosaic seatback panels where veterans, visitors and care takers can find much needed respite. The commission was awarded to Beck by the Capital Development Board of Illinois Art-in-Architecture Program and the fabrication of the steel was subcontracted by her to Vector Custom Fabricating and included complex rolls by Chicago Metal Rolled Products. Micki LeMieux was hired by Nicole to assist with the installation on August 6. Nicole’s childhood friend and neighbor Rob Magiera worked closely with Nicole in creating the cgi renders for the design, and Nathan Overley at Vector transcribed those images into detailed CADs for fabrication. The Long-Term Care Facility will open early in 2025 for those Veterans with Dementia and Alzheimers. Vets were polled by Nicole to supply character traits they found most valuable regarding their military service and laser cut into the middle ring with HONOR-SERVICE-DIGNITY-INTEGRITY.

Image credit (left to right): *Cosmic Threads, Wave Dance* by Michele Thrane

black & white

Opening Reception: September 15, 2024, 1-4pm
September 14- October 6, 2024
Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL

black & white showcases the work of Michele Thrane and Trotter Alexander. Thrane works in pure abstraction; working with encaustic monotypes. Thrane uses asemic writing that creates gestural abstractions in her work drawing the viewer in. Alexander’s work uses vivid colors and figures to push a narrative of growth and transformation through the artist’s personal grievances. There is a stark contrast between Thrane and Alexander’s work at first glance, but as the viewer spends time with the pieces and absorbs the content, connections can be drawn through the emotional context and visual abstractions."

https://www.evanstonartcenter.org/exhibitions/trotter-alexander-michele-thrane

4 Makers

Opening Reception: Friday, September 27, Noon - 8 pm
September 27 - 29, 2024
Space 900, 816 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

Four Makers are a select group of 4 women artists who came together to show their handmade artworks. A consistent theme is inspiration from natural forms translating to fiber, clay, collage and wearable jewelry. We each are the sole designers and makers of our work.

Four women artists present recent works in ceramics, jewelry, painted silk and collage. All artists will be present during exhibit hours. Lynn Floriano, Roberta Urich-de Oliveira, Joanna Alot and Chris Thiel.

This has been in the works since November of 2023. We are very excited and are looking forward to working together, discussing our ideas and showing our work.

69 for 69 a Magnetic Fields Art Show

Curated by CSI Member Janelle Rae

Opening Reception: November 1, 6-9 pm
Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Ct., Elgin, IL 60120

69 for 69 is a nostalgic filled ode to Magnetic Fields album, 69 Love Songs. A love song, the most common and often banal tune on the radio. So pervasive the idea in music that how could anyone possibly make a love song that stands out. Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs bible thick collection uses every conceivable genre to explore the depths of the love song. Stephin Merritts’ lyrics take you through the stages of love spanning from lust, terror, excitement, denial, torment, passion, to tenderness. The most personal emotion is expressed in each song like a small epiphany about lusty human connection. The albums duality of absurdity and sincerity create a space for contemplation. As an homage to the album's 25th year in existence, each artist created a piece decoding a selected song of their choice. Each piece echoes 69 Love songs' sentimental goopiness and cynicism. The exhibition serves as a collective look into our perception of relationships and all the taboos that follow.

The following are not CSI sponsored projects but may be of interest to our members

**Call for Proposals: Wild Things Annual Conservation Conference at Rosemont**

Proposal are Due Monday, September 23, 2024

On Saturday, March 1, 2025 nature lovers will gather for Wild Things conservation conference at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL to spend a day learning how we can protect, understand, and celebrate our biodiverse treasures. For this incredible conference, we need high quality presentations from our community.

The Wild Things Conference celebrates the volunteers, nonprofits, governments, and partners working together to care for the nature and wildlife in their communities. Recognized as one of the nation’s largest networks of people engaged with nature, the community is made up of stewards, advocates, educators, volunteers, and professional staff, all working together to promote and protect prairies, woodlands, wetlands, wild yards, and natural parks of Illinois, the Great Lakes, and the Upper Midwest.

The biennial conference is the largest conservation gathering the in Midwest, regularly drawing nearly 2,000 attendees for the single-day event. The 2025 Conference will take place on Saturday, March 1 and focus on innovative, adaptive solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis and the importance of human interventions.

Wild Things is an educational program of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves.

Click here to Apply

Call for Artists: Equal Temperament at Kentucky Museum

Oct. 1, 2024 Online Entries due at 11:59pm
Jan. 1, 2025 Notification of acceptance
Mid-July 2025 Show opens to public
Oct. 2025 Hammer-In & Awards Reception
April 2026 Show closes; works returned.

Equal Temperament highlights the inclusivity of modern metalworking in a juried art show, accompanied by a variety of interpretive programming to showcase metal’s links with other artistic and historical forms. The show invites artists to submit works inspired by or including metalworking or forging that safely fit within a USPS Flat Rate Shipping Box. The works will be juried by an independent panel and showcased at the Kentucky Museum during a 10-month exhibition from July 2025 to April 2026.
Five awards will be given, named in recognition of the field's historical innovations:

Kentucky Museum Purchase Award, $600

Ulfberht Award for the most puzzling work, $250

Masamune Award for the most intricate work, $250

Yellin Award for the most functional work, $250

Brim Award for the most humorous or fantasy-like work, $250

Click here for more information and entry form

Grants for Rural Midwest Communities

Deadline for submission is October 1, 2024.

Any interested CSI members, please go to: http://forecastpublicart.org/midwest-memory/ to see if your projects and ideas match the grant criteria.

CSI Contact: Anthony H. May, Grants Chair, anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

2025 Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Call for Artists

Have Any News to Share?

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.

Gene Skala 8/8/24 Gene Skala 8/8/24

August 2024 Newsletter

News from Indoor Exhibitions Committee

CSI x ALMA Closing Reception

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Midsummer Dreams

Exhibiting Artists: Maeve McGale, Jeremy P Wong, and Micki LeMieux

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 20, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibition Dates: July 20 – August 11, 2024
Gallery Hours: Friday 2-6 pm, Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen Ave.

Midsummer Dreams
Midsummer is for dreaming. It’s a time for celebration, romance, and new possibilities. This time has served historically as inspiration for European conceptions of fantasy, epitomized through the Scandinavian festival of Midsummer and the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In both examples, the forest sets a stage for magic and mischief.

Our tale takes a distinct Americana approach. Midsummer Dreams brings together three Chicago artists working in the Midwestern Surreal- a discourse that refers to integrating belief-oriented meaning mechanisms into secular systems. This is displayed through a midwestern sensibility, grounding whimsical imagery in familiar landscapes, rituals, and materials. In a forest of our own making, themes of bounty, desire, shelter, body, and landscape are explored and challenged in sculptural form. Fantasy becomes a powerful tool to reimagine and reflect our reality.

Exhibiting Artists:
Maeve McGale – The Landscape – Structural Installation
Jeremy P Wong – Figures and creatures
Micki LeMieux – In Between – Bronze collection

Visit www.chicagosculpture.org for more information.

Land Acknowledgement

Call for Entries

Existing is Political

Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024

Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024
Notification: Saturday, October 5
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13, from 1-5 pm.

Opening: Saturday, October 19, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday & Sunday, November 23-24, from 1-5 pm.

Existing is Political explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.

Applicants must be current CSI members. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
2D-3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Short paragraph statement about the work.
Artists must install their work.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added

Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/nhvWW3VKHjcGXZaGA

Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.

Member News

Christine Forni, *Looking for refractions in the Light,* 2024,
Glass, oil & acrylic on canvas and metal

Location:
McHenry County College
8900 US Hwy 14
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012-2761
Gallery Hours: Monday–Thursday 8am – 6pm, Friday 6am – 4:30pm

Natural Recall, Christine Forni solo exhibition

https://www.mchenry.edu/artist/

Exhibition Dates: August 6 - September 13, 2024
Artist Talk and Reception: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
2:30pm – Artist Talk, Luecht Auditorium, B170
3:30pm – Reception in Gallery One, A212x

*Photo Credit: Bethany Cordero Fabrication Studio Image/ Installation Image*

Bethany Cordero's Saints' Rest selected for Oak Park Art Council's 2024 Sculpture Walk

CSI member Bethany Cordero's work was selected for the Oak Park Art Council's 2024 Sculpture Walk. Her piece titled 'Saints' Rest', celebrates Oak Park's commitment to integrating diverse populations, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering a thriving artistic community. The sculpture is made of steel, woven rope, fabric, and thread. The strength of steel, the flexibility of rope, the softness of fabric, and the delicacy of thread all contribute to a cohesive whole, just as the varied backgrounds and perspectives of community members come together to create a vibrant and resilient society. This integration celebrates the richness of Oak Park's cultural tapestry. By using contemporary materials like steel in conjunction with traditional methods like weaving, she is reflecting on the community's embrace of both its heritage and its forward-looking vision. The juxtaposition of these elements highlights the community's ability to innovate while honoring its roots, reflecting a progressive mindset that values both tradition and change. The work will be on view until June 2025 and is located across from the Lake Theater in downtown Oak Park.

*Photo Credit: Surface Design Journal Photo Credit Bethany Cordero / "Lineage" Steel, Woven Jute, Onyx Lacquer*

In The Studio: Exploring Impermanence by Bethany Cordero included in SURFACE DESIGN 2024 Summer Journal

CSI member Bethany Cordero's writing and work were included in the Wrapping & Binding, Summer 2024 edition of Surface Design Journal. Her article entitled 'In The Studio: Exploring Impermanence by Bethany Cordero', discusses her studio practice working through an interdisciplinary lens using materials that have transformative properties such as clay, metal and textiles to create sculptural works that are visual abstractions of herself as a woman, exploring issues of identity, memory and the impermanence of self. The article explores the similarities between the vulnerability and deterioration of materials and the transience of human existence.

Roland Biermann, *Stations 3,* 2019, Guard rail beams, oil barrels, 14-2/3 x 1-2/3 x 14-1/3 ft. (cross), 2 x 2 x 3 ft. (oil barrels, each)

Roland Beirmann shortlisted for Liverpool Sculpture Prize 2024

Congratulations to London-based CSI member Roland Beirmann. His sculpture "Stations 3" has been shortlisted for the Liverpool Sculpture Prize 2024. This new work is part his "Stations" series, which previously have been exhibited at iconic venues, such as Barbican Centre, London, Trinity Wall Street, New York and Hermitage Museum, Amsterdam.1
www.grolandbiermann.com

The following are not CSI sponsored projects but may be of interest to our members:

Fortuned TRIALS - A Visual Art Exhibition

CSI Project Space and Gallery

Featuring Zsófia Ötvös large-scale multimedia graphite drawings and Lidoska Guietti with oil paintings inspired by their homeland Hungary and Italy respectively.

Guest artists:
Melissa Kolbusz with WIRED jewelry
Tonette Navarro with crochet sculpture

Dates: Exhibition runs from Aug 16- Sept 6, 2024

Opening Reception- Saturday, Aug 16th : 4-9 pm
Hungarian day- Tuesday, Aug 20th : 5-9 pm
Labor day pARTy, Sept 30th : 4am-9 pm
Closing reception- Friday, Sept 5th 4-9 pm

Fortuned Trials is following up on the recent exhibition Parts Apart, an exhibition that has been in the making for several years. Zsófia’s large-scale drawings are between 4 feet and 9 feet tall, and her medium is hard pencils ranging from HB to 5H, to be exact in her drawing. The needle-sharp points leave precise fine lines helping to prevent any accidental yet workable strokes. Instead, every line must be intentional and purposeful. The drawn figures are set in a painted abstracted environment.

Three-month residency for international artists at Westwerk, Hamburg, Germany

Announcement of residencies for 2025 and 2026
Closing Date for applications is August 28, 2024.

The Hamburg Ministry for Culture and Media is inviting applications for 8 three-month residencies in 2025 and 2026 in the Westwerk artists' centre in Hamburg. The residency is a residential and work grant that requires the artist to live and work at Westwerk and facilitates both work on an artistic project and networking with the Hamburg cultural scene. Westwerk is centrally located in inner-city Hamburg, in a relatively large complex of buildings on Fleetinsel that houses further studios, galleries and a small theatre.

Learn more about Westwerk HERE.
Further information about the residency and application details.
Online Application

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Cover Image: Micki LeMieux, Garlic Dreams, Bronze, from the Midsummer Dreams exhibit.

Chicago Sculpture International is partially supported by a grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. Learn more about DCASE

Gene Skala 7/10/24 Gene Skala 7/10/24

July 2024 Newsletter

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Midsummer Dreams
Exhibiting Artists: Maeve McGale, Jeremy P Wong, and Micki LeMieux

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 20, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibition Dates: July 20 – August 11, 2024
Gallery Hours: Friday 2-6 pm, Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen Ave.

Midsummer Dreams
Midsummer is for dreaming. It’s a time for celebration, romance, and new possibilities. This time has served historically as inspiration for European conceptions of fantasy, epitomized through the Scandinavian festival of Midsummer and the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In both examples, the forest sets a stage for magic and mischief.

Our tale takes a distinct Americana approach. Midsummer Dreams brings together three Chicago artists working in the Midwestern Surreal- a discourse that refers to integrating belief-oriented meaning mechanisms into secular systems. This is displayed through a midwestern sensibility, grounding whimsical imagery in familiar landscapes, rituals, and materials. In a forest of our own making, themes of bounty, desire, shelter, body, and landscape are explored and challenged in sculptural form. Fantasy becomes a powerful tool to reimagine and reflect our reality.

Exhibiting Artists:
Maeve McGale – The Landscape – Structural Installation
Jeremy P Wong – Figures and creatures
Micki LeMieux – In Between – Bronze collection

Visit www.chicagosculpture.org for more information.

CSI Collaborations

Ragdale Tree Project, "Diversity of Birds"

The Ragdale Tree Project, "Diversity of Birds," was quite a success for Chicago Sculpture International! For 3 weeks a team of CSI artists —Margot McMahon, Mia Capodilupo, Anthony Heinz May, Jyl Bonaguro, Nicole Beck, Julia Sulmasy, and Fredy Hauman Mallqui — with photographer Laurie Irwin transformed a 200-year-old elm tree that passed away from Dutch elm disease into a work of art. Learn about the Ragdale Foundation and watch a video of team members carving the tree sculpture with hand tools like chisels and mallets, and power tools like chainsaws and grinders.

This project was made possible with the generous support of Louisa and Nelson Levy.

Location:
Ragdale Foundation
1260 N Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Directions

CSI Member Announcement

CSI Picnic at Chicago Botanic Gardens

On Sunday, August 11th, from 12-4pm Chicago Sculpture International will host its Annual General Membership Picnic at the beautiful Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe. A complimentary lunch and entrance to the Chicago Botanic Gardens will be provided for current CSI members only. Members are welcome to bring desserts in addition to share.

We will meet in The Plant Science Center (seminar room) at 12 pm (see #8 in map below). We will also be provided access to the rooftop garden. Click here to view a larger map of the garden map (The Plant Science Center and Roof Garden is #36 on the map).

Chicago Botanic Garden has parking available at $10 per car. Different rates may apply for other types of vehicles.

Because space is limited for this event, we ask that you kindly RSVP to info@chicagosculpture.org by August 1st. Please note this is for CSI members only.

Please RSVP to info@chicagosculpture.org

We look forward to seeing you there!

Chicago Botanic Gardens
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
(Located along I-94 between Dundee and County Line Roads)

Land Acknowledgement

CURRENT CSI EXHIBITIONS

Image credit (left to right): Bruce Webber, Ted Sitting Crow Gardner, and Rachel Stork

Self-Portaits group exhibit

Chicago Sculpture International Project Space
Exhibition Dates: June 8 – July 12, 2024

Artists periodically ask themselves, “How am I doing?”. A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self | Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.

Exhibiting Artists: John E. Bannon, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Amanda Gentry, Set Gozo, Peter Gray, Philipp Groth, Carol Hammerman, Lillian Heredia, Catherine Jacobi, Stacee Kalmanovsky, Kasia Kay, Micki LeMieux, Bill Mitchell, Scott Mossman, Greta Olson, Dominic Sansone, Mary K. Seyfarth, Rachel Stork, Lisa Walcott, Nathan Ward, Bruce Webber, Yimei (Emair) Zhu.

Curated by Thomas Plum

Visit www.chicagosculpture.org for more information.

CSI x ALMA

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

Images: Above (left to right): *Fairy Ring* by Greta Olson, *Soil Samples* by Kristina Rogers,
*Two-Headed Fawn* by Ariana Hocking,, *Rest Area* by Stella Moon

CSI CALL FOR ENTRIES

By Degrees III (2024): Last Call for Submissions

Entry Deadline: Sunday, July 28, 2024, midnight central standard time
Notification by: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Artwork Drop-Off Date: Sunday, September 8, 1-5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 6-9pm
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sat/Sun, October 5-6, 1-5pm
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14 - Friday, October 4, 2024

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.

Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for September 14 - October 4, 2024, at CSI Project Space in Chicago.

Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry. Accepted artists will be granted a one-year non-transferrable student membership to CSI. This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.

Please complete the application form HERE.
Look HERE for submission information.
For any questions contact projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Member News

Congratulations to Member Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung

Cherry Tung is from Hong Kong, China. She graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a painter, sculptor, and much more. CSI and Project Space sponsored Cherry Tung for a 0-1 Visa to stay in this country. It is for excellence in art. The (UCAIS) - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung for a Visa. Valid from 6/3/24 – 6/2/27. Cheers!

Sculpture Walk Peoria 2024

CSI member - Micki LeMieux and her ‘kid’ installed her sculpture ‘Evolve and Grow’ in downtown Peoria from June 2024 – June 2026.

Peoria Illinois has a 2-year rotating outdoor sculpture loan program

Images: Set Gozo, Water Offering and Dawn Liddicoat, Bountiful

Later Impressions 2024 by CAVA

Congratulations to Set Gozo and Dawn Liddicoatt!!
Chicago Sculpture International Members for Receiving Awards

June 2–July 12, 2024
Artists' Reception:
Saturday, June 15, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Elmhurst Artists' Guild Gallery Hours
Wednesday–Thursday 12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 1:00–5:00 p.m.

JURORS:
John Nester, Adjunct Instructor, Elmhurst University
Marci Ruben, Curator, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago

Awards:

Best of Show
Voytek Glinkowski, We Will Dance

Awards of Excellence
Susan Stances, Transparency
Pam Seatter, Ascension
Dawn Liddicoatt, Bountiful

Honorable Mentions
Set Gozo, Water Offering
Lynn Mckenzie, The Three Miro’s Shelter from the Cold
Robert Anderson, Everyone in Their Place

Image: Kara Cobb Johnson, *Third Wave*, 2024, Drywall shims, ink, aluminum rivets, ceiling struts, Dimensions variable.

where a knot begins / and ends

CSI member Kara Cobb Johnson will A soft opening for the group exhibition, “where a knot begins / and ends”, curated by Jeff Robinson.

“Where a knot begins and ends considers the ways artists engage our complicated relationship to time, history, and archives. The phrase also conveys the challenges faced by the exhibiting artists who represent the 2024 cohort of New Edition, a two-part class developed by the Art Center for artists to learn and make work in a medium that is new to their practice.”

The exhibition is curated by the Program Facilitator, Jeff Robinson.

Exhibition Dates: July 13 – October 6, 2024
July 27, 2024, 1-4pm at Hyde Park Art Center

Hyde Park Art Center, Kantor Family Foundation Gallery
5020 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615

The exhibit features a suite of modular works in an installation using materials, colors, and ephemera unique to the gallery.

Exhibiting artists: Alexandra Antoine, Dawn Brennan, Kittisak (Wa) Chontong, Mary Farmilant, Tanya Gill, Malika Jackson, Kara Cobb Johnson, Caitlin Ryan, Molly Roth Scranton, and Teresita Carson Valdez

Images: Gene Skala, (Left) *Never Trust A Spell*, 2024, Oil on panel, 16 x 12 in.; (Right) *Simple Machine,* 2024, Oil on panel, 12 x 16 in.

Poetry of Place: Landscape & Sacred Space

CSI member Gene Skala will be exhibiting three paintings in conjunction with the group exhibit: Poetry of Place: Landscape & Sacred Space at Oak Park Art League.

“A place is what you make it, when you stop to look and absorb the scene you create a place, what you see is a landscape and as artists, we take the next step and create and record the feeling in art, and by doing so make sacred space. Landscapes, interiors, architectural scenery and still life works, reveal both artist’s interpretation of, and intimacy with – place. This is an open-call exhibition for art that evokes the sacred space of creation and creativity in new ways, escape landscape, real and imagined magical spaces.”

Exhibition Dates: Jul 5, 2024 – Aug 2, 2024

Oak Park Art League
720 W. Chicago Ave.
Oak Park IL.

Walking Sculpture Tour

CSI member Stephanie Sailer installed her sculpture, Willow Dust, in downtown Mankato, MN. The annual sculpture show is exhibiting 32 outdoor sculptures until April 2025.

Image: Shane van Gisbergen, winner of 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race holding trophy designed by CSI member Nicole Beck

Trophy for the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Nicole Beck was commissioned again this year for the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race to design and fabricate the trophy for the Xfinity Cup Series which was won on Saturday, July 6th by New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen. Here Nicole snaps a picture of SVG as he hoisted the steel work in the Winner’s Circle. Beck was assisted by CSI member Vector Custom Fabricating by doing the laser cuts, complex back rolls and basic TIG. Rob Magiera worked with Nicole developing the cgi design work.

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

Fortuned TRIALS: A Visual Art Exhibition

CSI Project Space and Gallery

Featuring Zsófia Ötvös large-scale multimedia graphite drawings and Lidoska Guietti with oil paintings inspired by their homeland Hungary and Italy respectively.

Guest artists:
Melissa Kolbusz with WIRED jewelry
Tonette Navarro with crochet sculpture

Dates: Exhibition runs from Aug 16- Sept 6, 2024

Opening Reception- Saturday, Aug 16th : 4-9 pm
Hungarian day- Tuesday, Aug 20th : 5-9 pm
Labor day pARTy, Sept 30th : 4am-9 pm
Closing reception- Friday, Sept 5th 4-9 pm

Fortuned Trials is following up on the recent exhibition Parts Apart, an exhibition that has been in the making for several years. Zsófia’s large-scale drawings are between 4 feet and 9 feet tall, and her medium is hard pencils ranging from HB to 5H, to be exact in her drawing. The needle-sharp points leave precise fine lines helping to prevent any accidental yet workable strokes. Instead, every line must be intentional and purposeful. The drawn figures are set in a painted abstracted environment.

Three-month residency for international artists at Westwerk, Hamburg, Germany

Announcement of residencies for 2025 and 2026

Closing Date for applications is August 28, 2024.

The Hamburg Ministry for Culture and Media is inviting applications for 8 three-month residencies in 2025 and 2026 in the Westwerk artists' centre in Hamburg.

The residency is a residential and work grant that requires the artist to live and work at Westwerk and facilitates both work on an artistic project and networking with the Hamburg cultural scene.

Westwerk is centrally located in inner-city Hamburg, in a relatively large complex of buildings on Fleetinsel that houses further studios, galleries and a small theatre.

Learn more about Westwerk HERE.
Further information about the residency and application details.
Online Application

Art Items for Sale

from ChrisTina Murphy

Portable gantry crane stands about 11’ tall, 8’ across. All the connections are drilled and marked to insert the bolts. This crane can lift about 900 lbs, possible more. All framing, bolts and chain hoist are included. Can fit in a standard size SUV, the longest boards are 8’ long. I had a 1999 Blazer, then a 2007 Murano. It all fit inside easily. All you'll need for assembly is a couple of wrenches. Assembly with two average people takes about 20-30 minutes. Asking price is for the actual cost of materials.
Asking $225.00
_____________________________________________
A 40” tall, 20”x20” top, Tastefully Painted Fiberglass pedestal. Used to display a bronze sculpture. Great condition and sturdy.
Asking $150.00
_______________________________________________
146 lbs of brand new Le Beau Touché fine art oil based modeling clay by Chavant, CM-50 on their website. Chavant is professional quality sculpting clay. There are cheaper clays out there, but they really ARE cheaper. It’ll show in your finished piece. You will get the smoothness and detail of a good quality clay. The Le Beau is the softest, lower weight clay, perfect for smaller pieces and fine detail. It costs $7.50lb PLUS 10% tax and $1.00 per lb shipping. 100lbs of used clay can also be included if you buy all the new clay.

Asking $6.00 a pound, cash and carry
______________________________________________
Some sculpting / pottery tools for sale. Email ChrisTina for details: rockartstudio@yahoo.com

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Cover image: Kara Cobb Johnson, Third Wave, 2024, Drywall shims, ink, aluminum rivets, ceiling struts, Dimensions variable.

Gene Skala 6/5/24 Gene Skala 6/5/24

June 2024 Newsletter

CSI Outdoor Committee News

Ragdale Tree Project

The CSI team at Ragdale are having an awesome time! Ragdale Foundation is collaborating with Chicago Sculpture International for “The Diversity of Birds” tree project by creating a public art sculpture out of a 20-foot-tall elm tree that passed away from Dutch Elm disease. It's now getting a second life as a sculpture. CSI Sculpting Team: Julia Sulmasy, Margot McMahon, Anthony Heinz May, Fredy Hauman Mallqui, Mia Capodilupo, Jyl Bonaguro, and Nicole Beck. Photography by Laurie Irwin

Public Opening: Thursday, June 6, 2024 4-6pm

Location:
Ragdale Foundation
1260 N Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045

Directions

Photo caption: Bruce Niemi with his sculpture *Tall Ships II* at Marquette Park. Photo courtesy of Akilia McCain.

Marquette Park Purchases Bruce Niemi Sculpture

Friends of Marquette Park of the Legacy Foundation and Miller Garden Club recently purchased CSI member Bruce Niemi’s Tall Ship II as a permanent sculpture for Marquette Park, Indiana, and the City of Gary, Indiana. The sculpture was first installed in the park in May 2022 as a result of a call put out by Chicago Sculpture International. Another sculpture selected through that call, Here, by CSI member Ruth Aizuss Migdal, will remain on display in the park for the upcoming exhibition season. The display of both sculptures and subsequent purchase of Tall Ships II are part of the two organizations' collaboration with CSI and its initiative to bring public art to the City of Gary, Indiana. The organizations hope to have another sculpture by a CSI member selected by this fall for installation.

CSI would like to thank Miller Garden Club president, Karin Crane, and Friends of Marquette Park chairperson, Carol Smith, for championing sculptures by CSI members and coordinating the purchase.

Learn more and visit Marquette Park, Indiana.
Learn more about Miller Garden Club.

CSI Indoor Committee News

CSI x ALMA Group Exhibit

CSI Project Space News

Midsummer Dreams

Exhibiting Artists: Micki LeMieux, Maeve McGale, and Jeremy P Wong

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 20, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibition Dates: July 20 – August 11, 2024
Gallery Hours: Friday 2-6 pm, Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen Ave.

Midsummer is for dreaming. It’s a time for celebration, romance, and new possibilities. This time has served historically as inspiration for European conceptions of fantasy, epitomized through the Scandinavian festival of Midsummer and the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In both examples, the forest sets a stage for magic and mischief.

Our tale takes a distinct Americana approach. Midsummer Dreams brings together three Chicago artists working in the Midwestern Surreal- a discourse that refers to integrating belief-oriented meaning mechanisms into secular systems. This is displayed through a midwestern sensibility, grounding whimsical imagery in familiar landscapes, rituals, and materials. In a forest of our own making, themes of bounty, desire, shelter, body, and landscape are explored and challenged in sculptural form. Fantasy becomes a powerful tool to reimagine and reflect our reality.

Visit www.chicagosculpture.org for more information.

CSI Grants Committee News

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Deadlines for FY25
GAP 2: July 11, 2024 for project start date of June 1, 2025

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding to strengthen US arts/culture ecosystem

NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and mutual respect for diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. Please see link for possible funding eligibility:

www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/artistic-disciplines

CSI, as an arts organization can help support application processes for CSI members. If any member of CSI is interested to apply for any of of these grants please email: Anthony May - Grants Chair - anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

Opening: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm

Artists periodically ask themselves, "How am I doing?" A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self / Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.

Exhibiting Artists: John E. Bannon, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Amanda Gentry, Set Gozo, Peter Gray, Philipp Groth, Carol Hammerman, Lillian Heredia, Catherine Jacobi, Stacee Kalmanovsky, Kasia Kay, Micki LeMieux, Bill Mitchell, Scott Mossman, Greta Olson, Dominic Sansone, Mary K. Seyfarth, Rachel Stork, Lisa Walcott, Nathan Ward, Bruce Webber, Yimei (Emair) Zhu.

Curated by Thomas Plum

CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Avenue
Chicago, Il, 60647

Image credit: Amanda Genry, Brother John, Myself

CSI Members - Teachers Needed for Workshops

The educational art workshop program wants to build a stronger presence in the community for CSI that promotes marginalized communities to use art as a way for people to connect with each other.

Presently, we are looking for artist members with creative projects to be completed in roughly 60 minutes for the boys and girls club at the Lathrop Homes, located at Damen and Diversey in Chicago.

Artists receive a stipend and materials budget. Any interested members with ideas for a kid’s art workshop activity that is roughly 60 minutes please reach out and email or call Set Gozo at setgozo84@gmail.com or (773) 372-5508.

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

Image credit: (left) Bruce Webber, Targets (right) Bill Mitchell, Amalgam

CSI x ALMA Group Exhibit

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

Exhibition runs through September 1, 2024

Art After Hours on Friday evening of EXPO ART WEEK, and features extended hours at over 45 galleries and creative spaces throughout the city of Chicago. With a myriad of exciting events unfolding throughout the evening, be sure to plan your night accordingly using the Gertie programming schedule and map. No matter your background—whether you’re an art aficionado or a newly minted collector—Art After Hours is a great place to forge relationships with new galleries, artists and other collectors!

About CSI x ALMA: Both Indoor and Outdoor Sculptors were invited to enter up to three works for the Annual Spring Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors in Chicago, IL. The exhibition will coincide with Expo Chicago, International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, April 11- 24, 2024 Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Alma Art and Interiors, established 2021, is a contemporary fine art gallery in the historic Bridgeport Arts Corridor featuring over 80 artists in 10,000 sq. ft.

ALMA Art and Interiors
3636 S. Iron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609

(847) 922-5736 or (224) 522-4525
Gallery hours: Open Sundays 12 to 5pm

Contact the gallery at: hello@almaartandinteriors.com
For general information about the exhibit: info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Call for Entries

By Degrees III (2024): Call for Submissions

Entry Deadline: Sunday, July 28, 2024, midnight central standard time
Notification by: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Artwork Drop-Off Date: Sunday, September 8, 1-5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 6-9pm
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sat/Sun, October 5-6, 1-5pm
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14 - Friday, October 4, 2024

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists. Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for September 14 - October 4, 2024, at CSI Project Space in Chicago.

Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry. Accepted artists will be granted a one-year non-transferrable student membership to CSI. This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.

Please complete the application form HERE.
Look HERE for submission information.
For any questions contactprojectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Caption for photo: Above (left to right): Fairy Ring by Greta Olson, Soil Samples by Kristina Rogers, Two-Headed Fawn by Ariana Hocking, and Rest Area by Stella Moon

Members News

**Olya Salimova's sculpture for Flight Of Butterflies project**

The sculpture is presently installed on campus of the Nature Museum but will be relocated to Chicago park land on July 15th where it'll spend a year.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences (Nature Museum) at 2430 N. Cannon Dr. Chicago, IL 60614

The Nature Museum introduces the Flight of Butterflies! This city-wide exhibit merges nature, art, and story telling, creating a memorable experience for all in Chicago. Olya Salimova, among other local artists, was invited to adorn butterfly sculptures with original designs, expressing her unique connection to nature.

Each of the exhibited butterfly is a testament to the artist, their journey, and their connection to nature, and this project uniquely intertwines artistic expression with a call to action for wildlife conservation. The Nature Museum creates a platform to inspire, support, and amplify nature champions across Chicago, and it all begins with the Flight of Butterflies. Be sure to stop by the Nature Museum to be inspired by these incredible pieces.

Olya Salimova's statement on her sculpture: The way we treat humans is the way we treat nature. The reverse is equally true. If we want to save our home Earth we have to care and guard freedoms of all her citizens – human and non-human. There is no separation between the two. Today, every being on Earth faces a time of incredible transformation within continual cycles of political, social and environmental changes. Let this Wisdomkeeper guide you to the change.

Jyl Bonaguro featured in Chicago Fra Noi

Jyl Bonaguro was featured in the Italian American magazine of Chicago Fra Noi. Bonaguro tells Fra Noi about her passion for art, how she found her way to sculpting, and her determination to see Modern Athena become reality.

https://franoi.com/profiles/modern-michelangelo-jyl-bonaguro

Memorial Sculpture by Nicole Beck

On May 24 at 12:15 there will be a dedication ceremony for the memorial sculpture created by Nicole Beck for Copeland Manor Grade School in Nicole’s hometown, Libertyville, IL. All are welcome.

The initial contact for the sculpture’s design was facilitated through a CSI contact to create a customized work to celebrate the life of a beloved 10-yr old student, Charlotte Frank who lost her life tragically to an aggressive cancer. Nicole worked with the school’s principal, art teacher, family members, school community and grounds keeper to create a work appropriate to the site, her family history and limited budget. Specifically, they wanted a figurative component that resembled Charlotte who loved the color purple/lilac, often sported Chuck Taylor high tops and displayed the deaf friendship sign (because her younger brother was deaf.) The school is collaborating by their students creating cement mosaic stepping stones around the site.

Liminal Space

The art of Bethany Cordero & Deborah Newmark
Opening: Friday, May 10, 2024 5-9pm
Show runs through June 8, 2024
Workshop: May 18, 1-4pm

Olivia Gallery, 3816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL
www.olivagallery.com

Cordero explores issues of identity, memory, and the impermanence of self. As we are left with vestiges of thoughts-memories of a life that no longer exists. We are in a perpetual state of transition from one state of consciousness to the next. By grafting, binding, and welding these materials together, she uses the remnants to create sculptural assemblages that serve as a symbolic bridge between her selfhood of today into the liminal space of tomorrow. Each iteration is equally referential and abstract, and serve as containers for space, composition and the inherent congruency and contradictions between her past and the present.

Newmark is curious about where things touch, where one thought ends and another begins, what is left unsaid. She acknowledges that singular moment in time, one that will never exist again. Using a mix of media, a layering of materials and gesture, she finds beauty in surprising relationships, often improvised or accidental.

Kara Cobb Johnson in System and Dialectics of Art

Member Kara Cobb Johnson will be in the spring group show, "System and Dialectics of Art" at Madron Gallery

The exhibit runs through June 14th

Exhibiting Artists: Andrew Arkell, Zach Balousek, Michael Banning, Shel Howard Beugen, Jess Beyler, Margie Criner, Matthew Cortez, Kara Cobb Johnson, Matt Kuhlman, Ruben Lima, MISU, Alison Mosher, Kristen Phipps, Joseph Royer, and Bruce Thorn

Featuring live music with the Steve Knight Trio, cocktails, and passed d'oeuvres.
Free parking available at Madron. 
Madron Gallery
1000 W North Ave
Third Floor, Chicago, IL 60642, USA

Image: Artwork by Kara Cobb Johnson  

The following are not CSI-sponsored calls
but may be of interest to our members

Art-In-Architecture RFQ for Purchase of Artworks

The Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists for the purchase of permanent original art for the College of Lake County (CLC), Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan, Illinois.

Type of media for this project is open and includes two-dimensional media such as painting, drawing, photography, textiles, collage, mixed-media, and small-scale three-dimensional pieces suitable for hanging.

The submission instructions for this RFQ are for purchase and not commission. Artists from the Waukegan area are especially encouraged to apply. Final Deadline: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 4:30PM. Applying before deadline is encouraged.

Download RFQ here

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 5/6/24 Gene Skala 5/6/24

May 2024 Newsletter

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Image credit: Marianne Lovink, *Plank* series (detail) and *Shortstop* (detail)

Marianne Lovink
New Work/Chicago

May 9-18, 2024

Opening Reception May 10, 6-8PM

Created after relocating to Chicago during the pandemic, this exhibition by Marianne Lovink is a survey of new work exploring the dynamic interplay of sculptural form and its graphic embellishment. Of particular interest to me is how an imposed motif can conform to, but also resist, the underlying structure, creating intriguing visual tension.

Although the graphic black and white energy of repetitive form has been a common theme over the years; the most recent introduction of color has also added a new vibrancy and playfulness to the previously spare palette of previous works.

CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Avenue
Chicago, Il, 60647

Special gallery hours: May 9, 10, 16 & 17, 1-6pm; May 11, 12 & 18, 12-5pm

Foam Carving Workshop

May 15 from 7-9PM at Project Space

We had so much fun at last month's Carving Foam workshop that Jyl Bonaguro decided to offer another one on May 15th from 7-9pm. Register on Eventbrite.

Welcome to the Carving Foam Sculptures Workshop Carve & Sip! Design, carve, and paint your own sculpture in foam during this 2 hour workshop class under the tutelage of professional stone sculptor, Jyl Bonaguro. With techniques similar to carving stone but without all the sweat, you will explore the techniques of blocking, detailing, and finishing as you create a stunning masterpiece. No experience is necessary!

Details: Adults Only Ages 21+. No previous experience is required to participate. All materials are provided along with aprons. BYOB. $40 admission fee.

Perfect Artist Exhibition Space or Special Events in Bucktown in Professional Gallery

Gallery rental available: 
May 20 – June 2 (OPEN 2 weeks); Aug. 14 – Sept. 6 (OPEN 3 weeks)

$500 per week professional gallery space includes track lighting, WiFi, folding chairs, pedestals, 8 foot ladder, bathroom no kitchen, 24 hr access. Features:

• Great local commercial district with artisans and small businesses.
• Gallery floor plans available upon request. 950 sq feet

For specs and details: https://tinyurl.com/project-space-rental

For additional information: info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Educational Art Workshops in 2024

Michael Gallager, in celebration of the incoming “Mother’s Day”, will conduct an after school activity this May 6th for the CSI Educational Art Workshops in 2024 from 4:30-5:30 pm at The Boys and Girls Club of America, located at the Lathrop Homes, 2915 N. Leavitt in Chicago.

CSI Grants Committee News

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Current CSI Exhibitions

Opening: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm

CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Avenue
Chicago, Il, 60647

CSI Members - Teachers Needed for Workshops

The educational art workshop program wants to build a stronger presence in the community for CSI that promotes marginalized communities to use art as a way for people to connect with each other.

Presently, we are looking for artist members with creative projects to be completed in roughly 60 minutes for the boys and girls club at the Lathrop Homes, located at Damen and Diversey in Chicago.

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

CSI x ALMA Group Exhibit

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

Exhibition runs through September 1, 2024

ALMA Art and Interiors
3636 S. Iron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609

(847) 922-5736 or (224) 522-4525
Gallery hours: Open Sundays 12 to 5pm

Contact the gallery at: hello@almaartandinteriors.com
For general information about the exhibit: info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Call for Entries

By Degrees III (2024): Call for Submissions

Entry Deadline: Sunday, July 28, 2024, midnight central standard time
Notification by: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Artwork Drop-Off Date: Sunday, September 8, 1-5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 6-9pm
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sat/Sun, October 5-6, 1-5pm
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14 - Friday, October 4, 2024

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists. Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for September 14 - October 4, 2024, at CSI Project Space in Chicago.

Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry. Accepted artists will be granted a one-year non-transferrable student membership to CSI. This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.

Please complete the application form HERE.
Look HERE for submission information.
For any questions contactprojectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Caption for photo: Above (left to right): Fairy Ring by Greta Olson, Soil Samples by Kristina Rogers, Two-Headed Fawn by Ariana Hocking, and Rest Area by Stella Moon

Members News

Thick Skinned: Lynn Basa, Christine Forni, Bobbi Meier

Thick-skinned cuts both ways. It’s the build-up of imperviousness to life’s abrasions over time and lived experience, but it’s also a form of concealment. Without these protections, the human condition would be unbearable. Lynn Basa, Christine Forni, and Bobbi Meier each have their way of approaching material as a metaphor for this survival membrane between the external world and themselves.

On View: April 5th - May 25

Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chase Gallery, 201 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago

Gallery visiting hours by appointment:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 10:00 am-4:00 pm

To schedule an appointment contact: art@epiphanychi.com

https://epiphanychi.com/lynn-basa-christine-forni-bobbi-meier-thick-skinned/

Marci Rubin and Samuel Schwindt Solo Exhibits at Epiphany Center for the Arts

CSI Members Marci Rubin and Samuel Schwindt are having solo exhibits at Sacristy Gallery (Epiphany Center for the Arts) and they open Friday, May 31, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

About Marci Rubin’s Majora & Minora
In her sculpture and installations, Marci Rubin investigates a state of transformation, both literally and metaphorically through process and materials. Reclaiming, upcycling, abstracting, and manipulating discarded or donated clothing, Rubin questions and addresses the human body: structures & systems; proportions & scales; interiors & exteriors; textures & colors; and orientations & identities. The finished pieces unveil a dialogue that often generates debate about human rights and privileges, while touching on the status quo and deviation regarding personal bodily decisions.

About Samuel Schwindt’s Revealed Armor: Leather and Light
Inspired by archival research in Chicago, Samuel Schwindt’s site-specific installations and sculpture explore stories both forgotten and willfully disappeared. He rebuilds and recontextualizes Chicago Queer spaces of the past, seeking to showcase the LGBTQ+ community’s fight for equality. Curated by independent curator and media producer, Pia Cruzalegui, Revealed Armor: Leather and Light is an exhibition about untold tales and inconclusive archives. The work celebrates the humanity of LGBTQ+ persons, emphasizing light, boldness, discovery, and the impetus of an artist reconciling past and present.

For more information and tickets:
Marci Rubin exhibit
Samuel Schwindt exhibit

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, Illinois
(312) 421-4600

Gallery visiting hours by appointment:
M, Tu, Th, & Fri: 10am-4pm
To schedule an appointment contact: art@epiphanychi.com

HARPY · HUMAN · HYBRID · BEAST

Works by Nancy Lu Rosenheim
Show run: March 29 to May 11, 2024
Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
312-421-4600

Gallery Hours by Appointment: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00-4:00
To schedule a visit, please contact art@epiphanychi.com

Nancy Lu Rosenheim’s menagerie celebrates the vulnerabilities and limitations inherent in the human psyche. Her characters expose the flaws we prefer to conceal – a hairy mole, age-spotted skin, and the cowering posture of
embarrassment or shame. Embracing sculpture, printmaking and works on paper, scale navigates between a seven-inch homunculus to a nine-foot worm, inviting the viewer to consider their own stature relative to other living beings. HARPY ·HUMAN · HYBRID · BEAST draws inspiration from Art of the Grotesque, balancing whimsy with menace. Rosenheim’s creatures assert both frailty and boldness and bear the distinct imprint of the human hand.

Rosenheim has been featured in the Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, NewCity, and Chicago Portraits. Exhibitions include the Hyde Park Art Center, Slow Gallery, and the Koehnline Museum, in Illinois, Galerías Cartel and Verlín in Granada, Spain. Rosenheim is Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University and College of Lake County. She holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, NY.

For information, please contact:
Julie Carpenter
Director of Art & Programming
Mobile: 708.704.3681
julie@epiphanychi.com

Memorial Sculpture by Nicole Beck

Liminal Space

Asian American Heritage Month Celebration

Set Gozo’s sculpture pieces currently in Evanston Art Center as part of Sinag artist group exhibition. Sinag is a not-for-profit group representing Filipino-Asian-American artists in the US.

Set will be travelling to North Dakota to participate in a panel discussion and sculpture demonstration at the Asian-American Cultural Expo hosted by the North Dakota Asian-American Artists Cultural Initiative (NDAAACI). Some of her pieces will be on exhibit and for auction. Part of the proceeds will be donated to NDAAACI to support their initiatives to promote Asian-American artists.

Kara Cobb Johnson in System and Dialectics of Art

The following are not CSI-sponsored calls but may be of interest to our members.

Art-In-Architecture RFQ for Purchase of Artworks

Download RFQ here

   Art in the Park, Rock Falls, Illinois
Call for Entries

Deadline: Wednesday, June 1, 2024

With the continued success of our previous six years Art in the Park Sculpture Walk, Rock Falls Tourism is making preparations for our 7th year of bringing in amazing sculptures to our RB&W District. We are now accepting submissions for sculpture art to be on display at the RB&W District along the Rock River. This open space park is used by many organizations putting on events and draws people from surrounding communities and states, which will ensure a high amount of visibility for your art throughout the year. The RB&W District is also security monitored, 24 hours a day. The Art in the Park Sculpture Walk is also featured on the Otocast application for smartphones which provides an additional layer of exposure. Artists will be asked to record an audio component for this application, should their sculpture be chosen.

The Rock Falls Tourism Department has opened up the selection process to artists within the rest of the

state, as well as surrounding states. The sculptures will be installed at the RB&W District, on August 23, 2024. Artists will be given a $1,250 stipend and will be able to make their sculpture available for purchase.

For more information: HERE
For questions, contact Melinda Jones.

For more information: https://dankhaus.com

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 4/8/24 Gene Skala 4/8/24

April 2024 Newsletter

In Memory of CSI Founding Member
Tom Scarff

It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to one of Chicago Sculpture International's founding members, S. Thomas Scarff. Tom was a pillar of strength and a guiding light for the organization during its inception and remained an active member for many years. He also played a pivotal role in shaping CSI's mission, vision, and values, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

A long-time resident of Chicago, Tom was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1942 and later received acclaim through exhibitions and commissions from renowned organizations such as Museum of Science and Industry and the Art Institute of Chicago. Tom’s role at Sedgwick Studio, home to other highly-accomplished CSI sculptor members, left a lasting connection with Chicago as a whole.

Tom leaves behind an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire us to uphold the ideals and principles he held dear. As we mourn his loss, let us also celebrate his remarkable life and the great impact had on our organization and the community at large.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Tom will forever remain in our hearts and with the spirit of Chicago Sculpture International.

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

International Sculpture Day is April 27!

Come join us at the CSI Project Space and Gallery

Carving Foam Sculptures Workshop with Jyl Bonaguro

Master the art of sculpting and carving foam in this hands-on workshop led by a professional sculptor.

Saturday, April 27, 2 to 4pm
Location: CSI Project Space
1912 North Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60647

What you'll learn in this foam carving sculpture class:

Let’s Carve Foam – Design, carve, and paint your own sculpture in foam during this 2 hour workshop class under the tutelage of professional stone sculptor, Jyl Bonaguro.

With techniques similar to carving stone but without all the sweat, you will explore the techniques of blocking, detailing, and finishing as you create a stunning masterpiece. No experience is necessary!

Details: Adults Only Ages 16+. No previous experience is required to participate. Materials are provided. Workshop is free but registration is required to participate.

About CSI Project Space

CSI Project Space gallery is under the direction of a collective of Chicago-based artists, hosting curated indoor exhibitions, innovative educational programming for professional sculptors as well as the general public, while giving back through partnerships with local community and philanthropic organizations. In celebration of International Sculpture Day, CSI is offering this FREE workshop to the general public.

About Chicago Sculpture International

Chicago Sculpture International brings art to the public and encourages an evolving community for artists. We look forward to creating more programs that mutually benefit our members, the public, sculpture and the Chicago land area. We believe in Creating Community through Sculpture. visit chicagosculpture.org for more info or to join now! 

Jyl Bonaguro is a Chicago-based sculptor and playwright with a professional studio in the Hermosa neighborhood. Jyl creates sculpture works of wings and the human figure in marble, limestone and mixed media for public and private art. Her sculptures have been featured in publications like CS Modern Luxury Interiors, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Newcity Art, and Sheridan Road and are in private art collections throughout the United States.

Click here to register for this workshop

Above: Marianne Lovink, Plank series (detail) and Shortstop (detail)

Marianne Lovink
New Work / CSI Project Space

May 9-18, 2024

Opening Reception May 10, 6-8PM

Created after relocating to Chicago during the pandemic, this exhibition by Marianne Lovink is a survey of new work exploring the dynamic interplay of sculptural form and its graphic embellishment. Of particular interest to me is how an imposed motif can conform to, but also resist, the underlying structure, creating intriguing visual tension.

Although the graphic black and white energy of repetitive form has been a common theme over the years; the most recent introduction of color has also added a new vibrancy and playfulness to the previously spare palette of previous works.

CSI Project Space, 1912 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago, Il, 60647
Hours: May 9, 10, 16, & 17, 1-6pm; May 11, 12, & 18, 12-5pm

Perfect Artist Exhibition Space or Special Events in Bucktown in Professional Gallery

Gallery rental available: 
May 20 – June 2 (OPEN 2 weeks); Aug. 14 – Sept. 6 (OPEN 3 weeks)

$500 per week professional gallery space includes track lighting, WiFi, folding chairs, pedestals, 8 foot ladder, bathroom no kitchen, 24 hr access. Features:

• Great local commercial district with artisans and small businesses.
• Gallery floor plans available upon request. 950 sq feet

For specs and details: https://tinyurl.com/project-space-rental

For additional information: info@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Education Committee

CSI Members - Teachers Needed for Workshops

The educational art workshop program wants to build a stronger presence in the community for CSI that promotes marginalized communities to use art as a way for people to connect with each other.

Presently, we are looking for artist members with creative projects to be completed in roughly 60 minutes for the boys and girls club at the Lathrop Homes, located at Damen and Diversey in Chicago.

CSI Grants Committee News

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Deadlines for FY25

GAP 2: July 11, 2024 for project start date of June 1, 2025

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding to strengthen US arts/culture ecosystem

NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and mutual respect for diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. Please see link for possible funding eligibility:

www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/artistic-disciplines

CSI, as an arts organization can help support application processes for CSI members. If any member of CSI is interested to apply for any of of these grants please email: Anthony May, Grants Chair at anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

CSI x ALMA Group Exhibit

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

Exhibition Dates: April 12, 2024 to September 1, 2024
with opening weekend, Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, 12 to 5 pm.

Opening Reception pARTy EXPO After Hours
Powered by Gertie! and sponsored by Arete Wealth & Masterworks Friday, April 12, 2024, 5 to 10 pm

ALMA Art and Interiors
3636 S. Iron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609

(847) 922-5736 or (224) 522-4525
Gallery hours: Open Sundays 12 to 5pm

Contact the gallery at: hello@almaartandinteriors.com
For general information about the exhibit: info@chicagosculpture.org

 Rangoli Workshop with Indira Johnson

Sunday, April 28, 2024, 1 to 3pm

Alma Art and Interiors
3636 S. Iron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609

Rangoli is a South Asian folk art tradition, where a woman inaugurates the day by painting a pattern on the threshold of her home. This tradition is embedded in a ritual practice that is centered around the protection and well being of one’s family. Drawing Rangoli patterns, establishes a ritualistic relationship to the ground we walk on, making it sacred. This traditional ritual has its origin in the need to locate the individual within a larger universe. Similar traditions exist in other cultures including Native American and Tibetan.

The making and participation in ritual art is a way of sharing sadhana or grace. We see this in the rituals we design around births, graduations, marriages and deaths. The act of performing those rituals is a way for us to come together to share our joy and sorrow.

Rangoli drawings are made up of symbols, meant to bring beauty and harmony, and counter the negative forces of imbalance with the positive powers of wholeness and vitality. Traditional materials that will be used include rice flour, turmeric powder, earth, and flower petals and leaves

Indira Johnson, has drawn Rangoli Patterns throughout the US. As she explains, “one of the goals of this project is to discover through dialog, art and ritual the commonality of our human experience, and the spiritual potential inherent in all of us.” This event is free but a ticket is required to participate.

Click here for tickets

Because tickets are limited, if you need to cancel attending after your ticket is reserved, we kindly request that you contact info@chicagosculpture.org immediately so the ticket may be made available for someone else. For more information please contact: info@chicagosculpture.org

Above: (left) Jill King, *Ebb*, (center); Nancy VanKanegan, *Sacerdotal Clown*; (right) Zelene Jiang Schlosberg, *Origin*

Unfavorable Conditions

Exhibition dates: Extended to April 27, 2024

CSI Project Space and Gallery
1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago

Unfavorable Conditions reflect on the human ability to navigate internal and external storms and emerge on the other side transformed. This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgement of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.

Exhibiting Artists: Angela McElwain, Anthony Heinz May, Cherry Tung, Autumn Lundberg, Caroline Jacobson, Cherylle Booker, Dawn Liddicoatt, Deana Bada Maloney, Frederick Napoli, Howard Sandroff, Jill King, Julia Paloma, Karl Johnson, Kasia Kay, Laurie LeBreton, Lilach Schrag, Lori Rozdolsky, Michael Gallagher, Nancy VanKanegan, Maddy Lee, Pat Brutchin, Maeve McGale, Peter Gray, Set Gozo, Wallace Bowling, and Zelene Jiang Schlosberg

Curated by Micki LeMieux

Self Portraits group exhibit at Chicago Sculpture International Project Space

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Entry Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024

CSI Project Space and Gallery
1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago

Artists periodically ask themselves, “How am I doing?”. A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self | Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.

Curated by Thomas Plum

• Applicants must be current CSI members. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member

• 3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
• Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
• Artists must install their own work.
• An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.
• Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
• 1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added

Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/YaAdqMopfC4bhpUL7

Exhibition Dates: June 8 – July 12, 2024
Notification: Wednesday, May 29 & Thursday, May 30
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2, from 1-5 pm
Opening: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14, from 1-5 pm

Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show

Members News

Thick Skinned: Lynn Basa, Christine Forni, Bobbi Meier

Artists Talk: Friday, April 12, 7:00pm

On View: April 5th - May 25

Epiphany Center for the Arts
Chase Gallery
201 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago

Gallery visiting hours by appointment:
M, Tu, Th, & Fri – 10am-4pm

To schedule an appointment contact: art@epiphanychi.com

https://epiphanychi.com/lynn-basa-christine-forni-bobbi-meier-thick-skinned/ 

Kara Cobb Johnson in System and Dialectics of Art

Member Kara Cobb Johnson will be in the spring group show, "System and Dialectics of Art" at Madron Gallery   The exhibit runs through June 14th

Exhibiting Artists: Andrew Arkell, Zach Balousek, Michael Banning, Shel Howard Beugen, Jess Beyler, Margie Criner, Matthew Cortez, Kara Cobb Johnson, Matt Kuhlman, Ruben Lima, MISU, Alison Mosher, Kristen Phipps, Joseph Royer, and Bruce Thorn

Featuring live music with the Steve Knight Trio, cocktails, and passed d'oeuvres. Free parking available at Madron.

Madron Gallery
1000 W North Ave, Third Floor
Chicago, IL

Open House at Mana Contemporary

Kara Cobb Johnson will also have an open studio on April 13, 2024, Noon-4pm at Mana Contemporary. 

Mana Contemporary
2233 South Throop St., #913
Chicago, IL

Paul Gerard Somers: Muscle Memory

Opening Receptions: March 29 and April 10

SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art opens a new exhibit, Muscle Memory, featuring work by Paul Gerard Somers, on Friday, March 29, 2024. We will celebrate the opening on March 29 from 5-8 pm and have another Opening Reception on Wednesday, April 10 from 6-10 pm during Expo Chicago week.

Paul’s commentary on cultural norms and values play out using unexpected materials and motifs such as sports paraphernalia, childhood toys, and images from popular media. From gender roles to politics and the economy, important topics are explored in playful yet impactful ways.

Paul is an interdisciplinary artist working in fiber, sculpture, painting, drawing, and performance.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and lived in several states before settling in Chicago. He received a B.A. from Ball State University, and an MFA from The University of Chicago in 2013. 

Come join us for either reception and see wonderful new works by this innovative artist.

SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art
1527 N. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
Gallery open: Fridays, 5-7 p.m. Saturdays, 12-4 p.m. and by appointment 

  Roland Biermann in Aesthetic Art Prize

Member and interdisciplinary artist (sculpture, installation) Roland Biermann has an exhibit of sculpturally-descriptive photographs in the Aesthetic Art Prize Exhibition 2024

Exhibition dates: 16 February - 21 April 2024

The artist writes: “The TWA Flight Center at New York's JFK airport, with its thin shell roof and four Y-shaped piers, feels like entering a huge walkable sculpture suggested a space experience in an era where intercontinental air travel barely existed and manned space missions were still a distant idea. As an artist working with sculpture and an interest in exploring change and transformation, it is especially the two tube-shaped, red-carpeted former departure and arrival corridors that provide an immersive experience today which, paradoxically, feels nostalgic and futuristic at the same time. 

York Art Gallery Exhibition Square
York YO1 7EW York
United Kingdom

Hours; Wednesday–Sunday, 10am – 5pm 

 Lilach Schrag's shows

Lilach is in two other current exhibits:

A Place to Belong is a site-specific video installation that shows at The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens between March 22–April 29 as part of the sixth Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art. It offers a possibility of an alternate existence in a world of fantasy where miraculous beings assimilate, recharge and persevere in nature. 

Power: A Feminist Exhibition is a two-person show with Ginny Sykes at Prairie State College
Lilach’s work includes a circle of six life-size sculptures of female mythological characters from different cultures, and two large fabric panels featuring the Hesperides sisters from Greek Mythology. This body of work looks at powerful magical women who are also vulnerable and fighting for their survival. 

Exhibition Dates: March 11 – April 11

Christopher Art Gallery
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL

  What We Leave Behind

Work by Toby Zallman Show continues through April 13, 2024

OS Projects, 601 6th Street, Racine, WI

The show’s title, What We Leave Behind refers to plastic waste blighting our planet which will take years to break down into the toxic chemicals from which it was made. It is Zallman’s hope that by creating alluring objects and visual experiences from the waste, while simultaneously foregrounding our complicity in ecological degradation, her project will support behavioral change. 

More INFO

The following are not CSI-sponsored calls but may be of interest to our members.

St. Charles Sculpture in the Park

Deadline: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Sculpture Committee, St. Charles Park Foundation and the St. Charles Park District invite you to participate in the Annual Sculpture in the Park Exhibit located along the Fox River in beautiful Mt. St. Mary Park, St. Charles, Illinois.

St. Charles’ Sculpture in the Park endeavors to diversify and enrich each show by featuring a wide range of artistic expression.

New this Year: Sculpture in the Park is expanding into a year-round exhibit with increased stipend.

• The honorarium per chosen sculptor will be $1,500.

• Applications must be completed online using the submission form below.

Click here for submission requirements, important dates and more details, please review the Propectus

Please apply online: https://www.stcsculpture.org/application

Feel free to email or call Erika Young, Sculpture Committee Member at eyoung@stcparks.org or (630) 513-4319.

Harborpark Sculpture Walk 2024-2026, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Application Deadline: Midnight, April 30, 2024

Review and Selection: May – July 2024
(Selected sculptures must be approved by City of Kenosha)
Artist Notification: No later than July 31, 2024
Installation Dates: September 18 and/or 19, 2024 (Anticipated)

The mission of the Kenosha Community Foundation Arts Fund is to encourage and enhance cultural life and public art in the Kenosha (WI) area through facilitation, recognition, and financial support. The Arts Fund initiative, Sculpture Walk – HarborPark, is a sculpture walk consisting of a two-year installation of sculptors’ work for which each artist will receive an honorarium of $2,250.

Sculpture Walk – HarborPark is entering the 7th exhibit for the project. The Kenosha Community Foundation Arts Fund is soliciting artists for the 2024-2026 Sculpture Walk-HarborPark Exhibit.

Selection criteria including but are not limited to:

Durable media, must withstand all weather elements, including high winds off Lake Michigan

Suitable for an outdoor setting and safe to the public

Represents diverse materials and perspectives

Overall appeal and aesthetic quality

Download the full RFP and application

Art-In-Architecture RFQ for Purchase of Artworks

Download RFQ here

   Art in the Park, Rock Falls, Illinois
Call for Entries

Deadline: Wednesday, June 1, 2024

The Rock Falls Tourism Department has opened up the selection process to artists within the rest of the

For more information: HERE
For questions, contact Melinda Jones.

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 3/27/24 Gene Skala 3/27/24

March 2024 Newsletter

Artist Resource Happy Hour

Thursday, March 7, 2024
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Registration Page: https://tinyurl.com/AR-Happy-Hour
Fees/Admission:
$13 (includes your first cocktail)
$8 (includes your first non-alcoholic cocktail)
Location: Koval Distillery, 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago

As a part of our commitment to supporting creative industry, GRCC and RCC are hosting an Artist Resource Happy Hour at KOVAL Distillery.
Come out to KOVAL’s beautiful tasting room to connect with fellow creatives and learn about resources and opportunities for local artists. We’ll be joined by representatives from:
            Andersonville Galleria
            Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
            Chicago Sculpture International (CSI)
            Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) & Ravenswood Community Council (RCC)
            Loyola University Women and Leadership Archives
            Lillstreet Art Center

Tickets include admission, your first drink, (N/A options available), and light snacks. Additional drinks will be available for purchase.

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Self Portraits - for Chicago Sculpture International Project Space

Entry Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024
CSI Project Space and Gallery, 1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago

Artists periodically ask themselves, “How am I doing?”. A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self | Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.
Curated by Thomas Plum

Applicants must be current CSI members. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Artists must install their own work.
An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added

Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/YaAdqMopfC4bhpUL7

Exhibition Dates: June 8 – July 12, 2024
Notification: Wednesday, May 29 & Thursday, May 30
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14, from 1-5 pm.

Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.

CSI Grants Committee News

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

CSI x ALMA: 2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors

Exhibition dates: April 12 - September 1, 2024

Opening Reception pARTy EXPO After Hours: Friday, April 12, 2024, 5 to 10 pm
with opening weekend, Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, 12 to 5 pm.

Both Indoor and Outdoor Sculptors were invited to enter up to three works for the Annual Spring Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors in Chicago, IL. The exhibition will coincide with Expo Chicago, International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, April 11- 24, 2024 Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Alma Art and Interiors, established 2021, is a contemporary fine art gallery in the historic Bridgeport Arts Corridor featuring over 80 artists in 10,000 sq. ft.

Exhibiting artists: Nikki Rene Anderson | Nicole Beck | Hilda deBruyne | Donna Castellanos | Michelle Corazzo | Ei Cullina | Brian Divis | Victoria Fuller | Musa Ghaznavi | Shelley Gilchrist | Karen Gubitz | Donna Hapac | Indira Freitas Johnson | Fred Klingelhofer | Yvette Kaiser Smith | Seoyoung Lee | Micheal Litewski | Luba Mendelevich | Ruth Aizuss Migdal | Bill Mitchell | Chris Newman | Connie Noyes | Kaia Olsen | Louise Pappageorge | Chris Perri | Nancy Lu Rosenheim | Olya Salimova | Dominic Samsone | James Stafford | Roberta Ulrich-de Oliveira | Nancy VanKanegan | Bruce Webber | Jamie Weinfurter | Chris Wubbena | Dan Yang | Toby Zallman

This exhibition is juried and curated by Kimberly Oliva and Gosia Korsakowski.
ALMA Art and Interiors 3636 S. Iron Street Chicago, Illinois 60609
(847) 922-5736 or (224) 522-4525

Contact the gallery at: hello@almaartandinteriors.com
For general information about the exhibit: info@chicagosculpture.org
Drop off and installation dates: March 4th, 10-5 and/or Sunday, March 10th, 12-5, as well as the March 15th, 11-8

Image credit: (left) Bruce Webber, Targets (right) Bill Mitchell, Amalgam

News from Project Space

Unfavorable Conditions

Exhibition dates: Feb. 17 - April 19, 2024
CSI Project Space and Gallery, 1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago

Thank you to all the artists for making the Unfavorable Conditions Exhibition and Opening successful.

Unfavorable Conditions reflect on the human ability to navigate internal and external storms and emerge on the other side transformed. This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgement of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.

Exhibiting Artists: Angela McElwain, Anthony Heinz May, Cherry Tung, Autumn Lundberg, Caroline Jacobson, Cherylle Booker, Dawn Liddicoatt, Deana Bada Maloney, Frederick Napoli, Howard Sandroff, Jill King, Julia Paloma, Karl Johnson, Kasia Kay, Laurie LeBreton, Lilach Schrag, Lori Rozdolsky, Michael Gallagher, Nancy VanKanegan, Maddy Lee, Pat Brutchin, Maeve McGale, Peter Gray, Set Gozo, Wallace Bowling, and Zelene Jiang Schlosberg

Curated by Micki LeMieux

Image credit: '(left) Porcelain Schoolbag by Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, (center) Untitled by Howard Sandroff, (right) Claw Machine by Anthony Heinz May

Workshop: Carving Foam Sculptures with Jyl Bonaguro

Master the art of sculpting and carving foam in this hands-on workshop led by a professional sculptor.

Saturday, April 27, 2 to 4pm

Location: CSI Project Space
1912 North Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60647

What you'll learn in this foam carving sculpture class:

Let’s Carve Foam – Design, carve, and paint your own sculpture in foam during this 2 hour workshop class under the tutelage of professional stone sculptor, Jyl Bonaguro.

Details: Adults Only Ages 16+. No previous experience is required to participate. Materials are provided. Workshop is free but registration is required to participate.

Jyl Bonaguro is a Chicago-based sculptor and playwright with a professional studio in the Hermosa neighborhood. Jyl creates sculpture works of wings and the human figure in marble, limestone and mixed media for public and private art. Her sculptures have been featured in publications like CS Modern Luxury Interiors, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Newcity Art, and Sheridan Road and are in private art collections throughout the United States.

Click here to register for this workshop

CSI Call for Entries

RFP: 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks

Application Deadline: Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season.

Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2024 to October 2026 (exact dates to be determined). Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $3000.

Eligibility: This call is open to professional artists who are at least 18 years of age. Artists whose proposals are accepted will be asked to join CSI if they are already not a member. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member.

For more information and application click HERE.

For questions, contact info@chicagosculpture.org

Member News

Howard Sandroff Interview in Northfield Life

Congratulations to CSI member Howard Sandroff. He is featured in this month's edition of Northfield Living magazine. Writer Paul Clements discusses Howard's artistic journey as a renowed classical music composer and sculptor.

Click here to read the article

What We Leave Behind

Work by Toby Zallman
Show runs February 10 - April 13, 2024

OS Projects, 601 6th Street, Racine, WI

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members:

Public Art Passport

Deadline: April 10, 2024

Artists from the Great Lakes states (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania) are encouraged to submit their artwork for the exhibition. Entries are being accepted now through March 30. Submissions will be reviewed and accepted by the Public Art Passport committee. After the committee reviews the entries, artists will be notified by April 10, 2024, if they are a finalist and their final acceptance status by April 15, 2024.

The Public Art Passport is a rapidly developing initiative that enhances the existing public art landscape while promoting and increasing visibility and tourism to the Great Lakes Bay Region. The 2024 summer exhibition will draw visitors to the area during this time of year when many are on their way “up north” and on vacation..

Click here for more details and to apply

Submissions will be reviewed and accepted by the Public Art Passport committee. Artists will be notified if they are a finalist by April 10, 2024 and their final acceptance status by April 15, 2024.

Contact for more information:

Ashley Ross, amross13@svsu.edu, 989-964-7125

Call for Entries:
Pentwater Public Arts: Sculpture Walk 2024/25

Deadline: March 15, 2024

Pentwater is a lakeside community in West Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan, north of Muskegon and south of Ludington. Well known by Great Lakes sailors, Pentwater is a vibrant tourist destination with an abundance of outdoor activities such as boating, camping, and beach going. It is home to Charles Mears State Park. Pentwater has several art galleries, is an active arts community, and is home to the Artisan Learning Center, and the Pentwater Arts Council which is a 501(c)(3) and the sponsor of this event.

They are planning to select 5 dynamic works for a one year commitment. Stipend is $3000.

More information and application can be found HERE.

Call for Entries: St. Charles Sculpture in the Park

Deadline: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Sculpture Committee, St. Charles Park Foundation and the St. Charles Park District invite you to participate in the Annual Sculpture in the Park Exhibit located along the Fox River in beautiful Mt. St. Mary Park, St. Charles, Illinois.

St. Charles’ Sculpture in the Park endeavors to diversify and enrich each show by featuring a wide range of artistic expression.

New this Year: Sculpture in the Park is expanding into a year-round exhibit with increased stipend.

The honorarium per chosen sculptor will be $1,500.

Applications must be completed online using the submission form below.

Click here for submission requirements, important dates and more details, please review the Propectus

Please apply online: https://www.stcsculpture.org/application

Feel free to email or call Erika Young, Sculpture Committee Member at eyoung@stcparks.org or (630) 513-4319.

Harborpark Sculpture Walk 2024-2026

Kenosha, WI

Application Deadline: Midnight, April 30, 2024
Review and Selection: May – July 2024
(Selected sculptures must be approved by City of Kenosha)
Artist Notification: No later than July 31, 2024
Installation Dates: September 18 and/or 19, 2024 (Anticipated)

The mission of the Kenosha Community Foundation Arts Fund is to encourage and enhance cultural life and public art in the Kenosha (WI) area through facilitation, recognition, and financial support. The Arts Fund initiative, Sculpture Walk – HarborPark, is a sculpture walk consisting of a two-year installation of sculptors’ work for which each artist will receive an honorarium of $2,250. The Sculpture Walk – HarborPark is entering the 7th exhibit for the project. The Kenosha Community Foundation Arts Fund is soliciting artists for the 2024-2026 Sculpture Walk-HarborPark Exhibit.

Selection criteria including but are not limited to:
• Durable media, must withstand all weather elements, including high winds off Lake Michigan
• Suitable for an outdoor setting and safe to the public
• Represents diverse materials and perspectives
• Overall appeal and aesthetic quality

Download the full RFP and application

Art in the Park - Call for Entries

Rock Falls, IL
Deadline: Wednesday, June 1, 2024

With the continued success of our previous six years Art in the Park Sculpture Walk, Rock Falls Tourism is making preparations for our 7th year of bringing in amazing sculptures to our RB&W District. We are now accepting submissions for sculpture art to be on display at the RB&W District along the Rock River. This open space park is used by many organizations putting on events and draws people from surrounding communities and states, which will ensure a high amount of visibility for your art throughout the year. The RB&W District is also security monitored, 24 hours a day. The Art in the Park Sculpture Walk is also featured on the Otocast application for smartphones which provides an additional layer of exposure. Artists will be asked to record an audio component for this application, should their sculpture be chosen.

The Rock Falls Tourism Department has opened up the selection process to artists within the rest of the
state, as well as surrounding states. The sculptures will be installed at the RB&W District, on August 23, 2024. Artists will be given a $1,250 stipend and will be able to make their sculpture available for
purchase.

For more information: HERE
For questions, contact Melinda Jones.

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Cover image: Anthony Heinz May, Claw Machine, Aluminum, mirror, marble, paint, LED and wire, 4-3/4 x 7-3/4 x 5-1/2 in.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 2/5/24 Gene Skala 2/5/24

February 2024 Newsletter

News from the Board

Welcome to our new President, Jyl Bonaguro!

Jyl Bonaguro’s works have been featured in publications like NewCity Art, CS Modern Luxury Interiors, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader and Sheridan Road and are in private art collections throughout the United States. Select sculpture exhibitions include: SOFA Chicago, Scope Miami, Aqua Art Miami, “Nature in Motion” Lincoln Park Zoo IL, “Voices and Visions” at the Highland Park Art Center IL and “Intertwined” at the Korean Cultural Center IL. Her plays like Swan Soong have been sponsored by Loyola University Chicago, Columbia College Library, Zhou B. Center, Hinsdale Public Library and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. She currently lives and works in Chicago, IL. Her latest carving project is the Modern Athena Sculpture.

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Unfavorable Conditions

Opening: Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6-9PM

Exhibition dates: Feb. 17 - April 19, 2024
CSI Project Space and Gallery, 1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago

Join us for fun, conversation, and Art!

Unfavorable Conditions reflect on the human ability to navigate internal and external storms and emerge on the other side transformed. This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgment of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.

Image credit: 'Hidden' by Deana Bada Maloney

CSI Grants Committee News

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Deadlines for FY25
GAP 1: Feb 15, 2024 for project start date of Jan. 1, 2025
GAP 2: July 11, 2024 for project start date of June 1, 2025

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding to strengthen US arts/culture ecosystem

NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and mutual respect for diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. Please see link for possible funding eligibility:

www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/artistic-disciplines

CSI, as an arts organization can help support application processes for CSI members. If any member of CSI is interested to apply for any of of these grants please email: Anthony May - Grants Chair - anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

Poetry of Sculpture

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Beth Shadur.

About the gallery: The Christopher Art Gallery gallery is located on the first floor of the main campus building and consists of 1300 square feet.

Prairie State College
202 S. Halsted St. 
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Gallery Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on days that college is open.

For questions about the gallery: bshadur@prairiestate.edu
For general information: info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Call for Entries

RFP: 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks

Member News

Howard Sandroff Interview in Northfield Life

Click here to read the article

What We Leave Behind

Work by Toby Zallman | OS Projects in Racine, WI

Opening: Saturday, Feb. 10, 1-3PM, artist talk at 2PM
OS Projects, 601 6th Street, Racine, WI

Fiat Lux

Nicole Beck has signed a contract with the City of Davis, CA to produce Fiat Lux, a 12' x 10' x 4' Stainless steel, dichroic and prismatic glass sculpture for Sycamore Park. The artwork is in remembrance of Karim Abou Najm, a UC Davis student who was tragically killed on April 23, 2023 while biking home. Following his death, his family, friends and the Davis community came together to honor his memory and initiated a fundraiser to create a space to remember and celebrate his life. The artwork signifies elements of Karim’s character, including emphasis on healing and connection and the ways the community has come together during a time of grief and turmoil.

Chicago artist Nicole Beck was chosen by Karim’s family to create a site-specific public sculpture. She met with Karim’s parents many times to learn about his life and the best way to honor him and the community; and the proposed design represents months of collaboration to arrive at something that would both honor Karim and be meaningful to the community at large.

The artwork symbolically captures the many facets of Karim’s light and brilliance, as well as his drive to connect and care for people. This artwork represents care and impact while providing an aspirational model for the community to continue to demonstrate intelligence, compassion and kindness. The central star is an abstract motif and connects with the constellation Phoenix, which often represents regeneration and restoration, integrated at the top of sculpture. A subtle image of Karim appears as the dominant star Aanka in that formation. The aspirational text reads FIAT LUX (Into the Light) and FREE SPIRIT, alluding to Karim's "free spirit".

The sculpture will be fabricated at Vector Custom Fabricating.

Render: Christopher Tedin

Hai-Wen Lin wins Hopper Prize

Congratulations to CSI member Hai-Wen Lin for winning the prestigious Hopper Prize. “The works made by these artists are shot through with powerful and blatant curiosity about the world around them and, more specifically, the imprints that this world makes on people”

Laura Phipps, Assistant Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art The Hopper Prize is a grant-making institution and online platform established to support emerging artists. It was founded in 2017 by artists for artists in honor of painter Edward Hopper. The prize provides financial assistance, exposure, and recognition to emerging artists worldwide. The Hopper Prize aims to bridge the gap between artist recognition and institutional support by providing unrestricted grants to talented individuals working in various media. The prize is awarded biannually, and winners are selected through a juried process. To see more of Hai-Wen Lin’s work, visit haiwenlin.com To learn more about The Hopper Prize, visit hopperprize.org

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

2024 Farm/Art DTour Call for Entries

Deadline: February 12

Wormfarm Institute is currently seeking artists to produce original, site-responsive installations for the 2024 Farm/Art DTour (October 5-14, 2024). Artists will install their works in farm fields after the last cutting of hay, to draw attention to the importance of what farmers do every day and the beauty and history of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.

Learn more and apply on our website.

The Farm/Art DTour is a self-guided, 50-mile drive through the working farmlands of rural Sauk County, Wisconsin, punctuated by ArtWorks (large-scale temporary art installations), Field Notes (interpretive signage), pasture performances, roadside poetry, local food markets and more.

Individuals or teams, formally trained or self-taught, from all disciplines — who are interested in creating works that engage with the landscape and surrounding rural communities may apply. Finalists will be invited to an orientation in Sauk County this spring and receive a stipend to revise their proposals. Selected artists will receive support ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to realize their work in the fall.

Photo credit: Curious Erratic of the Driftless by W. Scott Trimble, 2022 Farm/Art DTour; photo: Katrin Talbot

Call for Artists:
Sculpture/Obelisk and Viaduct Art Installation

Oak Park, IL
Deadline: February 20, 2024, 4PM

The Village is seeking qualifications from professional artists to create permanent, original, exterior public art installations to be located along Oak Park Avenue as part of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project.

Learn more HERE.
Further project information site images HERE.

18th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition - Call for Entries

City of North Charleston, SC
Deadline: February 25, 2024

Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the 18th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $19,750. Accepted artists will receive a $1,250 honorarium check to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($1000), Outstanding Merit ($500), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($250 each).

The juror for this year’s competition is Lauren Nye, Associate Curator at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, TN.

Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest, this unique exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their inspiring and extraordinary sculptures throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park, set along the banks of the Cooper River. An estimated 50,000 people visit this public park annually to enjoy the amenities located in the heart of the city's arts community.

Visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com to view the currently installed exhibition and updates on the 2024 festival schedule.
Visit HERE for more information and application.

Wall by Mark Chatterley (2023/24 Best in Show)

Call for Entries:
Pentwater Public Arts: Sculpture Walk 2024/25

Call for Entries: St. Charles Sculpture in the Park

The honorarium per chosen sculptor will be $1,500.

Applications must be completed online using the submission form below.

Harborpark Sculpture Walk 2024-2026

Art in the Park - Call for Entries

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 12/28/23 Gene Skala 12/28/23

January 2024 Newsletter

News ~ Exhibitions ~ Opportunities

News from the Board

Happy New Year!!!

We wish you a productive and peaceful new year!

In Memory of Richard Hunt

RICHARD HUNT
September 12, 1935 - December 16, 2023

A real loss for the world of sculpture, the Chicago arts community, and the world of fine arts at large. Condolences to CSI member and Richard Hunt's long-time studio director, Eric Stephenson, as well as to other CSI members who had the opportunity to know and work with such a great and talented artist.

With great sadness, we share that Richard Howard Hunt, 88, of Chicago passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at his home. A private funeral service will be held in Chicago. A celebration of art and life, open to the public, will be held in Chicago in the spring, with dates to be announced.

https://www.richardhuntsculptor.com/obituary
https://www.nbcchicago.com/.../renowned-chicago.../3305005/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/richard-hunt-dead-1234690115/

Image Credit: Richard Hunt in front of his 2021 Ida B. Wells monument. SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES, originally posted in ARTnews

News from Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Image credits: (1) "Geometry of Space" by David Skora (2) "Astral Projection" by Ray Katz
(3) "Bloom" by Micki LeMieux and Jeremy Wong

New Outdoor Sculptures for Evanston's Parks

Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with Evanston Arts Council is excited to announce new sculptures installed in the City of Evanston. The new sculptures listed below, will be on display for two years. Congratulations and thanks to all the artist for sharing their work.

Eiden Park - David Skora, Geometry of Space
Harbert-Payne Park - Ray Katz, Astral Projection
Twiggs Park - Micki LeMieux and Jeremy Wong, Bloom

Read more here

Image credits: (1) "Geometry of Space" by David Skora (2) "Astral Projection" by Ray Katz (3) "Bloom" by Micki LeMieux and Jeremy Wong

News from Indoor Exhibition Committee

Elemental Impact - Volunteers Needed

The CSI Indoor Exhibitions Committee is seeking members who can help greet visitors in the Chase Gallery at Epiphany Center for the Arts throughout the duration of the Elemental Impact exhibit. Please have a look at the dates and times listed below and select and schedule a date and time using this link when you are available to help. We appreciate your volunteering.

Saturday, January 6 - (Noon-3:00pm) - We will need CSI volunteers in the gallery. The Director of Programming will be on hand to manage the door.
Saturday, January 13 - (Noon-3:00pm) - We will need CSI volunteers in the gallery and The Director of Programming be on hand to manage the door. Afternoon closing reception, with artists deinstalling and taking home their work from 3:00-4:30pm.

For more information and details please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Imagines: (Left to right) Opening Reception for *Little, but Bold!; “Franco” by Stella Moon;* CSI President Jyl Bonaguro with Emerging Artist Committee members; Ariana Hocking, Juliette Morris, and Spencer Gale.

We had a wonderful December opening for the Little, but Bold! 2023 Exhibit.
Exhibit Dates: Dec. 9 – Jan. 26, 2024.

The above artwork image is “franco” by artist/member Stella Moon, created with Hand-folded paper and LED lights.

And a tremendously heavy thank you to our Emerging Artist Committee for all their hard work and merriment.

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

News from the Education Committee

Merry fun, music, and excitement occurred on December 18 at the Boys and Girls Club of America. Member Jeremy Plotkin Wong shared an amazing educational art workshop including clay, beads, and pipe cleaners. The kids had a great time making creatures and snowmen.

If you have an idea for an art workshop, please contact mickilemieux@chicagosculpture.org

Land Acknowledgement

CURRENT CSI EXHIBITIONS

CSI artists images left: Eli Kessler, Searching for Connectivity and Stacee Kalmonovsky, Breast Plate and Tartan

Elemental Impact

Curated by Kaylee Fowler

CSI artists images left: Eli Kessler, Searching for Connectivity and Stacee Kalmonovsky, Breast Plate and Tartan

The Poetry of Sculpture

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at Prairie State College - Christopher Art Gallery

Delivery of Accepted Work: January 26. 10AM - 3PM
Show Runs: February 5 - 29
Opening Reception: February 7, 11AM - 1:30PM
Closing Reception and pick up work: February 29, 4 -7 PM (work may be removed at 7PM)

For questions about the gallery: Beth Shadur.

Accepted Artists: Michele Corazzo / Debra Couch / Darlys Ewoldt / Michael F. Gallagher / Beth Kahmi / Nancy VanKanegan / Terry Karpowicz / Victoria Kowalczyk / Kelly Lawler / Laurie LeBreton / Margot McMahon / Ruth Aizuss Migdal / Louise Papageorge / CV Peterson / Lisa Nelson Raabe / Gina Lee Robbins / Howard Russo / Zelene Jiang Schlosberg / Michele Thrane

The Christopher Art Gallery is located on the main campus building's first floor, consisting of 1300 square feet.

Prairie State College, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Gallery Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9AM - 5PM on days the college is open.

For questions about the gallery: Beth Shadur
For general information: info@chicagosculpture.org

CSI CALL FOR ENTRIES

Unfavorable Conditions

Chicago Sculpture International Project Space

Entry Deadline: February 2
Exhibition Dates: Feb 17 - April 19
Notification: Weds, Feb. 7-8
Artwork Drop-off: Sat/Sun, Feb. 10-11, from 1-5 pm.

Opening: Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibit Dates: Feb. 17 – April 19, 2024
Artwork Pick-up: Sat/Sun, April 20-21, from 1-5 pm.

Unfavorable Conditions prompts reflection on the human ability to navigate storms, both internal and external, and emerge on the other side transformed.
This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgment of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.

2D and 3D work accepted - Sculptural work encouraged
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images: Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation added

Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.

Submit on this Google form found here: https://forms.gle/7MbyRzvcAMg4Kxkf9

MEMBER NEWS

Images: (Left) artwork by Christine Forni; (right) artwork by Jennifer Mannebach

OS Projects Artist Talk

Christine Forni & Jennifer Mannebach

When: Artist talk January 13, 2024, 2 pm
Where: OS Projects, 601 6th Street, Racine, WI

November 11, 2023 - January 13, 2024
Saturdays 12 - 5 pm and by appointment

Christine Forni and Jennifer Mannebach both address the fragmented and shifting terrain of nature and memory in their expansive bodies of work. The artists methodically deconstruct and reinterpret the relationship between past and present, spotlighting areas and remnants that are typically hidden or overlooked. In both Forni’s and Mannebach’s bodies of work, the experience has passed, but the objects remain, remade and reimagined. Nature and memory are not stable, the artists emphasize, but rather always on the threshold of a shift.

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

RFQ for Southern Illinois University –
Public Art Project

The Capital Development Board Art-in-Architecture Program is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists to create permanent original public art for the Health Sciences Building at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. This public art commission for a terrazzo floor is open to all professional artists, artisans, or artist-led teams that live and work in Illinois.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
Learn more: https://cdb.illinois.gov/.../siue-health-sciences...

DCASE 2024 Individual Artists Program Grants

Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 16

The 2024 Individual Artists Program (IAP) grant application is now open. IAP aims to assist Chicago's practicing artists in creating work that develops their craft and elevates their careers. IAP grants support artists across all artistic disciplines including Film & Media Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Performing Arts (Theater/Dance), and Visual Arts/Design. Visit chicagoculturalgrants.org to sign up for an info session to learn more.

RFQ for Cedar Falls Public Art Committee Trail Project

The City of Cedar Falls Public Art Committee (CFPAC), under the direction and approval of the Cedar Falls Art and Culture Board (ACB), seeks to commission a series of permanent, cohesive public artwork from an artist or team of artists to be installed along the existing trail system.

Three finalists will be selected to develop site specific proposals and present to the committee. Each finalist will receive a $2,000 honorarium to develop a proposal with a budget of $100,000. The selected artwork must be made of durable, low-maintenance materials able to withstand exposure to the Iowa climate and safe for public display.

Since1999, the CFPAC has implemented public art projects across the city to enhance and complement the vibrant cultural scene of the community. These public artworks have become iconic elements of the city’s landscape. More information on the CFPAC cab be found at https://www.cedarfalls.com/1170/Public-Art.

PROJECT TIMELINE:
• Application due: January 26, 2024
• Notification of Finalists: February 19, 2024
• Finalist Presentations: March 15, 2024
• Project Awarded: March 2024
• Installation: Fall 2024 thru Spring 2025 depending on location

Click here to download full RFQ and application details

Ring Out for Art - 2024 Call for Artists

Deadline: February 2

Jefferson Matters: Main Street, Tower View Team, Home State Bank and the Greene County Supervisors invite sculpture artists to submit an artwork application to participate in the 9th Annual Ring Out for Art public art exhibit. Ring Out for Art is a temporary outdoor exhibit, displayed on the Bell Tower Plaza located in the National Historic District in Jefferson, Iowa from May until the end of October each year.

Selected artists are paid a $1000 stipend from Home State Bank for use of their artwork ($700 on delivery and $300 on pickup)

Learn more and apply HERE.

2024 Farm/Art DTour Call for Entries

Deadline: February 12

Wormfarm Institute is currently seeking artists to produce original, site-responsive installations for the 2024 Farm/Art DTour (October 5-14, 2024). Artists will install their works in farm fields after the last cutting of hay, to draw attention to the importance of what farmers do every day and the beauty and history of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.

Learn more and apply on our website: wormfarminstitute.org/dtour-rfp-24.

The Farm/Art DTour is a self-guided, 50-mile drive through the working farmlands of rural Sauk County, Wisconsin, punctuated by ArtWorks (large-scale temporary art installations), Field Notes (interpretive signage), pasture performances, roadside poetry, local food markets and more.

Individuals or teams, formally trained or self-taught, from all disciplines — who are interested in creating works that engage with the landscape and surrounding rural communities may apply. Finalists will be invited to an orientation in Sauk County this spring and receive a stipend to revise their proposals. Selected artists will receive support ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to realize their work in the fall.

Photo credit: Curious Erratic of the Driftless by W. Scott Trimble, 2022 Farm/Art DTour; photo: Katrin Talbot

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS

Have any news to share?

Gene Skala 12/7/23 Gene Skala 12/7/23

December 2023 Newsletter

News from the Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Image credits: (1) *Let's Get Going* by Terry Karpowicz, (2) *Victoria* by Chris Wubbena, (3) *Nature's Quintet* by Stephanie Sailer, and (4) *Gourd Man* by Shencheng Xu

2023-2025 Sculpture in the Parks

Austin Town Hall - Carrie Fischer, Queen of Hearts
Berger Park - Shencheng Xu, Gourd Man
Calumet Park - Mike Baur, Cliff
Indian Boundary Park - Kara James, The Gesture of Consciousness
Lincoln Park Cultural Center - Michael Young, Going Up
Marquette Park - Stephanie Sailer, Nature’s Quintet
Ridge Park - Terry Karpowicz, Let’s Get Going
South Shore Cultural Center - David Noguchi, Fish In Space
Tuley Park - Chris Wubbena, Victoria

Click here to see more recently installed sculptures.

News from the Indoor Exhibition Committee

CSI artists images left: Eli Kessler, *Searching For Connectivit*y and Stacee Kalmanovsky, *Breast Plate with Tartan*

Elemental Impact - Volunteers Needed

The CSI Indoor Exhibitions Committee is seeking members who can help greet visitors in the Chase Gallery at Epiphany Center for the Arts throughout the duration of the Elemental Impact exhibit. Please have a look at the dates and times listed below and select and schedule a date and time using this link when you are available to help. We appreciate your volunteering.

Friday, December 8 - Golden Hour (5-8pm) - Epiphany Center for the Arts has other gallery openings that night and a couple music performances, so there will be a lot of foot traffic. It would be great to have CSI volunteers in the gallery. The Director of Programming will be on hand.

Friday, December 15 - Golden Hour (5-8pm) - Epiphany Center for the Arts has free live music, plus a Sanctuary performance happening that night. They will need CSI volunteers in the gallery. The Director of Programming will be on hand for visitors.

Saturday, December 16 - Golden Hour (5-8pm) - We have free live music, plus two performances happening at Epiphany that night, so we'll have foot traffic. They will need CSI volunteers in the gallery since The Director of Programming cannot be there that night.

Saturday, January 6 - (Noon-3:00pm) - We will need CSI volunteers in the gallery. The Director of Programming will be on hand to manage the door.

Saturday, January 13 - (Noon-3:00pm) - We will need CSI volunteers in the gallery and The Director of Programming be on hand to manage the door. Afternoon closing reception, with artists deinstalling and taking home their work from 3:00-4:30pm.

For more information and details please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

News from CSI Project Space

Little, but Bold!

Holiday salon-style exhibit of small artworks
Opening Night: Saturday, Dec. 9, 6-9 pm

48 Artists - 56 Artworks

Little, but BOLD! Is in celebration of all things unmonumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.

Artists: John Adduci, Nikki Anderson, John Bannon, Mike Baur, Nicole Beck, Berthold Boone, Bethany Cordero, Debra Couch, Rob Craig, Eoin Cullen, David Curry, Victor Edwards, Darlys Ewoldt, Lynn Floriano, Victoria Fuller, Mirentxu Ganzarain, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Set Gozo, Carol Hammerman, Ariana Hocking, Caroline Jacobson, Kara James, Kasia Kay, Fred Klingelhofer, Gina Lee Robbins, Micki LeMieux, Dawn Liddicoatt, Ellen Lustig, Marie Magnetic, Angela McElwain, Stella Moon, Juliette Morris, Scott Mossman, Julia Paloma, Thomas Plum, Vaso Georgulis Powers, Marci Rubin, Howard Russo, Divyangi Shukla, Michele Silvetti-Schmitt, Anne-Joelle Tan, Gunnar Theel, Michele Thrane, Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, Nancy VanKanegan, Patrick D. Wilson, and Michael Young.

Curated by Micki LeMieux

Exhibition Dates: Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 26, 2024

CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N Damen, Chicago, IL.

News from the Education Committee

There is one more exciting educational art workshop scheduled for mid-December this year. I look forward to sharing this workshop and photos with our members in the January newsletter.

We are always looking for fun art workshops to share with The Boys and Girls Club at the Lathrop Homes. We are looking for art projects that can be completed in one hour with the children. Artist stipend.

If you have an idea for an art workshop, please contact mickilemieux@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Board

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

THANK YOU CSI MEMBERS

Our 300+ membership keeps growing thanks to community contributions!

Your Chicago Sculpture International contributions support:

SCULPTURE IN THE PARKS

THE CHICAGO TREE PROJECT

CSI PROJECT SPACE

CSI INDOOR EXHIBITS

(Northern Illinois University, College of Lake County, Epiphany Center for the Arts)

and many other yearly opportunities to showcase your work.

THANK YOU

CSI is a 501(c)(3) organization - Any amount is welcome
(All donations/contributions are tax-deductible)
To donate online via our website portal click HERE

For personalized assistance, please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

Interested to become a sponsor? Click HERE

Land Acknowledgement

Current CSI Exhibitions

CSI artists images left: Larsa Kena, *Glider* and Maki Hajikano, *Ambiguous Border #4 Architecture #2*

Elemental Impact

November 17, 2023 to January 13, 2024

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 421-4600

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

The works chosen for this exhibition have a strong sense of material choice and presence that is both able to stand on its own while also engaging with its environment and the works around it in a way that fundamentally changes the experience of the space.

Curated by Kaylee Fowler

CSI artists images left: Larsa Kena, Glider and Maki Hajikano, Ambiguous Border #4 Architecture #2

Call for Entries

The Poetry of Sculpture

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at Prairie State College - Christopher Art Gallery

Entry Deadline: December 8, 2023

Show Runs: February 5 - 29, 2024

Opening Reception: February 7, 11AM - 1:30PM

Closing Reception and pick up work: February 29, 4 -7 PM (work may be removed at 7PM)

Applicants must be CSI members

Sculptors are invited to enter up to three works in the Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at Prairie State College – Christopher Art Gallery

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Beth Shadur.

For more information and to apply here.

Member News

Tabulsa Rasa Inflight

Member and vice president Jyl Bonaguro has a solo exhibit called "Tabula Rasa Inflight” at Evanston Art Center..

Nov 4 - Dec 17th, 2023
Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central Street, Evanston, Illinois

Gallery Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm

Beneath the Visible

Member Laurie LeBreton’s 80 paper tapestries will be exhibited in Beneath the Visible, a showcase of work by artists in Hyde Park Art Center’s Center Program 10 program.

Beneath the Visible translates impermanence, cyclical events, and transformation. By reflecting on the cultural, environmental, and social layers of their work, artists enact poetic research processing beyond immediately apparent material. Fragments are re-constructed into blueprints. What was once an idea becomes a detectable dimension.

Opening reception: December 9th, 2023 - Noon to 4pm

Hyde Park Art Center
5020 S. Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL

Hours:
M-Th, 10am to 7pm; Fri 10am-4:30pm
Sat, 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
but may be of interest to our members:

Entry Deadline: December 15, 2023
No entry fee

In its 23rd year, the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit is continuing its mission to encourage public encounters with art while going about daily lives. Professional 3-D artists are invited to create and install sculptures at identified public sites. A $2,000 honorarium will be awarded for each selected work – half paid at contract signing and balance at installation. Artwork will remain on display for one calendar year. At least 40 sculptures will be included in the 2024 Exhibition.

Learn more and apply HERE.

Olathe's Annual Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit

Entry Deadline: January 2, 2024

Notice of selections to artists: March 6, 2024

Art Delivery Deadline: June 3, 2024

Exhibition dates: June 10, 2024 - May 5, 2025

The City of Olathe is seeking large-scale, three-dimensional sculpture entries or temporary art installations. Olathe's annual Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit supports the City's vision to build the identity of Olathe, activate public spaces, and connect people to the community through art. Public art can help tell Olathe's stories, engage people in meaningful ways and provide valuable, interactive experiences. All sculpture entries will be juried by the Olathe Public Art Committee, and selected sculptures will remain on display in Olathe for a one year period.

Learn more and apply HERE.

RFQ for Southern Illinois University - Public Art Project

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Learn more: https://cdb.illinois.gov/.../siue-health-sciences...

Ring Out for Art - 2024 Call for Artists

Jefferson Matters: Main Street, Tower View Team, Home State Bank and the Greene County Supervisors

invite sculpture artists to submit an artwork application to participate in the 9th Annual Ring Out for Art

public art exhibit. Ring Out for Art is a temporary outdoor exhibit, displayed on the Bell Tower Plaza

located in the National Historic District in Jefferson, Iowa from May until the end of October each year.

Selected artists are paid a $1000 stipend from Home State Bank for use of their artwork ($700 on delivery and $300 on pickup)

Learn more and apply HERE.

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Gene Skala 11/5/23 Gene Skala 11/5/23

November 2023 Newsletter

Above: Stephanie Sailer, *Nature's* Quintet, painted steel, 7' x 4' x 4', Marquette Park

In this newsletter you will find:

News from the CSI Committees
Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions

The Poetry of Sculpture

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at Prairie State College - Christopher Art Gallery

Entry Deadline: December 8, 2023
Show Runs: February 5 - 29, 2024
Delivery of accepted work: January 24, 2024 10AM-3PM, January 27, 2024 10AM-1PM
Opening Reception: February 7, 11AM - 1:30PM
Closing Reception and pick up work: February 29, 4 -7 PM (work may be removed at 7PM)

Sculptors are invited to enter up to three works in the Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at Prairie State College – Christopher Art Gallery

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Beth Shadur.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member

An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.

About the gallery:
The Christopher Art Gallery gallery is located on the first floor of the main campus building and consists of 1300 square feet.

Prairie State College
202 S. Halsted Street
Chicago Heights, Illinois

For more information and to apply here.
For any questions, contact the gallery at bshadur@prairiestate.edu
For general information: info@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Vice President

Photo credits (top row, left): CSI Vice President Jyl Bonaguro; (top row, right) Patrick Wilson's sculpture *Quantum Airbox Micro-Monument*; (Bottom row): Scenes from the conference

30th Annual International Sculpture Conference

Jersey City, NJ

On October 10-15th, CSI Vice President Jyl Bonaguro served as ambassador for our organization at The 30th International Sculpture Conference held in Jersey City, NJ October 10-15, 2023. Jyl gave a well-rounded talk discussing the many facets, opportunities, and future of CSI including the Sculpture in the Parks, Big Marsh, Chicago Tree Project, Interior Exhibitions, Project Space and Outreach programs. The presentation was followed by a Q&A.

The conference included ISC’s annual littleSCULPTURE Show exhibition. The exhibit showcases how its talented artist members handle the challenges of space and scale as dictated by the 8" x 8" x 8" size restriction. CSI Outreach Committee Co-Chair Patrick Wilson participated with his piece, Quantum Airbox Micro-Monument, 2023, bronze, 6.25” x 5.75” x 5.75.”

News from the Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Image credits: (1) *Let's Get Going* by Terry Karpowicz (2) *Victoria* by Chris Wubbena (3) *Nature's Quintet* by Stephanie Sailer (4) *Gourd Man* by Shencheng Xu

2023-2025 Sculpture in the Parks

Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, is excited to announce that the 2023-2025 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition is now installed with nine new sculptures featured in Chicago area parks. The new sculptures, listed below, will be on display through October 2025. Congratulations and thanks to all the artist for sharing their work.

Austin Town Hall - Carrie Fischer, Queen of Hearts
Berger Park - Shencheng Xu, Gourd Man
Calumet Park - Mike Baur, Cliff
Indian Boundary Park - Kara James, The Gesture of Consciousness
Lincoln Park Cultural Center - Michael Young, Going Up
Marquette Park - Stephanie Sailer, Nature’s Quintet
Ridge Park - Terry Karpowicz, Let’s Get Going
South Shore Cultural Center - David Noguchi, Fish In Space
Tuley Park - Chris Wubbena, Victoria

Click here to see more recently installed sculptures.

News from the Indoor Exhibition Committee

Above: Images from the 2022 CSI Biennial at Koehnline Museum of Art, *Sculpture Invasion*

The CSI Indoor Exhibition is seeking for 2 members to join the committee

·   Work with Co-Chairs, curators, and exhibitions venue directors
·   Assist in securing 2 exhibition venues yearly for CSI members
·   Visit and attend meetings with curators and exhibition directors
·   Attend 3-4 CSI Indoor Committee meetings yearly via zoom or in-person
· CSI Indoor Committee does not jury exhibitions, nor do they make suggestions to curators of CSI members' work

If interested in networking and learning about the CSI Indoor Exhibition Committee
email: info@chicagosculpture.org

(CSI Indoor Exhibition Image from 2022: Sculpture Invasion / CSI Biennial at Koehnline Museum of Art)

Above: Larsa Kena, *Glider* (left) and Maki Hajikano, Ambiguous Border #4 Architecture #2 (right)

Elemental Impact

November 17, 2023 to January 13, 2024

Volunteers needed for Elemental Impact Exhibition

On the following days a volunteer is needed to monitor the alley during drop-offs and a volunteer is need to assist with receiving artwork and completed consignment forms:

Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 12 to 4 pm
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 from 12 to 4 pm.

Pick up Dates
Volunteer are needed to help with pick-up (this may include some packing shipped of artwork with labels provided by the artist), and a volunteer is also need to help monitor the alley on the following days:

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 12-4 pm
Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 12-4 pm
Thursday, January 18, 2024, 12-4 pm

If available and for more information please contact Christine Forni via info@chicagosculpture.org

News from CSI Project Space

CSI Project Space received a grant from The Renaissance Charitable Foundation to promote and advertise the gallery programming; exhibits, events, and art workshops.

Little, but BOLD!
Holiday Members Exhibit

CSI Project Space announces an open call for the 2nd Holiday Member Exhibit of small works at our gallery space in Bucktown.

Guidelines:

Applicants must be CSI members
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x12 in.
2D, 3D, and wall mounted sculptural work accepted

Please Note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of the show.

Submission Instructions:

Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1-2 jpg images: Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit all information and images on this google form here

https://forms.gle/erZHwtgmsVSrAWvm7

Important Dates:

Extended Deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023
Notification: Wednesday, Nov. 22
Drop off artwork: Fri/Sat, Dec. 1-2
Opening Night: Saturday, Dec. 9
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 26, 2024
Pick up artwork: Sat/Sun, Jan. 27-28

CSI PROJECT SPACE
1912 N. Damen Ave. Chicago, IL
Micki LeMieux, Gallery Director

Gallery hours:
Fri - Sat 2-8pm Sun 1-6pm or by appointment
Wearing masks in the gallery is recommended
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Form Within: Unveiling Hidden Aesthetics

Annual Celebration of Chicago Emerging Artists

Exhibition Dates: Nov. 3 - Nov. 26

In the realm of art, we often find ourselves captivated by the surface beauty of a piece; colors, shapes, and textures that immediately catch our senses. Yet, beneath these visible layers lies a profound world of intricacies, the “Form Within” that gives art its enduring depth and significance.

This exhibition is an exploration of that hidden world. Through a compelling array of artworks in various mediums and styles, this collection reveals the artists’ meticulous craftsmanship, their unique perspectives, and their ability to evoke emotions and provoke thoughts.
As viewers, we are challenged to look beyond the obvious, to see not just what is presented but what lies beneath and within.

Exhibiting Artists: Spencer Gale, Musa Ghaznavi, Sarah Goodermuth, Ariana Hocking, Juliette Morris, Sam Schwindt, and Olya Salimova.

Curated by Micki LeMieux
Gallery Hours: Friday-Saturday 2-8pm & Sunday 1-6pm.

News from the Education Committee

Open Volunteer Position - Board Member, Board of Directors

In 2023, CSI shared 4-5 art workshops at The Boys and Girls Club of America, and 2 workshops at the gallery, CSI Project Space.

There are stipends for participating artists to conduct workshops and other programming.

Main Tasks

Connect with members artists
Connect with community organizations and plan appropriate art workshops
Manage stipends
Email artist invoices to CSI Treasurer
Manage material budget and reimbursements

If interested, please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Membership Chair

Congratulations to our Inclusion Fellows!

Congratulations to our Inclusion Fellows! Cherylle Booker, Victor Edwards, Janhavi Khemka, Hai-Wen Lin, and Yimei (Emair) Zhu participated by creating new work and installations in the CSI Project Space for the exhibition, COALESCE. The exhibition utilized collaboration and a performance element to bring out the working styles and materials unique to each artist. It was easily accessible to the public through window design, workshops, and artist talks livestreamed on Instagram. The show was ADA-compliant and addressed ideas of balance, deafness, blindness, scale, and freedom. COALESCE opened with a live performance by the exceptional musician, Ron Chambers, who played his cello which was enjoyed by family, friends, and neighbors. Membership would like to thank the gallery committee for their support of this initiative to introduce our fellows in the CSI community. Thank you! Images below are credited to the artists and represent their work and ideas in varying stages of creation. Enjoy!

(1) Yimei (Emair) Zhu, photo by Rudradutt Ranade (2) Work by Yimei (Emair) Zhu, photo by Rudradutt Ranade (3) Work by Yimei (Emair) Zhu, photo by Rudradutt Ranade (4) works by Hai-Wen Lin (foreground) and Yimei (Emair) Zhu back wall and nook, photo by Yimei (Emair) Zhu

(1) Braiding and Tufting Workshop, teaching artist: Yimei (Emair) Zhu, photo by Rudradutt Ranade (2) Victor Edwards between his maquettes, photo by Kara Cobb Johnson (3) Work by Victor Edwards, photo by Kara Cobb Johnson (4) Janhavi Khemka on residency in San Francisco, photo by Janhavi Khemka

(1) Installation view, video still and sculpture by Janhavi Khemka, photo by Kara Cobb Johnson (2) Cherylle Booker, Hai-Wen Lin, and Yimei (Emair) Zhu, photo by Kara Cobb Johnson (3 & 4) Installation and artwork and photo by Hai-Wen Lin (5) *COALESCE* catalog essay with Yimei (Emair) Zhu installation

Land Acknowledgement

To provide immediate assistance to Native American Communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city's American Indian Center here.

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People's sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa - as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

Member News

Members are welcome to submit news regarding exhibitions and professional development achievements to info@chicagosculpture.org. We would love to see what you are doing!!

Also, please share your open studio events and any news about new work on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Chicago Sculpture Facebook Group
Instagram: @chicagosculptureinternational

Above: Artwork by Jennifer Mannebach (left) and Christine Forni (right)

Thresholds

OS Projects exhibition of work by Jennifer Mannebach & Christine Forni

Exhibition:11/11/2023 - 1/13/2024

Opening Reception:
Saturday, Nov. 11th from 1 -3pm

Location:
601 6th Street
Racine, Wisconsin

Gallery hours are Saturdays 12-5pm
Or by appointment (262) 800-3564

Sunday Dinner

Carlson Tower Gallery of North Park University presents fiber-based sculptural works of Bobbi Meier in a solo exhibition entitled, Sunday Dinner.

Opening Reception with Artist Talk: November 7
Reception: 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Artist's Talk: 5:00PM

North Park University
3225 West Foster Avenue
Chicago, IL

Solace Star

Board Member At Large, Nicole Beck was selected to create an outdoor sculpture Sólace Star for the Long-Term Care south courtyard for those vets with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s and Dementia, at the Quincy Veterans Home build by the Capital Development Board of Illinois Art-in-Architecture Program. Beck will create a 15’ sculpture using rolled aluminum, custom-laminated dichroic and prismatic glass, custom mosaic back panels, LED lighting and a cast concrete integrated seating platform. CSI Member, Vector Custom Fabricating will be the lead fabricator along with various other subcontractors including NorthcoastCGI who completed the splendid renders.

Member and vice president Jyl Bonaguro will be having a solo exhibit called "Tabula Rasa Inflight” at Evanston Art Center. It will be a showcase of her latest wing sculptures and a book signing for her new book "Hammer & Stone" on the stone carving process.

The human desire to take flight and abandon this earth-bound state is timeless. Tabula Rasa InFlight explores the concept of a mind as a blank tablet by expanding how marble is perceived as sculpture. My new series of Wing sculptures are etched and carved into marble tiles using the intaglio technique and displayed alongside classical sculptures on pedestals. Working in such thin marble slates reveals the little known translucent nature of marble and transforms the heavy material into tablets of light.

Opening Reception Sunday, November 12th from 1-4pm
Nov 4 - Dec 17th, 2023

Evanston Art Center
1717 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois

Gallery Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm

The following are not CSI sponsored projects, but may be of interest to our members.

2024 Perryville Sculpture Trail Call for Artists

Perryville, Missouri

Submission Deadline: December 4, 2023 by 5:00PM
Exhibition Dates: April 26, 2024 to April 25, 2025

The City of Perryville is excited to announce its annual sculpture exhibition beginning in the spring of 2024 for Perryville’s Sculpture Trail, located at Miget Park and historic downtown Perryville. Five sculptures will be selected by this year’s juror, Glenn Williams.

The City of Perryville continues to work toward building a vibrant and culturally rich environment for its residents and visitors. A portion of the exhibit will be in Miget Park, a newly developed city park that is home to the Perryville splash pad and Lucas & Friends an all-inclusive playground. Its newly poured walk/bike trail will provide high visibility to pedestrians, cyclists and motorist at the Perryville Blvd. and St. Joseph St. intersection. Other site locations will be in the historic downtown square where local retail, restaurants, government, and specialty businesses make up a thriving community experience and vibrant social events throughout the year.

All work entered must be durable and freestanding. Each sculpture or sculpture proposal must be safe for the general public and be suitable and maintenance-free for this one-year outdoor exhibition. Each sculpture will be bolted to a concrete pad using Tapcon anchor bolts supplied by the artist.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation and de-installation of the sculpture, and all other expenses involved. Any costs over $1,500 are entirely the responsibility of the artist.

Click here to download full RFP and application.

CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

While you're here...

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website areimportant. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 10/7/23 Gene Skala 10/7/23

October 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to the October Newsletter

You will find:

News from the CSI Committees
Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions

The Poetry of Sculpture

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions
at Prairie State College - Christopher Art Gallery

Entry Deadline: December 8, 2023

Show Runs: February 5 - 29, 2024

Sculptors are invited to enter up to three works in the Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at Prairie State College– Christopher Art Gallery

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Beth Shadur.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member

An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.

About the gallery:
The Christopher Art Gallery gallery is located on the first floor of the main campus building and consists of 1300 square feet.

Prairie State College
202 South Halsted Street
Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411

For more information and to apply here.

News from Development

CSI Awarded IACA Grant

CSI applied for a general operating support grant through Illinois Arts Council Agency, and has been awarded a generous 2024 grant!

The award will be distributed by IACA to support the growth and positive community reflection that CSI offers the greater Chicago area. CSI members, each and everyone of you, and your work in exhibitions, outreach and education has made this possible. Thank you all for your devotion to make CSI what it is, and what it is becoming. Congratulations!

News from the Indoor Exhibition Committee

Elemental Impact

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

November 17, 2023 to January 13, 2024
Opening Reception: November 17, 2023, 6 to 9 p.m. 

Click here to reserve a ticket for the opening reception

Curated by Kaylee Fowler

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 South Ashland Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 421-4600

Volunteers needed for Elemental Impact Exhibition

Volunteers are need to help with the exhibition Elemental Impact at Epiphany Center for the Arts for the following:

Drop Off Dates

On the following days a volunteer is needed to monitor the alley during drop-offs and a volunteer is need to assist with receiving artwork and completed consignment forms:

Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 12 to 4 pm
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 from 12 to 4 pm.

Pick up Dates

Volunteer are needed to help with pick-up (this may include some packing shipped of artwork with labels provided by the artist), and a volunteer is also need to help monitor the alley on the following days:

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 12-4 pm
Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 12-4 pm
Thursday, January 18, 2024, 12-4 pm

If available and for more information please contact Christine Forni at (312) 307-7824

News from CSI Project Space

Form Within: Unveiling Hidden Aesthetics

Join us at CSI: Project Space in celebration with our emerging artist members.

In the realm of art, we often find ourselves captivated by the surface beauty of a piece; colors, shapes, and textures that immediately catch our senses. Yet, beneath these visible layers lies a profound world of intricacies, the “Form Within” that gives art its enduring depth and significance.

This exhibition is an exploration of that hidden world. Through a compelling array of artworks in various mediums and styles, this collection reveals the artists’ meticulous craftsmanship, their unique perspectives, and their ability to evoke emotions and provoke thoughts. As viewers, we are challenged to look beyond the obvious, to see not just what is presented but what lies beneath and within.

Opening Night Event:
Saturday, November 3, 6-9pm

Exhibition Dates: Nov. 3 – Nov. 26, 2023

CSI PROJECT SPACE
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL

Gallery hours: Fri - Sat 2-8 pm; Sun 1-6 pm, or by appointment

For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

COALESCE Exhibit and Special Events

Exhibition Dates: Oct 8 - 23, 2023

Opening Reception: Sunday, Oct 8, 2 - 4PM

The word COALESCE unites the prefix co- (“together”) and the Latin word alescere, meaning “to grow”.The 5 artists in this exhibition represent the First Inclusion Fellowships awarded by Chicago Sculpture International for their artistic merit and experience in sculpture as medium.
Inclusion Fellowship exhibiting artists:
Cherylle Booker, Victor Edwards, Hai-Wen Lin, Janhavi Khemka, Yimei (Emair) Zhu
Curated by Kara Cobb Johnson, Inclusion Fellowship Director + CSI Membership Chair

Click here to learn more about our Inclusion Fellowship artists.

CSI PROJECT SPACE
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL

Gallery hours: Fri - Sat 2-8 pm; Sun 1-6 pm, or by appointment

For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Knitting and Tufting Workshop

Workshop artist: Yimei(Emair) Zhu
IG: emair_zhu

Sunday October 22nd, 2023, 2 to 5pm

This workshop is open to anyone interested in Knitting & Tufting, no skill base is required and there is no charge. Artists will learn some easier ways to make a small piece of their own in 3 hours.

Attention:

Because materials need to be prepared in advance and to ensure that participants have a wonderful experience, this workshop is only open to those who book in advance and will close this booking link when there are more than 10 people or after October 8th.
Everyone who wishes to join needs to fill out the form, even if you are a parent of a child.

Click here to register for the workshop

Coalesce Artist Talk with Yimei (Emair) Zhu

"E-F-B-P / What We See, What We Can See"

Saturday, October 21st, from 4-6 pm
at CSI Project Space
Livestream on Instagram: emair_zhu (https://www.instagram.com/emair_zhu/)

Little, but BOLD!

Holiday Members Exhibit

CSI Project Space announces an open call for the 2nd Holiday Member Exhibit of small works at our gallery space in Bucktown.

Little, but BOLD! Is in celebration of all things unmonumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.

Guidelines:

Applicants must be CSI members
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x12 in.
2D, 3D, and wall mounted sculptural work accepted

Please Note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of the show.

Submission Instructions:

Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1-2 jpg images: Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit all information and images on this google form here

https://forms.gle/7xv2rgjbT5cTkBhW9

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023
Notification: Wednesday, Nov. 22
Drop off artwork: Fri/Sat, Dec. 1-2
Opening Night: Saturday, Dec. 9
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 26, 2024
Pick up artwork: Sat/Sun, Jan. 27-28

CSI PROJECT SPACE
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL

Gallery hours: Fri - Sat 2-8pm; Sun 1-6pm; or by appointment

For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Altered Book Workshop

Laurie LeBreton taught an Educational Art Workshop "Altered Book Workshop" on September 24 at CSI: Project Space. The day was full of new ideas, learning, and fun as we made sculptures out of old books.

Open Volunteer Board Position - Education Chair

The Education Chair is the member of the CSI Board of Directors who plans and coordinates educational programming for Chicago Sculpture International membership and the public. They will collaborate with other CSI committees and external organizations to facilitate art workshops and other community outreach.

In 2023, CSI shared 4-5 art workshops at The Boys and Girls Club of America, and 2 workshops at the gallery, CSI Project Space.

There are stipends for participating artists to conduct workshops and other programming.

Main Tasks

Connect with members artists
Connect with community organizations and plan appropriate art workshops
Manage stipends
Email artist invoices to CSI Treasurer
Manage material budget and reimbursements

If interested, please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Membership Chair

20 Years of CSI

Membership has been working on creating a celebratory book to be produced by PS Hudson, to commemorate 20 years of CSI. The idea is that any artist member can submit content for their “page” in the book and receive a copy for a fee of $30. Additional copies will range from $8-$20 to have on hand for your clients and collection. Content for your page will be accepted through this link until January 2024. The books will be hand delivered at a celebration at CSI Project Space in April 2024 where t-shirts may also be available. If you have talent in layout, design, or publication, I would love to invite you to “the non-committee committee” to creatively realize this publication. Message me at karajohnson@chicagosculpture.org anytime.

Land Acknowledgement

To provide immediate assistance to Native American Communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city's American Indian Center here.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

Members News

Members are welcome to submit news regarding exhibitions and professional development achievements to info@chicagosculpture.org. We would love to see what you are doing!! Also, please share your open studio events and any news about new work on our facebook and instagram pages.

Chicago Sculpture Facebook Group
Instagram: @chicagosculptureinternational

New Public Work by Patrick D. Wilson

Patrick D. Wilson completed a permanent public sculpture entitled Ground Nest for the University of Minnesota Crookston in August. Ground Nest depicts an abstracted Golden eagle’s nest made from Corten steel perched atop two concrete seating structures. Resting in the nest is a large bronze egg, with an inscribed aerial view of the Red Lake River and partial map of the city. The percent for art project is inspired by the local geography in combination with the nesting habits of the campus mascot, the Golden eagle.

in the midst of things

The ARX Main Gallery will show sculptures by Chris Wubbena in a solo exhibition entitled, in the midst of things.

The term, in the midst of things, refers to the literary device of beginning a narrative work in the middle of the plot. Each small-scale sculpture in this series exists within the moment of its aggregate materials, diving into wandering storylines and intertextual interpretations. The individual sculptures are created mainly with an admix of materials found around the house or discovered in the act of everyday existence with the inclusion of recognizable models and toys. The viewer is invited to lose oneself within the eclectic and intimate objects, multimedia spaces, found materials, and shifting forms to find crossroads of experiences and worlds within worlds.

Residing in each sculpture are small QR codes within various areas of the compositions allowing anyone with a digital device to access inner and outer worlds of short stories, scripts, auditions, audio compositions, and videos, encouraging the viewer to read, watch, or listen while in the presence of the sculpture, or to explore later. Such access into the compositions provides an expansive space to enter new dimensions of experience with a widening range of perspectives, styles, and voices.

Opening: Friday, October 6, 5 - 7PM
Artist Lecture: October 17 at 5PM in the ARX, room 104
Exhibition runs from October 6 to November 10

ARX Main Gallery
Southeast Missouri State University
340 South Frederick Street
Cape Girardeau, MO

Atmospheric Remnants at Ignition satellite space

Opening: Saturday, October 14, 1-5 pm

Exhibition Dates: October 14-27 (by appointment only)

Ignition satellite space is located inside Mana Contemporary Chicago

Studio 421 on the 4th floor, 2233 S Throop Street in Chicago (Entrance on East side of the building)

CSI Member and Emerging Sculptors Chair, Spencer Gale and non-binary artist and printmaker Juliette Morris, are in a two person exhibition at Ignition satellite space curated by Christine Forni.

Spencer Gale - Neon carves out a bubble of atmosphere from any environment, and stepping into its glow can alter your experiences in a space. The impact of witnessing neon physically changes how viewers are able to see and process the colors of the world around them creating an enticing visual field. When I’m bending the glass, I’m trying to create forms that flow. By incorporating found objects into my sculptures, I strive to make light objects. The goal for these creations is to evoke the mysticism that characterizes neon while grounding that energy to object based sculpture.

Juliette Morris - This body of work engages with collage and repetition to create the lush environments that queerness dwells within. These landscapes exist as images generated from figurative abstraction occurring within my sketchbook. The remnants of all my prior artistic endeavors return, being unearthed and reimposed into new compositions layer by layer. Both lithography and screen printing lend themself to this style of production, allowing for pre-planned and reactive making as I run the press, where my hand as the creator of these utopic spaces is always present. Across my work, I try to find a playful rapport between myself, my figures, and the environments I am printing. By experimenting with subtle changes in material and color from one medium to another, I strive to impose new moods onto the same image across multiple prints. The use of bright, whimsical colors and flashy foils play with perceptions of queer joy, leaving behind what I have come to call a queer dreamscape.

To make an appointment at Ignition satellite space, please call Christine Forni at 312-307-7824.

Image: Spencer Gale

Image: Ange Altenhofen; Detail showing the inside of *Grotto*, 2023

Ange Altenhofen: Transform Any Room

CSI member Ange Altenhofen is in a group exhibit Transform Any Room at the Des Moines Art Center. Transform Any Room features subversive, politicized, and sometimes glamorized versions of the textiles and objects we bring into our homes that inevitably reveal much about who we are and how we live."

Opening reception: Friday, October 6, from 5-7 pm.

Ange will be debuting a new interactive sculpture "Grotto", as well as two additional works from the Scratch Series. This exhibition is curated by DMAC Senior Curator and also features works by Laura Burkhalter, Faig Ahmed, Nick Cave, Max Colby, T.J. Dedeaux-Norris, Jay Lynn Gomez, Liza Lou, Lydia Ricci, Martha Rosler, and Anne Wilson

The exhibition runs from October 7th, 2023 to January 14th, 2024

Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312

(515) 277-4405
Hours: Tu, W, Sa & Su - 10am to 4pm
Th & F - 10am to 7pm

www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Sunday Dinner

Carlson Tower Gallery of North Park University presents fiber-based sculptural works of Bobbi Meier in a solo exhibition entitled, Sunday Dinner.

Opening Reception with Artist Talk: November 7
Reception: 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Artist's Talk: 5:00PM

North Park University
3225 West Foster Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625

The following are not CSI sponsored projects, but may be of interest to our members:

Wood Studio, Tools Sale

Some items for sale: JET 14" band saw, JET circular sanders, workbench, hand tools, steel cabinets, small refrigerator, microwave, wood, etc.

Saturday, October 14 - Sunday, October 15, 10AM - 1PM
4001 N. Ravenswood, 603C
Cash or check only

Free Structural or Mechanical Engineering Service Assistance for Sculptors from Rbhu

At Rbhu, we believe that art plays a key role in lifting the human spirit; it ignites our imagination with possibilities, helps us process and express our feelings, and brings people together for a collective cause. We believe that monumental sculptures have the power to inspire creativity and can positively impact the health and well-being of those around them.  Engineering large-scale art sculptures is our mission, and we are fortunate to play a part in bringing life-transformative experiences to the world. We exist because of our community and its vision, so we feel the need to do our part to support them. We are honored to announce that we are launching the 2023 Rbhu Gives Back grants, offering $12,000 worth of free engineering services to artists in need.
What we are offering: Structural or mechanical engineering services for any size artwork, which can include analysis, construction drawings, and permit documents, depending on the project's needs. Offerings will be broken down as follows:

One full pro-bono project (up to $6,000 in free services)

One project with 50% discounted services (up to $3,000 in free services)
One project with 50% discounted services (up to $3,000 in free services)
What we’re looking for:

Any art piece that needs engineering services is eligible for this program. We want to get a good idea of your concept so that we understand how we can best help you. Please answer the questions as best as you can. If we need additional information, we will reach out and ask you.
What you need to provide:

A completed application
Visual representation of your concept - this can be anything from a napkin sketch to a 3D model. If you don’t have your idea fully flushed out yet, that’s OK, just let us know in your application

Important dates:

October 16th: Applications close
December 1st : Selected projects are chosen, and applicants are notified

Click here for more information and to apply

Call for Artists: Sangamon County Atrium, Springfield, Illinois

Sangamon County is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to professional artists or firms to create permanent original art or installations for a sculpture or piece of art that will be located indoors in a new atrium/lobby space in the Sangamon County building located in Springfield, Illinois.

The county and advisory committee is interested in applications from artists who specialize in sculpture/art that could either be installed on the floor in the space or hung from the ceiling.
As part of a major renovation project at the Sangamon County Building, a new atrium will be built to serve as the new entrance for county employees, county residents and those who seek the services that are offered in the in the Sangamon County building. This space will connect to the planned Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Hub (The Hub).

The RFQ will be processed in two phases. Phase I will include collecting applications from qualified, interested artists. An advisory committee will score and choose artists from that pool who will be invited to advance to the next phase. In Phase II, the selected artists will be invited to submit a concept, budget and other information for the space for a stipend. The advisory committee will then select the finalist and concept to recommend for final approval to the Sangamon County Building and Grounds Committee and the Sangamon County Board.

The artist and county will agree to the budget and installation timeline in the final contract.

Application Deadline:
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Noon (central)
*Application before the deadline is encouraged.

Click here for more details and to apply

2024 Perryville Sculpture Trail Call for Artists

Perryville, Missouri

Submission Deadline: December 4, 2023 by 5:00 pm
Exhibition Dates: April 26, 2024 to April 25, 2025

The City of Perryville is excited to announce its annual sculpture exhibition beginning in the spring of 2024 for Perryville’s Sculpture Trail, located at Miget Park and historic downtown Perryville. Five sculptures will be selected by this year’s juror, Glenn Williams.

The City of Perryville continues to work toward building a vibrant and culturally rich environment for its residents and visitors. A portion of the exhibit will be in Miget Park, a newly developed city park that is home to the Perryville splash pad and Lucas & Friends an all-inclusive playground. Its newly poured walk/bike trail will provide high visibility to pedestrians, cyclists and motorist at the Perryville Blvd. and St. Joseph St. intersection. Other site locations will be in the historic downtown square where local retail, restaurants, government, and specialty businesses make up a thriving community experience and vibrant social events throughout the year.

All work entered must be durable and freestanding. Each sculpture or sculpture proposal must be safe for the general public and be suitable and maintenance-free for this one-year outdoor exhibition. Each sculpture will be bolted to a concrete pad using Tapcon anchor bolts supplied by the artist.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation and de-installation of the sculpture, and all other expenses involved. Any costs over $1,500 are entirely the responsibility of the artist.

Click here to download full RFP and application.

Chicago Sculpture International is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

While you're here...

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 9/2/23 Gene Skala 9/2/23

September 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to the September Newsletter

You will find:

News from the CSI Committees
Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions

Call for Entries: Elemental Impact

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

Extended Entry Deadline: September 9, 2023
Show Runs: Nov. 17, 2023 - Jan. 13, 2024
Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
312-421-4600

Email notification of acceptance: October 15, 2023
Delivery of Accepted Work: Nov. 11, Noon - 5PM or Nov. 14, Noon - 5PM
Opening Reception: Nov. 17. 6 - 9PM
Pick-up of work: Jan. 16 - 18, 11AM - 3PM

This exhibition takes interest in the parts that make up the whole and how a single element can impact the world at large. Much like a single choice in material or form can change an entire piece, each work in a collective can change and impact the whole by proximity.

The works chosen for this exhibition will have a strong sense of material choice and presence that is both able to stand on its own while also engaging with its environment and the works around it in a way that fundamentally changes the experience of the space.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Find more information here.

News from Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Ragdale Tree Project Residency: Diversity of Birds - Request for Proposals (RFP)

Application Deadline: Monday, October, 2, 2023, 11:59PM

Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Ragdale Foundation, is seeking experienced artists and artist teams to give a fifth season to a grand elm on the Ragdale Campus in Lake Forest, IL, by turning it into a sculpture. We are looking for a variety of beautiful, original, unique artistic approaches that will celebrate the diversity of birds in the area and become a distinguishing feature on the Ragdale Foundation’s campus.

Each of the five artists chosen will be working on one of the five large branches of the tree and collaborating on carving the designed wings on the west side of the tree. The approach to the branch sculptures can be additive and/or subtractive. The branches are approximately 8-15 ft. tall. To get an idea of the variety of ways to create a tree sculpture, please visit the Chicago Tree Project’s site www.chicagotreeproject.org.

For this proposal, each artist should submit qualifications that address projects of similar scale. We are looking for evidence that the artist is comfortable working with the appropriate equipment and at heights required for this project. Selected artists must follow safety criteria and are encouraged to complete an OSHA scaffolding certification course.

This RFP is open to professional artists or artist teams 18 years of age or older. Artists whose proposals are accepted, if they are not already CSI members, will be asked to join. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: www.chicagosculpture.org.

Compensation/Stipend:
A two-week Ragdale Residency and $800 paid on completion of the a branch.

About the residency
Ragdale is one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country. Ragdale residents represent a cross-section of ages, cultures, experiences, and mediums, for a diverse and vibrant community.

In the session at Ragdale, artists-in-residence will enjoy uninterrupted time for work and creativity, a supportive environment, dynamic artist exchanges, 50 acres of idyllic prairie, a 7- acre historically significant campus, and a family-style dinner each evening. See more about us at Ragdale.

The two-week residency will take place between May 20 and June 7, 2024.

Click here for more information and to download an application.

News from CSI Project Space

First Annual Event by Emerging Artist Committee in partnership with CSI Project Space

Join us on November 3rd for the first annual event hosted by the Emerging Artist Committee in partnership with the CSI Project Space. We are celebrating a selection of emerging artists in our community, followed by an exhibition titled The Form Within.

What's next Gallery Goose?
Meet Lenard, our announcement goose.
CSI Project Space, 1912 North Damen, Chicago

By Degree II

Exhibit closes - Sat. September 16

Altered Book Workshop

Sunday 9/24, 1-3pm
Fun - bring in an old book and member Laurie LeBreton will create and share how to turn a book into sculpture and art.

Coalesce (Group exhibit)

Opening Reception: October 8th, 2023, 2-4PM
Artist Talk + Activation: October 21, 6-8PM
CSI Project Space, 1912 North Damen, Chicago

Participating artists: Cherylle Booker, Victor Edwards, Hai-Wen Liu, Janhavi Khemka, Yimai (Emair) Zhu
Curated by Kara Cobb Johnson

Event: Celebrating New Artists

Opening Night and Celebration:
Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
CSI Project Space in conjunction with the Emerging Artist Committee is celebrating our new members and artists.
Followed by an exhibition, The Form Within.

The Form Within

Opening: Friday, November 3, 6-9pm
Exhibit dates; 11/3 - 11/26
Celebrating new members and artists

Little, but Bold

Opening: Friday, December 9, 6-9pm
Exhibit dates; 12/9 - 1/26
Members Holiday Show

News from the Education Committee

Volunteer Open Position - Board Member, Education Chair Member

The Educational chair member plans and coordinates educational programming for Chicago Sculpture International membership and the public. They will collaborate with other committees and organizations to facilitate Educational Art Workshops as a community outreach to venues and educational institutions. The Educational chair member acts as a liaison between the artist and the public.

In 2023, CSI shared 4-5 educational art workshops at The Boys and Girls Club of America, and 2 educational artist workshops at the gallery, CSI Project Space.

There is a stipend for participating artists to conduct Educational Art Workshops.

If interested, please contact info@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Membership Chair

Group photo (left to right): Gene Skala, Olya Salimova, Micki LeMieux, Bruce Webber, Thomas Plum, Kara Cobb Johnson, Darlys Ewoldt, Berthold Boone. Photo credit: Jyl Bonaguro

Annual CSI Picnic

Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the annual CSI picnic! The group enjoyed the beautiful weather, good company, and a new member, Bruce Webber! Welcome Bruce!

First Image: CSI Annual Membership Picnic and impromptu visit to McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum on Saturday,
August 19th at Vietnam Veterans Memorial along the Chicago River. Special thanks to organizer Membership Chair Kara Cobb
Johnson.

Congratulations to 2023 CSI Inclusion Fellow, Cherylle Booker, on her solo exhibition entitled “Titania’s Masquerade: Unseen Worlds of Wonder”.
Epiphany Center for the Arts
Slemmons Gallery
201 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60609

Opening night September 22, 6-9pm. Tickets can be reserved here: Cherylle BookerTitania’s Masquerade: Unseen Worlds of Wonder - Epiphany Center for the Arts (epiphanychi.com) or www.ephanychi.com/cherylle-booker-titanias-masquerade/
CSI has reserved 2 tickets. Please contact karajohnson@chicagosculpture.org if you would like these.

Member News

Members are welcome to submit news regarding exhibitions and professional development achievements to info@chicagosculpture.org
We would love to see what you are doing!!

Also, please share your open studio events and any news about new work on our facebook and instagram pages.

Chicago Sculpture Facebook Group
Instagram: @chicagosculptureinternational

Christine Forni is a speaker at a Physicists' conference in Italy

Christine Forni is an invited speaker to discuss her art practice and how it reflects a recently discovered physics law at Freedom, Design and Evolution, 12th Constructal Law Conference in Italy.

On September 21st, 2023, Christine will share her artwork and environmental projects with a group of international scientists at the Turin Energy Center.

Following the conference, she’ll lead a “Drawing You Outside,” an outdoor environmental community drawing project at Parco del Valentino in Turin.

The Medium is Technology

CSI member Michael Litewski will be in two upcoming group exhibits at College of Lake County (with Christina Chopalli and Teahoon Kim) and Caroline S. Mark Gallery
Caroline S. Mark Gallery/Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, Wisconsin presents The Medium is Technology. This group exhibit runs from August 18th to October 28th, 2023. The opening reception is Friday, September 15th at 5pm.

“Technology as a creative medium has a long rich partnership with the visual arts. As technology continues to change so does the definition of technology as a medium. This constant state of change pushes and pulls at the boundaries of art. This show seeks to highlight artwork that is made using ‘technology’ as a tool or medium for the artwork. This includes but is not limited to graphic design, digital photography, 3D printers, NFTs, video art, CNC cut or laser cut materials, web content, and much more.”

Caroline S. Mark Gallery
427 North Fourth Street Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 842-4545

Gallery Hours: Wed-Fri: 10am-4pm; Sa: 12-4pm, Closed Sunday and Tuesday
For general information: info@cvawausau.org

College of Lake County Group Exhibit

The exhibit at College of Lake County’s Robert T. Wright Gallery runs from August 25th to September 21st.

Richard T. Wright Community Gallery of Art College of Lake County 19351 W. Washington Street Grayslake, IL 60030

Gallery Hours: Mon-Th: 8am-9pm; Fri: 8am- 6pm; Sa: 9am-3pm Closed Sundays. Hours may vary during college breaks
For general information: arintz@clcillinois.edu

Image: Set Gozo, *Cartharsis*, ceramic and glass.

Set Gozo Wins ‘Best in Show’

Set Gozo won Best in Show for the piece Catharsis in "The Happiness Show" at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. Congratulations, Set!!

THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE NOT SPONSORED BY CSI BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS:

International Sculpture Center Artist Exhibition

For the first time ever, you can now be a part of potentially three exhibitions - in Sculpture magazine (March/April ’24), on ISC Artsy Online Member Show (Fall ’24) and an in-person exhibition scheduled for 2024 as well. Preferred options for ISC chapter members.

Application deadline is September 15th. Applications will be accepted only from ISC members and chapters for the first month but the offer will be extended to the public after that.

Learn more:
sculpture.org/page/ArtistExhibition for more details

#sculpture #internationalsculpturecenter #sculpturemagazine
#exhibitions

Indianapolis International Airport Seeks Loan of Sculpture for North Garden

Submissions deadline: Sunday, September 24, 2023 by 11:59PM.
Adjudication of proposals by the curatorial team: October, 2023
Notification of intent to borrow artwork: October 23, 2023
Installation of artwork at Indianapolis International Airport: January, 2024 Estimated date for removal of artwork from site: December, 2025

IndyArts Council and the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) invites artists to provide proposals to temporarily install a work of art outdoors at the Indianapolis International Airport. This opportunity is for one pre-existing, free-standing work of art to remain on display in the North Terminal Garden for two (2) years. To be considered, the artwork must fit within the established engineering guidelines for the selected site, be durable, be impervious to weather (unless natural weathering is essential to the concept of the artwork), be low-maintenance and be suitable in form, material and content for a mixed-ages audience that will include young children.

Eligibility Requirements:

At least 18 years of age
Reside in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, or Missouri
Able to obtain at least $2M of general liability and damage insurance covering the artwork during transportation, installation and deinstallation

Click here for more details and application

Call for Outdoor Light Sculptures at GLOW Exhibit

Proposal Deadline: September 30
Installations must be completed by Friday, November 24

Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois seeks lighted outdoor sculptures for our annual holiday GLOW installation. Artists may submit proposals including photos of the work, fees, and installation requirements to our online submissions form: https://go.illinois.edu/GLOW2023

For questions please contact Felix Fuenty at fuenty2@illinois.edu or Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

2024 Perryville Sculpture Trail Call for Artists

Perryville, Missouri

Submission Deadline: December 4, 2023 by 5:00PM
Exhibition Dates: April 26, 2024 to April 25, 2025

The City of Perryville is excited to announce its annual sculpture exhibition beginning in the spring of 2024 for Perryville’s Sculpture Trail, located at Miget Park and historic downtown Perryville. Five sculptures will be selected by this year’s juror, Glenn Williams.

The City of Perryville continues to work toward building a vibrant and culturally rich environment for its residents and visitors. A portion of the exhibit will be in Miget Park, a newly developed city park that is home to the Perryville splash pad and Lucas & Friends an all-inclusive playground. Its newly poured walk/bike trail will provide high visibility to pedestrians, cyclists and motorist at the Perryville Blvd. and St. Joseph St. intersection. Other site locations will be in the historic downtown square where local retail, restaurants, government, and specialty businesses make up a thriving community experience and vibrant social events throughout the year.

All work entered must be durable and freestanding. Each sculpture or sculpture proposal must be safe for the general public and be suitable and maintenance-free for this one-year outdoor exhibition. Each sculpture will be bolted to a concrete pad using Tapcon anchor bolts supplied by the artist.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation and de-installation of the sculpture, and all other expenses involved. Any costs over $1,500 are entirely the responsibility of the artist.

Click here to download full RFP and application.

Chicago Sculpture International is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

While you're here...

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 8/5/23 Gene Skala 8/5/23

August 2023 Newsletter

Chicago Sculpture International Annual Picnic

August 19, 2023

Chicago Sculpture International Membership Picnic at The Chicago Riverfront (with a rain date of August 20th). We will meet at Veteran’s Park Ledges between Wabash and Wacker on the South Shore of the river and picnic from 11-12PM at his spot and may venture out after that. The Air and Water show will also be taking place downtown so please plan to take public transportation or reserve parking through Spothero app. Light lunch and refreshments will be available.

Kindly RSVP to karajohnson@chicagosculpture.org if you plan to attend. If there is a large bunch of people attending, we can set up a potluck-type bring dish to share picnic. I am looking forward to hosting this event that is open to all members!

News from Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Ragdale Tree Project Residency: Diversity of Birds

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Application Deadline: Monday, October, 2, 2023, 11:59PM

Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Ragdale Foundation, is seeking experienced artists and artist teams to give a fifth season to a grand elm on the Ragdale Campus in Lake Forest, IL, by turning it into a sculpture. We are looking for a variety of beautiful, original, unique artistic approaches that will celebrate the diversity of birds in the area and become a distinguishing feature on the Ragdale Foundation’s campus.

Each of the five artists chosen will be working on one of the five large branches of the tree and collaborating on carving the designed wings on the west side of the tree. The approach to the branch sculptures can be additive and/or subtractive. The branches are approximately 8-15 ft. tall. To get an idea of the variety of ways to create a tree sculpture, please visit the Chicago Tree Project’s site www.chicagotreeproject.org.

For this proposal, each artist should submit qualifications that address projects of similar scale. We are looking for evidence that the artist is comfortable working with the appropriate equipment and at heights required for this project. Selected artists must follow safety criteria and are encouraged to complete an OSHA scaffolding certification course.

This RFP is open to professional artists or artist teams 18 years of age or older. Artists whose proposals are accepted, if they are not already CSI members, will be asked to join. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: www.chicagosculpture.org.

Compensation/Stipend:
A two-week Ragdale Residency and $800 paid on completion of the a branch.

The artists are responsible for providing their own materials.

About the residency
Ragdale is one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country. Ragdale residents represent a cross-section of ages, cultures, experiences, and mediums, for a diverse and vibrant community.

In the session at Ragdale, artists-in-residence will enjoy uninterrupted time for work and creativity, a supportive environment, dynamic artist exchanges, 50 acres of idyllic prairie, a 7- acre historically significant campus, and a family-style dinner each evening. See more about us at Ragdale.

The two-week residency will take place between May 20 and June 7, 2024.

Click here for more information and to download an application.

News from Indoor Exhibition Committee

ALMA Annual Spring Exhibition

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors
April 12 - September 1, 2024
3636 S. Iron St, Chicago, IL

Entry Deadline: August 18, 2023

Both Indoor and Outdoor Sculptors are invited to enter up to three works for the Annual Spring Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors in Chicago, IL. The exhibition will coincide with Expo Chicago, International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, April 11- 24, 2024 Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Alma Art and Interiors, established 2021, is a contemporary fine art gallery in the historic Bridgeport Arts Corridor featuring over 80 artists in 10,000 sq. ft.

This exhibition will be juried and curated by Kimberly Oliva and Gosia Korsakowski.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership here. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Calendar:
Entry deadline: August 18, 2023
Email notification of acceptance: September 4, 2023.
Delivery of Accepted Work: Work to be received by March 1, 2024.
Exhibition dates: April 12, 2024 – September 1, 2024.
Opening Reception: Friday, April 12, 2024, 5 to 9 pm on opening weekend, Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, 12 to 5 pm.

Look HERE for application details.

Call for Entries:
Elemental Impact

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

Extended Entry Deadline: September 9, 2023
Show Runs: Nov. 17, 2023 - Jan. 13, 2024

Email notification of acceptance: October 15, 2023
Delivery of Accepted Work: Nov. 11, Noon - 5PM or Nov. 14, Noon - 5PM
Opening Reception: Nov. 17. 6 - 9PM
Pick-up of work: Jan. 16 - 18, 11AM - 3PM

This exhibition takes interest in the parts that make up the whole and how a single element can impact the world at large. Much like a single choice in material or form can change an entire piece, each work in a collective can change and impact the whole by proximity.

The works chosen for this exhibition will have a strong sense of material choice and presence that is both able to stand on its own while also engaging with its environment and the works around it in a way that fundamentally changes the experience of the space.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Find more information here.

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL
(312) 421-4600

Color / Form

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the College of Lake County

Exhibition dates:
June 22 - August 9, 2023

Richard T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, CLC, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, IL
Gallery Hours: Mon - Thurs: 8AM - 9PM, Fri: 8AM - 6PM, Sat: 9AM - 3PM, Sun: Closed

No other element impacts aesthetics so directly and urgently as color. Artists who combine color with structure understand the boundless and captivating energy of this synthesis. Using color to evoke a mood is essential in their practice and message. Color/Form’s purpose is to compile creations that celebrate color and form interpreted in three dimensions.

Exhibiting Artists: Mike Baur, Nicole Beck, Michael D. Brown, Kara Cobb Johnson, Deirdre Colgan Jones, Robert Craig, Ei Cullina, Darlys Ewoldt, Lynn Floriano, Victoria Fuller, Shelley Gilchrist, John Hatlestad, Azadeh Hussaini, Yvette Kaiser Smith, Stacee Kalmonovsky, Thom Kapheim, Terry Karpowicz, Youngse Kim, Jill King-Wynn, Fred Klingelhofer, Ginny Krueger, Gina Lee Robbins, Mike Litewski, Nancy Lu Rosenheim, Ellen Lustig, Scott Mossman, Lisa Nelson Raabe, Katherine Nemanich, Janelle O'Malley, Ludvig Peres, Thomas Plum, Marci Rubin, Paul Somers, Diane Tang, Rabia Tayyabi, Michele Thrane, Kyle Triplett, Alexia Trzyna, and Nancy VanKanegan.

News from CSI Project Space

By Degrees II (2023)

13 Contemporary Emerging Artists

Join us at Saturday's opening reception to experience work by and get to visit with some of CSI's newest members!!

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 5 from 6-9PM
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, August 5 - Saturday, September 16, 2023

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.

Exhibiting Artists: Tallulah Cartalucca, Noah Greene-Lowe, Ariana Hocking, Maddy Lee, Stella Moon , Kate Morrick, Fiona Murphy, Greta Olson, Janelle O’Malley , Anna Reed, Kristina Rogers, Check Yan Cherry Tung, and Teagan Walters

By Degrees II Exhibition Committee: Gina Lee Robbins, Nicole Beck, Victoria Fuller, Carol Hammerman and Olya Salimova

Gallery Hours: Friday-Saturday 2-8pm & Sunday 1-6pm.
CSI Project Space: 1912 N Damen, Chicago, IL

Image: Work by Janelle O'Malley, Cheuk Yan Cherry Tung, and Anna Reed

News from the Education Committee

Messy, messy clay fun!

This is what occurred on July 26 at the Boys and Girls Club of America. Member Julia Paloma shared a colorful educational art workshop with clay, beads and feathers.
The kids were thrilled with dirty hands and at what charming clay creatures they created.

News from the Membership Chair

Land Acknowledgment

To provide immediate assistance to Native American communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city’s American Indian Center here.

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been, and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People’s sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

Member News

Photo: Nicole Beck with Michelle Weddige, Sr. Director, Business Strategy, NASCAR - when Nicole delivered the finished trophy.

NASCAR Street Races trophy by Nicole Beck

CSI Member and Gallery Committee Member, Nicole Beck was commissioned by Nascar Racing to produce a trophy for the Inaugural Chicago July 1 Xfinity Series Race and was awarded to Cole Custer. Nicole subcontracted Vector Custom Fabricating to produce the top spiral element as specified and Nicole fabricated the stainless base and handprinted the trophy in her studio. Beck received overwhelming press about her trophy on national and local news outlets, as well as an article in the SAIC Alumni News.

Check the following news articles: WGN9, NEWSNATION, and SAIC.

Exhibition by Marie Magnetic

Member Marie Magnetic will be exhibiting her work in ArtSpace’s Annual Abstract Exhibition located in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Exhibition dates: August 4, 2023-August 25, 2023
Opening reception: Friday, August 4th, from 6-9pm
(Refreshments will be served)
Closing reception on Friday, August 25th from 6-9pm

ArtSpace Chicago
3418 W Armitage Ave,
Chicago, IL 60647

Hours: Tu-Sa: 12-9pm; Su: 9-5pm; Closed Mondays
For more information: (773) 562-9760
Click here to learn more about ArtSpace Chicago

Image: Relief sculpture by Michael Litewski

The Medium is Technology

CSI member Michael Litewski will be in two upcoming group exhibits at College of Lake County (with Christina Chopalli and Teahoon Kim) and Caroline S. Mark Gallery
Caroline S. Mark Gallery/Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, Wisconsin presents The Medium is Technology. This group exhibit runs from August 18th to October 28th, 2023. The opening reception is Friday, September 15th at 5pm.

“Technology as a creative medium has a long rich partnership with the visual arts. As technology continues to change so does the definition of technology as a medium. This constant state of change pushes and pulls at the boundaries of art. This show seeks to highlight artwork that is made using ‘technology’ as a tool or medium for the artwork. This includes but is not limited to graphic design, digital photography, 3D printers, NFTs, video art, CNC cut or laser cut materials, web content, and much more.”

Caroline S. Mark Gallery
427 North Fourth Street
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 842-4545

Gallery Hours: Wed-Fri: 10am-4pm; Sa: 12-4pm, Closed Sunday and Tuesday
For general information: info@cvawausau.org

Michael Litewski in College of Lake County Group Exhibit

The exhibit at College of Lake County’s Robert T. Wright Gallery runs from August 25th to September 21st and the opening reception is Friday, August 25th at 5pm.

Richard T. Wright Community Gallery of Art
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030

Gallery Hours: Mon-Th: 8am-9pm; Fri: 8am- 6pm; Sa: 9am-3pm
Closed Sundays. Hours may vary during college breaks
For general information: arintz@clcillinois.edu

The following are not CSI sponsored projects, but may be of interest to our members.

International Sculpture Center Artist Exhibition

For the first time ever, you can now be a part of potentially three exhibitions - in Sculpture magazine (March/April ’24), on ISC Artsy Online Member Show (Fall ’24) and an in-person exhibition scheduled for 2024 as well. Preferred options for ISC chapter members.

Application deadline is September 15th. Applications will be accepted only from ISC members and chapters for the first month but the offer will be extended to the public after that.

Learn more: sculpture.org/page/ArtistExhibition for more details

Call for Outdoor Light Sculptures at GLOW Exhibit

Proposal Deadline: September 30
Installations must be completed by Friday, November 24

Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois seeks lighted outdoor sculptures for our annual holiday GLOW installation. Artists may submit proposals including photos of the work, fees, and installation requirements to our online submissions form: https://go.illinois.edu/GLOW2023

For questions please contact Felix Fuenty at fuenty2@illinois.edu or Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

A Covid-19 Monument Design

A contest to commemorate honor, remembrance, and resilience.

Submissions must be received by August 31 at midnight.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize of $20,000.

On this day, millions have died from COVID-19 and its variants, or have been infected. For those who have perished, for those who have lost a loved-one, for those who have recovered, and for those who courageously and selflessly served during the darkest and most uncertain days of the pandemic, we announce a competition to design a COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, & Resilience sponsored by the Hektoen Institute of Medicine.
This Monument will be a physical sculpture or art installation that addresses and symbolizes the myriad issues and emotions encountered by citizens throughout the world as they navigate this powerful scourge and tragedy of our time. No other event in the past two centuries touched everyone as did the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether by death, illness, grief, or at best, lock-down, the pandemic left no one unscathed. This universal event respected no boundaries and did not discriminate by age, gender, religion, or nationality. As this pandemic excluded no one, our Monument is unequivocally inclusive and will embrace the sentiments of all citizens throughout the world.

Our hope is that we will conquer this virus, and the pandemic will be history—a distant memory. But lest we forget, it is critical that we come together to reflect, and to honor those who continue to fight on the front lines, those brave souls who ensured our survival. They are the nurses, doctors, health care workers, the public service sector employees, airline and banking personnel, those who rang up our groceries and medicines, delivered our packages, prepared our to-go meals, drove our buses, and many more. They all encountered significant risks dealing with an unknown illness. The Monument will honor these individuals and allow those who lost loved ones to mourn and know they are not alone. The monument design contest will bring forth ideas to educate and enlighten with the wisdom and experience we have shared.

Additionally, the Monument will celebrate resilience and victory. The discovery and distribution of the vaccine, engendered by multiple agencies, effectively saved millions of lives. This triumph of science in the COVID-19 vaccine and concomitant testing advances must be lauded and serve as a reminder of hope in the face of intense adversity and obstacles.

About the call FAQ's Submission Guidelines Submission Details

This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

While you're here...

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 7/5/23 Gene Skala 7/5/23

July 2023 Newsletter

Above: Vivian Visser, *Bubbling Up* (detail), 20232023
*Stained cement, high-fire clay, 5' x 8' x 8',* located at Big Marsh Park

Cover Image: Peter Krsko, *Tree from Within II,* *2023,*
Wood collected on site, metal plates, screws, 30’ x 35’ x 25’

Welcome to the July Newsletter

You will find:

News from the CSI Committees

Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions
Updated Information (Post-publication)

Newsletter Updates

Above: Kokomo Sculpture Walk sculptures by CSI members Ray Katz (left) and John Adduci (right)

This is not a CSI sponsored call but may be of interest to our members.

Call for Kokomo Sculpture Walk

The Kokomo Sculpture Walk is a mile long and winds along trails and waterways through the heart of the city. It’s dotted with a collection of nine large-scale sculptures created by regional and national artists. The juried collection is selected from submissions by artists across the country. The walk includes pieces that are visually interesting and enriching.

The exhibit changes every two years, with a new collection to be installed in 2023. The sculptures are on display along the Industrial Heritage Trail and Kokomo Riverwalk, both paved surfaces.

Deadline to submit: Aug. 8, 2023

Submission fee is $20 for up to 3 pieces

Exhibit dates: September 2023 through August 2025

Click here to apply

For more information: Susan Alexander, Greater Kokomo Downtown Association, (765) 457-5301 or salexander@greaterkokomo.com

Call for Entries:

Elemental Impact

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

Extended Entry Deadline: September 9, 2023
Show Runs: Nov. 17, 2023 - Jan. 13, 2024

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL
312-421-4600

Email notification of acceptance: October 15, 2023
Delivery of Accepted Work: Saturday, November 11, 2023, 12-5pm and Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 12am-5pm
Pick-up of work: January 16 – 18, 2024, 11 am to 3 pm
Opening Reception: Friday, November 17, 2023, 6-9pm

This exhibition takes interest in the parts that make up the whole and how a single element can impact the world at large. Much like a single choice in material or form can change an entire piece, each work in a collective can change and impact the whole by proximity.

The works chosen for this exhibition will have a strong sense of material choice and presence that is both able to stand on its own while also engaging with its environment and the works around it in a way that fundamentally changes the experience of the space.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member orsign-up for membership. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Find more information here.

News from the Outdoor Exhibitions Committee

Photos from the artist talks. Left: *Tree from Within II* by Peter Krsko; Right: *Bubbling Up* by Vivian Visser

Big Marsh Park Sculpture Installations

Big Marsh Park welcomed two new CSI sculpture installations, Bubbling Up by Vivian Visser and Tree from Within II by Peter Krsko. Artists talks (pictured here) were given.

Big Marsh Park is located on Southeast Side of Chicago in the Calumet Area Reserve on the eastern shore of Lake Calumet. Since the late 1800s, the site was an active industrial property for waste and slag dumping from surrounding industrial operations. The Chicago Park District acquired the site in 2011 and it opened as a new 300-acre public park in 2016. Big Marsh Park is the Chicago Park District’s largest natural site. Big Marsh includes a paved bike park, walking paths, dirt trails, jump lines for bikes, and picnicking space, and roughly 45 acres of hemi-marsh is home a vast and increasing variety of native wildlife species, as well as a the new Ford Calumet Environmental Center.

Learn more about Big Marsh.

See more photos of the Big Marsh sculptures

News from the Outdoor Exhibitions Committee

ALMA Art and Interiors
Annual Spring Exhibition

2024 Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors
April 12 - September 1, 2024
3636 S. Iron St, Chicago, IL

Entry Deadline: August 18, 2023

Both Indoor and Outdoor Sculptors are invited to enter up to three works for the Annual Spring Exhibition at ALMA Art and Interiors in Chicago, IL. The exhibition will coincide with Expo Chicago, International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, April 11- 24, 2024 Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Alma Art and Interiors, established 2021, is a contemporary fine art gallery in the historic Bridgeport Arts Corridor featuring over 80 artists in 10,000 sq. ft.

This exhibition will be juried and curated by Kimberly Oliva and Gosia Korsakowski.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership here. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Calendar:
Entry deadline: August 18, 2023
Email notification of acceptance: September 4, 2023.
Delivery of Accepted Work: Work to be received by March 1, 2024.
Exhibition dates: April 12, 2024 – September 1, 2024.
Opening Reception: Friday, April 12, 2024, 5 to 9 pm with opening weekend, Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, 12 to 5 pm.

Look HERE for application details.

Color / Form

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the College of Lake County
June 22 - August 9, 2023

Richard T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, CLC, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, IL
Gallery Hours: Mon - Thurs: 8AM - 9PM, Fri: 8AM - 6PM, Sat: 9AM - 3PM, Sun: Closed

No other element impacts aesthetics so directly and urgently as color. Artists who combine color with structure understand the boundless and captivating energy of this synthesis. Using color to evoke a mood is essential in their practice and message. Color/Form’s purpose is to compile creations that celebrate color and form interpreted in three dimensions.

Exhibiting Artists: Mike Baur, Nicole Beck, Michael D. Brown, Kara Cobb Johnson, Deirdre Colgan Jones, Robert Craig, Ei Cullina, Darlys Ewoldt, Lynn Floriano, Victoria Fuller, Shelley Gilchrist, John Hatlestad, Azadeh Hussaini, Yvette Kaiser Smith, Stacee Kalmonovsky, Thom Kapheim, Terry Karpowicz, Youngse Kim, Jill King-Wynn, Fred Klingelhofer, Ginny Krueger, Gina Lee Robbins, Mike Litewski, Nancy Lu Rosenheim, Ellen Lustig, Scott Mossman, Lisa Nelson Raabe, Katherine Nemanich, Janelle O'Malley, Ludvig Peres, Thomas Plum, Marci Rubin, Paul Somers, Diane Tang, Rabia Tayyabi, Michele Thrane, Kyle Triplett, Alexia Trzyna, and Nancy VanKanegan. Curated by Ann Rintz

News from the CSI Project Space

CSI Project Space Exhibit: ALIVE

Exhibit Dates: June 16 - July 28, 2023
Hours: Friday through Sunday, 1 - 6PM or by appointment

What does it mean to be alive and a part of Nature?

All animal and vegetable tissues are made up of a complex collection of cells
endlessly at work generating energy for life. In this sense, there is no life without action.
All these little parts and drops of goodness ignite the living in our world illuminated
by the energy of the sun.

We are not mere observers taking measurements and making plans. We are a
structured and complex stimulus being, emerged within the patterns and cycles of Nature. These connections and patterns along with their cycles are expressed as a whole through the living. This experience of life, however interconnected and reliant upon parts both big and small, is inevitably singularly perceived.

Participating Artists: Sam Abrahamson, Yesenia Arroyo, Janet Austin, Lynn Basa, Nicole Beck, Yeong Choi, Bethany Cordero, David Curry, Victor Edwards, Victoria Fuller, Heidi Jensen, Jill King, Victoria Kowalczyk, Alison Mosher, Julia Paloma, Lori Rozdolsky, Paul Russell, Stephanie Sailer, Olya Salimova, Sorin Sukumaran, Diane Feldpausch Tang, Nancy VanKanegan, Vivian Visser.
Curated by Micki LeMieux

More info HERE.

Above: Installation image from 2022 By Degrees exhibition, work by Christian Stone, Elisabeth Heying, and Olya Salimova.

By Degrees II (2023)

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.

Notification by: Monday, July 17, 2023
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, August 5 - Saturday, September 16, 2023
Exhibition Hours: Friday-Saturdays, 1 - 6PM and by appointment
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 5, 2023, 6 - 9PM

Work Drop-Off Date: Sunday, July 29, 2023
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sunday, September 17, 2023, 12 - 5PM

News from the Education Committee

There are a few more exciting educational art workshops scheduled for later this year. We look forward to sharing these workshops with our members in the upcoming newsletters.

News from the Membership Chair

AALANA & BIPOC Inclusion Fellowship Winners 2023/2024

Chicago Sculpture International would like to congratulate five talented artists as our inaugural class of Inclusion Fellowship recipients! A warm welcome to:

Cherylle Booker is an outsider artist who works in ceramic sculpture and painting. Focus is bringing the inner world, emotions, and mental imagery to life through artwork. She is a Project Onward artist since 2018. She has worked with Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art as an artist and guest speaker and helped design the sanctuary doors mural at Epiphany Center for the Arts.

She states: I am inspired by mythology, spiritual traditions, legends, ancient art, and the emotions that we all experience in everyday life. I find it beautiful that we, as artists, can imagine something that doesn’t exist in the physical world and then make it a reality. I work to bring that sense of magic and wonder into the pieces I create, and to give expression to the emotions and states of being that are difficult to put into words. I want people from very different walks of life to be able to connect with what is being expressed through my work, and for those people to be seen and understood.

Hai-Wen Lin received a MDes in Fashion, Body and Garment from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023 and is currently an artist in residence at The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. They have shown work nationally and internationally from 2015 to the present.

Lin's practice walks the motions of daily life and invites the company of naturally occurring phenomena. It is an act of being present in the world around them. It is an act of reorienting. It is an attempt to attune one’s body to the environment, to unsettle static markers of identity, to offer instead the wind, sun, and sky as constantly shifting relational anchors to gather and situate oneself.

Janhavi Khemka was born in Varanasi, India, and is an interdisciplinary artist in India and Chicago. She has an MFA in print media from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2022, a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Faculty of Visual Art, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India (2015), and an MFA in printmaking from Graphics, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan (2017). She has shown at Comfort Station in Chicago and is an artist in residence at Bodies of Work, University of Illinois Chicago in 2023.

She states: “As a hearing-impaired person for most of my life, I have often found it difficult to express my innermost feelings, impressions, and reactions verbally. At the age of 15, my mother passed away due to cancer. She was my first teacher and my link to communicate with the outside world. She emphasized lip reading, and it barred me from learning sign language. When she passed away, I was left alone and had to learn to negotiate with the world in my own way. Art helped me find meaning in smaller, intimate things, my hands and their connection to the world, my sight, and my sense of touch. I see and can feel the storm in them but can’t hear.

My practice revolves around finding ways to translate my perception of the world. Therefore, most works are rooted in the personal, psychological, and physical. Each work can be compared to a pin dropped on a map of my being: this is where I was hurt when I cut my hand on a piece of metal; this is where I found my way home when I was lost at a carnival; here I made friends, here I found a child who accepted my shortcomings; here I spread my wings or felt the first touch of affection from another body. Most recently, this mapping has extended to installation-based environments with woodcuts, stop motion, performance art, and vibrational materials, I invite the viewer to experience my perception of the world, devoid of aural stimulation.”

Victor Edwards - BFA Sculpture, Spalding University moved to Chicago after graduating with a thirst for experience in sculpture. He interned at Forrest Boone Studios and is a studio monitor at Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center. He is creating new work at Park West Ceramics and is a member of South Side Hackerspace where he creates 3D modeling projects.

He states: “I find the stories of artists like Richard Hunt and Nick Cave particularly inspiring, artists whose work is inseparable from the rich and influential nature of Black Chicago culture. Chicago is the city I feel the most at home in and this opportunity would undoubtedly be integral in my emerging artist career… As an artist, my goal is to create spaces and figures to nestle into the collective unconscious. For me, living is a complex and overwhelming thing; I have many conflicting opinions about life. I cycle between being in a state of awe and wonder about all living and being detached, in a state of reflection. I am just one person, and I am riddled with hypocrisy and inconsistency.

Yimei (Emair) Zhu - MFA in Studio Arts, Art and Technology Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2023, Linz, Austria for the 2021 Festival University Program, BFA in Experimental Art from GAFA in Guangzhou, China 2020.

She states: “For many years, I have been concerned about the disabled community, including people with cerebral palsy, low-vision issues, depression and social phobia. I have also been studying sensory systems in the plant and animal realm that are beyond human capabilities. I see art as a powerful way to confront difficult situations and as an engine that can break down barriers between disciplines. My body of work centers around being an experience-oriented creator who focuses on Art, Disability and Posthuman Bodies. As someone who experiences high Myopia, my current works are based on the low vision community, and I attempt to use various sensory and tactile materials to create an abundance of sensations.”

Save the Date: August 19th, 2023

Chicago Sculpture International Membership Picnic at The Chicago Riverfront (with a rain date of August 20th). More details to follow . . .

Land Acknowledgment

To provide immediate assistance to Native American communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city’s American Indian Center here.

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been, and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People’s sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

Member News

NASCAR Street Races trophy by Nicole Beck

Read about the NASCAR Street Races trophy created by CSI member Nicole Beck (with help from CSI sponsor Vector Custom Fabricating and a friend who is in CGI design). Congratulations, Nicole!

Link HERE.

Ravinia Steans Music Institute Concert

Kara Cobb Johnson has reserved 10 complimentary tickets to a Ravinia afternoon concert. You can enter the grounds at 1pm and enjoy the outdoor sculptures, then enter Bennett Gordon Hall for a musical daytime dash of piano and strings. July 15th 1pm. Please reach out to Kara at karasusanne@gmail.com between July 6th and July 14th to get the code.

The following are not CSI sponsored projects, but may be of interest to our members.

International Sculpture Center Artist Exhibition

For the first time ever, you can now be a part of potentially three exhibitions - in Sculpture magazine (March/April ’24), on ISC Artsy Online Member Show (Fall ’24) and an in-person exhibition scheduled for 2024 as well. Preferred options for ISC chapter members.

Application deadline is September 15th. Applications will be accepted only from ISC members and chapters for the first month but the offer will be extended to the public after that.

Learn more:
sculpture.org/page/ArtistExhibition for more details

#sculpture #internationalsculpturecenter #sculpturemagazine
#exhibitions

Terrain Biennial 2023

Calling all artists, curators, neighbors, and public art loves!
Open call: April 18 - July 18

Member Bobbi Meier is on the Terrain Biennial team and encourages all to participate! Link HERE.

Photo: 2021 Winner, La Diva I by Ruth Migdal, painted steel, 12' x 4' x 5'

8th Lewis C. Weinberg Biennial Sculpture Competition

Entry Deadline: July 24, 2023

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park announces its 8th biennial Lewis C. Weinberg Biennial Sculpture Competition and is looking forward to another exciting contest.

- $3,000 Prize
- Expense-paid transportation and installation
- Guest of Honor at the Award Ceremony on site
- 2-year exhibition in SNSP as an honored feature in Section I

For information, application materials, and detailed instructions, please go to our website: www.sculpturepark.org

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
McCormick Blvd.
Skokie, IL.
(between Touhy and Dempster Avenues)

For questions and more information:
info@sculpturepark.org

Covid-19 Monument Commission

A monument design contest to commemorate honor, remembrance, and resilience
Submissions must be received by August 31 at midnight.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize of $20,000.

On this day, millions have died from COVID-19 and its variants, or have been infected. For those who have perished, for those who have lost a loved-one, for those who have recovered, and for those who courageously and selflessly served during the darkest and most uncertain days of the pandemic, we announce a competition to design a COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, & Resilience sponsored by the Hektoen Institute of Medicine.
This Monument will be a physical sculpture or art installation that addresses and symbolizes the myriad issues and emotions encountered by citizens throughout the world as they navigate this powerful scourge and tragedy of our time. No other event in the past two centuries touched everyone as did the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether by death, illness, grief, or at best, lock-down, the pandemic left no one unscathed. This universal event respected no boundaries and did not discriminate by age, gender, religion, or nationality. As this pandemic excluded no one, our Monument is unequivocally inclusive and will embrace the sentiments of all citizens throughout the world.

Our hope is that we will conquer this virus, and the pandemic will be history—a distant memory. But lest we forget, it is critical that we come together to reflect, and to honor those who continue to fight on the front lines, those brave souls who ensured our survival. They are the nurses, doctors, health care workers, the public service sector employees, airline and banking personnel, those who rang up our groceries and medicines, delivered our packages, prepared our to-go meals, drove our buses, and many more. They all encountered significant risks dealing with an unknown illness. The Monument will honor these individuals and allow those who lost loved ones to mourn and know they are not alone. The monument design contest will bring forth ideas to educate and enlighten with the wisdom and experience we have shared.

Additionally, the Monument will celebrate resilience and victory. The discovery and distribution of the vaccine, engendered by multiple agencies, effectively saved millions of lives. This triumph of science in the COVID-19 vaccine and concomitant testing advances must be lauded and serve as a reminder of hope in the face of intense adversity and obstacles.

About the call FAQ's Submission Guidelines Submission Details

Chicago Sculpture International is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

While You’re Here…

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 5/30/23 Gene Skala 5/30/23

June 2023 Newsletter

Christine Perri, *Prairie View* (view from portal), Beaubien Woods, Chicago

Welcome to the June Newsletter

You will find:

News from the CSI Committees
Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions
Updated Information (Post-publication)

Newsletter preview image: Nicole Beck, Populus, from the Sculptura in Urbs in Horto exhibit.

* Newsletter update *

Big Marsh Arts Festival (info and schedule)

Saturday, June 17th | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

“A celebration of the arts and artists from in and around Big Marsh Park”

Family Activities (Picnic Grove) 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Roll up your sleeves and tap into your creative self! Paint, draw, print, or just lay in the grass and listen to the wind in the trees.

Featured Artist Dedications (Meet at the Bike Plaza and walk to the installation)

Click here to download a map for Big Marsh ArtsFest

11:30 am Roman Villareal (Spirit of the Marsh) Born in The Bush neighborhood of Chicago in 1950, Villarreal is a self-taught artist with a decades-long body of work including sculpture, painting and assemblage. He demonstrated a strong interest in art from a young age, playing with putty and clay as a child. His mother recognized his talent and described him as a “shaper”—a nod to his future career as an established sculptor. Roman’s work reflects his lived experiences—from personal tragedies to joyful moments with family—and those of his community—the struggles and triumphs that followed the fall of the steel mill industry.
12:30 pm Vivian Visser (Bubbling Up) Vivian Visser has been creating sculptural works that explore our spiritual relationship with Nature since the early ‘90’s. She attempts to share her ideas about our need to create a better relationship with Nature as a way to find peace within ourselves and each other. In addition to the Bubbling Up installation at Big Marsh Park, Visser’s works include a commission of interpretive public art work for the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, an environmental sculpture for the Guandu International Outdoor Sculpture Festival in Taiwan and three trees for the Chicago Tree Project.
1:30 pm Peter Krsko (Tree House) Peter Krsko listens to nature and creates objects and experiences to share his observations. His approach combines science and art; participatory, interactive and community arts; and play with hands-on education. Krsko also creates collaborative and community public art, such as sculptures and murals, inspired by biological concepts of diversity, differentiation, participation and co-ownership. His sculptural installations mimic the structure and form of natural entities as well as the dynamics and laws of interactions among members of the ecosystems.

MAIN STAGE:

11:00 am – 12:30 pm Band of the Calumet.
11:00 am – 2:30 pm Face Painting with renown make-up artist Anna Todaro-Sadur.
12:30 pm & 2:30 pm Animal Improv with Sonja Moser.
1:00 – 2:00 pm Jabberwocky Marionettes. ‘My Robot's Robot’, a short puppet vignette about friendship.

FORD CALUMET ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER:

11:00 am – 3:00 pm The Art of Making Masa (on the plaza) with C2ST.
12:30 pm Meet the Artist: Norman W. Long: Re-Membering/Re-Presencing.
12:45 pm Juice and Friends: Chicago Street Dance (in front of the Bike Shop)

* Newsletter update *

Two Important Reminders for our Members:

When sending in a submission for a call, you should expect to receive an emailed confirmation that it is has been received within 24 hours. In case you don’t receive one, please reach out to info@chicagosculpture.org so we can make sure your submission has been received.

Also, throughout each month there may be updated information for events, calls, and other items. Please be sure to check in throughout each month with the online version of the CSI monthly newsletter for any update information on new calls, opportunities, and events here at chicagosculpture.org/newsletter-archive

* Newsletter update *

Ruth Migdal at Wendlin Park

CSI member Ruth Migdal will have here sculpture (pictured here) installed at Wendlin Park and will be part of the Wendlin Park Grand Opening Event on Thursday, June 29th from 3 to 5 pm., 853 West Blackhawk Street, Chicago, IL. Click here to register for the event.

* Newsletter update *

This is not a CSI-sponsored call but may be of interest to our members:

Bridgeport Art Center presents:

Sweet Home Chicago

Call for Entries

Chicago Home Chicago, a thoughtfully curated selection of exceptional artworks deriving their subjects and inspirations from the Windy City is looking for sculptors who have pieces with a Chicago-based theme. Curated by Marci Rubin, the exhibit will be in the Bridgeport Art Center's distinguished 4th Floor Gallery.

Call for Entries: Elemental Impact

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibitions at the Epiphany Center for the Arts

Entry Deadline: July 29, 2023
Show Runs: Nov. 17, 2023 - Jan. 13, 2024
Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
312-421-4600

Email notification of acceptance: Aug. 12, 2023
Delivery of Accepted Work: Nov. 10, Noon - 7PM or Nov. 11, 11AM - 6PM
Opening Reception: Nov. 17. 6 - 9PM
Pick-up of work: Jan. 16 - 18, 11AM - 3PM

This exhibition takes interest in the parts that make up the whole and how a single element can impact the world at large. Much like a single choice in material or form can change an entire piece, each work in a collective can change and impact the whole by proximity.

The works chosen for this exhibition will have a strong sense of material choice and presence that is both able to stand on its own while also engaging with its environment and the works around it in a way that fundamentally changes the experience of the space.

If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership. An artist statement will be required for the accepted piece.

Click here for more information and submission details.

News from the Outdoor Exhibition Committee

Three Installation Opening Events

CSI members Emily Moorhouse-Wallace, Taylor Wallace, Christine Perri, Vivian Visser and Peter Krsko have inaugural events connected to their recently created outdoor installations.

Right: Emily Moorhead-Wallace and Taylor Wallace, Pollinator Solace Columns; Left: Taylor Wallace

Saturday, June 3*

Emily Moorhouse-Wallace and Taylor Wallace, Pollinator Solace Columns

Member artists Emily Moorhead-Wallace and J Taylor Wallace, host a ribbon cutting and community workshop for their E(art)h Chicago grant.

Workshops:

Plant-stravaganza: pollinator nest building, seed sculptures, and native seed give away. In collaboration with the Sherman Park Library and the Keller Science Action Center of the Field Museum, the Pollinator Solace Columns project hosts a community eco workshop focused on supporting native species in Chicago. Star Farms will join the fun with a pop-up produce stand.

Thursday, June 1, 4-5pm
Sherman Park Library, 5440 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL

*Saturday, June 3, 10am-2pm
Sherman Park, 1301 W 52nd St, Chicago, IL
Location: Northwest corner of the park, just South of the playground

Click here to download flyer with more information and details

Above: Chris Perri, *Prairie Boat* gathering space

Saturday, June 10

Christine Perri, Prairie Boat

A Gathering Space at the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Beaubien Woods. Ribbon cutting with program to follow.

Saturday, June 10, 2023
10-11am

Click here to download flyer with more information.

Location: Beaubien Woods Boat Launch
Click here for map and driving directions

Beaubien Woods
Chicago, IL
W Doty Ave S
(southeast of E 130th St &, S Ellis Ave)

Saturday, June 17

Peter Krsko, Big Marsh Nest & Vivian Visser, Bubbling Up

Come celebrate our new sculptures, explore the park, bike, hike, or picnic! Celebrate local art and artists!

Big Marsh Park
11559 S Stony Is Ave
Chicago, IL

Phone: (312) 590-5993
Click here for map
Click here for more information about the event

Peter Krsko, *Big Marsh Nest* (in process)

Vivian Visser, *Bubbling Up* (in process)

News from the Indoor Committee

Color/Form

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the College of Lake County

June 22-August 9, 2023

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 22, 5-7 pm

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” — Wassily Kandinsky

Sculptors were invited to enter up to two works in the Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL. The exhibition will be juried and curated by Wright Gallery’s curator, Ann Rintz.

Gallery Hours*
Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed Sundays

*Hours vary during college breaks

For more information: com.clcgallery@clcillinois.edu

News from CSI Project Space

CSI Project Space | 1912 N. Damen Ave.
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen, in the Bucktown neighborhood)
Exhibition Hours: Fridays-Saturdays, 1-6pm and by appointment.
For uestions about the gallery or exhibits: csiprojectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Sculptura In Urbs In Horto

CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Exhibit dates: May 13- June 9, 2023
Hours: Friday-Sunday 1-6pm, or by appointment

In conjunction with the Chicago Park District (CPD), Evanston Arts Council, North River Commission, and Marquette Park, IN, Sculpture in the Parks (SITP) is a leased program of large scale sculptures in different parks throughout the Chicagoland area organized by Chicago Sculpture International (CSI.) Works are site-contextualized to harmonize with the aesthetic of the particular park. Most of the sculptures are placed in front of park field houses, many of which are architecturally significant and have landmark status. These are designated as "cultural centers," which offer cultural and environmental programs for youth, adults, and seniors. The sculptures are changed out every other year in October. The CPD has more than 600 parks and a total of over 8,800 acres of green space, making it the largest municipal park manager in the country.

CSI also collaborates with the Chicago Park District to organize the Chicago Tree Project (CTP), which transforms dead trees into public art that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other diseases. The CTP uses art as vehicle for community engagement throughout Chicago parks and creates unique opportunities for citizens to celebrate the beauty of nature.
Each CTP artist aims to create an impact on the neighborhood and park visitors.

This exhibit Sculptura In Urbs In Horto celebrates this important collaboration between our parks and our organization. Maquettes from exhibiting sculptors are also offered for sale here in our gallery.

Exhibiting sculptors: Terry Karpowicz, Janet Austin, Emily Moorehead-Wallace, Andrew Arvanetes, Nicole Beck, Paul Russell, Brian Monaghan, Ruth Aizuss Migdal, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Berthold Boone, Indira Freitas Johnson, Kara James & John Bannon.
In memorium: Ron Gard and Dora Natella

ALIVE

What does it mean to be alive and a part of Nature?

All animal and vegetable tissues are made up of a complex collection of cells
endlessly at work generating energy for life. In this sense, there is no life without action.
All these little parts and drops of goodness ignite the living in our world illuminated
by the energy of the sun.

We are not mere observers taking measurements and making plans. We are a
structured and complex stimulus being, emerged within the patterns and cycles of Nature. These connections and patterns along with their cycles are expressed as a whole through the living. This experience of life, however interconnected and reliant upon parts both big and small, is inevitably singularly perceived.

Above: Installation image from the 2022 *By Degrees* exhibition

By Degrees II (2023)

Application Deadline: Monday, June 26, 2023, Midnight Central Standard Time
Notification by: Monday, July 10, 2023
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, August 5 - Saturday, September 16, 2023
Exhibition Hours: Friday-Saturdays, 1 - 6PM and by appointment
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 5, 2023, 6 - 9PM

Work Drop-Off Date: Sunday, July 29, 2023
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sunday, September 17, 2023, 12 - 5PM

Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.

Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2022 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation and media work to be featured in the second annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for August 5 - September 16, 2023 at CSI Project Space in Chicago.

Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry. Accepted artists will be granted a one year non-transferrable student membership to CSI.

This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least two 3-hour shifts (or a single 5-hour shift) during the run of the exhibition.

Click here for more information and to download an application.

Installation Image from the 2022 'By Degrees' Exhibition

News from the Education Committee

There are a few more exciting educational art workshops scheduled for later this year.
We look forward to sharing these workshops with our members in the upcoming newsletters.

We are always looking for fun art workshops to share with The Boys and Girls Club
at the Lathrop Homes. We are looking for art projects that can be completed in one hour with the children.

If you have an idea for an art workshop, please contact mickilemieux@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Membership Chair

Thank you!

Membership wanted to say Thank You to all the members that attended the Edith Farnsworth House CSI Sponsored outing! It was a beautiful spring day and we all had a great time hiking the trails and learning the history of this historic Mies Van Der Rohe designed home.

Thank you!

To Stephanie Sailer for compiling this newsletter every month and creating a living history of our activities and initiatives! You are amazing!

Thank you!

To all the volunteers who have created memorable exhibitions at CSI Project Space (3D/4D Gallery)! If you participated in a show, please consider all the hard work the gallery committee invested to communicate with you and the exhibition of your work in the most professional manner. We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year holds for CSI Project Space!

Thank you!

To all the past leaders and board members who have worked endlessly to create a culture of inclusion and opportunity for the sculptors of CSI!

Thank you!

To all of our sponsors who created meaningful experiences and supplemented our goals over the past 19 years!

Thank you!

To the Chicago Park District and all venues for showing and continuing to exhibit our member's work.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Happy LGBTQ+ and Pride Month from Membership!!

SAVE THE DATE: August 19th, 2023

Chicago Sculpture International Membership Picnic at The Chicago Riverfront (with a rain date of August 20th). More details to follow . . .

Membership would like to mention CSI’s Outreach Chair Shencheng Xu, who will be traveling in China in June to share his sculpture there.

He received an invitation letter for the 2023 Chengdu International Sister Cities Sculpture Creativity Activity. He was invited to a participate in a 6-day sculpture creation workshop with the theme of "Friendship" in Chengdu from June 11 - 16. As a member of CSI, he would like to use this opportunity to gain a better understanding with local organizers and artists, while introducing Chicago Sculpture International to them. We hope to have artistic exchanges and cooperation in the future.

Show and Tell

If you'd like to send a picture of your studio to membership (karajohnson@chicagosculpture.org) and a three-sentence explanation of what is seen in the shot, membership is working on a collection of images to show how our sculptors work, organize, and create in 2023.

Land Acknowledgment

To provide immediate assistance to Native American communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city’s American Indian Center.

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been, and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People’s sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

We are thinking about celebrating CSI’s 20 year anniversary in a special way. If you have connections to publishers or have an interest in creating a catalog or online collection to commemorate this event, please reach out to Berthold Boone or myself. Thanks!

Note: The following are not CSI sponsored calls but may be of interest to our members.

A monument design contest to commemorate honor, remembrance, and resilience
Submissions must be received by August 31 at midnight.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize of $20,000.

On this day, millions have died from COVID-19 and its variants, or have been infected. For those who have perished, for those who have lost a loved-one, for those who have recovered, and for those who courageously and selflessly served during the darkest and most uncertain days of the pandemic, we announce a competition to design a COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, & Resilience sponsored by the Hektoen Institute of Medicine.
This Monument will be a physical sculpture or art installation that addresses and symbolizes the myriad issues and emotions encountered by citizens throughout the world as they navigate this powerful scourge and tragedy of our time. No other event in the past two centuries touched everyone as did the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether by death, illness, grief, or at best, lock-down, the pandemic left no one unscathed. This universal event respected no boundaries and did not discriminate by age, gender, religion, or nationality. As this pandemic excluded no one, our Monument is unequivocally inclusive and will embrace the sentiments of all citizens throughout the world.

Our hope is that we will conquer this virus, and the pandemic will be history—a distant memory. But lest we forget, it is critical that we come together to reflect, and to honor those who continue to fight on the front lines, those brave souls who ensured our survival. They are the nurses, doctors, health care workers, the public service sector employees, airline and banking personnel, those who rang up our groceries and medicines, delivered our packages, prepared our to-go meals, drove our buses, and many more. They all encountered significant risks dealing with an unknown illness. The Monument will honor these individuals and allow those who lost loved ones to mourn and know they are not alone. The monument design contest will bring forth ideas to educate and enlighten with the wisdom and experience we have shared.

Additionally, the Monument will celebrate resilience and victory. The discovery and distribution of the vaccine, engendered by multiple agencies, effectively saved millions of lives. This triumph of science in the COVID-19 vaccine and concomitant testing advances must be lauded and serve as a reminder of hope in the face of intense adversity and obstacles.

About the call FAQ's Submission Guidelines Submission Details

Member News

Members are welcome to submit news regarding exhibitions and professional development achievements to info@chicagosculpture.org . We would love to see what you are doing!!

Also, please share your open studio events and any news about new work on our facebook and instagram pages:
Chicago Sculpture Facebook Group | Instagram: @chicagosculptureinternational

Photo: Michele Corazzo, Sextet, 2022, clay, 18" x 2' - 4'

Michele Corazzo in MAAC Exhibit

“Sextet”, a sculpture by CSI member Michele Corazzo placed second in sculpture at the juried Michiana Annual Art Competition. The MAAC, a locally juried fine art exhibition is held annually at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan. It recognizes, fosters, and rewards excellence of artists in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana.

Exhibition Dates: May 19th-July 9th, 2023
Opening reception and awards presentation: May 19th from 5:30-7 p.m.

Box Factory for the Arts galleries
1101 Broad St.
St. Joseph, MI 49085

Gallery hours: Wednesdays-Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 7 p.m.
Admission is Free

boxfactoryforthearts.org/maac-show/

Above: Michele Corazzo, So Close, 2016-7, 29.5" x 39"

Michele Corazzo's "Commute" series exhibit in Michigan City

Opening Reception: June 2, 2023, 5-8 pm
Exhibition dates: June 2nd through July 1st, 2023

CSI member Michele Corazzo is showing 7 paintings from her series "Commute" at SFC Gallery in Michigan City, IN. The work juxtaposes both the regularity and convenience of train travel with personal reactions of claustrophobia and visual distress through color and light.

SFC Gallery
607 Franklin St.
Michigan City, IN 46360

Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am – 6pm; Saturday 10am – 4pm; Sunday CLOSED
For more information: (219) 877-4420
info@sfcgallery.com | www.sfcgallery.com

The following are not CSI sponsored projects, but may be of interest to our members.

Evanston Art Center's 26th Evanston and Vicinity Biennial 2023

Submission Deadline Extended: June 12, by Midnight
Exhibition Dates: August 26 - October 1, 2023

The Evanston and Vicinity Biennial is one of the Midwest’s largest and most prestigious juried exhibitions, offering artists an opportunity to have their work viewed by three talented curators: Chantal Healey (Executive Director, Chicago Public Art Group, Denny Mwaura (Assistant Director, Gallery 400, UIC), and Erica Warren, PhD (Art Historian, Curator, Editor, Craft Quarterly)

Click here for more details.

Calling all artists, curators, neighbors, and public art loves!
Open call: April 18 - July 18

Member Bobbi Meier is on the Terrain Biennial team and encourages all to participate! Link HERE.

Pictured above: 2021 Winner
Ruth Aizuss Migdal, "La Diva I", Painted steel, 12' x 4' x 5’

8th Lewis C. Weinberg Biennial Sculpture Competition

Entry Deadline: July 24, 2023

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park announces its 8th biennial Lewis C. Weinberg Biennial Sculpture Competition and is looking forward to another exciting contest.

- $3,000 Prize
- Expense-paid transportation and installation
- Guest of Honor at the Award Ceremony on site
- 2-year exhibition in SNSP as an honored feature in Section I

For information, application materials, and detailed instructions, please go to our website: www.sculpturepark.org

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
McCormick Blvd.
Skokie, IL.
(between Touhy and Dempster Avenues)

For questions and more information:
info@sculpturepark.org

Detecting Lead & Other Metals Among Metal Sculptors

Seeking adult volunteers for a study

Researchers from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago are recruiting metal sculptors to participate in a research project to test for metals related to your work.

You are eligible to participate in this study if you are at least 18 years of age
We will:

• Set up a time to come to your studio that is convenient for you
• Set up air monitors
• Ask you a questionnaire
• Test your body fluids at the beginning and the end of the day

You will be paid $100 in cash for your participation

If you are interested in participating in this project, please email us at: uicheavymetal@gmail.com

A monument design contest to commemorate honor, remembrance, and resilience
Submissions must be received by August 31 at midnight.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize of $20,000.

On this day, millions have died from COVID-19 and its variants, or have been infected. For those who have perished, for those who have lost a loved-one, for those who have recovered, and for those who courageously and selflessly served during the darkest and most uncertain days of the pandemic, we announce a competition to design a COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, & Resilience sponsored by the Hektoen Institute of Medicine.
This Monument will be a physical sculpture or art installation that addresses and symbolizes the myriad issues and emotions encountered by citizens throughout the world as they navigate this powerful scourge and tragedy of our time. No other event in the past two centuries touched everyone as did the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether by death, illness, grief, or at best, lock-down, the pandemic left no one unscathed. This universal event respected no boundaries and did not discriminate by age, gender, religion, or nationality. As this pandemic excluded no one, our Monument is unequivocally inclusive and will embrace the sentiments of all citizens throughout the world.

Our hope is that we will conquer this virus, and the pandemic will be history—a distant memory. But lest we forget, it is critical that we come together to reflect, and to honor those who continue to fight on the front lines, those brave souls who ensured our survival. They are the nurses, doctors, health care workers, the public service sector employees, airline and banking personnel, those who rang up our groceries and medicines, delivered our packages, prepared our to-go meals, drove our buses, and many more. They all encountered significant risks dealing with an unknown illness. The Monument will honor these individuals and allow those who lost loved ones to mourn and know they are not alone. The monument design contest will bring forth ideas to educate and enlighten with the wisdom and experience we have shared.

Additionally, the Monument will celebrate resilience and victory. The discovery and distribution of the vaccine, engendered by multiple agencies, effectively saved millions of lives. This triumph of science in the COVID-19 vaccine and concomitant testing advances must be lauded and serve as a reminder of hope in the face of intense adversity and obstacles.

About the call FAQ's Submission Guidelines Submission Details

20th Annual Down on the Farm Iron Pour

June 28 - July 2
Look HERE for Schedule of Events.

This annual event caters to your desires to reunite with or find your iron family while sharing a wealth of diverse experience to bring your vision to life.

Enthusiasts, beginners and experts are invited to participate in our family-style meals + camp on-site in order to focus on what really matters: people, art + how they feed each others souls.

This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Sweet Home Chicago will feature a thoughtfully curated selection of exceptional artworks deriving their subjects and inspirations from the Windy City.

ELIGIBILITY: Sweet Home Chicago is open to artists 18 years of age and older, at all stages in their careers, and who are living or working within 150 miles of the City of Chicago. This curated exhibition is accepting a diverse range of art media and styles, including sculpture and installation based works whose subject is Chicago.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Monday, June 19th, 2023 11:59 PM

For more information and to apply: https://www.bridgeportart.com/sweet-home-chicago/

While you're here...

Have any news to share? Shows, awards, residencies et al.? Send the particulars along to info@chicagosculpture.org, and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.

While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.

Gene Skala 5/3/23 Gene Skala 5/3/23

May 2023 Newsletter

Above: Dora Natella (1956-2023), Overseer 16' x 3' x 3', cast bronze and cast aluminum. Location: Ronan Park, Chicago

Welcome to the May Newsletter

You will find:

Newsletter updates
News from the CSI Committees
Show opportunities
Ongoing Member Exhibitions

Newsletter Updates

Rock Falls, IL Art in the Park

Call for Submissions

With the continued success of the previous five years’ Art in the Park sculpture walk, Rock Falls Tourism is making preparations for the annual event to be held on September 6, 2023. They are now accepting submissions for the sculpture art to be displayed on its Run, Bike & Walk (RB&W) District along the Rock River. This open space park is used by many organizations and draws people from surrounding communities and states, which will ensure a high amount of visibility for your art throughout the year. The Art in the Park Sculpture Walk is also featured on the Otocast application for smartphones which provides an additional layer of exposure. Artists will be asked to record and audio component for the application, should their sculpture be chosen.

The sculptures will be installed on September 1st, 2022

Artists will receive a $1,250 stipend and make their sculpture available for purchase.

Application deadline: June 1, 2023 (Submissions will be received up until June 7th, 2023)

Submissions can be sent to:
director@visitrockfalls.com

or by regular mail:
Attn: Melinda Jones, Director of Rock Falls Tourism
Rock Falls Tourism
603 W 10th St, Rock Falls, IL 61071

A maximum of two submissions per artist with specifications on each sculpture is needed.

Please include a text document that lists the following:
Artist name
Title of work
Dimensions (H x L x W)
Medium

Click here to download more details
Click here to download contract for work that is selected.

For more info: director@visitrockfalls.com

Call for Entries for Color/Form

Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the College of Lake County

Entry Deadline: Friday, June 2, 2023

Email notification of acceptance: June 7, 2023
Delivery of Accepted Work: June 13, 2023, 10:00-4:00
Exhibition dates: Thursday June 22-August 9, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 22, 5-7 pm
Pick-up of work: Thursday, August 10. 10:00-4:00

No other element impacts aesthetics so directly and urgently as color. Artists who combine color with structure understand the boundless and captivating energy of this synthesis. Using color to evoke a mood is essential in their practice and message.Color/Form’spurpose is to compile creations that celebrate color and form interpreted in three dimensions.

Sculptors are invited to enter up to two works in the Chicago Sculpture International Juried Exhibition at the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL. The Wright Gallery’s curator, Ann Rintz, will jury and curate the exhibition.

Find more information here.

CSI Remembers Dora Natella

Chicago Sculpture International is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of member Dora Natella who passed away on April 11, 2023. While gallantly fighting advanced cancer, she was involved in a fatal traffic accident. She is survived by her son Andrea and the beautiful art she created for the world to enjoy.

Dora recently retired from Indiana University South Bend where she was an Associate Professor in the Raclin School of the Arts for nearly 20 years. Her artwork is featured on the IU South Bend campus and in public venues and private collections across the United States and around the world including Rome, Italy; Merida, Venezuela; Chicago, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, and New York City. She has a sculpture currently installed at CSI's outdoor exhibit in Ronan Park. Her art celebrates the human form but also makes a statement about motherhood, sexuality, feminism, and humanity. She left a legacy of beauty in art and sculpture that will move people for generations to come.

Andrea "Dora" Carmen Natella was born on July 24, 1956 in Maracay, Venezuela and raised and educated in Italy where she studied sculpture in the classical tradition at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples. In 1980, she moved to the United States where she earned a Master in Fine Arts in Sculpture at Western Michigan University and went on to work as the Sculpture Area Coordinator at Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1996, she joined the Fine Arts Faculty at the University of Oregon and was awarded a Fulbright Award in 1997 to foster ties between Venezuela and the United States. She came to IU South Bend in 2004. She received the IU South Bend Distinguished Research Award in 2021. She was a fellow at the National Sculpture Society and a member of Chicago Sculpture International, International Sculpture Center, and other professional organizations.
Donations in her memory can be made to the Dora Natella Fine Arts Scholarship at IU South Bend.

Source: https://Southbendtribune.com/obituaries/psbn0469709

https://doranatella.com

News from the Outdoor Exhibitions Committee

*Photo: Maureen Gray in front of her Balance, Photo courtesy of Chuck Sabey*

New Sculptures at Forest Park

Through a call put out by Chicago Sculpture International, The Village of Park Forest in Illinois purchased three sculptures for their permanent collection by Michigan-based artist and CSI member Maureen Gray. The sculptures were installed on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023. CSI would like to thank Maureen Gray and to the Park Forest staff, especially cultural arts supervisor, Chuck Sabey.

https://www.chicagosculpture.org/sculpture-in-the-parks/park-forest

News from CSI Project Space

Sculptura in Urbs in Horto

Opening: Friday, May 12, 2023 6-9pm
Exhibit dates: May 13- June 9, 2023

In conjunction with the Chicago Park District (CPD), Evanston Arts Council, North River Commission, and Marquette Park, IN, Sculpture in the Parks (SITP) is a leased program of large scale sculptures in different parks throughout the Chicagoland area organized by Chicago Sculpture International (CSI.) Works are site-contextualized to harmonize with the aesthetic of the particular park. Most of the sculptures are placed in front of park field houses, many of which are architecturally significant and have landmark status. These are designated as "cultural centers," which offer cultural and environmental programs for youth, adults, and seniors. The sculptures are changed out every other year in October. The CPD has more than 600 parks and a total of over 8,800 acres of green space, making it the largest municipal park manager in the country.

CSI also collaborates with the Chicago Park District to organize the Chicago Tree Project (CTP), which transforms dead trees into public art that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other diseases. The CTP uses art as vehicle for community engagement throughout Chicago parks and creates unique opportunities for citizens to celebrate the beauty of nature.
Each CTP artist aims to create an impact on the neighborhood and park visitors.

This exhibit Sculptura In Urbs In Horto celebrates this important collaboration between our parks and our organization. Maquettes from exhibiting sculptors are also offered for sale here in our gallery.

Exhibiting sculptors: Terry Karpowicz, Janet Austin, Emily Moorehead-Wallace, Andrew Arvanetes, Nicole Beck, Paul Russell, Brian Monaghan, Ruth Aizuss Migdal, Ted Sitting Crow Garner, Berthold Boone, Indira Freitas Johnson, Kara James & John Bannon.
In memorium: Ron Gard and Dora Natella

CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Hours: Friday-Sunday 1-6pm, or by appointment

2D and 3D artwork by CSI members for upcoming exhibit: ALIVE

Submission Deadline: Monday, May 29, Memorial Day at Midnight
ALIVE - Exhibition dates: June 16 – July 28, 2023

1-4 jpeg images, no larger than 2MB. Each artist may submit up to 4 artwork entries.
Artwork information that corresponds with submitted images; including title of work, material, dimensions, year, and sale price with 30% added per artwork.
Artist Statement.
Contact information including email, address and phone number along with optional inclusion of website and Instagram handle.
All accepted artists must be current CSI members or will need to join in advance of the exhibition.

Submission Deadline: Monday, May 29, Memorial Day at Midnight
Notification: June 3
Drop off work: Sat/Sun, June 10 –11, 1-6pm.

Opening Reception: Friday, June 16, 6-9pm.
Exhibition Dates: June 16 – July 28
Pick up Work: Sat/Sun, July 29 – 30, 1-6pm.

Please Note: We are requiring exhibiting artists to cover one or two gallery sitting shifts during the duration of this show. CSI Project Space is run strictly by volunteers, we encourage you to get more involved.

For any questions contact csiprojectspace@chicagosculpture.org

Upcoming CSI Project Exhibition: By Degrees II

Notice: Upcoming call for student and recent grad work. Please share this with any students or recent graduates that you know. Important dates, including exhibition dates, submission terms and deadlines will be shared on the CSI website by May 15.

Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) will be calling for artists who are enrolled, or recently (2022 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation and media work to be featured in the second annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for summer 2023 at CSI Project Space in Chicago. (Exact dates and call info TBA.)

Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There will be no fee for entry, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least two 3-hour shifts during the run of the exhibition. Accepted artists will be granted a one year non-transferrable student membership to CSI.

News from the Education Committee

There are a few more exciting educational art workshops scheduled for later this year.
I look forward to sharing these workshops with our members in the upcoming newsletters.

We are always looking for fun art workshops to share with The Boys and Girls Club
at the Lathrop Homes. We are looking for art projects that can be completed in one hour with the children.

If you have an idea for an art workshop, please contact mickilemieux@chicagosculpture.org

News from the Membership Committee

2023/2024 Inclusion Fellowship for AALANA or BIPOC identifying Artists/Sculptors

In an effort to expand and enrich our community in 2023/2024, CSI Membership is offering three (3) AALANA or BIPOC fellowships in total. The fellowships will be offered to three (3) new AALANA or BIPOC identifying artists of exceptional promise and interest. Fellowships will cover the cost of one year's membership dues, a range of perks, and opportunities to exhibit your work.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2023

Click here for more details and to download an application.

Happy Women's History Month . . . continued!

Happy Women's History Month…continued! In honor of this special month and continuing acknowledgement of CSI Womens’ accomplishments, please click the link! 94 Women strong from the website membership page. The links represent each artists’ singular “greatest hit” it is not exhaustive and may not be what they chose, but it is IMPRESSIVE! Congratulations Ladies, I am honored to be in service to each and every one of you!

Click here to view

Hilde DeBruyne, Tree of Life

International Sculpture Center special discount

For the entire month of May 2023, ISC offers CSI members 50% discount on membership dues! REGISTER

Congratulations to all members who participated in International Sculpture Day April 29th!

Please share your open studio events and any news about new work on our facebook or instagram pages.

(20+) Chicago Sculpture International | Facebook
@chicagosculptureinternational

Land Acknowledgment

To provide immediate assistance to Native American communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city’s American Indian Centerhere.

The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been, and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People’s sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US.

Land acknowledgments are not rhetorical gestures, but rather calls to action. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. We also encourage everyone to ask themselves how they may benefit from the continuation of settler colonialism, militarism, and warfare. Confronting these realities allows us to break down our privileges and adopt anti-colonial practices that can one day help us in creating a more equitable society.

STARTS Program (Short-term Teaching Residency Program)

Deadline: May 15, 2023

Provides support of up to $4,500 to eligible Illinois not-for-profit organizations, schools, and school districts for short term residencies focused on hands-on learning experiences conducted by Illinois artists, companies, or ensembles.

Grant requests for fiscal year 2023 are for activities occurring by August 31, 2023.
Open deadline program. Applications must be received no less than eight weeks before the project start date as identified in the application. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received and will be accepted through: May 15, 2023. Look HERE for more information.

If anyone is interested to apply, I have contacted Jerome Grand (program director) who explained the program is still open and looking for candidates. Specifics can be found online. Otherwise, feel free to reach out to me: anthonyheinzmay@chicagosculpture.org

Save the Date: August 19th, 2023

Chicago Sculpture International Membership Picnic at The Chicago Riverfront (with a rain date of August 20th). More details to follow . . .

Member News

Members are welcome to submit news regarding exhibitions and professional development achievements toinfo@chicagosculpture.org
We would love to see what you are doing!!

Overflow, by Gina Lee Robbins

Epiphany Center for the Arts
Slemmons Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday May 12, 6-9PM; RSVP here.
Exhibition Dates: May 12- June 24

In Overflow, Gina Lee Robbins combines found and reclaimed materials to explore the elements of human experience that we can’t quite contain. Natural debris and spillover from the urban landscape reference our inability to maintain a firm grasp on all that we’d hoped to bear. This might include the perennial lost sock, a wardrobe malfunction, or grief bubbling up at a traffic light. On a deeper level, Lee Robbins is musing on who we are in relation to who we dreamed we’d become, who we present ourselves to be, and how we’re actually seen. Her focus is the confluence of propriety and social norms with the actual spillage that occurs in everyday life–the bits that dribble out and make us uncomfortable.

Hen and Homage x 3 by Jan Petry

CSI member Jan Petry is pleased to relay that her wood sculptures, Hen and Homage x 3 have been accepted into the permanent collection of the Racine Art Museum.

Above (L to R): Sculptures by Scott Mossman, Susan Smith Trees, Bethany Cordero, Brian Northup and John Upchurch

Sculpture: Motley Cruise

Several CSI members will be featured in the upcoming exhibition Sculpture: Motley Cruise, at ARC Gallery.

Scott Mossman, Susan Smith Trees, Bethany Cordero, Brian Northup and John Upchurch will be among the 30 artists participating in the show.

The opening reception will be held on Friday May 26th from 5-8PM. ARC Gallery is at 1463 W Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL

Inevitable Scar by Paul Gerard Somers

Solo exhibition at Ignition satellite space

Join us for the artist talk and closing of our second exhibition,
At Mana Contemporary Chicago, Studio #421 4th floor, 2233 S. Throop St.

Curated by Christine Forni
Thursday, May 25, 6-9pm

Note: The following are not CSI sponsored calls but may be of interest to our members.

APIDA Arts Festival

Festival Dates: May 5-7, 2023

Happy AAPI Heritage Month! While this is not a CSI sponsored event, the Chicago Cultural Center will be holding free events with reservations celebrating AAPI artists on May 5th. Check out glass arts with Tiberius Seung Geisen from 3-6 and a Katie Chung fashion installation from 5-8:30. Sign up on this link!

Six Outdoor Sculptures Purchases & Commissions for Boyton Beach

Stipend: The artist contracts will range from $75,000 to $300,000 for the required artistic services in the scope of work including the design, fabrication, delivery and installation.

Schedule: The developers will be selecting artists in 2023 & 2024.

Project Summary:

In the next 24 months, five apartment developers and one hospital will commission or purchase sculptures for six projects. Three of the sculptures will join “Cavalcade” by Albert Paley and anchor the Cultural District at the prime downtown intersection. The intersection links City Hall, Library, Arts & Cultural Center, the Marina and the bridge to the beach with the major north-south Federal Highway or US1. With the completion of the apartments, restaurants, bars and sculptures, the City intends to market the zone as cultural attraction in south Florida between Palm Beach and Boca Raton.

All artist applicants will be presented to each of the developers and hospital for potential selection. Each artist has six unique opportunities with six different selection panels.

Artists can present past work for a new commission and propose the sale of existing work. Existing sculptures (or new commissions) must be resistant to the hurricane force winds, the sun’s ultraviolent light and the salt air.

Some of the developers have specific themes or other attributes required of the artwork. The Pierce by Affiliated Development seeks an engaging, educational sculpture that celebrates Boynton’s connection to the natural environment of the Atlantic Ocean with elements such as coral reef, fish, sea mammals, coral, shell fish, sand, waves, fishing, fishing boats, diving, surfing, etc. Bethesda Hospital wishes the artist to integrate moving water with the sculpture.

In general, the sculptures will be sited on wide sidewalks near the street. Most have backgrounds of 3 to 7 story buildings with retail storefronts. Narrow tall sculptures may be the best solutions. Good surveillance around or through the sculpture should be possible. The sculpture at Bethesda Hospital will be the grassed landscape between the entrance and parking lot.

The sculptures should be engaging to pedestrians and have a strong visual image to automobile drivers both day and night. The works selected might be abstract, narrative, figurative, pop, collage, etc. Durability and repairability against damage by wind, sun, salt air and people including fading, graffiti and scratches are essential. By the Art in Public Places ordinance, the sculptures should last as long as the buildings.

Click here for full details and application
or visit https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=11700

B2B Arts (Illinois Creative Recovery) Grant

Arts Alliance Illinois and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Eligible Candidates:
•   Independent artists (prove through taxes losing a minimum of $5,000 during pandemic).
•   Sole Proprietors, Freelancers, Independent Contractors
•   Independent Live Venue Operators
•   Performing or Presenting Arts Organizations
•   Arts Education Organizations
•   Cultural Heritage Organizations
•   Museums

Applications open through May 10

Grants not on first come first serve basis

Visithttps://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/b2b.htmlfor more information

To qualify for the B2B Arts (Illinois Creative Recovery) Grant, you must have been in operation prior to March 12, 2020 and experienced negative financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic; past B2B recipients are still eligible

Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
Call for Utility Pole Sculpture

Proposal Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023
Artist Notification: May 31, 2023
Ribbon Cutting Celebration at Ravenswood ArtWalk: September 16, 2023

The Ravenswood Community Council, in partnership with the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and Special Service Area #31, is seeking proposals from artists to beautify two decommissioned utility poles along Ravenswood Avenue. The goal is to transform these structures and add new art to the Ravenswood Sculpture Garden. Artists are invited to submit proposals for work on both poles.
The total stipend for this project is $5,000, which includes all artist fees, supplies, permits (if necessary), and travel expenses.

Click here to download RFP with submission details.

Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities

Submission Deadline: May 22, 11:59PM

The Ohio Arts Council's regional arts organization, Arts Midwest, has just announced a new grant opportunity for visual artists with disabilities.

The Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities supports accessibility in the arts and celebrates the work of Midwestern visual artists with disabilities. Mid-career 2D and 3D visual artists with disabilities may apply for this award. The award application will close at 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2023.

From 2023 through 2025, this award will recognize 27 individuals (9 per year) in the Arts Midwest region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography. Each awardee will receive a $3,000 check award. There are no requirements for how awarded funds are used, though awardees are encouraged to use it toward growing their art career. Awardees’ submitted work will be featured on the Arts Midwest website.

https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/midwest-award-for-artists-with-disabilities

Evanston Art Center's
26th Evanston and
Vicinity Biennial 2023

Submission Deadline: June 5, 2023 at Midnight
Exhibition Dates: August 26 - October 1, 2023

The Evanston and Vicinity Biennial is one of the Midwest’s largest and most prestigious juried exhibitions, offering artists an opportunity to have their work viewed by three talented curators: Chantal Healey (Executive Director, Chicago Public Art Group, Denny Mwaura (Assistant Director, Gallery 400, UIC), and Erica Warren, PhD (Art Historian, Curator, Editor, Craft Quarterly)

Click here for more details

CSI Newsletter Archive

December 2024 Newsletter

CSI Showcased in Sculpture Magazine

News from the Grants Committee

News from the Chicago Tree Project

The Chicago Tree Project is now International

News from CSI Project Space

Little but Bold! CSI Member Benefit Art Auction

In Memory of Ron Gard

Land Acknowledgement

Member News

Drawing You Outside: Artist Talk Series Part !

“Holiday at the Fields” exhibit at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

Bethany Cordero Artist Residency Exhibition

Fiat Lux in Sycamore Park, Davis, CA

Scott Mossman: Pictures & Forms

Diane Ponder in Venice Biennale, Energy Center in Korea and SoNo Gallery

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

Pieces by Margie Criner

The following are not CSI sponsored projectsBut may be of interest to our members

Call for Artist Exhibits at Harold Washington Library Center

Clay Fans Club Fundraiser

Sculpture Magazine Holiday Deal

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

November 2024 Newsletter

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Existing is Political

Little, but BOLD!

CSI Member Benefit Art Auction

Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 from 5-8pm

Grant Awards for CSI

In Memory of Ron Gard

Land Acknowledgement

Member News

Scott Mossman: Pictures & Forms

November 8, 2024 to January 3, 2025

Diane Ponder in Venice Biennale

Energy Center in Korea and SoNo Gallery

“Besides the Heaps” by Ei Cullina

Nicole Beck to install Fiat Lux in Davis, CA

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

Weisses Gold

69 for 69 A Magnetic Fields Art Show

Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes

The following are not CSI sponsored projectsBut may be of interest to our members

Northeastern Illinois University Spring 2025 Semester

Art + Design Visiting Artist Program

Krasl Art Center – ART & ABILITY OUTDOORS

2025 Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Call for Artists

Call for Artist Exhibits at Harold Washington Library Center

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

Land Acknowledgement

October 2024 Newsletter

In Memory of Jan Petry

CSI Picnic at Chicago Botanic Gardens

CSI Project Space and Gallery News

Little, but BOLD!

In Memory of Ron Gard

Land Acknowledgement

CSI Member Exhibition

Existing is Political

CSI Member Outreach

Chicago Artist-Run Spaces Fair

Member News

Ribbon Cutting for Transmigration Sculpture

Fragmented Memories: A Visual Diary

Looking Exhibition at Trout Museum of Art

Weisses Gold

69 for 69: A Magnetic Fields Art Show

Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes

The following are not CSI sponsored projects but may be of interest to our members

City of Wichita Arkansas River Public Art Project

2025 Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Call for Artists

Submit Your News

Have any news to share?

September 2024 Newsletter

News from the Outdoor Committee

Sedgwick Studios to Host Memorial for Tom Scarff

**CSI Showcased in Sculpture Magazine**

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members

**Ribbon Cutting for Transmigration Sculpture**

**Nicole Beck installs Sólace Star at Quincy Veterans Home**

**Call for Proposals: Wild Things Annual Conservation Conference at Rosemont**

The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members