October 2024 Newsletter
In Memory of Jan Petry
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.
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
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
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
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
Pieces by Margie Criner
September 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Opening Night: September 20 | 5-7pm |
Free & Open to the Public Exhibit Admission: $10
Participating Artists: Rubén Aguirre | Chicago, IL Seth Clark | Pittsburgh, PA Margie Criner | Chicago, IL Morgan Echols | Huntsville, AL James Fowler | Toronto, Canada Emma Daisy Gertel | Milwaukee, WI Egypt Hagan | Tempe, AZ Leif Larson | Oshkosh, WI Brendan MacAllister | Boston, MA James Rees | Spanish Fork, UT Trina May Smith | Oshkosh, WI Denise Stewart-Sanabria | Knoxville, TN
Image credit: "All is Not Lost," "Swim," and "While I Sleep"
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?
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.
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.
