November 2023 Newsletter

Nov 5

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.

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/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

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

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