Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A call for artists: "Is this thing on?: The art of comedy"


A call for artists:
"Is this thing on?: The art of comedy"
Art exhibit at Cobalt Art Studio in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, Opening in August 2011

"If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses."
- Lenny Bruce


Art is too serious sometimes. This show will focus on what makes us laugh. Most of us are part of the system and work 40 hours+ a week and by the weekend we just want to unwind and be entertained. Artists will create work for you that is both funny,  absurd and will make you think.

 Acceptable formats include: video, performance, installation, audio, painting, drawings, and objects. There is no fee. email submissions with video/audio links or jpeg attachments  to antenapilsen@gmail.com

Deadline: July 10, 2011


Cobalt Studio is an artist run space. Studio artists, Adriana Baltazar and Antonio Martinez work separately and collaborate on occasion to produce thoughtful public art that is meaningful for it's communities. As a project/exhibition space, Cobalt's key purpose is to provide exceptional artists, established and emerging, with an opportunity to showcase their work in a gallery-like atmosphere minus the commercial pressures and b.s.

Cobalt Studio

1950 W. 21st St.
Chicago, IL 60608
http://cobaltartstudio.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

“Art & Grind: Careers and the Urban Adventure Series”

 http://pasmentorship.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/artgrindimage-web.jpg?w=300&h=199
“Art & Grind: Careers and the Urban Adventure Series”
June 22nd – August 17th 2011


Presented by: Pros Arts Studio and the Teen Arts Mentorship Program

Art & Grind is a series of presentations featuring Chicago-based Artists making it happen and who have knowledge they would like to share about their respective fields with area youth considering creative careers. Presenter panels will talk about their work, share successes and challenges with youth and offer words of advice to those hopping to make it happen them selves! If you’re looking for some first-hand knowledge, or just curious how they did it (and are doing it), then check out the dates and artists below and sign up for some great information!

June 2011

    “Public Painting and The Mural”
    Artists Presenters:  Jeff Abbey-Maldonado, Salvador Jimenez, Ricardo Gonzalez
    Location: Dvorak Park Field House (the home of Pros Arts Studio), 1119 West Cullerton Street
    Date: June 22nd                
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

    “Street vs Studio: Artists Inspired By and Making from the Urban Environment”
    Artists Presenters: Maria Gaspar, Adriana Baltazar, Luis De La Torre
    Location: Dvorak Park Field House (the home of Pros Arts Studio), 1119 West Cullerton Street
    Date: June 29th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

July 2011


    “T-Shirts & Logos Made Here: Graphic Artists and Illustrators”
    Artist Presenters: Laura Vergara
    Location: Yollocalli Arts Reach, 1401 West 18th Street (across from Subway!)
    Date: July 13th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

    “Marking Skin: The Tattoo Artist”
    Artist Presenters: TBA
    Location: Calles y Sueños, 1900 South Carpenter Street
    Date: July 20th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

    “Did You Make Me Look Cute?: The Photographer”
    Artist Presenters: Analia Rodriguez
    Location:   Yollocalli Arts Reach, 1401 West 18th Street (across from Subway!)
    Date: July 27th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

August 2011

    “Filmmaking and Video”
    Artist Presenters: Tadeo Garcia, Arturo Lizalde, Denise Carrasco
    Location: Dvorak Park Field House (the home of Pros Arts Studio), 1119 West Cullerton Street
    Date: August 10th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

    “Markings on the Wall: The Graffiti Artist”
    Artist Presenters: Delilah Salgado, Miguel Aguilar
    Location: Calles y Sueños, 1900 South Carpenter Street
    Date: August 17th
    Time: 5pm-6:30pm

Meztli Summer Film, Music, Art Fest


Meztli Summer Film, Music, Art Fest
Every Friday and Saturday
Starting June 17 and 18, 2011

Outdoor Film, Art Exhibition and Sale, Live Music

Please join us for the Meztli Summer Film/Art/Music Fest
Come to the kickoff event of the summer!  Enjoy short and feature films, original art and crafts, and live musical performances.

The first event will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18 from 5:00 PM – 10:30PM at 1430 W. 18th Street Lot at Pilsen Vintage.  Admission is FREE.  Pilsen Vintage open late every weekend this summer! Shop vintage after hours in on 18th Street.  More events to follow all summer long!  Every Friday and Saturday! You can’t miss it!
For more information about how to participate as an artist/vendor/musician call:

Gustavo Sanchez at (312) 480-1096 or email at meztlicinema@yahoo.com
Paul Guizar at pilsenvintagethrift@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

PLUGGED OUT: New works by Salvador Jiménez Flores

 PLUGGED OUT: New works by Salvador Jiménez Flores


Opening Friday June 24th from 6pm-10pm
June 24- July 23, 2011

This experimental mixed-media installation highlights the reliance of modern humanity on technological innovations. In this digital age, we have become wholly dependent on devices that can be plugged in. Our jobs, our social lives and even our food production—all aspects of our existence rely on technology.

We are so intertwined with our iPhones and Androids it is as though we are becoming like them. This hardwiring of our hearts and minds will surely rob us of our humanity.


ANTENA
1765 S. Laflin St.
Chicago IL 60608
www.antenapilsen.com
antenapilsen (at) gmail.com
(773) 340-3516
Hours: by appointment only

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Summer Heat: Recent Work by Saul Aguirre and Miguel Cortez


Summer Heat: Recent Work by Saul Aguirre and Miguel Cortez

Opening Friday June 17th from 6pm-10pm


Carlos and Dominguez Fine Art Gallery presents the work of Saul Aguirre and Miguel Cortez. The work includes a mixture of paintings, drawings, digital cellphone prints and installation. Both artists have been active in the Pilsen art community since the mid 90s. This is their first 2-person show in the Pilsen neighborhood.

Saul Aguirre is a Chicago Based artist born in Mexico City. He has been considered a standout at NEXT 2010 Chicago by PEDRO VÉLEZ who is an artist and critic living in Chicago. Saul used real manacles, to remind people of the reality of being picked up by the police during a live spectacle, and captivated people with his small drawings. Saul has been exhibiting Nationally and Internationally, in several Museums and Galleries since 1990. http://www.saulaguirre.com

Miguel Cortez is an artist/curator living in Chicago and born in Guanajuato, Mexico. He has studied filmmaking at Columbia College and art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently runs Antena, an alternative art space located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. His artwork has been shown at Gallery 414 in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Krannert Museum and at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. Other shows included exhibits in Dallas at Mighty Fine Arts Gallery, Glass Curtain Gallery and at VU Space in Melbourne, Australia. http://www.mcortez.com/

Carlos and Dominguez Fine Art Gallery
1538 W. Cullerton Street
Chicago, IL 60608
By appointment only. For more information call: 773-580-8053
email: feriadelaluna@yahoo.com

Friday, June 03, 2011

Know Your Neighborhood Art Space: Cobalt Studio


Know Your Neighborhood Art Space: Cobalt Studio

by Miguel Cortez

Pilsen has a rich history of not only art, murals, activism but also of alternative art spaces. It's the DIY model. Some artists do not wait for commercial galleries to notice them. Instead they find a way to push their art making and art curating to new levels by experimenting and organizing shows in their apartments, garages or inexpensive storefronts. Recently a lot of alternative art spaces have been opening west of Ashland Avenue and one of those is Cobalt Studio which opened after the Pilsen Open Studios in October 2010 by artists Antonio Martinez and Adriana Baltazar. I sat down with the two artists and asked a few questions:

How did Cobalt Studio come about?

Cobalt came about when we got fed up with our confined home studios and set out to split a larger space and we completely lucked out here.  We ‘re a small collective of two but started collaborating with public art projects under the name Cobalt Studio.

How do the shows come about? Is there a philosophy for how you curate shows? Are these all local artists?


We had to get the ball rolling on putting  shows together at first but we actively seek guest curators. Cobalt is a place for opportunity but we also want to keep pushing the bar up for ourselves and for others.  It’s a process and all part of being a ‘project’. Individually we have different curating styles and goals. Adriana themes are stirred up by concepts she is juggling in her own work, mostly reflective of various sociocultural elements. Tony doesn’t need a theme to get going as he simply seeks out fresh faces and new work. Regardless of who is curating we always seek new work, in and out of the neighborhood, often pushing for work made specific to a show.

What kind of media is shown at Cobalt?

We are completely open to all media. For example our current show which features contemporary craft has sculptures made from crocheted metal and speaker wire, video, photography, sound, embroidery, painting, installation and it goes on! Our June show is a series of events ‘on the  verge of domesticity’, curated by Alberto Aguilar and Jorge Lucero. The program is largely performative in media but has many interactive aspects with events like a ‘house party’, a variety of workshops for all ages, discussions, dinners, slide shows and a winning combination of Saturday morning cartoons and a community pancake breakfast.

How has Cobalt been received by the art and local community?


We have warm receptions and people always make a point to let us know how much they enjoy the space and the work we are sharing. We are friends with many of the local artists and community organizers. Our support for each other is mutual and we offer our space when it is available to help whenever we can.

What is the current show about?

Our current show, In Stitches:Smile Now, Cry Later, curated by Adriana is centered around the precariousness of our emotions and the illusions that create them, whether they are self made or imposed by others. The theme was inspired by gang lifestyle with it’s self imposed mantra “smile now, cry later” with accompanying theater masks tattoo.

Cobalt Studio is located at 1950 W. 21st St. You can see more info on their web site http://cobaltartstudio.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Trindlerschinquand: The Shed Performance

Trindlerschinquand: The Shed Performance
Five Days Cheap Manufacture
Roxaboxen Exhibitions

Over five days, Adrian Schindler and Romain Trinquand will set up a working space functioning like a building site and props factory in the back lot of Roxaboxen Exhibitions. As their own employers, the two performers will be present each day on a five hour schedule. They will progressively activate the props they create by leaving the shed and engaging the surrounding rough environment, blurring the lines between working process and performative gestures. 

Working hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am-12am / 2pm-5pm

Trindlerschinquand will inaugurate the manufacture on June 6th at 7pm and close the site on June 11th at 7pm.


Trindlerschinquand is a Parisian based performance duo composed of Adrian Schindler and Romain Trinquand. Their partnership began in 2008, and they have continued to share their theatrics internationally. Their performances promote absurdity, intensity, materiality, and failure. They use their bodies as tools taken out of their usual context through raw and grotesque situations. Their performance in Chicago at Roxaboxen Exhibitions acts as a culmination of the pairs extended visit to the states. http://trindlerschinquand.blogspot.com/


Roxaboxen Exhibitions
2130 W 21st Street
Chicago IL 60608