Crosstown Art Series
By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 16, 2005 1:42PM
Some of our readers think we don’t pay enough attention to the world of news and entertainment on the south side. Point taken. It’s nothing personal. We love the south side and would get down there more often if it wasn’t such a trek. So for our readers looking to explore south of the South Loop, we’ve put together a late summer art gallery crawl for your enjoyment.
In Pilsen, the alternative art space Polvo presents bar code art by Scott Blake. Behold portraits of beloved celebrities (Martha Stewart, Ronald Reagan, O.J. Simpson) and not-so-beloved celebrities (Martha Stewart, Ronald Reagan, O.J. Simpson) rendered entirely in consumer UPC symbols. If you’re in the area and a fan of classic foreign films, check out their free Thursday night screenings.
Just down the block is Parts Unknown, who present a group exhibition inspired by graffiti art with a title more appropriate for a DJ battle: The Funky Four Plus One Show. True to the streets, they’re featuring “art on canvas, street signs, wood and everything in-between…” The gallery is one of a dozen comprising Pilsen’s Chicago Arts District, who welcome all of you to their annual Open House this fall so you can catch up with all those artists who fled north side gentrification.
On to Bronzeville, a neighborhood with a celebrated past and a quickly evolving present. IIT already draws students, staff and visitors from all over the region. And art lovers should consider a trip to the Gavin Library for a career survey of prolific sculptor Terrence Karpowicz. He’s best know as the force behind the Navy Pier Walk, the exhibit that formerly kicked off Art Chicago. For more local flavor, check out the South Side Community Arts Center. The landmark building is impressive on its own, and through this weekend it’s host to a multimedia exhibit by local artists.
Further down the lakefront, The Smart Museum offers a survey of art history in a manageable space. Three special exhibits running through the summer examine how “the modern age” affected ceramics, East Asian art, and the cubist movement. The institution is an underappreciated Hyde Park resource. And as the University’s resident museum, it fosters the educational and intellectual edification of the neighborhood eggheads (as well as your own).
Polvo is at 1458 W. 18th St, #1R and Parts Unknown is at 645 W. 18th St, both are open Sat 12-5pm and by appointment.
IIT's Gavin Library is at 35 W. 33rd St, check their website for hours. Terrence Karpowizcz "No Limits" runs through September 9.
The South Side Community Art Center is at 3841 S. Michigan Ave, for more information call 773-643-5357.
The Smart Museum of Art's is at 5550 S. Greenwood Ave, its summer hours are Tues-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm. For more information call 773-702-0200.