Art for Everyone... Who Can Fork It Over

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 8, 2005 8:20PM

Are you finally going to heed those voices in your head this year? Your siblings asking you to stop buying them sweaters they won’t wear, your parents begging off the coffee table books, or your significant other wincing at the edible lingerie? Haven’t you promised yourself you’d get them something new and unique? Chicagoist has plenty of gift ideas, and so does the local arts community. A few of this weekend’s arts events are geared towards holiday commerce and helping you find that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift to impress friends and loved ones while expunging those pesky voices.

Intuit hopes you’ll stop on your way home tonight for unique art items and chotchkes you could never find at a department store. While you’re there, take in an exhibition of “outsider” artists working around the margins of society. This is art they’ll definitely remember.

If you like folk and outsider art but are looking for something more familiar, head down Milwaukee Avenue to David Leonardis Gallery. David hawks his wares year-round and, if you’re game, will feature your smiling mug on his website. We recommend calling ahead.

The Lincoln Park Young Professionals have discovered what many of us have known for a while: art galleries are thriving in Pilsen. Tommorrow night, they’ll be at Gallery 718 promoting delectable chocolate creations concocted by students from Marwen, a non-profit providing the types of arts opportunities students used to have at school. Guests can enjoy free wine and hors d'oeuvers (but no free chocolate) and suitable shopping music.

Maybe those yuppies LPYPs will stick around the neighborhood for the Chicago Art District’s Second Friday, a showcase of neighborhood galleries featuring Japanese shoes, expertly edited videos, and pretty buildings (another Podmajersky brainstorm come to life).

Bucktown artisans are happy to brighten your holidays and take your dough at the Bucktown Holiday ArtShow. Billed as the area’s only holiday artshow, a claim we can’t dispute offhand, the two-day extravaganza crams the work of over 100 artists into the Holstein Park Fieldhouse. Buy something outright or bid on silent auction items, buy lunch from a vendor to simulate your holiday mall food court experience, then head home knowing you’ll deal a few surprises to the loved ones on your gift list.

Intuit's Open House is tonight from 5-7:30pm at 756 N Milwaukee Avenue. More info at 312-243-9088.

Images via Intuit and Marwen.