Gallery Bar Asks Chicago "What Is Art To You?"

By Julia Weeman in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 7, 2013 9:00PM

Gallery Bar Chicago has launched a social art experiment by asking the simple question "What is art to you?" They encourage Chicagoans to reach "deep down inside your soul... for the first word that screams back at you when you hear the question." They feel that this provocative question has inspired remarkable works of art, film, and music and even go so far as to say it has defined periods in history.

In an open letter to the city of Chicago, Gallery Bar asks for one-word responses to the question, which they expect will not only help define Chicago as a city, but say something unique about each individual. Each person who submits an answer will not only be a part of the project, but will be credited as an artist. The teaser video that was recently released invited participation as well—via Facebook, they offered invites to a private opening to the first 30 people to participate. So far, Gallery Bar's YouTube channel has three videos promoting the project, but all leave quite a bit to the imagination.

We're interested to see how this project unfolds. If you'd like to follow along as it develops, you can do so via Facebook or on Twitter with the hashtag #WhatIsArtChicago. If you'd like to participate, you may submit your one word answer to the question "What is art to you?" online here.