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Art Gallery Exodus From The West Loop Is West Town's Gain

By Chicagoist_Guest in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 7, 2017 2:43PM

By Mia DiMeo

This weekend, former West Loop art spaces DOCUMENT, Paris London Hong Kong, Volume Gallery, and Western Exhibitions will open the first exhibitions in their new home, the 7,000-square-foot upper level of 1709 W Chicago Ave. The galleries add to the booming density of art in the neighborhood, with kindred spirits nearby including Corbett vs. Dempsey, Efrain Lopez Gallery, moniquemeloche, Patron, Roots & Culture, The Mission and Regards.

When rising rent pushed the galleries out of the 845 W. Washington Blvd. building, camaraderie and pragmatism steered them towards the perfect new spot together. The decision to push further west came when the owners of the Washington building offered to rent out the upstairs of the property on Chicago Ave., while also allowing the galleries to customize the building updates and floor plan.

“Exhibiting design and architecture needs a clean space, and one that leads itself to rapid transformation—being able to build out a space instead of moving into one has been a wonderful opportunity for us,” points out Claire Warner, co-owner of Volume Gallery, a gallery focused on American contemporary design.

Since the gallery’s founding in 2010, Volume has been a destination for functional art lovers, so much so that the New York Times named Warner and partner Sam Vinz two of the “most important new dealers on the forefront of design,” WUNDERKAMMER—which, like all the debut exhibitions at the new space, holds its opening reception on Saturday, Jan. 7, between 5 and 8 p.m.—is Volume’s take on a cabinet of curiosities, and includes previously unseen objects from the gallery’s past by Snarkitecture and Thaddeus Wolfe.

“We like the [West Town] area because it’s closer to galleries we share a similar conversation with,” said Aron Gent, founder of five-year- old DOCUMENT, a photo, film and media-based art gallery and printmaking studio. Gent also co-directs Paris London Hong Kong, a modest, “evolving experimental site,” with Dan Devening.

Abstract tapestries woven by John Paul Morabito from digital photo collages made by Laura Letinsky will adorn the walls of the new DOCUMENT space beginning Saturday evening. Paris London Hong Kong will present new video works and sculpture by Hudson, New York-based Annie Bielski.

Established in 2002, Western Exhibitions is the veteran gallery of the bunch, and was previously located in the West Loop for the last eight years. Owner/Director Scott Speh notes the path of galleries from River West to Ukrainian Village; all in fairly close proximity to one another, calling it a “quasi arts district,” with added perks. “There’s lots of street parking here. There are things to do at night, but it’s not too dense.”

Underlying system is not known, at Western Exhibitions, will examine the many manifestations of pattern and repetition in art today. Familiar names from WE's roster, including Edie Fake and Jessica Labatte, will join other artists that utilize pattern, in a colorful, dizzying presentation fitting for the new space.

“After we moved last week, we had a couple of beers at Forbidden Root,” Speh continued. “When we left, we were just standing outside, soaking up the neighborhood, and turned to each other and said, this just feels right.”

Free, public receptions for the above exhibitions below will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 7. See gallery websites for duration of each exhibition run.