November with CFAS
Our Call for Art “Small Works” is coming to a close THIS month on November 25th! If you’re an artist with work smaller than 18’’ by 18’’, you might be eligible to be in our third annual Small Works show. Continuing a now three-year long tradition, CFAS will be showcasing Small Works at our West Town gallery located at 2623 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL. Our mission is to have a show surrounding smaller-sized artwork so that we can display more artists than we could usually do with larger artwork and to display all types of artwork. We want to offer smaller, inexpensive original work for the holiday season.The opening reception for the show will be on December 6th. Although the only requirement for the show is for the artwork to be less than 18’’ by 18’’, artists are also encouraged to submit audio and/or video pieces, although the viewing display must be provided by the artist and it must meet the size requirement.
The Salon also has a second Call for Art open looking for printed artwork that could be promoted and sold at festivals around the Chicago area and added to our inventory. We prefer that artists already have the work printed and ready to sell (ex: the work is inside of a plastic sleeve or protected, the price is marked, and artist information is included), however, if you need assistance getting prints made and have high-quality images ready, we can work with you to get those prints made. This will be determined on a case-to-case basis, so email info@chicagofineartsalon.com for more information if this applies to you.
Shows this Month:
Art City is delighted to welcome two new shows into our gallery spaces: Jayne King’s “Strata,” and Shanti Grandi’s “Framed Absence: A Lyrical Dance.” Both will be opening on Saturday, November 9th with an opening reception from 5-9 PM.
Strata’s Artist Statement:
These vessels are inextricable from the thousands of years of ceramic history preceding them, and the enduring materiality of clay that positions the medium as a critically important tool for understanding the past. Informed by the stratigraphic principles of archaeology and geology that assist researchers with understanding hominin history and deep time, these works exalt the unseeable things underfoot and consider the intersecting relationships between social invisibility, utilitarian craft history, and the subterranean mechanisms that both govern and record activity on earth.
(Imagine the pots are already fragmented and buried underground, preserved in time for a future archaeologist to unearth and interpret.)
Shanti Grandi will also be bringing work into our gallery space with her show, “Framed Absence: A Lyrical Dance.” Shanti Grandhi is currently a second year MFA Candidate in the Painting and Drawing Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was born in Arlington Heights, IL and lived in New York City before joining SAIC.
Her paintings are a meditation on narratives, how history gets written and how the language of paint makes meaning. Through mark-making and color, she explores her relationship with culture, memory, time and space. Pulling fragments from a wide range of the art historical canon such from Indian miniature paintings to Tintoretto and Michael Armitage, she stitches together various experiences—lived, imagined, inherited and appropriated. She seeks to create sensations, feelings and movement and to find moments of rest amongst the motion.
Shanti also holds degrees from University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Harvard Business School.
See the work and come to their opening ceremony for “Strata” and “Framed Absence” on Saturday, November 9th from 5 to 9 PM at 1400 N. Halsted Ave
The Salon has been planning this for a while now, and it’s finally here! CFAS presents our very own Art Club, featuring three membership tiers for artists at all career levels. Our introductory, Bronze tier provides a continuously updated bulletin board with curated Calls for Art specific to emerging artists in the Midwest region, but also, national and International opportunities, and more. The club memberships will officially launch in mid-November, so keep an eye out to be one of our first members!
CFAS has had the privilege to uplift so many artists' careers here in Chicago, and we want to extend that love to more emerging artists in Chicago and beyond! No matter what level you’re at in your career, CFAS has a tier that can help improve your reach and artist community.
November Events with Art City and CFAS
11/2:Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)
11/3: Wild Mile Paint & Sip(11 AM-1 PM)
11/7: Empanada Mama Paint & Sip (7-9 PM)
11/9: Art City Gallery Openings (5-9 PM)
11/10: Color Theory Workshop with Joe (11 AM-1 PM)
11/12: Earl’s Kitchen Paint & Sip (6-8 PM)
11/16: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)
11/21: Empanada Mama Paint & Sip (7-9 PM)
11/23: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)
11/24: Color Theory Workshop with Joe (11 AM-1 PM)
11/24: Abstraction Workshop with Jacalin (3-5 PM)
11/25: Small Works Submissions close
11/26: Thanksgiving-themed Paint & Sip at Earl’s Kitchen (6-8 PM)
11/26: New Call for Art “Eros” Opens
11/28: Happy Thanksgiving!
11/30: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)
Getting Spooky with the Salon
It’s October in Chicago and Fall is finally in the air! CFAS has been celebrating with Art City at our Barcocina Pumpkin Painting classes in West Town and Lakeview. With the $50 ticket purchase, painters got a two-hour instructed class with materials provided, two cocktails, and chips with guacamole. We’ve been at Barcocina every Wednesday for the month of October and will be continuing until October 30th. We’ve also been getting spooky at our Sunday night Movie Nights, with a recent viewing of the 1965 horror/comedy film, “Color Me Blood Red” on 10/20.
Pumpkin Painting at Barcocina
We’ve also been enjoying the fall weather at our Wild Mile Paint & Sip classes. Painters get to enjoy and paint the world’s first floating eco-park, located right here in Chicago at 905 W Eastman Street. We meet behind the REI before walking together to the two-hour class, where there are views of the iconic Chicago skyline combined with the natural beauty of the Wild Mile. Weather permitting, there are two classes remaining on 10/27 and 11/3 before we pause instruction until springtime.
In a quote from the Wild Mile website, they say: “look at a river running through any major city around the world and you will probably find the same thing — sheet metal walls where riverbanks used to be. These walls remove essentially any natural riverbank habitat for plants and wildlife to live. Since these walls simply cannot be removed from most cities, we are bringing back river habitat to urban waterways by building artificial floating gardens that can fit into existing river systems. These gardens are filled with native wetland plants that provide food, shelter, and overall high-quality habitat for native wildlife — a sanctuary in the middle of the city.
These sanctuaries aren’t just for the fish, birds, and turtles. We are restoring life to the Chicago River for all by installing floating boardwalks for human communities to access and enjoy the river too.”
Chicagoans walking on the Wild Mile
CFAS currently has two open Calls for Art, our Small Works and Call for Prints. Continuing a now three-year-long tradition, our Small Works show will feature 2-D and 3-D works that are 18’’ by 18’’ or smaller. The opening reception for the show will be on December 6th, and we’ll be accepting submissions until November 25th. Although the only requirement for the show is for the artwork to be less than 18’’ by 18’’, artists are also encouraged to submit audio and/or video pieces, although the viewing display must be provided by the artist and it must meet the size requirement.
The Salon is also looking for printed artwork that could be promoted and sold at festivals around the Chicago area and added to our inventory. We prefer that artists already have the work printed and ready to sell (ex: the work is inside of a plastic sleeve or protected, the price is marked, and artist information is included), however, if you need assistance getting prints made and have high-quality images ready, we can work with you to get those prints made. This will be determined on a case-to-case basis, so email info@chicagofineartsalon.com for more information if this applies to you.
Upcoming Events with Art City and CFAS:
10/27: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile(11 AM-1 PM)
10/29: Pumpkin Painting at Earls (6-8 PM)
10/30: Pumpkin Painting at Barcocina(6-8 PM)
11/3: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile(11 AM-1 PM)
11/10: Color Theory Class with Joe Sikora (11 AM-1 PM)
11/12: Earl’s Paint & Sip (6-8 PM)
11/15: Staple + Stitch Print Fair (Friday through Sunday)
11/17: Color Theory Class with Joe Sikora (11 AM-1 PM)
September with the Salon
Fall is finally here and CFAS is feeling festive! We started the month of September off with the opening of our latest show, “Chicago Style.” Chicago style aims to highlight Chicago's emerging and mid-career artists by giving them a space to present their work and their unique perspectives on living in Chicago. Featuring photography, paintings, drawings, and more, “Chicago Style” shows a diverse view on our great city. The show opened during West Town Art Walk on September 6th, and we had a great turnout and a lot of fun! If you missed the opening reception, the exhibition will be open until October 6th by appointment only. You can reach out to us to schedule an in-person viewing by emailing us at info@chicagofineartsalon.com, or you can see the work through our Online Gallery.
If you missed the opening reception, join us for the “Chicago Style” closing reception on Sunday, October 6th! The event will coincide with the last day of West Town Art Walk, which will be on Friday and Saturday before the reception.
As temperatures slowly lower and summer comes to an end, we have plenty of Paint & Sip classes available for anyone looking for a new activity to do with friends or family. Art City offers BYOB Paint & Sip classes in our studio in Lincoln Park (1400 N Halsted) every:
Friday: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday: 2 to 4 PM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Sunday: 2 to 4 PM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM
We also have some Pop-Up classes around Chicago and In-studio themed classes during the month of September if you’re looking for a place to get dinner, a drink, and a painting class!
September’s Events:
9/15: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile (11 AM-1 PM)
9/17 Paint n Sip at Earls (6-8 PM)
9/20: Paint & Poetry at Art City (6-9 PM)
9/21 Paint n Puff at Moti (2-5 PM)
9/22: Crazy Cool Collage (10 AM-12 PM) *ages 7-17
9/22: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile (11 AM- 1 PM)
9/29: Art City Movie Night: Screening “Loving Vincent” (7-9 PM)
Looking to improve your figure drawing skills or are just starting out and don’t know where to begin? We offer both instructed figure drawing classes as well as drop-in sessions for those who are just looking for practice. Our team of life-long artists will work with you at whatever pace you’re comfortable with in order to make sure you get the most out of our lessons. If you’re looking for a general introduction to figure drawing or for help in one specific aspect of figure drawing, we’re here to help!
If you’re looking for help advancing in any art skill, CFAS has something for you too. We offer Private lessons on any subject on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Reach out to us at info@chicagofineartsalon.com to schedule a private lesson!
Our Next Call for Art: “Small Works”
As our current show “Chicago Style” eventually comes to a close, we’re already looking ahead to our next group show. CFAS has hosted a Small Works exhibition for the last two years, and this year we’re happy to bring a third show to the Salon! Anyone can apply, whether you’re an artist based in Chicago or not. International submissions are also accepted.
Summer in August
Written by: Taylor Doubek
With summer coming to an end and classes starting up, that does not mean the summer festivities need to end. From classes to shows, Art City and the Chicago Fine Art Salon have multiple events to keep the summer vibes going.
The Salon is thrilled to have Riley Brady back in our gallery spaces, this time showing at our Art City location at 1400 N. Halsted Ave. Her show, “Me Time” debuted new embroidery artwork.
Opening on Friday August 23rd, the NEW Gallery will be exhibiting a collection of works by Chicago based artist, Riley Brady, titled Me Time. Her works involve an eclectic range of mediums, most notably her embroidery work, while exploring a tight range of themes.
Growing up in a strict Catholic environment and being surrounded by both artists and craftspeople has manipulated the focus of her artwork to themes surrounding loneliness, religion, control, and the role of art vs. craft. These themes help explore the struggles and hardships Brady has faced through her life as a way to heal and forgive herself of these burdens.
The subject matter of her works varies from religious topics to WebMDs Symptom Checker. With all of these topics, she connects with her audience and hopes to provoke a sense of catharsis to viewers who deal with the same issues.
The Chicago Fine Art Salon is proud to present that it will be participating in this year's West Loop Art Fest. Free to the public, it will take place from August 30th to September 1st. For six blocks you will be immersed in a range of artwork by talented artists from across the country. Come out and soak in that last bit of summer and diver into the world of art!
Want to be hands on and get in touch with your creative side? Art City and Chicago Fine Art Salon offer fun and affordable classes where you can learn to work with a variety of mediums. No matter the skill level, we have you covered! Want a more low-key night come and join our Paint n Sip class at Art City. Want more of a challenge? Come to CFAS’s Chicago Fine Art Drawing class where you can harness new skills and techniques. Either way, you will go home with a new skill, so do not miss out! More information can be found on CFAS’s and Art City’s website.
Sparks will Fly in July at Art City and CFAS
Catch up with what the Salon is up to in July! We’ll be at West Fest, hosting classes, and more!
As the month of June comes to a close, July is coming in HOT, filled with activities, fun, and fireworks. Both the Chicago Fine Art Salon and Art City have many exciting events to keep up with July’s festivities. Launch into the artworld and explode into a world of creativity like a firework on the 4th of July.
West Fest
The Chicago Fine Art Salon is happy to announce that it will be at this year’s West Fest! CFAS will be presenting a range of eclectic prints and original works by talented artists that have been exhibited at both CFAS and Art City. West Fest is dedicated to celebrating the electric West Town community by hosting exuberating live music, delicious food, and of course a range of local artists and art vendors. West Fest will be on Chicago Avenue between Wood and Damen and will take place starting Friday, July 12th at 5pm and end on Sunday, July 14th at 10pm. Make sure to stop on by!
Art Classes
Art City and CFAS have a variety of engaging classes no matter the skill level. Over 21? Art City has the Happy Painting studio, a BYOB paint n sip class with alternating paintings each week. Have young kids with a creative imagination? Sign them up for Art City’s kids summer art camp. Classes take place up until the start of the school year, so sign up now! For $25 only, every Wednesday Art City is now having open introductory lessons in a variety of mediums. All materials are provided! Need a more advanced course and want to harness new skills with a range of mediums? Come stop in for a 2-hour weekly drawing class at CFAS and get connected with your creative side. More information can be found on the Art City website.
NEW Gallery and MIAR
Art City is proud to present two new artists, Jason Schroeder to the NEW Gallery and Clair Boyle to the MIAR gallery, on Thursday, July 18th.
Jason Schroeder is a Chicago based photographer. He takes much inspiration from films and movies. He explains “I learn from watching them. Sometimes I become so engrossed in the lighting of the movie, or the camera angles, that I lose track of the dialogue and the plot.” By seeing these techniques, he is able to incorporate it into his work, taking the ordinary and transforming it into the extraordinary, creating a truly captivating photo.
Clair Boyle is a painter based in Oakland and Chicago. Her works take inspiration from medieval image-making, before the discovery of perspectival space, where things feel at once wrong and charmingly human. The subject matter of the work depicts moments of social ceremony and celebration and exposing the unsettling, exuberant, and quite unhinged spirit of these gatherings. Within the paintings heads float on mile long necks, lobsters abound, figures gaze with unease, and martinis are always close by. Boyle is interested in flickering between celebration and disquiet, grandiosity and indignity, humor and sadness.
Call for Artists
CFAS will be hosting an exhibition in September titled Chicago Style, A Local Art Exhibition. It will be a group show dedicated to works that are about Chicago, by artists who identify as Chicagoans. Submissions for the show will be open throughout the month. Opening day for the exhibition will be September 1st and will close on October 6th. More information to come!