Chicago Art Department
1837 S. Halsted St., Chicago (Pilsen)
In the year 2010 A.D, THE GREAT LAKES BASIN DECLARES INDEPENDENCE and announces to the world, ‘WE ARE NOT A COMMODITY, WE ARE THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE!’
-Excerpt from the Great Lakes Basin Declaration
What if the 35 million people living in the Great Lakes Basin decided to secede from North America due to a lack of sustainable priorities? Motivated by the impending freshwater crises, artists will examine the issues of living in Chicago by the largest freshwater system in the world. The basis of these investigations is a newly independent ‘Great Lakes Nation,’ of which artists explore human-nature relations from the Great Lakes’ point of view. Artists will bring to light information, issues and solutions concerning this amazing resource through various mediums including paintings, mixed-media, photography, screen printing, woodworking, apparel and ceramics.
Featured Artists:
Nick Adam
Sandi Chaplin
Todd Childers
Tanya Galin
Danielle Gharst
Matthew Hoffman
Andy Holck
Will House
Lisa Korpan
Bill Lenehan
Pei-san Ng
Lisa Peterson
Stacy Peterson
Scott Reinhard
Bud Rodecker
Jen Rosenthal
Preethi Venkataramanujam
Matt Wizinsky
Music by:
Matt Schneider
Nat Soti
The featured art is a collaboration between the Great Lakes Nation Workshop at the Chicago Art Department and Call to Action: An Intervention on Water at Archeworks (ItsOurWater.org).
The opening is part of Chicago Artists’ Month.
International Women's Day Group Show
Monday March 8th, 6-10 pm (1 Day Only)
@ Chicago Art Department
1837 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL
"Need v Want"
ink on vellum
6" x 8" (ea)
2009
Need v Want
“What does $200 mean to you?” Such a loaded question and yet incredibly simplistic at its core. Of course $200 means a lot of different things to different people. To some, it’s what they take home in a day; to many it’s what they make in a week. $200 can feed a village in Peru for a month, or cover the tip for a Wall Street executive’s lunch. What’s $200 when our nation is hemorrhaging millions of dollars a day fighting an unwinnable war? The more I thought about it, the more I agonized. Suddenly the answer was not so simple.
Struggling, I asked friends and family what $200 meant to them. The responses were overwhelmingly opposite of the sinister thoughts in my head and hitting much more close to home. $200 to my sister meant a much deserved weekend getaway for her and her husband after an exceedingly trying year. $200 to my cousin meant a flight from Denver to Chicago to visit with the family. A friend jokingly pointed out that $200 could buy 28.57 lbs of jellybeans…if I was “into that sorta thing.” $200 as a means to build memories, share moments, and fill the heart with love and joy. Hmm…
Simply put, I realized the question became less about a monetary amount and more about necessity versus nicety. I need food and shelter and medicine, but I want a shiny new gadget, a new pair of boots, and a vacation would be nice. It’s in our nature to want things, but not every want is evil, greedy, or outlandish. Really, it’s all about options…and thank god I have them!
About the show
An exploration into what this amount of money means given today's economic climate, this exhibition poses a simple question to CAD's resident artists: What does $200 mean to you? The exhibition will feature written responses alongside single pieces of art by each resident. Sale price for any piece of art will be $200, with proceeds benefiting CAD's resident artist program. Participating artists include Stacy Peterson, Jen Rosenthal, Chris Hales, Seth Gershberg, Mike Wilgus, Kirsten Strauss, Rebecca Rounds, Pei San Ng, Hansol Goo, Abraham Velázquez Tello, and Hilesh Patel.
Opening reception Friday November 13, 6-10pm
November 13 - November 22 {by appointment}
1837 S. Halsted
312-725-4CAD (4223)
www.chicagoartdepartment.org
