See what you've done!!!

CPAG had an extraordinary year of projects! Our friends and supporters of course are the ones that make this happen. Please make a donation today!

Our Facebook page is bursting with project images, take a look to see what your donation has done to help spread beautiful public art throughout Chicago

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Chicago-Public-Art-Group/51677575795?ref=ts

Check it out! If you do not have a profile on Facebook that's ok, you can still see the photos.

Make your gift today!

Art panels are being installed on 53rd and 55th

If you live in Hyde Park, or find yourself visiting Hyde Park...take a drive under the 53rd Street and 55th Street underpasses at Lake Park Ave. The steel panels that have lined the underpasses are being covered by large scale digital prints of studio work by Margaret Burroughs, Terry Evans, John Himmelfarb and Calvin Jones. Well worth a visit.

Paint the Town Update

Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets, sponsored or donated art to Paint the Town. We all had a wonderful time. Photos will be posted soon!

Paint the Town

Join us for Paint the Town our annual dinner and art auction. October 15, 2009 at 6:00PM. At Prairie Production, 1314 W. Randolph. This year we are honoring Kerry James Marshall, Mary gray and the Chicago Park District.

The art auction wil feature pices by Kerry James Marshall, Hector Duarte, Ginny Sykes, Corinne Peterson and many others.

New project photos are up on Facebook

We have a Facebook fan page that is regularly updated with project photos. So, if you don't have a Facebook page this is a good reason to, even if you use it only to view our projects. So take a look!

Spend the weekend with CPAG

Openings and dedications...

First spend Friday morning with us at Jesse Owens Park 2032 E. 88th Street (9/18 10:30AM) for the opening of the renovated park. CPAG artist Julia Sowles created some pretty fabulous mosaic pillars and a mosaic medals stand for this Olympic inspired park. Every year the USOC picks a park to create and this is the one for 2009!


Then visit us again on Saturday Morning (9/19 at 10:00AM) for the dedication of the mural on the 47th Street underpass at Lake Park Ave. in Hyde Park. The mural is a beautiful project that incorporates photos of the Hyde Park and Kenwood communities. Residents submitted historical and present day photos of their families that were then fired onto tiles to be installed on the mural. Lead artists are John Pitman Weber and Carolyn Elaine.

Nominate CPAG

The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards are coming up. Please follow the link below and suggest us for the Special Recognition Award. We don’t have to have a certain number of votes, but it would be nice if a few people outside of the CPAG staff nominated us.

http://app.lisc-cnda.org/application/suggest.aspx?award=7

2009 Season Highlights

Check out the CPAG Facebook page for more photos from our 2009 Season.

Mural dedication at Project VIDA

Please join us for the dedication of the mural at Project VIDA! August 29, 2009 at 2:00PM 2659 S. Kedvale. CPAG artist Maria Gaspar worked with a group of youth at Project VIDA on a bricolage and painted mural for the exterior wall of the organization. The mural will be dedicated during the 2009 Community Health Festival.

WTTW Chicago Tonight

Watch tonight at 7:00PM Chicago Tonight on Channel 11 WTTW. Our Foster Ave. project Indian Land Dancing will be featured!

Tracy and Todd in Grand Rapids

This is a wonderful article about a contest that Tracy and Todd just finished a project for in Grand Rapids.

Indian Land Dancing Dedication

Please join us for the dedication of Indian Land Dancing. This project was a collaboration between CPAG, Alderman Mary Ann Smith and the Native American community in Chicago.

Date: August 22, 2009
Location: Foster Ave. and Lake Shore Drive
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00pm

We hope everyone can come out to see this exceptional project. We are inspired by the partnerships and friends we made this summer.

CPAG Corinne Peterson latest work

On Sunday, July 12, Lutheran General Hospital's new Patient Tower and Meditation Garden were dedicated. That day Corinne took pictures of the garden and her seven Marker Sculptures which are installed throughout the space. The garden is a meditative space created for patients and their families and is nestled in between Lutheran General's new patient tower and the old hospital at 1775 Dempster in Park Ridge IL

Timeout Chicago Features Foster Ave. project

Check out the great article about the Foster Ave. project.

Community Volunteer days for 47th Street! Saturdays July 25 and August 1st. 10:00am - 3:00pm

CPAG artists John Pitman Weber and Carolyn Elaine are working with youth on a mural in the 47th Street underpass at Lake Park Ave.

Wear clothes that can get dirty and comfortable shoes. Depending on the progress of the project you may be tiling, grouting or painting on the wall!

Everyone is welcome!

House Party Fundraiser

Join us for a wonderful Brazilian Dinner at the Vidal-Hallett residence. The Vidal-Hallett family are supporters of the arts in Chicago. They are opening up their house and their kitchen to CPAG for a fundraiser.

Suggested donation $20 if you bring a dessert or a drink
or $25 if you just bring yourself.

Sunday July 19, 2009
5:00-9:00 PM
1252 West Norwood, Chicago

RSVP to Maria at maria@cpag.net or

Carmen at
773-451-6032
cvidalhallett@ecovidaldesign.com

What other blogs are saying

Here are a few blogs that have been talking about the Foster Ave. Project!!

www.theurbancoaster.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=395:edgewater-mosaic-brings-together-teens-and-community&catid=66:community&Itemid=83

www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/6/748553/-GUS:-Bricolage-Monday

www.glipress.blogspot.com/2009/07/public-art-bricolage-lake-shore-drive.html

CPAG Project Dedication

Dedication of Community Mural, CPAG Open Studio Project, Artist Sonata Kazimeraitiene & the Open Studio Project

“A Mural Dedication Block Party”
Thursday, July 30th, 4-5:30 pm.
At the Brick Road Between the Main St. Metra and CTA stations
(1/2 block west of Chicago Ave., just south of Main St.)

In case of rain: Meet at Main St. Arts Depot 600 Main St. (Metra platform)

Welcome Remarks: Elizabeth B. Tisdahl, Mayor, City of Evanston
Food Provided by Trattoria D.O.C.
Music Provided by “The Musical Offering”
RSVP by June 25 to 847-475-0390 or info@openstudioproject.org

BravoTV Casting Call for artists

I got this email today. If you are interested the casting call is next week. Could be fun just people watching that day.

Hi.

I’m writing from the production company that did Project Runway and Top Chef. We are casting a new show that will showcase emerging visual artists creating and competing on Bravo. Given the people involved, this project is going to have high impact in the art world. As someone who meets a lot of artists, we are hoping you might find this exciting enough to forward to appropriate people you know and let them know about applying. Open calls are fast approaching.

Thank you for considering forwarding or posting.

Full info on how to apply is available at www.BravoTV.com/casting, and see below:

*********************

Magical Elves (Peabody Award-winning Project Runway, Emmy Award-winning Top Chef) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner) and her production company, Pretty Matches, are teaming up for an hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!

If you’re an emerging or mid-career visual artist with a unique, powerful voice that demands a bigger stage – well. . . Here. It. Is.

We want contemporary artists. Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media – we want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know.

*To be considered for the cast, attend one of our four regional casting calls around the country, see below.*

Go to www.BravoTV.com/casting to download an application and see what you need to bring with you to an open call.

GOOD LUCK.

*********************

OPEN CALL INFO:
LOS ANGELES
LA>http://laxart.org/
Saturday July 11th & Sunday, July 12th
10:00am - 2:00pm

MIAMI
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
http://snitzer.com/
Tuesday, July 14th
10:00am - 2:00pm

CHICAGO
School of the Art Institute : Sullivan Galleries : 33 State Street
http://www.saic.edu/
Thursday, July 16th
10:00am - 2:00pm

NEW YORK
White Columns
http://www.whitecolumns.org/
Saturday, July 18th & Sunday, July 19th
10:00am - 2:00pm

Upcoming CPAG Artist Shows

Ginny Sykes Event
Alchemy and Archetype: Images in Black and White
New Drawings by Ginny Sykes
Opening Reception: July 2, 2009
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Ogilvie/Pertl Gallery
435 E. Illinois St. Ste 151
Chicago, IL 60611




Crowne Royal
The Artwork of
Damon Lamar Reed
Opening Reception July 10, 2009 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Lecture and discussion: 6:30 - 7:30pm

A great time in Edgewater.

Wow it has been three weeks since we had the first volunteer event. Everyone had a great time in Edgewater the evening of May 30th. Volunteers gathered to paint in the design of the Foster Ave. project. At times there were over 50 people with paintbrushes in hand or observing the progress of the design. Painting started around 7:30pm. CPAG artists Tracy, Todd and Cynthia set up overhead projectors that they attached to a generator and projected the design onto the wall. Participants grabbed a brush and a cup full of paint and got started on the lines.

I ran around with a sign up sheet to get names and email addresses. If I missed you I am sorry, please let me know, but here are the people I did get....Ald. Mary Ann Smith
Maya Miyano, Marek Posard, Luke Schwankl, Monica Hammer, Debra Yepa-Pappan, Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan, Chris Pappan, Mike Starevic, Sue Henning, Lila Kaplan, Marti Murray, David Smalley, Erin McNamara, Timothy & Claire Gray (my kids) Nora Loyd, Pasha Nierenhausen, Chloe Al-Subagh, Mohammed Al-Subagn, Emily Andino, anthony Andino, Emily Escoto, Meenakshi Singh, Hashim Ali, Jonathon Medrabo, John Ho Hon, Lauren Besser, Richard Bresden, Nitti Hills, Rober Whapahi, John Joe, Gerry Lang, Lisa and Lilah White, Winfield Wounded-Eye....

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAYS
If you would like to help out on the project...open volunteer days begin July 6th. Stop by Monday through Thursday or Saturdays from noon - 4:00PM. Wear clothes that can get dirty and comfortable shoes.

Ginny Sykes studio sale

CPAG artist Ginny Sykes is having a studio sale! A portion of the proceeds will go to the programs at Chicago Public Art Group.

Foster Ave. Underpass Community Event

Growing 2008 - Bryn Mawr Ave & Lake Shore Drive underpass


Join us for a community event in Edgewater Sat. night!

CPAG artists Tracvy VanDuinen and Todd Osborne are returning to Edgewater to work with youth from Alternatives, Inc. They are kicking off their summer project Saturday night at the Foster Ave. and Lake Shore Drive underpass. They will be projecting the final design on to the walls of the underpass and allowing community members to help draw in the lines of the design.

"We have opened this up to the community and is the first time we are doing this so we don't know how it will work. Depending on how many people show up, we may not get everyone on the wall at one time. We may have to take turns so everyone who comes places a mark on the wall. We are just hoping this will become another positive community building experience." says Tracy!

Details:
Saturday May 30th 7:30 p.m.
Foster Ave. under Lake Shore Drive.
Dress in layers, it gets cold as the night goes on.
We will bring everything for the projecting, you should bring what you need for a 3-4 hour event.

CPAG on WBEZ this morning

A new mural (not a CPAG mural) was recently painted over by the city. CPAG's Jon Pounds was asked to speak on WBEZ's news magazine "848" about the incident and the role of public art.

Senior Artist Circle Discussion

What would you want see from your SENIOR ARTIST CIRCLE?
Please post your thoughts here!! Later, as a group, the decision can be made on whether or not the SAC should be reinstated.

Below are some suggestions that have been made regarding the SAC. Feel free to comment on any of these or make new ones!!

The SAC is to be a self-governing group responsible for deciding what task/planning they want to take on i.e. workshop planning, cafes, etc.

The SAC will have shared responsibilities of the tasks once assigned to the Artist Liaison.

The SAC will serve as an advisory council to the Program Director –project development, artist selection/assignment on projects, current project progress, etc.

SAC will participate in project and peer evaluations

SAC elections, should be postponed until CPAG’s financial issues are addressed and we know the organization will survive.

Leave your comments below...

Maria Gaspar's website is up!

CPAG Core Artist Maria Gaspar has her website up and running! Check out her link!

Heart of Rogers Park

Here are more images of the progress Rogers Park Project with DevCorp North. Stop by the mural to see the progress. Rahmaan and Max are out there almost everyday...say hi and pay them a visit.

The Renaissance Society

One of our new board members, Hamza Walker, is curating a show at The Renaissance Society
April 26 – June 7, 2009
Opening Reception: April 26, 4:00-7:00PM
5811 South Ellis Ave.

Several Silences -

Titled after an essay by the late philosopher and literary theoretician Jean-Francois Lyotard, Several Silences is a group exhibition exploring various kinds of silence. Artists listed are: Lewis Baltz | Troy Brauntuch | Manon de Boer | Paul Dickinson | Ryan Gander | Geissler and Sann | Gran Fury | C.M. von Hausswolff | Harold Mendez | Jonty Semper | Harry Shearer

Heart of Rogers Park

This is from the Rogers Park project that Rahmann and Damon are working on with Dev Corp North.

Sneak a peek at PAM

CPAG's Public Art Map...or PAM for short. Our intern, Ashley, is working on a map of CPAG's projects. When it is all done it will cover all of CPAG's projects from back-in-the-day until now. This is a work in progress and feedback is welcome.

View Chicago Public Art Group in a larger map

Siddha Weber at the Velvet Lounge

Siddha Webber will be performing at the Velvet Lounge, 67 E 22nd Street, on Thursday, April 9 at 8PM.

He will be featured along with his band, the Ancestral Resurrection Ensemble, in a concert entitled: Art a Matter of Spiritual Survival.

Band members include:
Maggie Brown, guest singer
Ms Tasallem, poetess
Mwata Bowden: woodwinds
Harrison Bankhead: bass
Dervain Trenoir: trumpet
Ray Mosley: guitar
Samuel Muhammad: piano
Bill Simms: drums

Compositions to be rendered in music are:
Art Just Can't Be Art
Culture of Insanity
Pennies on the Dollar
Sacred Space
Love, Peace, and Gay

For details you may contact Siddha @ CSiddha@aol.com

WHYY interviews CPAG

WHYY in Philadelphia contacted us to comment on a story they were doing on community murals.

Core Artist Events

Core Artist Ginny Sykes has two shows running right now.

Hand Made Prints, Noyes Cultural Center, Evanston, IL

Eight new Drawings featured in group exhibition:
On the Pulse of This New Day
Catholic Theological Union
5416 S Cornell
Exhibits runs through April 15 Learn more at her website.

http://www.ginnysykes.com/

Also catch two of her performance pieces on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF-DYfSZcr4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUYeo1nhdNA

You are invited...

Maria Gaspar, one of our Core Artists, is inviting everyone to her exhibition reception for my MFA Exhibition taking place: Wednesday, April 15th from 5-8pm at UIC's Gallery 400, 400 S. Peoria (Van Buren/Peoria). Included in this exhibition, are the work of fellow MFA students Charlie Deets, Chris Tourre, John-Paul Wolforth.

CPAG's first tour of 2009

Students from Hamline University in Minnesota took a CPAG lead tour of public art projects in North Lawndale this morning. The students researched CPAG back in January and requested a tour from us that would align with their Service Learning trip.

One of our Core Artists

The Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-duarte-city-zone-18-mar18,0,4871734.story
did a wonderful article about Hector Duarte's project at the National Museum of Mexican Art. More information about Hector can be found on our website www.cpag.net

Renewing the Arts

CPAG was there for the Illinois Arts Alliance Member's Meeting.... The video is well worth seeing. Mr. Cameron is interesting, insightful and inspiring.

http://www.vimeo.com/3616140

Ben Cameron on Change, Transformation, and Renewal in the Arts from Illinois Arts Alliance on Vimeo.

Ben Cameron, renowned speaker, former theater professional, and arts activist, addresses arts professionals and supporters at the Illinois Arts Alliance 2009 Members' Meeting and Reception on February 24, 2009 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Introduction by Martha Lavey of Steppenwolf. For more information, visit artsalliance.org.

Paint the Town

CPAG has set the date for the annual fundraiser. "Paint the Town" will be held Thursday October 15, 2009. Event details are in the planning stages and if you would like to volunteer on the event committee contact Maria Gray at maria@cpag.net. The first event meeting will be April 1, 2009 at CPAG (1259 S. Wabash) everyone is welcome to join the fun.

Project with Dev Corp North gets started

Rahmann Barnes and his assistant artists got started on the wall on Glenwood Ave. between Morse and Lunt in Rogers Park. This project is with DevCorp North and depicts the theme the Heart of Rogers Park. Last week they were able to get the wall primed before the weather became uncooperative.

Some of our 2008 projects

Mosaic Totems at Mt. Greenwood Park. Artist: Todd Osborne


Oak Park Area Arts Council youth project "It's All about Movement....." Artists: Carolyn Elaine and Sonata Kazimieraitiene.



Hilliard Apartments "Structure is Sapce" Artist: Olivia Gude



47th Street Underpass "Instinctive Movements" Artists: Rahmaan Barnes and Max Sansing

Here we go again!

We decided to expand the blog and hope you enjoy the new content. Our artists will be contributing as well as others that have interesting things to say. Leave your comments and let us know what kind of news and information you would like to see on the blog.

Don't forget to check out our Facebook page!