Around the Neighborhood

 Located within the same five block radius of the West Loop, and easily accessible by car or public transportation, are three contemporary art galleries currently exhibiting shows:  Intuit, Arc, and our own Woman Made.  Leaving WMG I walked to Intuit and then to ARC, and on this quick tour around the neighborhood I became excited about the current shows at each (including ours). Here are some brief tidbits: 

• The unique and extremely imaginative mythical creature carvings produced by outsider artist, Ulysses Davis in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  These works have a primitive and tribal quality that is enhanced by the vivid imagery of this barber’s imagination and are on display at Intuit art gallery.
•  The amusing and brilliantly colored organic installations that envelope the walls of the ARC gallery in the present Materiality exhibit.  This show is exciting from beginning to end with fascinating creations produced from simple genre objects.
• The entertaining and heart warming oil paintings by Pamela Callahan’s show “This is My River” features both abstract and representational images.  These works possess radiant color schemes and thought provoking content that creates a highly stimulated gallery experience.

 The Treasures of Ulysses Davis at Intuit is available until May 15, 2010.  Materiality continues at the ARC gallery until March 27, 2010.   Exhibitions in Woman Made Gallery run through April 22, 2010.

-Stephanie El Tawil, WMG Intern

Artist and WMG Member Spotlight – Renee Couture

“I find myself most attracted to materials that come from daily activities—ubiquitous materials that become invisible or forgotten in our daily existence.”

–Renee Couture

There is No Bottom to Reach

 Renee first exhibited at Woman Made Gallery for the “While In Class…” exhibition, a show solely dedicated to student artists. Renee’s gold-plated potato chips entitled, We Eat Laughing, Helpless and Forgetful immediately captured interest of staff, volunteers, interns and visitors. Her work, composed of seemingly mundane materials from her everyday life (things like floss, teabags, hair, etc.), both conceptualize and emphasize day-to-day tasks that would otherwise dissipate within the repetition and banality of an overlooked reality.

Hair Line

 She writes, “My content-driven, process-oriented work is grounded in gender identity, work, and the everyday.  My primary questions are, “what is work?” and “how is it measured and valued?”  There are many daily activities that result in nothing tangible—yet they occupy much of our time.”

 

*Renee was one of three students awarded an honorary Gallery Membership for her outstanding work in the “While in Class…” show.

• All of our Gallery Members can be found here.
• For more information on our Gallery Level Memberships please click here
• More information on Renee can be found here

 

 -Kristen Carter, Gallery Coordinator

“With Open Arms I” at WMG Does Just That…

The work of Ilse Bolle, With Open Arms I, in the “13^th International Open” show at Woman Made Gallery is a remarkable combination of both mixed media and sculptural work.  This piece entices the eye with its clever interplay of traditional, as well as unconventional materials; items such as copper wire, willows, and handmade paper accentuate the solid design comprised of standard linen, reed, and Tamarisk.  The form itself presents a welcoming sentiment with flowing/ outstretched appendages that seem to engulf the audience in its warm embrace.  The juxtaposition of natural and man-made elements creates an earthy, stable quality, and the curved, organic forms appear fluid– as if the sculpture could move.

This exceptional piece holds significant value as an inspirational  and comforting modern figure, while maintaining an ancient aesthetic that captures and releases an emotional reaction from any who gaze upon it.  With Open Arms I is a twist on abstract, modern sculpture, one that refreshingly illustrates conviviality.

 -Stephanie El Tawil, WMG Intern

 

*13^th International Open  was juried by Laura Kina and is up through April 22, and for more information on Ilse Bolle please refer to:
http://ilsebolle.womanmade.net/gallery.html

Art Work

Art Work: A National Conversation About Art, Labor, and Economics is a nationally distributed newspaper published by Half Letter Press. Half Letter Press is the publishing brainchild of activist art collective, Temporary Services. Within its pages are numerous conversations and thoughtful opinions on art and labor. If you haven’t been able to find a hard copy, Half Letter Press encourages everyone to download it and share it. The infographic pictured above is in Art Work and is particularly signifant for Woman Made, a not-for-profit art gallery.

-Whitney Stoepel, WMG Intern