20 Neighborhoods is Ready to Launch!

From our archive: Participants create one of a kind art-gifts at WMG’s Neighborhood Gift Exchange, our 2011 Community-Art initiative at the Milwaukee Avenue Art Festival

Chicago, IL – Summer 2012 Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is proud to announce the launch of “20 Neighborhoods”, a community-based art project celebrating Woman Made Gallery’s 20th Anniversary. The project is generously supported by The Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF Fund; a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and individual donations.

The gallery is partnering with 20 Chicago neighborhood, arts-based, community-based, and housing organizations to create an art exhibition based on Chicago women’s individual and collective experiences and aspirations for their homes, families, neighborhoods, communities, and city. Woman Made Gallery will host found-object assemblage sculpture workshops for participating women, and in some cases youth, at each organization’s location, culminating in an exhibition of all the participants’ art pieces, as well as an event series, at Woman Made Gallery in October of 2012.

Get Involved!
There are many ways to support this exciting project through volunteering time, donating materials, and adding your voice to the conversation.

Volunteer
Woman Made Gallery is looking for volunteers to help with gathering and organizing supplies for the workshops, transporting materials to our workshop sites, and participating in the workshops as teaching assistants.

Donate
This project is the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to that old button/key/map collection! We are looking for all kinds of treasures and trash, as well as art supplies and tools.  Check out the list at the bottom of this post to see what kinds of things we are looking for. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please follow this link.

Dialog and Learn
Woman Made Gallery is providing a number of opportunities to watch the project grow and add your voice to the conversation. In June we will launch our Kickstarter fundraising campaign with an informative video featuring some of our partner organizations, a new interactive blog featuring weekly updates directly from the 20 Neighborhoods workshop sites, and a variety of social media updates on facebook, twitter, and tumblr. And of course, mark your calendar for the final exhibition:
October 5 – October 31, 2012 – Opening Reception: Friday, October 5, 6-9 p.m.

Get in Touch
If you are interested in volunteering or donating, or just want to learn more, please contact Gallery Coordinator and Project Director Ruby Thorkelson by June 10th. Email admin@womanmade.org or call 312-738-0400.

And the 20 Neighborhoods are…
We are honored to be partnering with a diverse range of organizations all over the City of Chicago. From a shelter for survivors of domestic violence on the North Side to a historic African American performing arts organization on the South Side, our project partners are dedicated to building a healthier and more beautiful Chicago. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with them and the people they serve.

1. Artforward

in partnership with Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Garfield Park

http://www.artforward.org/

http://breakthrough.org/

2. Arts of Life in West Town

http://www.artsoflife.org/

3. Benton House in Bridgeport

http://bentonhouse.org/

4. Center on Halsted in Lakeview

http://www.centeronhalsted.org/

5. Chinese American Service League in Chinatown

http://www.caslservice.org

6. Enlace Chicago in Little Village

http://www.enlacechicago.org/

7. ETA Creative Arts Foundation in Grand Crossing

http://www.etacreativearts.org/

8. Hamdard Center in Edgewater/ East Rogers Park

http://hamdardcenter.org/

9. House of the Good Shepherd in Wrigleyville

http://www.hgschicago.org/

10. Howard Area Community Center in West Rogers Park

http://howardarea.org/

11. Imagine Englewood If in Englewood

http://www.imagineenglewoodif.org/

12. Living Arts Center in Andersonville (Website under construction, focus on art therapy for women veterans of U.S. wars)

13., 14., 15. Mercy Housing Residences in 3 locations: South Loop, Roseland, Old Town

https://www.mercyhousing.org 

16. Mexico Solidarity Center’s Centro Autonomo in Albany Park

http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/about

17. Rumble Arts Center

in partnership with Community Counseling Centers of Chicago

Humboldt Park

http://rumblearts.com/

http://www.c4chicago.org/

18. South Side Community Art Center in Bronzeville

http://www.southsidecommunityartcenter.com 

 19. Yollocalli Arts Reach in Pilsen

http://www.yollocalli.org/

Supply List:
Acrylic Paint
Feathers
Recycled food containers
Jars
Primer
Small rocks, shells
Plastic Lids
Plastic plates
Paint Brushes (bristle or foam)
Hot glue guns
Wood scraps
Butcher paper
Glue gun sticks
Regular glue sticks
Specialty Papers
Newspapers
Fabric, felt
Smocks or aprons
Wire
Paper towels
Scissors
Needles
Aluminum foil
Exacto knives
Thread
Wax paper
Box cutters
Old keys
Old jewelry
Tiles/ Ceramics/ Glass
Pliers
Yarn, ribbon, string
Golden Gel Mediums
Pens
Wire
Chicago maps
Pencil
Small toys
(dice, cars, animals, etc.)
Wire cutters
Small wooden boxes and crates
Pastels
Divided wooded cutlery or
organizing trays
Small old suitcases or makeup
carrying cases
Air drying clay
Wooden dowels
Cardboard
Jeweler’s putty
Ice Resin or other craft resin
Styrofoam
Glass bottles
Plaster of Paris strips or
Plast’rcraft gauze strips
Multiples from restaurant supplies
(toothpicks, straws, patty papers)
Buttons