shows

    • you're pushing too hard

    • chicago art department 1837 s. halsted chicago, il 60608
    • http://www.chicagoartdepartment.org/2010/12/jan-14-2011-youre-pushing-too-hard/
    • January 14 — 22, 2011

    • Opening Night:
      January 14, 2011
      6 to 10 pm

       

      Chicago Art Department

      You’re Pushing Too Hard converges on borders and boundaries and the tension that develops from their joining point.

      This work reflects those borders/boundaries that exist and/or invoke a personal response to the tension that happens within those borders or at the hot point – and, the relationship that artists have with that point of tension be it geographical, personal or political. Curated by Hilesh Patel

       

      Open through January 21 by appointment.
      Please contact hilesh@gmail.com for viewing.

      Chicago Art Department
      1837 S. Halsted St., Chicago

      Pilsen Neighborhood

       

       

      Artists include:
      Alan Cohen

      Daniel Shea

      Jennifer Ray

      carlsweets

      Kate Joyce

      AREA Chicago

      Sarah Atlas

      Robert Possehl


      Special Thanks to Corinne Rose, Sarah Atlas, AREA Chicago, Black Point Editions.

      video still from castration 

    • a reasonable facsimile

    • Christensen Center Art Gallery Augsburg College, Christensen Center 22nd Avenue South at 7 1/2 Stree
    • http://www.facsimileproject.com/
    • January 10 — February 25, 2011

    • A REASONABLE FACSIMILE

      Based on Charles Baudelaire's claim that a photograph can never be an authentic copy of real life, 12 photographers interpreted one another's photographs in a visual conversation that progressed around the country resulting in a photographic experiment in interpretation that functioned similarly to a game of visual telephone. This project explores the complexity of communication, perception and the inter-connection in an increasingly globalized/digitalized world.

       

      Michelle Westmark began the photo chain by sending a 4"x6" postcard version of her image to be interpreted by the next photographer on the list who had a two week window to photographically respond to the image's subject, content or formal elements. They then sent a 4"x6" postcard version of their photograph to the next photographer on the list. This photographer interpreted the 2nd photo in the chain without seeing the original image and then continued the chain and so on until the conclusion of the project. Photographers and their locations include: Michelle Westmark (MN), Conor King (CO), Lindsay Borden (WA), Sarah Christianson (CA), Yasmin Etemadi (CA), Sarah Baron (NC), Sarah Stacke (NY), Salma Khalil (NY), Rachel Loischild (MA), Jason Flack (MA), Carl Sweets (IL), and Brett Kallusky (MN).

       

      double gulp 

    • analog gravity

    • the WHISTLER 2421 n. milwaukee ave. chicago, illinois
    • http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=59359534595&ref=mf
    • April 3 — May 30, 2009

    • The Whistler Storefront Gallery is so proud to unveil a new installation by carlsweets entitled "analog gravity".

      The piece is strange and lovely pinpricks of light and form, blur and distortion. Indebted to the camera obscura, Moholy-Nagy's OpArt, and Nam June Paik, the work creates a sensation of movement, bursting colors, and shifting shapes by toying with how our eyes perceive.

      I think what excites me most about the piece is that it is also beautiful; not simply trickery and distortion but using that as means to arrive at a work with real formal grace.

      So, please join us for a reception at the Whistler on April 3rd, free PBRs, cash bar, and stick around after for music with Robbie Hamilton and the Pop Machine.

      carlsweets is a Chicago-based artist, primarily a photographer, working at Marwen. He received an MFA from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY in 2007. He has shown in both NYC and Chicago and also internationally. For more of his work visit carlsweets.com

       

      joshua dumas - quieterrors.com

       

       

    • electric

    • happy dog gallery, 1542 n. milwaukee, 2nd floor, chicago
    • http://www.deadlineprojects.com
    • November 15, 2008

    • Exploring the dialogue between art and energy, Deadline Projects presents Electric, a one-night-only multimedia art exhibition at Happy Dog Gallery located in the heart of Wicker Park. Participating local artists display new works in painting, photography, sculpture, stencil, collage, and video in an event designed to stimulate their audience.

      Electric is free and opens to the public on Saturday, November 15th, from 6pm to 11pm. Live music will be provided by Moment Sound.The word 'electric' in itself is powerful, exuding vitality as well as literally referring to a source of energy. Each artist's interpretation of what is electric serves as the inspiration for each work of art in the show. Painter Shawn Ballarin uses 'electric' colors to explore the balancing act of giving and withholding visual information through various types of distortions, emphasizing the idea of communication being lost in translation. Taking another angle on the theme, artist carlsweets examines the 'body electric' and the residual energy we exude. Lauryn Lewis employs electronic media as a means of disassociating literature from its pages, transforming a short story by physical manipulation in a video of her sculpture in action. Sarah Perez takes a look at social dependency on electronic communications for information and stimulation in her new work. And in a true display of art and science, Michael Una exhibits a series of small synthesizers and sound generators built into petri dishes.

      The use of themed group shows to facilitate the production of new work is the cornerstone of Deadline Projects, a Chicago art collective comprised of local emerging artists. Each Deadline Projects event features a central theme with an ever-growing group of participating artists.  All artworks presented at each event are made specifically for the central theme, thus supplying new creative fodder for the artists as well as providing consistently fresh, previously un-exhibited artwork for the unveiling to the masses.  Deadline Projects is dedicated to making each event a unique and memorable experience.

      Participating artists include: Shawn Ballarin, nikki hollander, Rob Jeffries, Blake Parish Lewis, Lauryn Lewis, Sarah Perez, Holly Sabin, Stephen Shapiro, David Soukup, carlsweets, and Michael Una.

      Happy Dog Gallery is located at 1542 N. Milwaukee, 2nd Floor-- just a short walk from the Damen Blue line stop. More information about the show, links to participating artists, and video documentaries of past shows can be found at http://www.deadlineprojects.com.

       

    • 2008 art fair

    • marwen, 833 n. orleans st.
    • http://www.marwen.org/site/epage/52141_431.htm
    • November 7, 2008
    •  


      Discover the artists of Marwen
      at the 3rd annual ART FAIR...

      A unique showcase and sale of work by Marwen students, alumni,
      teaching artists and staff. All proceeds are split 50/50 to benefit Marwen
      and its artists. Be sure not to miss this lively one-night event!
       
      FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008
      6:30pm - 10:00pm
      Food / Drinks / Music
      $20 suggested donation at the door
      Marwen, 833 North Orleans Street, Chicago

      CO-CHAIRS
      Margarita Botty Galindo and Doug Gourley
      HOST COMMITTEE
      Heiji Choy Black, Alfredo Botty, Marcy Carlin,
      Beth Gallagher, Mary Clare Gourley, A.J. Jindal, Alyssa Judlo, Nikita Kejriwal,
      Sejal Parikh, Isa Pressman, and Elizabeth Spenko

      Marwen Logo - Color                      Lowry Hill

           

       


      Marwen educates and inspires Chicago's under-served
      young people through the visual arts.

      The following images are a sample of       work
      that will be featured at Art Fair.

       

       

      Liz (Art Fair)     Art Fair 2008 logo

       

      Antonia (Art Fair)       Antonia (Art Fair)

       


      LEFT TO RIGHT: Elizabeth Chisholm, Teaching Artist and Alumna; Justin Schmitz,
      Teaching Artist; Veronica Martinez, Alumna; Antonia Contro, Staff
       
       
       
      		 
         

    • 2008 Coalition of Photographic Arts Juried Show

    • Walker's Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204
    • http://www.copamilwaukee.com
    • September 12 — October 18, 2008

    • Wisconsin's fastest growing arts organization, the Coalition of Photographic Arts (CoPA) is proud to announce the artists selected for the Second Annual Juried Exhibition. CoPA received 138 entries representing WI, IL, MN, and MI. George Slade, Artistic Director of the Minnesota Center for Photography, juried this year's exhibition; selecting 60 photographs from 42 artists. George said, "These 42 artists have brought unique visions to bear on a wonderfully intriguing assortment of subject matter. Many of the photographs pose questions about representation, and many provide insights that are accessible to those willing to look closely. There are excellent single images in the show and provocative groupings that highlight photography's inherent multiplicity and the complexity of visual story-telling. In successful cases, I was intrigued by how an application expanded my awareness of the world and enhanced my appreciation of the medium's grasp. I look forward to experiencing the exhibition in the galleries." Slade also served as Program Director for the Minnesota Center for Photography/McKnight Foundation Artists Fellowships for Photographers, and is an adjunct assistant curator in the Department of Photography at The Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. Slade's expert eye in selecting work has been honed over the years. He has been a panelist and portfolio reviewer for the Ohio Arts Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, Minnesota State Fair, Fotofest's Meeting Place, and Society for Photographic Education, Critical Mass and Photolucida. Slade is also a prolific writer, having contributed reviews and essays to the Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Photography, Exposure, Photo-eye Booklist, Minnesota History, and other publications. Slade lives in St. Paul with his two daughters. This event follows the successful Inaugural Juried Exhibit held in 2007. Last year's exhibition drew an overwhelming crowd of art patrons, participants, and collectors; including curators from the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The Milwaukee Art Museum's Photography Council collected two of the works in the exhibition. CoPA's goal in organizing such an event is to strengthen its support and awareness of contemporary photography in Milwaukee as well as the Midwest region.

      Juror Awards for CoPA's Second Annual Juried Exhibition include Best in Show, 2nd and 3rd Place Honorable Mention, as well as a People's Choice Award selected by viewers. The exhibition opens with an artist's reception on Friday, September 12, 2008 from 6-9pm at the Walker's
      Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204, (414) 672-2787.

      George Slade will be giving a Gallery talk at 7:00 p.m. on October 10th with a reception with the juror beginning an hour before his talk. A closing reception during Milwaukee's Gallery Night and Day on October 17th will bring CoPA's Second Annual Juried Exhibition to a close on
      Saturday, October 18th.

      The Coalition of Photographic Arts, founded in December 2004, is designed to develop appreciation, promote growth, and support the creation of fine art photography in the greater Milwaukee region. CoPA's goal is to cultivate awareness of contemporary photography through educational programs, lectures, panel discussions, and exhibitions. The organization aims to be the primary resource for fine art photography information in the Milwaukee area. CoPA's website features information about general photography news and events, profiles of member photographers, a listing of photography exhibits currently on display, and resources for members. Connections within the photographic community are fostered through monthly member meetings and yearly exhibitions. Members include artists, students, professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, and collectors.
      For more information please visit the CoPA website at www.copamilwaukee.com.

       

    • SMALLS

    • Brooklyn, NY
    • May 31 — June 22, 2008

    • Burning River Gallery is pleased to announce Smalls, the first exhibition for the Brooklyn art space. Please join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 31 from 7-9pm, or during the exhibition, which continues through June 22. The gallery is located at 217 Spencer Street #2 (between Willoughby & Dekalb).

      In curating Smalls, Natalie Lanese and Inga Huld Tryggvadottir did not disagree once. This is perhaps to say (among other things) that the two curators have a similar sensibility for what they like: a nod to the traditional with plenty of weird thrown in. Though employing, in most cases, conventional media (ie, oil paintings, pen and ink drawings, cast or wood sculptures) these artworks are quirky. A still life of an unlikely “Drawing Machine”, a portrait of a grandpa belly, cast sculptures of underpants, and embroideries with expletives and flora overtaking their frames. The work may be small, but the ordinary media manifests as something curious with the handiwork of these artists.

      The artists in Smalls are Camilla Padgitt-Coles, carlsweets, Eliza Fernand, Natalie Stevens, José Luis Cortés, Erin McWhorter, John Vogt, Stefanie Berks, Hilary Grisham, Hokuto Ichikawa, Joy Whalen, Danny Balgley, Nat Meade, Margaret Coleman, Inga Huld Tryggvadottir, and Natalie Lanese.

      Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-6pm, or by appointment.
      For more information please contact Natalie at Burning River Gallery at: 216.337.3710 or burningrivergallery@gmail.com.

      smalls

    • looptopia

    • chicago loop
    • http://www.looptopia.com
    • May 2 — 3, 2008

    • The weight of a community should not fall upon the shoulders or under the power of just one.  It takes a collaborative effort to raise, maintain, and support an infrastructure decidated to the ideals of a group.  The collaborative artistic vision of carlsweets and engineering prowess of jchonko will test a community support structure hoping to bring awareness to the crumbling infrastructure of American and specifically Chicago communities such as Junction Grove on the southwest side.  To demonstate the power of community, and conversely the failing efforts of few, carlsweets and jchonko propose to build a support structure for a mock community that can only be held upright by the efforts and involvement of populace (specifically, looptopia participants and viewers).  The structure will consist of one or several stationary bikes teathered to a battery generated by the peddling (rotational) power and efforts of willing participants.  The battery will supply power to an air compressor that will fill bellows.  Within the bellows will be a floating ball and when the combined efforts of a group of peddlers supplies enough effort, enough battery power, enough air, the ball will create a seal to an opening at the top.  When the communicable kinematic machine is at peak perfomance, the ball will fill the seal and support a platform upon which an original and collapsable sculptural representation of community will rest.  The model will stay together and upright as long as the ball creates a seal that completely supports the communities platform.  However,  if insufficient energy is generated the seal will slowly leak air allowing the platform to wobble, tip, and eventually topple the community.  Some of the results and observations we are interested in is how many times we must rebuild the sculptural community and start over, and obviously how many persons are willing to donate their efforts in order to help keep the community “afloat.”  The hope is get people interested in communicable efforts and perhaps making that effort applicable and realistic in their own communities.

      Looptopia, the nation's first dusk until dawn artistic celebration, transforms and illuminates the Loop. Inspired by "White Night" events in cities like Rome, Paris and Madrid, Looptopia made its wildly successful debut as the first American event of its kind last year.

      Looptopia turns the city on its head Friday, May 2 as the Loop is transformed into a sensory playground celebrating arts, culture, architecture and insomniacs alike. This all night extravaganza paints the Loop as an urban wonderland - it's trippy, it's ethereal & it's all Chicago. 300 artists. 100 venues. 14 hours. More than 100,000 people. A night you'll never forget.


       

    • these are paintings :: these are photographs

    • cleaver arts, chicago, illinois
    • February 22, 2008

    • the duo of mark benson and carlsweets creates dynamic works that comment on popular culture through painting and photography, respectively.  

      mark benson creates paintings from photographs, including and embellishing upon the properties of optics only achievable through the photographic process.  benson's paintings, photo-realistic as he wants them to be, captures his subjects  in the act of creating photographs, with cell phone magic. the layers are deep, paintings of photographs of people making photographs.  benson comments on instant gratification and shows everyone is capable of being a photographer, but not necessarily an artist.

      carlsweets conversely uses high-definition photography, staging scenes of myth, psycho-sexual exploration, and ritual.  sometimes removing the mystery of creator, the man behind the curtain, carlsweets includes himself in his staged performance-based photographs.   carlsweets ' images, ripped from adolescent rights of passage and perhaps a few bad dreams, emulates the techniques of carvaggio with "pregnant lighting" and a borderless frame, allowing viewers to sit in his photographs as voyeurs, hiding in the recesses
      of a dark corner.
       
      the show will be in chicago cleaver arts, friday february 22, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. //

      TRANSPORT // BLUE LINE (EXIT DIVISION) WALK 3 BLOCKS EAST TO CLEAVER, THEN 3 BLOCKS NORTH TO 1423 N. CLEAVER APT. 2F // RED LINE (EXIT DIVISION) THEN DIVISION BUS WEST TO CLEAVER, THEN WALK 3 BLOCKS NORTH TO 1423 N. CLEAVER APT. 2F // STREET PARKING FOR DRIVERS //

       

    • arte laguna

    • brolo center of art and culture of mogliano veneto (treviso), italy
    • http://www.artelaguna.it/
    • November 25 — December 2, 2007
    • the italian cultural association MoCA (modern contemporary art), in cooperation with arte laguna, organizes the first international prize of photographica art “arte laguna”. the prize is organized under the sponsorship of the venetian academy of fine arts, the region of veneto, the province of treviso, the municipal district of mogliano veneto and the ascom. it is directed to the promotion of the contemporary figurative art.

      Ufficio Stampa - ARTE LAGUNA
      tel 041 5937242 o 041 8627948
      cell 320 5331847 o 3472790099
      tel/fax 041 8627948
      info@artelaguna.it

    • politics of power

    • brooklyn artists gym
    • http://www.brooklynartistsgym.com/events.html
    • November 19 — December 8, 2007
    • BAG gallery juried show featuring the theme politics of power
      opening reception: december 1, 6p-9p

      Power is the marked ability to accomplish and to possess or exercise authority or influence. The politics of power is the mechanics of this action.

      The artwork in the show Politics of Power at BAG Gallery is a collection of thought provoking work that focuses on power.

      While some artwork make strong statements, others question.

      Can an artist at the crossroads of art, politics and truth help decipher the mechanics of power? Or does the mixture of politics and art manifest political correctness and censorship? Where is the room for risk?

      In the present political climate politics has been commercialized and handled down to the last detail. The consequence is that controversial issues of our time are migrating to art. The art in this show provokes reflection. It does not allow you to be a passive participant.

      An important role of art is to stimulate reflection and debate about the key issues of our time. The work in the Politics of Power show meets this need. The artists in this show support active discourse and inspire thought and the collectors who buy these works show support for the ideas expressed.



      BAG gallery
      168 7th street, 3rd floor
      brooklyn, ny 11215
      info@brooklynartistsgym.com
      718.858.9069

    • chicago art open

    • iron studios
    • http://www.caconline.org/ArtOpen.asp
    • October 4 — 27, 2007
    • opening reception and benefit: october 5, 6p-10p
      show dates: october 4 - 27

      iron studios
      3636 south iron street
      chicago, illinois 60609

      cac art open

    • pax americana

    • pratt institute
    • http://www.carlsweets.com/project1.php
    • May 14 — 18, 2007

    • master of fine arts thesis exhibition

      opening reception: monday, may 14, 2007, 6p - 9p

      show dates: may 14 - 18, 2007, 10a - 5p, or by appointment

      stueben south gallery

      pratt institute

      200 willoughby avenue

      brooklyn, ny 11205

      g-train @ clinton-washington 

      pratt.edu for further directions