Jaik Willis

http://myspace.com/jaikwillis

Jaik here, I have 3 last minute shows this weekend in Chicago at Kinetic Playground, and in Champaign-Urbana at the Canopy Club and the Illini Center.

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This Friday Sept 12
THE KINETIC PLAYGROUND - Chicago IL
Jaik Willis with Ifficial Reggae Movement

Reggae starts at 10, Jaik starts at 11:30, Reggae starts up again in the late night.

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this Saturday Sept 13
9pm
Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 1401 West Green Street, Urbana, IL
I'm opening for Organic Grooves at the Union

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Monday Sept 15
9:30pm
Canopy Club
708 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL
I'm opening for my good friends Zmick, having sunday to kick it in town and jam around, I'm thinking there's probably going to be some fun collaboration for monday

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Saturday Sept 27 CAVESTOCK 5 !!

Christmas Tree Ornaments --- Need local artist in the 4th District

I know this is really short notice....

But you get the Christmas Tree Ornaments this week....then sent it back to DC October 1st..
Let me now what you think... e-mail me or call 773/342-0774


As a reminder - Mrs. Bush invited each Member of Congress to submit a name of an artist from his state/district/territory to decorate an ornament that will be displayed on the main White House Christmas tree – the Blue Room tree. Thus far, we have not received an artist’s name from your Member, but because Mrs. Bush and her office want full congressional participation, we have extended the deadline until next Wednesday, August 27, 2008 for submissions.

A few quick details

· Your Member selects an artist to design an ornament that will displayed this holiday season on the Blue Room Christmas tree at the White House

· Your office faxes the name and contact information of the artist to 202-456-3210 NO LATER than Wednesday, August 27, 2008

· Upon receipt of the fax, the artist will receive his ornament (a six-inch round plastic ball that can be decorated in any medium by any method with any design as long as the size of the ornament does not increase tremendously or the images are inappropriate) to decorate.

· The artist must mail the ornament back by October 1, 2008

· Artists who participate and return their ornaments will be invited to the White House during the holiday season to view their design on the Blue Room tree.

Thanks!
Noemi Galvez
Congressional Aide
Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez
2201 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Tel. (773) 342-0774 Fax (773) 342-0776
Email: Noemi.Galvez@mail.house.gov

Studio 307 MOVING to Studio 352

Hello!

Greetings from Joe Sikora and Liz Tuckwell!

There is a lot of art activity happening these days and we want to let you know about it!

Firstly, Studio 307 is MOVING! We will now be located in Studio 352 of the Flat Iron Building. The first Friday in September we will be having a private event in our new studio to unveil the studio and show our newest works…(stay tuned for details).

Currently, we are also running several shows of our newest works within the city and have paintings hanging at the following venues:

The Logan Bar on California and Milwaukee.

Performance Chiropractic Center on Jackson and Des Plains

The Partonadieri Hair Salon on Wells and Illinois

We encourage you to stop by any of these locations and view the artwork!

This Saturday, August 9th, marks the first Milwaukee Ave. Arts festival. (See attached flyer) It is produced by the same folks who produce the Pitchfork festival and should be a ton of fun! We will be located at the elastic arts foundation booth. The festival takes place at Fireman’s Park at Kimball and Milwaukee from 12- 9pm. Join us and other artists for a day of art, live bands, and festivities! And it is all FREE!

We will also be participating in the ART on Track event, the largest mobile gallery show in Chicago. The CTA will be turning several of its orange line trains into moving art galleries, showcasing the works of many local Chicago artists! This will be on August 30 and will circle the loop from 6pm -10pm. What a way to experience art!

Lastly, the weekend of September 12-14th is the Flat Iron’s Smart Show. Join us for a weekend filled with art and fun!

Stay tuned for more details.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

Thank you for your continuous support.

Much Love,

Liz Tuckwell and Jospeh Sikora

“PORTRAITS OF AN IDOL”

When I painted for you before, I tried to tell you about the eminent end of the world. You never listened. It was too hard for you to comprehend. So I met with my backers and they forced me to reconsider my angle of inclination to act and actions. Now I present to you,

“PORTRAITS OF AN IDOL”

Forget about the end, let’s talk about now. Now is the time to remember the way to be for a better present day. Yes, be like Oprah, Obama, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, or even the Shroud of Turin, if you can - just a little. If you must, just a bit. I urge you, I employ you, I command you to be nice.

Slawek Murawski - Sculptor

In my subconsciousness I expect acceptance of my creativity and contact with other people on the basis of artistic performance. My works of sculpture give me the courage in the struggle with the vanquishing of material reality. Link

smARTshow wants you!

The Flat Iron Artists' Association is proud to announce the fall smARTshow.

September 12, 13 & 14, 2008

Accepted guest artists will have 8 to10 feet of running wall space to display their work. Displays will be located in the Flat Iron Arts Building and local businesses participating in the festival.
Space is limited, please respond ASAP.

This three day event will feature the work of over 100 visual artists and include non-stop music and spoken word performances in multiple venues throughout the Wicker Park Buck Town neighborhood.

The participation fee for guest artists is $50.

If you are interested in participating, please reply to this invitation and request an application which will be e-mailed to you.

Accepted artists will be notified by August 1st, 2008. Once accepted, you will be asked to send in your $50. fee. There is no jury fee, pay nothing until after you're notified.

Feel free to contact Kevin Lahvic @ 708-415-6370 if you have any questions.

Florian Retkowski - Studio 311

Florian Retkowski got his masters degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1979 in Gdansk in some part of the world, "globalization" he calls it. Wallesa was born there too! He now works as a freelancer doing mostly sculpture. Florian has several girlfriends including frogs, ducks, horses and one or two nudes as well. If you want to know more about him or what he does he says to stop by his place and ask him personally..

Hiromi Tanaka - Studio 227

"Having always enjoyed observing nature and the world around me, my painting provides me an optimum method for recording such impressions. My work focuses primarily on the beautiful combinations of colors and forms that I am exposed to every day. I begin each painting with simple iconography that I build upon layer by layer. It is this layering which allows my simple statements to be presented with balance and subtlety." Hiromi Tanaka - Studio 227 Visit her gallery in here http://www.theflatironproject.com/Hiromi/index.html

JAIK WILLIS - Gallery

He's a musician, he plays this style of music with a social consciousness that is enhanced by a fast paced rhythm and his voice that has been described as "a most unique soaring falsetto ". He's beard is loooong and a wild red and his socks never match. Jaik willis is also a prolific visual artist that creates the poster artwork for his gigs that he plays at, which are many and all across the country.

His page in MySpace

He has a most unique soaring falsetto and a wild eyes rolled in the back of his head fierce guitar style. He writes original songs, including a fantastic song about Freedom (the gas station). Jaik's sound is somewhere between Anti-Folk and The Band and it is unlike anything I've heard from anyone else. His energy is fierce, his vocal range is inhuman, his beard is long. You've gotta check this guy out.
- ( Independent Media Center 8/03)

In vitro Gallery Presents: Matt Gonzalez

Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Matt Gonzalez

joins In vitro Gallery in Chicago, IL where he exhibits his Collages.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
William Hunter, owner of In vitro Gallery, is pleased to announce that California-based artist Matt Gonzalez has joined his stable of artists and will be represented exclusively by the gallery in the Chicago area. Gonzalez produces collages primarily from found pieces of paper and arranges them to present personal narratives that evoke nostalgia and often trigger embedded memories and associations. His work has earned comparisons to the canonical work of Kurt Schwitters, Robert Motherwell, as well as many Beat era collage artists. Writing in the July 2007 issue of ART LTD / WEST COAST ART & DESIGNMark Van Proyen noted that Gonzalez's works "are earmarked by their elegance and restraint, as well as their focused attention to the aesthetic subtleties of color and shape relationship."

Mr. Gonzalez has previously exhibited at LINCart, Adobe Books Backroom Gallery, Soap, and Johannson Projects --- all well-known avant-garde venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also has taught Art & Politics at the San Francisco Art Institute.

Active in politics, Mr. Gonzalez is currently Ralph Nader's vice-presidential running mate on an Independent ticket. He is a former San Francisco Supervisor and ran for mayor in the city in 2003, and is well known for his progressive views.

A Solo Show at In vitro Gallery is planned for October 2008, with a scheduled opening on October 3rd.

More details on Gonzalez's show will follow.
In vitro
Gallery
is open
12-9 on Thursdays
Fridays and Saturdays 12-6:00PM
First Fridays 12:00 Noon until 9:00PM
and by Appointment.

In vitro
Gallery
the Flatiron Arts Center
1579 North Milwaukee Avenue, Number 214
Chicago, IL 60622
Media Contact: William Hunter
1 (312) 810-0118
William@invitro-gallery.com
www.invitro-gallery.com

CALL FOR ARTISTS "Point of Views"

HI Everybody,

I am very happy to let you know that the Cultural Center Selected the Flat Iron's night slide show called "Point of Views" as one of the featured programs during the Chicago Artists' Month. They are asking for submission of a few artists they can select from to represent us in the Brochure.

I would like to invite you to participate in the selection process and ask you to send me 2 artists names who you think well represent our group of artist as well as the event. Bellow you see the list of artists who confirmed their interest of participation either via e-mail or verbally. My feeling is that many more may choose to participate, so if there is someone you want to nominate and not on the list please contact them to make sure they will do the slide show. (See more about the slide show below)

I will need to send the following info of the artists by Tuesday:

1- Artist name & email address
2- Brief artist biography
3- A head shot of the artist (JPEG attachment preferred)
4- Two or three images of his/her work (JPEG attachment preferred)

I further would like to ask you to reach out to your neighbors in the building, if you see their name is not on the e-mail list,
but you think they would like to be included.

Confirmed List of Artists for the October slide show as of June 21st

Zsofia Otvos zsofio@hotmail.com
Alex Magana (alex@theflatiron.com
Lidoska Giuetti lidoska.art@gmail.com
Kevin Lahvic kevin@kevinlahvic.com
Adam Siegel asiegel@ameritech.net
Kirst Reed rkirst@saic.edu
James jay_ramonagolden@sbcglobal.net
Tomi Tranchita Tstcds@aol.com
Howard Webb (hwebbart@earthlink.net)
W. Hunter (william_a_hunter@yahoo.com)

Laura Clark infinitydelirium@gmail.com
Karen Gagich (karen_gagich@hotmail.com
Maryanne Cataldi
JoJo


I am looking forward hearing from you, and as always I really appreciate any input of ideas and suggestions.

Cheers, Zsofi

zsofia otvos
773.469.7201
zsofio@hotmail.com
www.zsofiaotvos.com
Studio #213

New date for Train Show: August 30th

News from Art on Track:

The CTA has moved the date up a week, to august 30th. This means the deadlines for coming up with a theme for the car are even more important.

Art on Track is an innovative step towards progressing the arts in Chicago by providing young artists with a means to exhibit their work. The project will take the form of a gallery show on a CTA train. The train will be specially arranged to allow room for a massive installation of artwork and atmosphere. The train will circle around the loop allowing patrons to get on and off conveniently at designated stations.

You can visit the website here for more information.

Ivan is leaving the building

Ivan Garcia from Studio 307 leaves the building

Tonite is his last night at the flat iron building, he's moving with Q4. Q4 is an independently owned and run multi-use art space.




Quennect4 Gallery
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
2716 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

In the last months there have been some changes in the building. A new wing was opened where the "Chicago Theater Company" used to be, adding 5 new studios in that area, some of them are of considerable size. I'm still waiting to meet the new artists from that side.
Byron Gin from Studio 323 left a few months ago and Kevin Lahvic is moving to the second floor, I guess it'll leave a few studios open for rent.

Zsofia Otvos

"Otvos' sensual handling of acrylic, laid here in wet-looking daubs, is positively luscious: the incongruity makes it thrilling"

Liz Tuckwell

Liz Tuckwell is a painter currently living in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after graduating with a BA in Spanish from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, she relocated to Amsterdam, The Netherlands where she dedicated herself to her artwork and her love of travel. After nearly ten years of creating art abroad, she returned to her hometown of Chicago in 2005. The main focus of her work is oil painting, which can most accurately be described as Abstract Expressionism.

Joe Sikora - Studio 307

Joe Sikora is long time resident of the flat iron building constantly experimenting with color and subject, evolving, expressing the way he sees things.

JOJO BABY - Studio 206

When it comes to nightlife and entertainment, Jojo has seen it all. Which is pretty fitting, considering that Jojo's lively demeanor, colorful appearance and eye-catching art make him one of Chicago's most visual � and visible � personalities.

Eric David Hamilton - With Respect

Baltazar Castillo - Studio 220

Long time resident in the Flat Iron Arts Building Baltazar Castillos work is is a constant font of creativity and perspective. Some of his work from 2005 here

Dan Colcer - Romanian Artist

Romanian artist based in the US. Currently in Chicago and moving once more to another state. His work has been seen more than a couple times in the wall of the Flat Iron Arts Building in different venues including the "Around the Coyote".

Ewa Bloch - Studio 201

I focus on the fine line between the ‘allowable’ and the ‘intolerable’. My current work Halter-Top Society is a reflection on every day occurrences, uncensored and often unnoticed by the eye. They reoccur in a specific time and are peculiar to a specific place. They are tolerated merely because they occur

Bush revealed

Obama’s heritage

Great snippet from Nicholas D. Kristof's New York Times article.

"Frankly, I worry that enemies of Senator Obama will seize upon details like his grandfather’s Islamic faith or his father’s polygamy to portray him as an alien or a threat to American values. But snobbishness and paranoia ill- become a nation of immigrants, where one of our truest values is to judge people by their own merits, not their pedigrees. If we call ourselves a land of opportunity, then Mr. Obama’s heritage doesn’t threaten American values but showcases them.

The stepgrandson of an illiterate, barefoot woman in this village of mud huts in Africa may be the next president of the United States. Such mobility — powered by education, immigration and hard work — is cause not for disparagement but for celebration."

Home And Away

Hello Everyone, In the past month we have received several invitations for screenings. The first will happen in Chicago and is part of an on going series called "Meet the Filmmakers". It is sponsored by IFP and will take place at Facets Cinemateque, 1517 W Fullerton, Wednesday February 20th at 7pm. The screening is free to IFP and Facets members and costs $5 for the general public. The 2nd invitation came from the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa, Florida. The first screening at Gasparilla will be on on Thursday the 28th and the 2nd will be on Friday the 29th. More info about the event can be found at www.Gasparillafilmfestival.com.

Hope to see you somewhere. Sincerely, Gary Marks Hexagram Productions

email: garmar10@earthlink.net

web: http://www.dreamhavanamovie.com

The work is influenced by my own experiences, views and observations. It is not meant to make any sort of direct statement or explanation; but it is intended to engage the viewer into a new or deeper level of thought and contemplation.

Resin Art

Translucid multicolored elements caught in glass like resin like dream catchers. The new work of Pawel Ciochon with a permanent address in the building after a few years of showing with other artists in other studios and hallways around the building.
Pawel, 42, originaly from a little town in Poland won a visa several years ago to come to this country and work on his art. He shares his studio with his friend an artist that has been around the building for as long as Pawel has and is just as shy. Here are some picture from their studio and their work.

Kass Copeland

My work is rooted in a narrative foundation because words have always evoked images for me. I often use favorite childhood fairy-tales, rhymes or songs, in addition to family folklore, as resources. By focusing on these subjects, I am able to provide a glimpse into the past, but hope to also provide an alternative view of the current world by placing these themes into a contemporary context.

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

Art and Healing Sunday at Studio 330
Sunday, Feb. 3, 2-5pm

Jennifer Glickstein of Wolf Wisdom
www.wolfwisdom.com
offers mini-readings in this fabulous studio in the Flat Iron Arts Building.
10, 15 or 20 minutes, $10, $15, $20.
Jennifer will lend her insight and healing abilities to your situation.

You will walk away feeling clearer, calmer, and ready to tackle the next step,
whatever that may be!

...
The Flat Iron Building is located at 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Studio 330 is on the 3rd floor, and is a magical space shared by a few fantastic artists!

Hope to see you there!

--
Jennifer Glickstein
Wolf Wisdom Healing and Counseling
www.wolfwisdom.com
wolfwisdomhealing@gmail.com
http://www.elementsofelements.blogspot.com/

Chicago Map by Neighborhood

Found this map of Chicago and all of its parks and neighborhoods on "Strange Maps" on the internet along with the text.

"Not many people know that the epithet Windy City was bestowed on Chicago not for meteorological but political reasons – apparently, Chicago politicians at one time were known for the windiness of their speeches. Its Latin motto – Urbs in horto; the city in the garden – reflects its spaciousness, as it sprawls out in all directions save that of Lake Michigan, on the shore of which it was founded.

Another nickname, the Second City, belies the fact that it is now the third-largest US city, after New York and Los Angeles, with almost 3 million in Chicago proper and almost 10 million in its metro area, dubbed ‘Chicagoland’. The Indian term at the origin of the city’s name, shikaakwa, means ’striped skunk’, by the way."

Live Webcam from Wicker Park

Live web cam transmitting from the very center of wicker Park.
Looking out the window of the 3rd floor of the Flat Iron Arts Building to the intersection of Milwaukee coming from the right side of the screen, North Avenue from the right while Damen Avenue crosses them.
This web cam is an experiment at integrating and presenting online one of the busiest intersections in Chicago and maybe the world, there is always something going on in here, irregardless of the day of the week or time of the day.

Getting into face

Bernard Colbert is pleased to announce an exhibit of photographic images, featuring two well known and extremely talented performance artists. An artist reception will be held on Friday, January 18th, 2008, from 6-10pm at Gallery 203, 1579 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, 60622 (the Flat Iron Arts Building).
“Getting Into Face” is a year long project, documenting JoJo and Sal-E on a weekly basis. They transform themselves into living works of art (get into face) before leaving for work, as the hosts of the ‘Boom Boom Room’ nightclub event, at the ‘Green Dolphin Street’, Chicago.

Dorothy Perry - Photographer

My name is Dorothy Perry, and I've been a professional wedding and family photographer in Chicago for over eight years. I have a boutique studio with editorial and commercial clients, but am known best for my intuitive, spontaneous "zen-moment" photo sessions of infants and families in BW film and color digital. It also made me a psychic and intuitive healer in 2005...