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.