All posts tagged: Co-Prosperity Sphere

“Prisoners Are Always Resisting”: The 2018 Prison Strike

Published by Jordan Sarti

Children’s laughter bounced off the walls of the Co-Prosperity Sphere gallery as a group of about 40 people gathered for a “Day of Solidarity” on August 4 in support of an upcoming national prison strike. All afternoon, people filtered in and out as organizers from Milwaukee to Oaxaca spoke, supporting organizations sold t-shirts and zines to fund strikers’ commissary, volunteers at a letter-writing station matched attendees with incarcerated pen pals, and musicians performed. The strike, set to begin August 21 and end September 9, was called for by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, an incarcerated group of prisoner rights advocates. After a riot at Lee Correctional Facility in South Carolina left seven inmates dead in April of this year, the group decided that they could no longer wait for the ideal conditions for a strike, as these kinds of tragedies would keep happening unless prisoners worked together. In an August 11 statement, the group wrote, “Prisoners understand they are being treated as animals. We know that our conditions are causing physical harm and deaths that could be …

Tell the Next Mayor, Why Art Matters.

Published by Nicolette Caldwell

On Friday night, February 11th, 2011, SIFC partnered up with The Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS) at their space in Pilsen. This was not just any event—it was an occasion, an opportunity for the art communities and political figures in Chicago to meet and engage in conversation with one another. Other partnering organizations included: Three Walls, Cro, New City, Chicago Reader, WBEZ Radio, Gozamos, Urban Gateways, Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago Public Art Group, The Chicago Art Department, Co-Prosperity Sphere, The Institute For Arts entrepreneurship and Barrio Bonito Urban Showcase. SIFC set up shop with a video confessional booth.  We invited anyone to address the mayoral candidates by answering one question: “Why is art in Chicago important to you, and why should it be supported by our next mayor of Chicago?” Lauren Pacheco and Peter Kepha (directors and founders of The Chicago Urban Art Society) have been pushing hard for progressive citywide support of the arts. They have met with numerous aldermen and are two of the most important ambassadors of art in the city of …

A Mayoral Engagement: What Does Art in Chicago Mean to You?

Published by Nicolette Caldwell

It is a Mayoral Engagement at The Chicago Urban Art Society. Join SIFC at Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS) this Friday February 11th, 2011 for the Mayoral Meet and Greet for the Arts! SIFC will be asking, “What Does Art in Chicago Mean to You?” This is a great opportunity to engage in conversation and dialogue with other arts-minded people, local arts organizations, artists and arts educators. All mayoral candidates have been personally invited! On Friday, we are turning the SIFC photobooth into a videobooth confessional and asking one question all night long, “What does art in Chicago mean to you?” Help CUAS and the rest of Chicago’s art advocates in this extra campaign effort get ART elected!

Abraham Ritchie: One Piece of the Pie

Published by Nicolette Caldwell

MEET ABRAHAM RITCHIE, CONTEMPORARY ART CRITIC IN CHICAGO A few weeks ago Abraham Ritchie set an hour aside during his lunch break at the Art Institute (in the Manet room) to sit and talk about his career as a contemporary art critic in Chicago. Abraham elaborated on how he established his career as an art critic and what his role as a contemporary art critic should be. Moreover, he provided an incredibly coherent, sincere and well-informed perspective about the condition of art in Chicago and some solutions that may help remedy some of the shortcomings that art has had in Chicago over the last few years. Abraham Ritchie is unapologetic and speaks eloquently about his critical opinions. Perhaps this is the reason why his writing is well received. Below is the shortened version of a larger transcript from the interview. Because of the depth and breadth of the interview each segment is categorized with a broad heading instead of the original questions. INTRODUCTION My name is Abraham Ritchie I am the senior editor for ArtSlant …

Unleash the lease. Torluemke and Soto

Published by Nicolette Caldwell

Joshua Ginsberg owner and founder of Chicago Art Leasing LLC discussed with me why he thinks leasing art is a great way to support artists aside from selling artwork outright, “it takes the hassle out of the art buying process because the 300+ artists on our roster gives an eclectic mix of art that you won’t always find in most commercial galleries and we offer a varied price range depending on the clients needs ,” says Ginsberg. Artwork by Josh Garrett, Shane Swank, Beatriz Ledezma, and Jori Foreman are only four examples of the 300+ artists on Chicago Art Leasing’s roster. Read the entire interview transcribed when the SIFC Archive launches on October 30th, 2010. Tom Torluemke brings a whole new meaning to “Exhibition”, really. Check out the amazingly prolific showcase of Torluemke’s work entitled, “The Exhibitionist” at the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Stay tuned for the audio excerpt of our discussion when we fully launch in October. The opening of Homily at the ebersmoore space not only features solo work by Edra Soto but you will also find work by Carmen …