All posts tagged: The Silver Room

A Little Bit of Debbie Harry, a Little Bit of Jimi: A Prom Night Interview with Sadie Woods

Published by Sixty Inches From Center

Do you know Sadie Woods? If you’ve shared a room with her, that moment is likely etched in your memory. Sadie is a globetrotting curator, DJ, and artist whose style is impossible to miss. It is because of her sophisticated fashion sense that we have invited her to be one of our Chaperones for Prom Night.  This means if you’re coming to the event dressed to the nines and hoping to make it onto the Prom Court, then her eyes are a pair you want to catch. As we at Sixty, Autotelic Studios and The Perch prepare for the dance, we took a moment to have Sadie tell us about her relationship to fashion just before she jet-sets to Cuba.   Sixty Inches From Center: How would you describe your personal style? Sadie Woods: Mood. Refined grit with a little disco bling; hobo chic with a pinch of glam. I love to layer and incorporate metallic accents with accessories. SIFC: When did you first come into your own fashion sense? SW: I learned to do my hair …

100 Canvases, 1 Curator | A Few Words With Stuart Hall

Published by Tempestt Hazel

Due to their love for The Silver Room’s Sound System Block Party and as a gesture of gratitude for the blood, sweat and tears that go into it, one hundred artists from across the city and the nation each donated a 12in. x 12in. original piece for the fundraising event. I took a trip to The Silver Room and witnessed the moments of planning and brainstorming for the 100 Canvases For A Better World Exhibition just before the show started to go up. Much like a composer who has the challenge of bringing different instruments together in a way that makes sense, Stuart Hall, the exhibition’s curator, had to take one hundred canvases by one hundred vastly different artists and bring them together in a way that spoke to the space, the theme of ‘A Better World’ and a potential buyer of the work. I bet you didn’t know that another term for curator is problem-solver.  During the installation process, I got the chance to ask Stuart several questions about his involvement in the events …

The Silver Room That’s Gold: An Interview with Eric Williams, Pt. 2

Published by Tempestt Hazel

This is the second part of an interview with The Silver Room owner Eric Williams, just in time for the 9th Annual Sound System Block Party. Did you catch part one? If not, check out ‘The Silver Room That’s Gold: An Interview with Eric Williams, Pt. 1’. Tempestt Hazel: What I think is so great about The Silver Room is that it allows for such diverse programming to happen in it. Having readings, exhibitions, music, clothing, etc. around those themes seems natural. Eric Williams: It is. And it’s not all me. A lot of times it comes from other people who understand that the space is available for a different kind of voice to be spoken. If they get what the space is they approach me [with an idea] and I say, “Yea, let’s do it.” That way, I’m not always depending on myself to come up with what’s next. TH: Roughly how many shows have you had here? EW: Maybe 20? Hebru Brantley, Krista Franklin and Tyrue ‘Slang’ Jones [have each] had a show …

The Silver Room That’s Gold: An Interview with Eric Williams, Pt. 1

Published by Tempestt Hazel

Maintaining a successful art space is no easy task. Those of us who are regulars within the Chicago arts circuit have seen a fair share of galleries, alternative spaces and performance venues come and go. When you find one that stands the test of time it most likely means they’re onto something. After thirteen years of providing a platform and outlet for many up-and-coming or local superstar artists, musicians and artisans–and even the general public through Grown Folks Stories–it’s safe to say that Eric Williams, the owner of The Silver Room, has struck gold (or silver).  He has done this through embracing versatility and flexibility, therefore allowing his business and even his own career path to transform and grow when necessary. In light of the 9th Annual Sound System Block Party happening this Saturday, July 16th, I sat down with Eric to get the full story of how he went from stock broker turned successful street peddler, to the owner of a place that has given new meaning to the term multi-functional. (Note: This is …