ART APPEAL: TAKE IN THE CITY’S ART SCENE WITH GALLERY WEEKEND CHICAGO
Gallery Weekend Chicago puts the focus on top-notch area art offerings
Expo Chicago kicks off Thursday, bringing in blue-chip art dealers from around the world for four days of displays, discussions and art-centric social events. But back in 2011, before Expo existed, gallerist Monique Meloche had a more particular goal in mind: to support the brick-andmortar art spaces in our own backyard. So she dreamed up Gallery Weekend Chicago (Sept. 19-22), an event that entices out-of-town collectors by teaming up local galleries with top-tier restaurants and a host hotel, then offering a weekend of guided art tours, artist talks, studio visits and VIP parties. Lucky for us, the third annual event’s 13 participating galleries still welcome average art lovers as well as hotshot collectors. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find at GWC (and view the full schedule of events at Galleryweekendchicago.com).
Andrew Rafacz Gallery **
New York artist Wendy White’s text-based installation integrates collage, painting and digital material — fitting for this gallery’s hip, vernacular aesthetic. Miami’s Pepe Mar presents loud, layered works in the back room. 835 W. Washington, second floor;
Andrewrafacz.com
Aspect/Ratio **
This West Loop newcomer stands out as Chicago’s only dedicated video gallery, helmed by Columbia College faculty and veteran video collector Jefferson Godard. This month, New York artist Casilda Sánchez’s performative work is screened. 119 N. Peoria, unit 3D; Aspectratioprojects.com
Carrie Secrist Gallery **
Longtime Chicago gallerista Secrist takes on young Chicago painter Andrew Holmquist, whose deft hand articulates multiple
styles in each painting. 835 W. Washington, first floor; Secristgallery.com
Document **
This photography repository doubles as a museum-quality printer. On the walls: Scott Fortino’s photographs make a departure from his life’s work, images that explore the institutions he perambulates in his day job as a Chicago Police Department patrol officer. 845 W. Washington, third floor; Documentspace.org
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Brooklyn-based artist Spencer Finch probes color, light and natural phenomena using materials ranging from watercolors to solar panels. Hoffman, the grande dame of Chicago’s gallery scene, also presents a local mainstay, painter Judy Ledgerwood. 118 N. Peoria, suite 1A;
Rhoffmangallery.com
threewalls **
The sole nonprofit among GWC galleries, this Midwestern-artist career bolsterer displays affordable goodies from its Community Supported Art (CSA) program. Find works from Chicago notables including Jan Tichy and Molly Zuckerman-Hartung. 119 N. Peoria, suite 2D; Three-walls.org
Volume Gallery
Chicago’s lone high-design gallery releases work in editioned “volumes.” Midwesterner Jonathan Muecke’s Volume 16 features mindbending takes on tables and other be-legged furniture. 845 W. Washington, third floor;
Wvvolumes.com
Western Exhibitions **
Artist Rachel Niffenegger blows out two rooms with a “ghostly erotic club,” featuring her opulently distressed fabrications. On Friday night, look for craft cocktails inspired by Niffenegger’s and fellow artist Paul Nudd’s eerie works. 845 W. Washington, second floor; Western
exhibitions.com
WEST TOWN Corbett vs. Dempsey
The gallery, which has rocketed to international acclaim in recent years, holds Rebecca Morris’s first Chicago show since her influential 2005 Renaissance Society exhibit that spawned a legion of casual-abstraction imitators. The elegant collages of Robert Nickle also make an appearance. 1120 N. Ashland Ave, third floor;
Corbettvsdempsey.com
The Mission
Houston transplant Sebastian Campos features contemporary artists from the Americas. This month, Argentinian Gustavo Díaz uses math — and often ink or plastic — to create controlled chaos. 1431 W. Chicago; Themissionprojects.com
moniquemeloche
Meloche, who founded Gallery Weekend Chicago with her usual verve, showcases two artists with Chicago roots. Rashid Johnson, who rose to prominence with the gallerist, installs art on the wall flanking Meloche’s glass-cube gallery, while the interior belongs to Iñigo ManglanoOvalle, a Northwestern professor whose preoccupation with the environment always awes. 2154 W. Division; Moniquemeloche.com
JOHN HANCOCK BUILDING Richard Gray Gallery **
For its 50th anniversary, Chicago’s fanciest gallery shows work by iconic, figurative artist Alex Katz. 875 N. Michigan, suite 3800; Richard
graygallery.com
Valerie Carberry Gallery
Three Chicago all-stars — painters Julia Fish and Jim Lutes and photographer Laura Letinsky — will be featured by the gallery, which also specializes in historic modern artwork. 875 N. Michigan, suite 3860; Valeriecarberry.com **The following galleries are open until 8 p.m. Friday.