Art in the Time of Corona: Rachel Rosner Launches Evanston Loves Nature Coloring Book

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Art in the Time of Corona Interview Series 

w Evanston Made Members 

The "Art in the Time of Corona" interview series features interviews Evanston Made members about the projects that have come to life during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Listen to my conversation with Nature Evangelist Rachel Rosner who worked with a team of Evanston Made members to create the Evanston Loves Nature coloring book. This project has been in production for quite some time, but got pushed up and put online, just in time to get kids busy with art projects they can do from their windows while indoors and home from school.

This coloring book, along with several other Earth Month events, provides Rachel the platform she needs to help people learn to love and care for the environment.

In working with Evanston Made Co-Director Liz Cramer, and artists Ron Cramer, Shruti Vijay, Mardy Sears, Lisa Haskin and Jane Sloss, Rachel was able to provide kids ages 4-18yo with activities to help them engage with Evanston green spaces.

Rachel is a member of Citizens Greener Evanston, "(CGE) works to make Evanston a more environmentally just, sustainable, and resilient community. Our vision is to have Evanston recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable cities in the country."

We are grateful for Rachel and the team of creatives who made this coloring book happen! The coloring book is available for download at evanstonmade.org/evanston-loves-nature-coloring-book/

This coloring book is part of Art for Earth Month, just one of many activities and events planned in Evanston to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! Learn more at evanstonmade.org/art-for-the-earth/

Up to something interesting? And a member of Evanston Made? Reach out to thelisadshow[at]gmail.com with an interview request!

Evanston Made is designed to connect Evanston artists with the public through programming, events, exhibits and more. Join as an artist, arts producer, arts patron, etc. at evanstonmade.org/membership/

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with Lisa Degliantoni and creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery at 1100 Florence Ave in Evanston, IL.

Art in the Time of Corona: Ben Blount Launches New Letterpress Poster Line

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the interview from your browser, or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Art in the Time of Corona Interview Series 

w Evanston Made Members 

The "Art in the Time of Corona" interview series features interviews Evanston Made members about the projects that have come to life during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Listen to my conversation with letterpress artist Ben Blount who created a new line of posters with inspirational and directive messages like; Keep Your Distance. 

Ben is placing these posters in the window of his studio at 1123 Florence Avenue. He was inspired by Amanda Evanston's "Thank you helpers" banner on her front porch at Florence and Dempster and the virtual gallery and "Everything will be okay" signs at 1100 Florence Gallery at Florence Avenue and Greenleaf. 

With a new studio schedule during the Covid-19 outbreak, Ben is seeing new pedestrians in his window everyday (go wave at him 7-9a) and is mulling over crowd-sourcing messages for his next batch of posters. We're grateful for creatives like Ben who live and work in Evanston, they help raise the bar for all of us to be better neighbors and busier artists! 

Reach out to Ben directly to purchase one of these cool new posters for your window at blountobjects.com

Up to something interesting? And a member of Evanston Made? Reach out to thelisadshow[at]gmail.com with an interview request!

Evanston Made is designed to connect Evanston artists with the public through programming, events, exhibits and more. Join as an artist, arts producer, arts patron, etc. at evanstonmade.org/membership/

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery at 1100 Florence Ave in Evanston, IL. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Art in the Time of Corona: Alice George Launches Four Hands Collab

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the interview from your browser, or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Art in the Time of Corona Interview Series 

w Evanston Made Members 

The "Art in the Time of Corona" interview series features interviews Evanston Made members about the projects that have come to life during the Covid-19 outbreak.

This series begins with artist Alice George who launched the Four Hands Collab, an initiative launched in 2019, and adapting now during the COVID-19 crisis—encouraging collaboration, including everything from parallel-play to co-creation. Special focus on art-makers living in Evanston, IL, but open to anyone.

Joyce Elias

Alice invites creatives via prompts, to share work on her website gallery. The next deadline is 3/29 at noon, Challenge #2 What Sustains. Learn how to participate at alicegeorge.org, and upload images to Instagram using #fourhandscollab #evanstonmade

Up to something interesting? And a member of Evanston Made? Reach out to thelisadshow[at]gmail.com with an interview request!

Evanston Made is designed to connect Evanston artists with the public through programming, events, exhibits and more. Join as an artist, arts producer, arts patron, etc. at evanstonmade.org/membership/

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery at 1100 Florence Ave in Evanston, IL. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Amy Gertler's Evolution of Dissolution Exhibit

Click on the on white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the podcast from this browser or visit soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Outsider artist and divorce attorney Amy Gertler's exhibit, The Evolution of Dissolution (Disillusion) takes viewers on a dark, whimsical, satirical journey of love, marriage and divorce.

On display at 1100 Florence Gallery March 7 - 20, 2020, will be sculpture, paintings, found objects and new works by Amy Gertler.

This conversation follows Amy's inspiration for the show (her late father's 1970 presentation on the "Ideal Marriage" and Ellen Greene's Midwestern! Punk! Mom! DIY Retrospective), her career as a divorce attorney, and the mashup of art/work/life that many of the installations are based on.

Join us for the Opening Reception, Saturday, March 7, 6-9p, at 1100 Florence Gallery in Evanston as part of the First Saturday Evanston Art Events produced by Evanston Made.

First Saturday Evanston Art Events happen monthly, and invite the public to experience Evanston's Art Scene at art openings, pop up sales, community art making and more. It's a great day to Collect Evanston Art. List below of free events, open to the public.

Open Studio: Gillian Muller-Greyz, 1423 Hinman Ave., 10a-4p

Sarah Chapman (jewelry), Steve Skinner (pottery), Darlys Ewoldt (metal sculpture), SPACE900, 816 Dempster St., 10a - 8:30p

Melissa Ann Pinney, Open Studio Project Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave., 3-5p

Dana Phillips, Ice House Gallery, 609 South Blvd, 5-7p

Chris Froeter's “Voices”, The Saw Room at Alley Gallery, 1712 Sherman Ave., 5-8p

Kristen Neveu & elisa ann lindstrom, Creative Coworking, 922 Davis St., 5-7p

Cécile Trentini, One River School of Art + Design, 1033 Davis St., 5-7p

Amy Gertler, 1100 Florence Gallery, 1100 Florence Ave., 6-9p

Ben Blount Studio Party, 1123 Florence Ave., 6-9p,

De Colores Group Show, 2113 Greenleaf #6, 6:30-8:30p

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Cécile Trentini's Daily Walking Exhibit

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the podcast from your browser or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Artist Cécile Trentini hated to exercise until she added a simple twist, art making. This is how it went, walk for 15 minutes at a high speed then stop and take a photo, turn around, walk back. She then printed the photo on fabric, collected 100 of such photos and created a quilt. Over the quilted pieces, she sewed painterly elements with thread. The end result is a healthier Trentini and a elegant collection of painterly quilts.

This conversation covers the life of this project to date and where it plans to go.

See Trentini's work on display at One River School in Downtown Evanston, 1033 Davis Street. Opening party this Saturday, March 7, 5-7p. Work is on display thru March 20.

Artist Statement

I sew, I dye, I print, I walk, I take pho­tos, I col­lect, I cro­chet, I stitch, I draw...

I de­sign and dis­card, I plan pre­cise­ly and de­cide in­tu­itive­ly, I work in large and small for­mats, I love the rhythm of re­­pe­ti­tions and ex­plore the di­ver­si­ty of vari­a­tions, I de­fine rules of the game and play with serendip­i­ty, I work with va­­­lu­able ma­te­ri­als and with every­day ob­jects...- Cécile Trentini

See more work at https://www.ceciletrentini.ch

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Cécile's opening exhibit is part of Evanston Made's First Saturday Evanston Art Events, free happenings across Evanston the first Saturday of every month. 

First Saturday Evanston Art Events, 3/7. Experience Evanston's Art Scene at art openings, pop up sales, community art making & more. #collectevanstonart

Open Studio: Gillian Muller-Greyz, 1423 Hinman Ave., 10a-4p

Sarah Chapman (jewelry), Steve Skinner (pottery), Darlys Ewoldt (metal sculpture), SPACE900, 816 Dempster St., 10a - 8:30p

Melissa Ann Pinney, Open Studio Project Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave., 3-5p

Dana Phillips, Ice House Gallery, 609 South Blvd, 5-7p

Chris Froeter's “Voices”, The Saw Room at Alley Gallery, 1712 Sherman Ave., 5-8p

Kristen Neveu & elisa ann lindstrom, Creative Coworking, 922 Davis St., 5-7p

Cécile Trentini, One River School of Art + Design, 1033 Davis St., 5-7p

Amy Gertler, 1100 Florence Gallery, 1100 Florence Ave., 6-9p

De Colores Group Show, 2113 Greenleaf #6, 6:30-8:30p

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Audrey Nifennegger's Grand Artists Book House Plan!

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Beyond excited to share this interview with Audrey Niffenegger on her grand plans to bring Artists Book House to life inside the Harley Clarke Mansion in Evanston, IL.

Listen to our discussion on her ambitious and exciting plan, where she's gathered a growing number of book artists, talented board, architect and landscape architecture team to make this dream a reality, all in the name of Art Books!

The Artists Book House proposal is presented to the City of Evanston on Feb. 28, see how you can get involved either with a letter of support or a financial pledge. at artistsbookhouse.org

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Gay Riseborough on Loving to Draw, Building an Art Career and more

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the podcast from this browser or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Evanston Artist, Public Art Advocate, Teacher and more, Gay Riseborough talks about loving drawing and making a life as an artist. Her upcoming exhibit at 1100 Florence Gallery, Go Home with a Nude features drawings & sketches done in the studio, priced to sell. Charcoal, conté crayon, graphite, watercolor, pastel on paper, ranging from (common) newsprint to Strathmore and watercolor paper. Join us for the Opening Party, 1100 Florence Ave, Jan. 4, 5-8p.

Artist Statement: For many years, Gay ran an Open Figure Studio for drop-in artists, both at 1121 and, then, 1123 Florence and, finally, at 1402 Greenleaf. Most of these works are studies from these sessions, both quick sketch and long pose. As a painter, primarily of figure and portrait, she felt it critical to keep up her observational, graphic skills. The sheer volume of displayable work here shows her passion for drawing.

Bio:

An illustrator by training (Washington University in St. Louis,) then a teacher for 36 years at the Evanston Art Center, the School of the Art Institute, and finally in her own studio, Gay (Riseborough) has done hundreds of portrait commissions, many of which hang in prestigious university collections. Represented by Portraits Chicago and Wood St. Gallery, where her non-portrait work was shown. Best known for her “Dark Times”, autobiographical narrative painting series. In 1986, she moved into a building on Florence which was already the origin of the arts neighborhood there. Has served on the Public Art Committee and, now, the Evanston Arts Council, where she is Chair of Public Art. Retired from visual art-making now, learning to play the cello.

Anne Hayden Stevens on breaking the rules and her latest installation, The Philosopher Walks

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the podcast from this browser or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

In this conversation we talk about Anne’s explorations in painting landscapes. At this stage in her career, she has found herself breaking all the rules she’s learned, playing with ideas like “what if gravity stopped working” and “where are all the women in landscape paintings” throughout time. 

In 2019, Anne and I shared numerous platforms to collaborate in the arts, like the Pitner Group Show for Evanston Made this past June. At the Pitner warehouse, Anne found the time and space to play with new mediums (spray paint) and size (a 360 degree prototype for The Philosopher Walks). These collaborations have been key in growing awareness for the thriving contemporary art scene in Evanston

Anne’s recent installation, The Philosopher Walks, has made its way from the Hyde Park Art Center in Hyde Park Chicago to One River School of Art + Design in Evanston, is yet another successful collaboration between us, I am currently the Director of the One River School of Art + Design Evanston, and curate the storefront gallery with area artist's works.

The “The Philosopher Walks” installation is 13’Hx15’, comprised of five panels, based on a yearlong study of Chinese landscape painting. Exhibition Dates: December 7, 2019 - December 13, 2019 • Opening Reception: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 5-8p.

Artist Statement

The Philosopher Walks, 2019

Archival prints with spray paint 2019

Five panels (L to R): Refuge, Waterfall, Mountains, Rockfall, Bridge

These pieces are archival prints built from painting fragments that have been touched with spray paint. They are based on a yearlong study of Chinese landscape painting. How things feel, versus how they appear, is a central concern of Chinese landscape painting, and has been for centuries. As I read and I studied I asked: How do these paintings work, both formally and emotionally? Who made them? What do the elements included in the paintings mean?

I have been able to answer most of my questions, but they led to more questions. Where are the women painters in this history? Where are the female scholars and philosophers? Does the art historical record even question the absence of women artists and thinkers in this tradition?

As I studied, I inserted a character into the paintings that was absent from the story I was reading. She is a female philosopher who walks the mountains, thinking and breathing, sweating and being scared: being human. I know she was there then, so I added her now.

Typically the landscape and the horizon reinforce our sense of order. Gravity reigns. Trees and rocks and water all fall in a set of predictable lines, drawn to the core of the earth. Our bodies are also dictated by the gravitational pull.

Our minds, meanwhile, are unconstrained by gravity. We think in giant leaps and bounds, across time, incessantly observing, ruminating, dreaming. Our mind is free to wander anywhere.

In this work, the Philosopher walks as the world falls away around her. The mountains shear off the side of the path, tumbling against trees and rocks and water. Clouds of mist rear up and mask the mountains still intact in the distance. The world she feels is more infinite and intimate than the world she sees.

Artist Bio

Anne Hayden Stevens is a painter and printmaker living outside Chicago, IL. She has anMA in Visual Studies from the University of California at Berkeley, and a BFA in Printmaking and Drawing from California College of the Arts.

Hayden Stevens’ work ranges across painting, drawing, printmaking and public art. Her work has been exhibited in Chicago at the Evanston Art Center, Governor's State University Art Gallery, The Koehnline Museum of Art, and at the Harold Washington Library Center during Chicago Artists Month. Public art pieces are located on Rainier Avenue South in Seattle, the Seattle Municipal Tower, and the University of Washington.

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Artist Rose Camastro-Pritchett lands back in Evanston

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle to listen to the podcast from this blog or visit https://soundcloud.com/lisa-degliantoni

Rose Camastro-Pritchett is a visual and performance-art artist whose work is informed by her experiences living in Saudi Arabia, Europe, North Wales and China. After many decades, she has returned to Evanston where she grew up. (I am thrilled she has returned to Evanston!)

It’s my great pleasure to interview Rose; we are working together to bring several projects of her projects to Evanston. Part of Terrain Biennial Evanston, Rose’s Cocoons are installed at my live/work space, 1100 Florence Gallery, thru Nov. 11. The cocoons in the installation are the result of performances where individuals were wrapped and sewn into yards of sheer cloth, forming a cocoon; at the end of each performance, they were cut out. Rose reworked these cocoons – the remains of the passage- into fiber sculptures that hold their stories. 

We also discuss Rose’s “Comfort Women” project, coming to 1100 Florence in October 2020. ("Comfort Women" refers to the more than 2,000 women kidnapped by the Japanese military and housed at “comfort stations” (brothels) all over China after the Nanking Massacre in 1940.) The exhibit, first show, at Menlo College, CA, includes art made using pulp painting, hand stitching, and silk thread on handmade paper. “I used stitching because that’s considered women’s work. What I really worked hard on was the imaging. I wanted to illustrate the horror of the comfort women story in a way that the audience could engage with rather than be shocked.” Click here to read more about this exhibit.

Learn more about Rose’s body of work www.rosecamastropritchett.com and visit 1100florence.com to see images of the Cocoons on display thru Nov. 17, make an appointment to see the installation evanstonmade[at]gmail.com. 

Terrain Biennial Evanston is a temporary public art exhibition running in Evanston for six weeks, October 01-November 15, 2019. Click here to see a map of installations in Evanston.

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The Lisa D Show podcast features interviews and conversations with creatives living and working in Evanston, IL. Recordings typically happen in the 1100 Florence Gallery. Learn more about host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow.blogspot.com

Artist Ellen Greene’s Midwestern! Punk! Mom! Retrospective

Artist Ellen Greene’s Midwestern! Punk! Mom! Retrospective! is on exhibit this September at 1100 Florence Gallery. The opening party is tonight, 6p-late, it will go late, there is a lot to see.

Ellen’s maximalist approach to her installation takes viewers through endless narratives and objects, with floor to ceiling art & objects. In this interview, we talk about giving permission to artists to exhibit work the way it works for the work, which this show has done in spades.  

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 7, 6-8p

Artist Talk, Sunday, September 15, 3-5p

Closing Party, September 19, 6-8p

1100 Florence Gallery is located at 1100 Florence Avenue in Evanston, IL 60202. Gallery hours are Sunday 12-5p, Wednesday 6-8p and Friday 6-8p. View art by appointment by emailing 1100florencegallery[at]gmail.com. Visit 1100florence.com for more information.

The Lisa D Show Podcast features 20-minute, unedited interviews with creatives living and working in Evanston.