The Urban Art Retreat | and Sisters’ Place

June is PRIDE Month! Which means it is time for Chicago Urban Art Retreat’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Queer Art Show.

Here are the guidelines for artists to follow when submitting art for the show: art should be about serious issues the LGBT community is facing. Please remember that children come to the gallery. The Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center programs are about social justice issues. This a great opportunity to inform and educate people about important issues LGBTQ folks face all the time. Along with your art, please submit 1000+ words about the importance of your issue (the words can be anonymous)— these will go into a notebook associated with the show for attendees to contribute to as well. For instance, maybe your art is about civil rights; write a narrative about the civil rights issues LGBTQ people face. Other art ideas include how LGBTQ people are viewed, LQBTQ parenting, LGBTQ people wanting to help their dying partner etc. Give careful consideration to the theme of the show and the theme of your art and narrative. We are, of course, especially interested in positive images of LGBTQ people and the community.

Artists and non-artists, LGBTQ folks, interested in showing their work in this June 2012 gallery show should email images of their work to contact@urbanartretreat.com.
This show will open at the Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center with a reception on June 2 at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, and will be shown all throughout June, closing on June 30 at 4 pm.

Artists should plan to deliver their art to the gallery on May 26 between 11 am-4 pm, or make an appointment via email to deliver art at a different time through May 31. After the conclusion of the show, artist may pick up their work at 4 pm on June 30, or by appointment through July 3. Art remaining at CUARC after this date will face storage fees.

Outsider art is welcome. Artists from other states and countries are especially welcome to submit art for consideration. Any person interested in making art to be included in the show may attend our on-site art studio on Saturday mornings, 11 am-1 pm between now and May 26. No experience needed. Art instruction and materials are free. RSVP necessary in advance by phone, 773-542-9126, leaving your name, phone number and date you wish to attend.

Curating the show is Dianna C. Long, assisted by members of Out Artists Network. Meet Up may help curate art into the show for June. Do you know someone who is LGBTQ and should have art in the gallery show in June? Ask them to send images of their art via email.
As artists in our community at CUARC and in Chicago, it is important to spread the word about this important showing. We ask you to make an effort to tell those you know informing them about this opportunity to open minds to LGBTQ issues.

Thank you, and we can’t wait to see your work!

Blues Musician Awareness at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center! May 12, 1 pm

Bonni McKeown will give a presentation on the Blues in Chicago, in North Lawndale, and the musicians who made it happen.
Next will be the African American Heritage Quilt community project of North Lawndale open to all participants.
Artist Dianna C. Long will assist in creating the art form of collage or watercolors on 8″ X 8″ paper.
Listening to Blues music and sipping on lemonade, folks will be able to create some images on their “quilt square” about what they learned of the blues in North Lawndale. Once the quilt squares are completed, they will be laminated, holes punched in the corners, and ribbons will tie them together to form a Quilt!
Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center is one of the neighborhood organizations partnering on the project. The quilts will be displayed around North Lawndale, around Chicago, and then will travel to a gallery in St. Louis, Missouri!
The activity is free; however, we suggest a $10 donation at the door. More if you can, and less if you cannot. No one will be turned away for lack of dough! There will be blues CDs and Bonni’s book about area blues artists for sale. To RSVP, just send an email. www.urbanartretreat.com

OPEN HOUSE

at Urban Art Retreat 1957 S. Spaulding Ave.
Saturday April 28 from 1-4p.m.
(children under 6 yrs. old must be with an adult to attend)

Tour the facility
Enjoy refreshments!
Play a game
Have fun with chalk!
African American Heritage Quilt project of North Lawndale
No Experience needed!
View new art show in gallery
Meet new people!
Learn more about Urban Art Retreat
Check out the gardens!
Find out about Volunteer Opportunities

Find a place to go to on Saturdays!
Kids after-school activities on Mondays & Wednesdays
Saturday is Visitors Day!
Artists hangout
Artists Consultation Services!
Non-artists can relax & have fun
Seasonal Activities!
Support Group
Networking here!
Monthly Art Shows
Vegetarian & Vegan Potluck Gatherings!
Topical discussions
Social Justice Issues Actions & meetings!
Art classes
free and open to the public!

Urban Art Retreat, as a non-profit organization, offers HOPE in the neighborhood and to those who participate in our programs. We offer a chance for people to volunteer their time to make a difference in other people’s lives and in their own lives. We help to inform and educate people about social justice issues and the problems people face.
We accomplish this via art-making, discussion, and providing a supportive environment for learning from each other. With exposure to the the “other”, and a place to talk, listen, be heard; there is time to change, grow, heal.
People often don’t realize how powerful this experience can be. This nurturing experience can lead to better communication, developing positive character traits, improved skill-building, and advanced confidence. Plus, positive experiences with others and personal growth leads to moving forward by stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Those who do not step forward, do not change, do not grow, stay in an immature place. Yes, it takes some courage to try something new and accept change in yourself and in others. To not see this as frightening, but as an opportunity for personal growth, is growing up and learning from life’s lessons.

In addition to your own growth, it is important to contribute positively to society.

Won’t you join us at OPEN HOUSE @ Urban Art Retreat, 1957 S. Spaulding Ave. 60623
April 28 from 1-4p.m. or
please RSVP to attend