The Art From Mapanare's First Art Show (In No Particular Order)

Constantly Consuming Culture--The Art Show was (well IS as I write) the first event put on by Mapanare.us. We showed work by mostly Chicago-area artists of various styles and who, currently, are not represented by a gallery.

There was no real "curating" here on my part. I looked at a piece or a bunch of pieces and asked "Do you want to be in the show?"

The artists self-curated.

Somehow they, without any consultation, picked pieces that fit well together in the gallery. If there was an unintentional theme it was that three artists (Julia Hamilton, John Airo and Gretchen Hasse) use found objects to create their work.

The opening reception was well attended and the response was overwhelmingly positive (unless people were saying different things to my face!). The next step is to convince all these artists to get on-board for a 2014 exhibit somewhere in South Florida. More on this soon.

Thanks to everyone who helped fund this via Kickstarter. Thanks to the folks who provided prizes--Space Time Tanks, Elyse Martin, Projekt Records and Turntabling.net. Also while I appreciate every cent that came from the crowdfunding effort I especially appreciate those who went over and above, Debbie Segal, Kate Anthony (who was also our bartender), Michael Bolden, Nancy Wegienek and Stephanie Rubin. Forgive me if I left anyone out!

Below are photos (and videos in most cases) of all the work from the show which will be up until Thursday, September 13.

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John Schedler

John Schedler's contribution was not only his watercolors. He worked to create the video "booth" where the work of Mikey Peterson screened. If it had been left to me seeing these videos would have been close to impossible.

My construction skills are not, in fact, actually "skills" but "liabilities."

Schedler may have also contributed to my not putting out an eye with a hammer.

John Airo

Airo not only showed his work but allowed us to use one of his images for our show postcards and posters. Keep an eye on his work--he paints constantly and I have yet to see a bad piece.

Julia Hamilton

Hamilton's skull pieces were probably the original inspiration for doing a show in the first place. She brings a different sensibility to this sort of "found art."  The quotations are because these skulls often go through as much of a transformation as any canvas; is it found art if you "find" a canvas at Blick?

Elyse Martin

The always optimistic Martin, seemed a little concerned that her encaustic pieces would not "play well" with her abstracts. They looked great together--different in style perhaps but they certainly work together and independently.

Gretchen Hasse

One of my personal favorites from the show is Hasse's piece above. She combines drawing, photography and collage in these works, framed in old windows from torn-down buildings. Some of the pieces are made from stills from her art video projects.  Hasse also had several smaller drawings and a comic book of her own creation on hand.

Serena Toxicat

Serena Toxicat only had two pieces in the show (I wish we'd had more). She is the only artist showing who is not based in the Chicago area but in San Francisco. She is a multi-talented individual.

Mikey Peterson

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Stranger Leaves from Mikey Peterson on Vimeo.

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Peterson's video loop, featuring three videos, was the only video art in the show. His work has been shown around the world. One of the things video artists always face is; how do I sell this?  Peterson may have some physical work serves as a companion to the videos soon.