Haptic Studio Residency

Calling all writers, visual artists, arts administrators, and others with a creative spirit: please consider a stay in Haptic Studio Residency (HSR) for your next desired get away.

Creatives, kindly listen up:  Many creatives need a temporary space for short or longer periods of time.  Sometimes that space is in response to needing a fresh environment.  Sometimes there is a need to be free of distractions.  Sometimes the need is for a fresh view that may be inspiring, private, and afford a bit of breathing space.  Consider HSR for your next creative endeavor. 

Please note that creatives must consider their ability to negotiate 5 steps to lower level living/studio space.

Why Haptic Studio Residency Space?

I have dedicated a space in my home studio for others as it is a pretty big space that feels right to share. As a practicing artist for over two decades, I have found myself housing creatives over the years, for short and longer term periods, especially in the “Before Times.” My new to me space, since 2019, has afforded a dedicated space for creative endeavors. When I moved to this new home I have spent part of the pandemic preparing a space for others in a manner that would entice me. Might that be you? As we move so inexorably slowly towards endemic times, consider such a necessary indulgence for you.

Below are current photographs of the indoor spaces available through a Haptic Studios Residency .

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Amenities

Amenities of HSR exclusive to you include your own entrance and key, full bathroom, two single beds, refrigerator, stove/oven, coffee maker, toaster, filtered water on tap, and microwave. Think clean “urban barn” with a bit of quirkiness to it.

Shared resources include wifi, multiple table tops, variety of power tools, book press, vice, an occasional shared meal, laundry on site, and more! Did I say I have a canoe on a wheelie cart and the Chicago River is a divine five minute walk, with an accessible deck and launch?

Potential creative spaces to enjoy include landscaped garden with koi pond, outdoor seating, and potential for using a shared ceramic studio (off site) with coordination.

Other amenities include the beauty of River Park, nearly on the banks of the confluence of Chicago River North Branch and the Northshore Channel, grocery store within walking distance, and a variety of international restaurants within walking distance, to name just a few.

Finally, seasonal amenities include Lincoln Square Farmer’s Market a bike ride away, cross country skiing across the street, paved bicycle and walking path, Chicago River wood chip nature paths, and so much more.

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images of the garden, River Park, Chicago River North Branch, and beyond.

Fees

Kindly inquire with me about your creative needs and financial ability.

Weekly stipend for food and occasional shared meals, if desired.

Access and public transportation:

Street parking available. 10/15 min walk to CTA Brown Line to Chicago Loop and museums, Divvy bike rental and Foster Avenue Bus are a 2 minute walk. 20 minutes, by car, to O’Hare Airport.

Consider Haptic Studio Residency

Consider a restorative, creative get away for you (one day, regular wkly potential, up to 30 days). Or, consider a small group of creatives for day use.

Artist and host, Catherine Schwalbe likes to say (regarding studio spaces)

“Art happens where the artist is.”

Watch for follow up post on my first Artist, Natalie Hinahara.

Direct inquiries to me at casbah3d@gmail.com. I look forward to talking with you!

Embracing Uncertainty

Artist in Residence: Natalie Hinahara – guest blogger by Haptic Studio and Residency inaugural creative, Natlie Hinahara What a joy it was to be the first guinea pig of the Haptic Studio and Residency! If you’re reading this, you may know that the Haptic Studio and Residency (HSR) space is below Cathi Schwalbe’s home in…

by Catherine Schwalbe November 15, 2022November 12, 2022

Mending a Nation (in protest)

On view now at SouthShore Arts, through August 27, 2022, is a stellar array of works centered on the theme “Nature Lovers.” So many respected artists and such wonderful works in conversation with each other, curated by the creative force of Linda Dorman and Tom Torluemke, curators, writer, photographer, and organizer and artist and stellar…

by Catherine Schwalbe July 25, 2022July 25, 2022

The ebb and flow of mending continues – Mosnart of Historic Pullman up next!

Thought I might share an update and information about my upcoming Visiting Artist event at Mosnart. Before and After – Mending a life after a pandemic or some other catastrophic event in in your life, and my completed installation for Fermentation Fest 2021 titled: Mending Waters – Mending Soil – Mending Lives. In my previous…

by Catherine Schwalbe October 11, 2021October 11, 2021

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Mending a Nation (in protest)

On view now at SouthShore Arts, through August 27, 2022, is a stellar array of works centered on the theme “Nature Lovers.” So many respected artists and such wonderful works in conversation with each other, curated by the creative force of Linda Dorman and Tom Torluemke, curators, writer, photographer, and organizer and artist and stellar gardener, respectively. Featured artists include: Featured artists: , Zbigniew Bzdak, Peggy Macnamara, Casey Roberts, William Nichols, Corey Hagelberg, Joanne Aono, Tony Fitzpatrick, Catherine Schwalbe, and Em’rynn Artunian. See some of show below in this slide show and better yet, if able, check out the show in person!

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I have four new works from 2022, three specifically for this show. I wanted to share a rare political act I have taken with my work, Mending a Nation. I originally created the work for Earth Abundance, curated by Pauline Kochanski for Oliva Gallery, for a show that opened on Earth Day in 2022. I collected moss, soil, rocks, sand, worn drift wood, on my own in places across the US, or had friends in those places send it to me or gifted directly to me. Thank you for your contributions: Danny Mansmith Stephanie Samuels N. Masani Landfair Dr. Geoffrey and Andrea Bove.

Most who follow my work know that I have been facilitating a Social Practice work called Before and After: Mending a Life after a pandemic or some other catastrophic event in your life. Mending a Nation is a continuation of that theme. This statement below was shared for an artist talk I was unable to attend:

“Hello fellow earth lovers.  Thank you to Pauline (Kochanski) and Kimberly (Oliva) for including my work in this important show.   I firmly believe that how we treat each other is how we treat our Mother Earth. We need to do better. Things fall apart. We mend.  They fall apart. We mend again.  My Mending a Nation piece, made of soils and other material things from coast to coast, represents the actions we are taking to mend our lands, our relationships, our systems, and even our thoughts and ways of treading more mindfully – with each other, during this amazing and awful life we are given.  Thank you for your interest in my work and all the works in Earth Abundance.” May 2022

The original work, shown below right before the action, including soil, water, rocks and plant life from Washington, Maine, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and the Great Lakes along with hand-built stoneware brick clay, a pit-fired needle from a spring workshop at Stirling Hall with Patty Kochavar, and cording for stitches. As spring moved towards summer, political actions continued to shift, especially as they related to decisions by the ever more conservative Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).

I felt called to act based on some of the eroding of so much SCOTUS precedence. Below is my statement, near the work currently on view at Southshore Arts.

“It is with a heavy heart that I spread the parts of this work, Mending a Nation, apart.  The photo above shows the work in its original intention, conceived in thought, earlier in 2022.  The opening for this exhibit showed the work intact.  This political action is taken by me for the following reasons:  The multitude of decisions made by our current Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will have ripples for years to come impacting judgements regarding guns, women’s right to choose, ensuring solid voting rights for the most vulnerable, religious schools and federal funding,  the power of EPA to regulate, and even our beloved and most fundamental Miranda Rights.  I genuinely feel the decisions made have gone towards further unraveling and division for a nation and its people already frayed.  Going forward, if this work is exhibited elsewhere, it will be shown having fallen apart and without making sense, as you see right now.  This piece, in wild array, correlates with the highest court in the land not adhering to the will and the consensus of those they serve – you, me, and the most vulnerable citizens.  I am not sure when I will feel comfortable showing Mending a Nation as it was originally intended.  May it be sooner than later.”

Most action images of Mending a Nation – in Protest were taken by friend and fellow artist, Nancy Pirri. Thank you for them! Thank you, too, to the curators Tom and Linda, and the gallery director Brandon Johnson, for supporting this action.

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I covet your response to this work, this action, and the call for mending and repair (the root word of reparations) needed. Rumblings of a civil war, a deepening cultural divide, extremism and insurrection, learning to live with an endemic vs a pandemic, and more, call us into the act of mending again and again. Works such as Jenny Kendler’s Mending Wall give me hope. Watch for a Mending a Life event at the wall, later this summer.

What gives you hope?

What do you do when in despair?

How do you maintain relationships with those with whom you disagree?

What are your questions these days?

If you got this far, drop a note to me privately or via this blog post. I will send you a little something for your time. Not kidding. In a world of distractions your attention matters to me and I am grateful.

In art, falling apart, and mending

Cathi

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Hotel Dada and the International Fluxfest 2020

(Mostly) unprecedented times leads to unprecedented actions. No different with the need and want to create. In the spirit of Fluxus, reflection and adaptation, response to and creation of absurdity and wonder, a few dozen international creatives met on Jitsi to share a score under five minutes. Most were live. Some were created and recorded for the event.

A big thanks to Bibiana Padilla Maltos for herding this delightful, poignant, and thoughtful group of humans.

Link to Day One of Hotel Dada Fluxfest is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bElgxMQk1Is

Link to Day Two of Hotel Dada Fluxfest is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dugyfJRpy6M&fbclid=IwAR3jOTWKk96P9we4UCRTuIXHjWqLmQn9wH45Acfx67aozhIuFZqfdMAoPGU

Links to my score: Before After

Still from Before After

On Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user8773033

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrkTnQf-Ofo&t=33s

About Before After: I have been working on this small version of a future larger piece. Consider this a maquette of sorts. Applique is hard and it was the perfect thing to do in my cool, basement studio, over some pretty hot summer, Chicago days.

I have been thinking of the pandemic and other life events.

How we might phrase them… before and after something.

How we mend a life

How there are no clear delineations

How the in between is the growth

I think of this from farmer, writer, and provocateur Wendell Berry

ON KNOWING WHICH WAY TO GO

“It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.”

Thanks, as always for your interest. Here is your to do list:

*Please watch the 4.5 minute score, Before After. I would love to know your impressions.

*Do a Fluxus score today. Creativity really is for everyone. Hashtag casbah3d on your favorite platform (IG, FB, Twitter or other!) and I will check it out!

*Enjoy a collage of images (below) while in the making, filming, and sharing over Fluxfest, below.

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Women’s Rights are Human Rights

Hello to you, from this all too infrequent blog post.

I wanted to share some upcoming works that will be shown this weekend and share a bit more detail about one in particular.  Women’s Rights are Human Rights will be shown during SOFA Expo this weekend.  Also, TRUTH at Walnut Creek Farms will be shown as part of a show titled Truth as a Contested Concept, at Women Made Gallery.

I am thrilled to share the piece, Women’s Rights are Human Rights, shown in the Inspired Interiors Booth 41 at SOFA Expo 2019!  See the Facebook post here.  Like most things, Facebook is woefully inadequate to fully express the nuance of things or thoughts or ideas, when one wants to go deeply in to a topic.

The designers at Inspired Interiors invited artists to propose works for their SOFA booth, very intentionally focused on significant, historical events, related to women’s rights and women’s history. The accepted proposals were gently steered towards these important events that include reproductive rights, hiring practices based on gender, women’s suffrage, and more.  I am a firm believer in understanding from whence we came in order to understand where we must go.

Here is the more detailed information and further links that hopefully may peak your curiosity about the inspiration for my art work, how far we have come and how far we need to go.

Above is the amazing superhero, Mechelle Vinson, who took her sexual harassment case all the way to the Supreme Court… and won!  The Wiki link goes in to some detail along with this recent Washington Post article.  Long before #MeToo by another superhero, Tarana Burke, there was Ms Vinson paving the way.

A SCOTUS document here from the Washington and Lee University School of Law . helped guide my thoughts while viewing the annotations, double, triple, and quadrubled, underlined sentences by the various Supreme Court justices.  You will find strips of a color print of that document, rolled up in many of the pockets of the skirt.

Oral arguments of the case here, including the only female on the Court at the time, Sandra Day O’Connor.

Lastly, an image detail of the skirt that I will be wearing tomorrow night and through the weekend at SOFA Expo 2019 at Navy Pier, titled:  Women’s Rights are Human Rights, silk organza excerpts from the SCOTUS document in each pocket along with repeated images of Mechelle Vinson.  100 pockets to symbolize the 2020 anniversary of Women’s Suffrage.  45 pockets are black and brown to symbolize the 45 year gap for black and brown people to wait to vote, as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed 45 years later.

 

(detail in progress) Women’s Rights are Equal Rights

I will be at Opening Night at SOFA Expo from 5p through the evening, wearing the work.  I will also be there wearing the skirt, on Friday Nov 1, 4-6.  Saturday Nov 2, 2-4.  Sunday Nov 3, 2-4.  It would be great to see you!

Lastly, TRUTH at Walnut Creek Farms will be experiencing a reprise.  I am excited to be in this show, opening Friday night.  I have admired the curator, Indira Freitas Johnson’s  work for such a long time, so I consider this a triple thrill to be included in the exhibition.  Opens November 1 6-8p and up until Nov 23.  I will be at the opening, cuz I am still in need of some TRUTH!

I will forever be grateful to Ned and Lyrah Bushnell, for they offered up their farm for the installation back in 2011.  Please refer to past blogposts for more information about the making and documenting TRUTH at Walnut Creek Farms, The Fields Project, and more.  Photo:  Peter J Schulz Photography

 

 

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Weather the Weather now Open!

Weather the Weather

In collaboration with The Art Center Highland Park, Jennifer Dotson, founder of Highland Park Poetry and I, invite you to Weather the Weather – Artists and Poets respond to the Weather.

Exhibit runs currently through March 1, 2019

Available for viewing during business hours, M-F 8a to 5p.  Christmas and New Years Day, closed.

Photo: Ice Island – Elizabeth Peterson

Reception:  January 14, 2019 at 4pm.

Artist and Poet Reception will include poetry, a welcome by Zoe Carlson, curator for the Art Center Highland Park, an address by the mayor of Highland Park, Nancy Rotering along with special guest Jon Davis, Chief Meteorologist of Riskpulse.
Refreshments will be served.and refreshments.

“Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.”
This tongue twister cleverly captures that no matter where on the planet we live, we are all subject to the weather. From drought to flooding, hurricanes to blizzards – all of us are experiencing increasingly severe or extreme weather patterns, global climate change, and traumatic events. We are bombarded with weather alerts, images, suffering and beauty, along with waves of information on our phones, computers and television. Weather phenomenon is an obvious metaphor for the storms of culture, politics, personal relationships and the individual psyche.
Guest curators, Visual Artist, Catherine Schwalbe and Poet, Jennifer Dotson have invited responses to the theme of Weather. Schwalbe, is a practicing artist, curator, and educator. Dotson, is a published poet and founder of Highland Park Poetry (2018 Mayor’s Award for the Arts). Both women have collaborated, exhibited, and created thought provoking exhibitions for over two decades!

The curators have welcomed collaborations, ekphrastic responses, as well as works that evolve into a fusion of both words and visual art.

Participating Artists and Poets:
Tobi Abrams
Melanie Brown
Heather Bryant
Emily Calvo
Joseph Kuhn Carey
Jill Charles
Patrice Boyer Claeys
Marilyn Crocker
Charlotte Digregorio
Jennifer Dotson
Christine Forni
Kristina A. Govorovska
Betsy Katz
Malo Kolodziej
Emma A. Kowalenko
N Masani Landfair
Kerry Leaf
Meredith London
Martin Marcus
Elizabeth Peterson
Hallie Redman
Marjorie Rissman
Larissa Rolley
R. Craig Sautter
Cathi Schwalbe
Mary Seyfarth
Peggy Shearn
Merle Tovian
Joe Weintraub
Lynn West

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#FreeListening

Art in the time of awfulness.

Greetings to you.

I wanted to share with you a social practice work title #FreeListening, that launched over Memorial Day Weekend with the annual Chicago Fluxfest.

I have been taking notes on listening for awhile and I came across notes from 4-5 years ago.  I have been wanting to do a piece about listening and wasn’t sure if there was a enough meat about my concept.  I have taken the leap while not knowing where it may lead, which is exciting and terrifying.

Below is the body of my proclamation, available to anyone who has been heard, by receiving a Certificate of Being Heard.  Each will be hand lettered by me, along with an embossed medallion for complete authenticity.  Each certificate includes the Proclamation along with tips to enhance your own listening skills.

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#FreeListening – A proclamation for listening from the studio of

Catherine Schwalbe of Chicago, IL

#FreeListening – a social practice work

Proclamation

Whereas, widespread social media and technology have set us up to make ourselves loud and necessarily heard

Whereas, this artist has been told she is a great listener

Whereas, People of Color, our Elders, our Children, Free Thinkers, those who are non-binary thinking, those who are urban, those who are rural, those who are fill in the blank here, are in need of the dominant culture to sit down and listen

Whereas, all people could benefit from being heard and learning tips about being a good listener

Whereas, we speak of the fine art of speaking and we need to consider the fine art of listening

Whereas, this artist makes opportunities to engage fellow humans in her art and recreation therapy practice

Whereas, the role of older adults can be sounding boards for younger generations

Whereas, this artist has a history of social practice works

Whereas, there is value in the simple act of being heard

NOW THEREFORE, I, Catherine Schwalbe of Chicago, Illinois, do hereby proclaim Fluxfest 2018 Chicago and beyond as an opportunity to engage in #FreeListening, in Chicago and beyond, and urge all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits of the fine art of listening, offered by the artist herself, and to support and participate in Schwalbe’s art practice whenever and wherever you come upon her.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal for #FreeListening, from the studio of Catherine Schwalbe, Chicago, IL, on this day____________________

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Some images taken at 6018North during Chicago Fluxfest last month.  Thank you Pate Conway, for the lovely documentation.

A person being heard at 6018North.

My sign is out at 6018North during Chicago Fluxfest 2018

Side note:  Following a post on my Instagram using the hashtag #freelistening, I received a couple of very supportive messages from this amazing group.  I decided to move forward with my piece, even though there might be some overlap with intent.

 

If you are interested in hosting or have any skills listed below such as

• Wanting to be heard
• Wanting to be a guest listener
• Offering a location for #FreeListening
• Wanting more information about #FreeListening
• You speak a foreign language or use ASL and want to participate

kindly contact me at casbah3d@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

As always, thank you for paying attention.

 

 

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Tonight. Tomorrow. Ongoing. Forthcoming.

Tonight.  Tomorrow.  Ongoing.  Forthcoming.

Tonight

…in light of recent events, consider joining hundreds of Nasty Women and other rabble-rousers, for the first ever Chicago version of Nasty Women.  Susan McBride, of Lillstreet Studios is the force behind this amazing event taking place this evening.  All works sold will benefit Planned Parenthood. I am thrilled to donate “Nasty with Brass Ovaries” to the event. Porcelain, stoneware, silk organza and brass marbles 8”X8”

Nasty with Brass Ovaries Porcelain, stoneware, silk organza, brass marbles 8X8″

Tomorrow

Celebrate #World Labyrinth Day with a Labyrinth Workshop at UNUM Gallery 1-3 pm at 3039 W. Carroll St.  Chicago, IL

Join me and others while we make a table/lap top labyrinth to enjoy for years to come, in conjunction with Mistakes were Made, a two person exhibition with Nathan Mason at UNUM Gallery (studio and gallery of Barbara Koenen). Text/call if you are coming to make a labyrinth or just come on by and see the show. I will be there most of the afternoon.

With Narrow Feet – extruded lengths of terra cotta brick clay. Outdoor hardy.

Finger labyrinth, cast iron, soil, handbuilt ceramic, and micro-greens

Labor + Time (detail) – Time cards from the Woolen Mill, Reedsburg, WI, industrial sewing machine, bamboo, crazy quilt remnant

Ongoing

Everything has come to this Moment – Reprise at Waubonsee Community College – Dickson Window Project  Date:  Present through June 17, 2017   Viewable 24/7 through the Dickson Windows!

Everything has come to this Moment – A Reprise. Handbuilt porcelain, stoneware, ochre, and terra cotta, found objects, urban detritus from growing projects, fabric, salvaged fabric, discarded numbers from irrigation rows, cafeteria food trays, discarded plow blades, salt, dried clay.

 

Forthcoming

Corn Again? Maiz Nuevo?

Curating and participating in this show with three other amazing creatives!  Margaret Berry of Lincoln, NE, Hector Duarte and Piloto Nieves of Chicago.  All corn all the time!  An exhibit.  A shared, Corn centric meal, and so much more.  August 18 and 19th, 2017 Woolen Mill Gallery in Reedsburg, WI, under the venerable umbrella Wormfarm Institute.

 

This life is rich with good people.  I encourage us all to move towards the light.  Thanks for visiting!

Always, Cathi

 

 

 

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Polar Vortex – One Year Later

This image of The Great Lakes from Mars in January of 2014.  Yahoo News

Greetings.  Please, get a sweater.  Our winter isn’t over yet.

I wanted to share images, thoughts, and even some video, from my 2014 Winter odyssey towards Buffalo, NY and the environments of the Great Lakes.  I was going to represent my work and the infancy of the Sewing Forgiveness piece, that was to be shown at the U of Buffalo Art Galleries, in the show titled Yoko Ono Fan Club, juried by friend and then curator, Julie Rozman.  Most fellow northerners I know were escaping the record temperatures and ice and headed somewhere south.  Of course, often feeling like I am swimming upstream, why would being in the coldest winter on record, send me to warmer climates too?  I rented a car (Hey!  It had a heated steering wheel!) and headed to Buffalo.  I made plans and reservations for Buffalo a couple of days.  Then, a Fluxus friend and his wife offered their home in Toronto, since I wouldn’t be far.  I committed to little, other than penciling off nearly a week away, and being with myself for most of it.

Driving long distances in February may not have been very smart in hindsight, but I made it there with little sliding around, one speeding ticket (Indiana) and a reason that revealed itself mid route.  I was driving, incapable of syncing my cell with the rental car’s system, trying to connect with dear humans while enroute (with no success) wind blowing, bitter cold all around.  Eyes watering up for the feelings I was having about my own judgement.  Wondering about the sanity of this trip and my ability to make other healthy choices in my life.  You know, that crazy making place we go sometimes when we want to beat ourselves up with the hammer of self doubt.

Then it hit me.

I would/could/should be near 4 of the 5 Great Lakes on this trip.  I followed so much of the weather patterns last year, its effect on the region, the water, our lives.  It was my way of embracing what was squarely in front me.  I came across the Yahoo image (above) from Mars, of the Great Lakes, sometime in early January of 2014.  I immediately thought “I need to render that feeling in porcelain.”  This road trip was weeks later.  I knew that I must supplement the piece,  presently only existing in my head, with melted snow and ice… from each Great Lake.   Of course!

Now the trip made sense.  Purpose, along with folly, mixed in with some risk and discomfort, and add good humans.  Now this is a road trip I could sink my cross country skis into!  I began mapping in my head, and later that evening in Buffalo at the Holiday Inn, and felt at peace with the New York state winds, snow, and the sense of possibilities ahead.

Another inspiring image of one of my favorite lakes.

I knew paddleboarding at Montrose was a far off dream.

20% of the world’s fresh waters comes from these beauties.  I can’t help but be in awe of them.

Here is a map along with some stats from a year ago, further affirming the uniqueness of our experience last Winter, and what has now proved, to be another, albeit waning, very cold, winter.  Note:  this is from 2014

and this comparison of 2014 and 2015 with more information here.

2014 and 2015 comparison with more info on the link above.

I think of my father this morning.  Today would have been his 81st birthday.    He is with me every day but especially when I see a swallow in flight.  Happy Birthday Dad.  I still miss you.

Watch for more on the final work, Polar Vortex.  Thanks so much for reading.

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Updated Sewing Forgiveness: City of Chicago Schedule… upcoming

Hi there!

A realization:  It has dawned on me, in recent weeks, from where the social practice works (in my art practice) have derived.  I have been working as a recreation therapist in long term care most of my adult life.  My role has been to engage people.  Either with each other, their environment/heart/mind, or those that visit (care partners, family, and friends).  It seems more natural than ever to have an overlap with that passion into my more art practice.  Sometimes it takes a creative a few years (some call it distance) to see their works and analyze, if ever!  This blog post is dedicated to the recreation therapists of Quality Care Consulting Services, and especially Dr. Susan Quattrochi-Tubin, with whom I have the pleasure of working.  They are amazing and inspiring women.

so this…

Featured Artist

Featured Artist
A fun thing this month:  I am honored to be one of 20 featured artists with the DCASE (Dept of Cultural Affairs and Special Events) in honor of their 19th Annual Chicago Artists Month.  Every 50 years or so this should happen to an artist!  Check out the lovely write up here and the link here for the other amazing creatives.  Thanks too, for this thoughtful perspective on a conversation with  Lillstreet intern Peyton Rack.

 

and finally this updated schedule for Sewing Forgiveness:  City of Chicago

 

October

I will be Sewing Forgiveness from 12-2 in front of Lillstreet Art Center andLillstreet Studios
4401 N. Ravenswood… then back in my studio to enjoy your company until about 6pm both days.

Updated Schedule: 

October

Lillstreet Art Center – 4401 N. Ravenswood – Ravenswood Art Walk…….Sat and Sun October 4 & 5 12-2pm
Wilson Care – 4544 N. Hazel  – An Intermediate Care Facility…….Thursday October 9 2pm
Koinonia House – 6925 N Ashland Blvd – Rogers Park an Intentional Faith-Based Community…….October 19th 4-7pm

Arcade Park – Pullman Park CPD – 11132 S. St. Lawrence Ave…….Saturday Oct 11 11-1
Back of the Yards Park  – CPD  4922 S. Throop St…….Sunday Oct 12 1-4

Garfield Park Conservatory – CPD – 300 N Central Park Ave…….Wednesday Oct 15,  5-8 pm Hort Hall
Marquette Park – Ashburn Prairie CPD   6734 S. Kedzie Avenue…….Saturday Oct 18 11-1
Indian Boundary Cultural Center    2500 W. Lunt Ave…….Saturday Oct 25 11-1

November

Blossom Boys – 9911 S. Walden Parkway  A floral shop and so much more!…….Saturday November 1

If you are reading this and would like to be connected via social media, please connect here…

• FB:  Cathi Schwalbe
• Twitter:  @casbah3d
• Instagram:  casbah3d
• Carrier Pigeon:  Please message privately for my address or either studio.  Smile.

Thanks so much for you continued interest in my art practice.

Enjoy the most beautiful time of the year in the midwest!
In art, falling leaves, and the inevitability of change,
Cathi

 

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Sewing Forgiveness: City of Chicago

Note:  This blog entry is dedicated to Keith Buchholz.  Without his invitation into this amazing group of creatives that is Fluxus, Sewing Forgiveness may never have been born.  With many thanks dear Keith.

Friday night September 5, will mark the next of many Social Practice performances titled Sewing Forgiveness.  Specifically, Sewing Forgiveness:  City of Chicago, will (and already has) entail a variety of sites and a variety of audiences, literally across the city of Chicago.

The piece was drawn from life; mine; fellow humans; as witness to the environment;  history;  @#$%&, even current events!  The struggle with forgiveness many of us have had, currently have, and inevitably will have again.  I consider the concepts and deep sentiment surrounding forgiveness, letting go, and moving on.    The utter bewilderment at the questions… If? How? When? Why? Who even!  Quite possibly, beginning with forgiving oneself.  If Nelson Mandela can forgive…

Sewing Forgiveness, a Social Practice work, unfolded firstly for the Fluxus Fest of 2013.  It was performed with a fellow human also struggling with forgiveness.  Together the conversation began.  I didn’t know that I would be performing the work outside of a couple of times throughout that four day festival of lovely absurdity.  Fluxus is like that.  Sometimes the works tickles your funny bone but more often the artist’s works enter your bones through your heart.  Fluxus makes us pay attention.

Fluxus Fest 2013
Dorcester Projects

I will aim to work backwards a bit, starting with this week to announce a performance of

Sewing Forgiveness:  City of Chicago at Wicker Park Lutheran Church  1500 N. Hoyne in conjunction with First Fridays of Wicker Park.  This announcement from our website:

“Arts Sanctuary (Friday, September 5th) – 7-10 p.m.

WPLC will be hosting a First Fridays series entitled “Arts Sanctuary” – a respite for the arts. September’s event is “Mercy, Unity, Restoration,” and features the social practice piece called “Sewing Forgiveness,” including art of various mediums, live jazz, and local beer. The event is free with donation proceeds funding Youth Futures, a local nonprofit cultivating restorative justice programs with young adults in Chicago.”

I would be honored to have you attend my church and our inaugural Arts Sanctuary event this Friday.  If you are unable, send some good energy our way and watch for further posts as they will relate directly with

Chicago Artists Month – Crossing Borders and this work

Sewing Forgiveness:  City of Chicago.

Thanks for reading and thanks for paying attention.

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