I have a strong dislike for designated dates such as "mother's day", "father's day", "valentine's day", "Latino Heritage month", "African American month", and the list can go on and on.
October is considered Chicago Artist Month. No sure how this month became "the" month to honor artists... The city build up momentum toward "the artist's month" by designating a theme for it. Artists need to develop programs, artworks, and/or events around the theme. This year the theme is "Crossing Borders".
My studio is at the Fine Arts Building where I am the art coordinator for a small membership base collective of artists. This year's theme really applies to who we are. I wrote for the Chicago Artists Month web site (http://www.chicagoartistsmonth.org/2nd-fridays-fab-studios):
"We are a patchwork of creative energy intersecting the lines of our
cultural, artistic, and personal views in our practices under one roof. A
painter inspired by a fiber artist, a musician playing a tune in
response to artwork in our gallery, a writer who finds inspiration in
the sound of a practicing voice or the melody of the piano or violin....
an artist who finds refuge in the meditative space of a yoga studio,
another painter who explores the crossing paths of spirituality and
art with her vibrant symbolic imagery....inviting all those who
appreciate art and music, seek the pleasure of walking into the used
bookstore (complete with guardian cat), or want to try a quick tap
lesson at the dance center. Every 2nd Friday of every month we open our
studios to the public.
The event is free."
I collaborated with Shakta Kaur, a Yogi owner of Kundalini Yoga in the Loop, housed at FAB on the 5th floor. We created a mosaic with beach glass Shakta found on the 12th St. beach during her morning walks. We titled it "Meditation Peace".
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| Meditation Peace. Mosaic. 12" x 12" |
-where our mosaic will be exhibited among many other wonderful collaboration pieces of artworks-, and take the time to visit many studios within the building.