West Town, Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, Kinzie Corridor, Humboldt Park

West Town

Wisconsin

IL • MI • IN

West Loop, Fulton Market, East Garfield Park

West Loop and West Side

Evanston, The North Shore, Northern, Western and Southern Suburbs

Suburbs

Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Uptown, Edgewater, Andersonville, Rogers Park

North Side

Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, The Gold Coast, The Loop, and South Loop

Michigan Avenue

Pilsen, Bridgeport, Chinatown, plus Hyde Park, Jackson Park/Dorchester, and Bronzeville

South Side

Superior and Franklin streets, West Chicago Ave, and down to Merchandise Mart and the River

River North

Established in 1887, the Chicago Society of Artists is now into its third century. Much of CSA's renown is due to its members' abilities to express and interpret the human experience via artistic versatility and eclectic&nbsp;styles across a variety of art mediums. CSA members honor the legacy of the past by creating an artistic legacy for the future. Image:&nbsp;Reaching,&nbsp;oil on canvas, by Jeanine Hill-Soldner&nbsp; Wadsworth Family GalleryLewis UniversityOremus Fine Arts CenterOpen 9am-9pm DailyContact Natalie Swain for more information,&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:swainna@lewisu.edu" target="_blank">swainna@lewisu.edu</a>

Chicago Society of Artists: An Artistic Dialogue

Explore Chicago’s West Town gallery scene with Art Encounter co-founder Joanna Pinsky. Begin at Patron Gallery with a solo exhibition by Bethany Collins, a multidisciplinary artist whose works examine the relationship of language and race, history and identity. Working with 19th century musical scores and US Dept of Justice reports, she erases, obscures, and rewrites the text. &nbsp;Switching gears, we head down the street to Volume Gallery for an exhibition of richly-colored weavings by California based artist Porfirio Gutiérrez, who brings the techniques of his Zapotec background to his modernist work.Next, we examine intricate large scale representational graphite drawings by Journie Cirdain at Western Exhibitions. The gallery is also featuring fanciful, delicate paintings on paper and mixed media sculpture by Italian born, New York based artist Simone Mantellassi.Our morning ends at Document Gallery with a two person show of sculptors Kiah Celeste and Gordon Hall, who work with functional items such as fluorescent lights and cast hangers mixed with art materials to create poetic and thought-provoking artworks.Image Credit: Previous Weekend Art Walk at GRAY ChicagoLink to Register: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artencounter.org/weekend-art-walks" target="_blank">https://www.artencounter.org/weekend-art-walks</a>

Weekend Art Walk: West Chicago Avenue Galleries

The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to&nbsp;Abdoulaye Conde. This exhibition is on display from August 16 - September 21, 2025 and will be free and open to the public. Abdoulaye Conde is a self-taught visual artist and muralist from Conakry, Guinea, now based on the North Side of Chicago. Conde is known for his vibrant and culturally rich artwork, which blends traditional and contemporary influences and is inspired by his Malinke heritage and experiences across cultures. He is also a skilled multi-instrumentalist, most notably playing the kora. Through his art and music, Abdoulaye Conde celebrates resilience, hope, joy, and unity, while reimagining contrasts, finding beauty in their connections.Abdoulaye Conde&nbsp;will be exhibited in the&nbsp;Lobby Gallery&nbsp;of the Art Center. The opening reception is free and open to the public. This exhibition is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, andthe EAC’s general membership.Evanston Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. The Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach initiatives.

Abdoulaye Conde

Our Biennial is one of the Midwest’s largest and most prestigious juried exhibitions, offering artists an opportunity to have their work viewed by three talented curators: Chanelle Lacy, Director of Art Initiatives at Gertie, Joe Lanasa, Director/Founder of Fulton Street Collective, and Cortney Lederer, Public Art Consultant and Educator. Our Biennial will be promoted and viewed by hundreds of visitors, including gallerists, curators, and collectors.Cash awards and cash equivalents will be presented at the artists’ reception. Awards, which may include Best of Show and Juror’s Merit categories, are given at the jurors’ discretion. From the final pool of selected applicants, the jurors will also award 3 artists, who have not exhibited at the Evanston Art Center in the past 5 years, with the opportunity to be included in an exhibition in our galleries. Chanelle Lacy is a curator, cultural producer, and Reiki Master. She is also the Director of Art Initiatives at Gertie and the fearless leader of EarlyWork! Passionate about bringing ambitious, rigorous, and challenging projects to life, Chanelle works closely with artists both emerging and established to expand not only their creative practices but the art historical canon at large. Her passion for art and her commitment to amplifying underrepresented and marginalized voices make her a true champion of the arts. Most recently she produced SKIN + MASKS, a blockbuster exhibition crafted in collaboration with musician and activist Vic Mensa, centering works by contemporary artists exploring the elusive essence of identity. Originally presented in a classic gallery setting, SKIN + MASKS traveled to Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile for a six-month pop-up exhibition presented in partnership with EXPO Chicago and the City of Chicago. In 2021 she curated Realms of Refuge, a group exhibition focused on the alchemical processes that enable us to transcend our earthly entanglements to reach higher states of consciousness, embodiment, and expression. Chanelle forged her path in the arts working at a contemporary gallery where she lent her vision to the program for six years. During three years of her tenure, she held the position of Director. Chanelle continues to be a force, serving as a trusted advisor. Cortney Lederer is a public art consultant and educator with over twenty years of experience managing artistic programming for foundations and organizations. Cortney has curated installations by notable artists such as Jacob Hashimoto (2019) and Olafur Eliasson (2021) at th Willis Tower and Luftwerk at the landmark Chicago Board of Trade Building (2024). She served as the art advisor for E(art)H Chicago, (2023) an initiative supported by the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF), providing $700,000 in grants to artists to inspire new ways of thinking about environmental responsibility in neighborhoods across Chicago. This summer, she launched a new public art initiative for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2024) connecting people to nature through 30 art installations across the city. Cortney is currently serving as the public art consultant for the Chicago Park District to design and manage an RFP for artist responses to contested monuments on parkland through installations, onsite programming, and activations. She is also the Public Art Consultant for the City of Wichita, managing three, new public artworks for the Arkansas River Improvement Project. Most recently, she worked with a team of planning consultants hired by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to develop a community-engaged, pilot cultural and historical marker program. This pilot program celebrates the city’s cultural heritage by sharing untold stories and events through artist-designed markers. Cortney is an Associate Professor, Adj., in the Arts Administration and Policy department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and serves on the board of Arts of Life and Every House Has a Door. Joe Lanasa is one of the founding members and the current director of the Fulton Street Collective. He created FSC in late 2002, along with his amazingly talented friend, Anna Fermin. Their original vision still holds true today, which is to host a community of creative, talented people, and give them the resources they need to support and cultivate their art so that they can enrich the lives of others and become part of the greater community. Joe is also a street poet, songwriter, rock musician singer, and guitarist, performing in mostly Chicago-area clubs for over ten years now. His musical influences include a crazy blend of brilliant performers, including Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, Scott Momenthy, Iggy Pop, early Springsteen, Marty Robbins, Elvis, Van Morrison, and Bob Marley. Evanston Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. The Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach initiatives. Evanston Art Center is located at 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL. Evanston Art Center Gallery Hours: 9am – 6pm, Monday – Thursday; 9am – 5pm, Friday; 9am – 4pm, Saturday &amp; Sunday. First and second-floor gallery spaces are handicapped accessible. Limited free parking is available.

27th Evanston and Vicinity Biennial

On&nbsp;September 21 from&nbsp;1:00-2:00pm, join expert guest docent&nbsp;Bobbi Pinkert from the Chicago Architecture Center&nbsp;for a special McCormick House tour in celebration of the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial. As a self-named “archiholic,” Bobbi Pinkert has been a CAC docent since 1999. She is the leader of many tours including the First Lady, Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. Pinkert will share her expertise about the McCormick House, Mies van der Rohe, and modernist architecture. The McCormick House is a single-family home designed in 1952 by Mies van der Rohe, one of the great architects of the 20th Century. It is one of only three free-standing residences designed and built by Mies in the United States--and one of only two open to the public.&nbsp;Advance tickets recommended due to limited capacity. Tours are free for members (please call the museum to reserve your ticket 630-834-0202 ex 13 ).&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://elmhurstartmuseum.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=79cd6ec4fe739f4c6b4128435&amp;id=df0275aa96&amp;e=9f943455be" target="_blank">Tickets for non-members are available online.</a>

Special McCormick House Tour

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theccma.org/hokusai" target="_blank">Details here</a> The Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) and McAninch Arts Center (MAC) present “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection” May 31 – Sept. 21, 2025. The exhibition will feature a collection of 53 works of art and 13 artifacts that has never been seen before in the U.S. More than a museum show, this arts center experience will immerse guests in Japanese Edo culture through several interactive exhibits, from a peaceful outdoor Japanese garden to an anime exhibit. The exhibition is organized by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art in collaboration with the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoa, Italy and with the support of MondoMostre. More information can be found at&nbsp;<a style="color: blue;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://u56787.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.fcH2sTwdr1nXFkGjhXi7ArBmrsy8m0YzE4Ina-2BFw4UFlSkniHi0DYoqKuDDRh-2Fpk-2Fa3s1JmM-2Fv7vlGOh8TZZUMtHsLgbkfWqfqQ33cZDsShOTfKwVoOFT5WswzaqLsgYttmE_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2BCm4DmNjKHmH-2FuMeb6erfptj0X7kOO03SOEy0038a8bO2JT1vj7ekSN4iWm5fnVmC-2BUoj9m6S-2BHoqpkY4xl-2F1zJpl0qI-2Bilecut0mSSToCGWN89tcBEot9fhKkN60iLK7QxQhU-2FCj-2BVhHrukh3auQXnn2p9YvaoxwyKYHUqUcNz0qdK8pFrYwfDp6ZUfU4L4tePcPQuiZ2LYNP5N5SJpCQds2rICww79g5nOXXy7iZn5oSEURZT7PU6WRmcAkEeWZsmAzTrFWXSgXOZT1OQHNK2DcgfNsG-2FmU1knEaC7YvCK92j8PC-2BkaCXDmXLErcFPROcIChJSgsoOsPucmUZ-2Fi-2FVkSIjgjjo8Q7J-2BNU3hu2b8DTuCg6JCnSOyP8twaYzRAZU5yJMuVnwYODasQhGJKqNZBQfY9LEkFiw6onBYI5ofY5KCbkYaovz2Z55n7x3Qn625zKh0iXDXzZsTep6YbjnowSRRNnuRAis1E0iiGw3DBx4-2BwLO2QTJ6JhAR8VAE4SbXJNjTSX8K0KqKHV73KxV9MdHhjeGzTU941nwRzHNnPluJZNjo9E21Nj3I51nJcA-2BTLqb6f5FwGECBEdo65iHYrDE2G4p-2Fb-2FcPmIT-2FsNv0DpaHT8RJhrgmVwZqnjYF1qnymCX-2BbUVUQ3eO09Zu3Rd0sXbqDWVHP9QLLAk3cksA58WaYjO-2Fo57SQw9lEkHR55vIO1vkqVvnuZ3n0FpVUBJ1mOBJ94SfHava-2BDPoC9bCvuVYIlJh2EFUIPhonaJdUR-2FBE6X0yQYn4-2Bg-2FhlOFu4hNSD56cZV5AuWiimSB-2FcAPW6oe8UxWc7GVZo-2BDBGYpmVBEg-2BYYzTj-2BiqNopSlWirHBny9vZ4xdIohOmgbaAwHvauWuaPStkRwREowb7owBYPLH73R0hSPDRWrg-2BUcEv5-2BaeGKjRD5ZGWpslQDL2YjLiCNtUOW5OxkdQTFqhcmXix8yPKQ-2BR8yW2-2FyD1XV-2BIx" target="_blank">Hokusai2025.org</a>.&nbsp; Hokusai is widely recognized as one of Japan's greatest artists, as he was instrumental in developing the genre of ukiyo-e and modernized traditional print styles. Widely considered as one of the most recognizable images in the world, the exhibition will feature Hokusai's iconic masterpiece, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. In addition, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view nine original works by the legendary artist. There will also be 17 works by Hiroshige and works by 15 of their contemporaries.&nbsp; The exhibition is organized by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, with works from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoa, Italy that was originally collected by Edoardo Chiossone (1833-1898), whose collection is known worldwide for the quality of art and its remarkable state of conservation. The featured ukiyo-e collection on loan will be curated by professor and art historian Rossella Menegazzo of The University of Milan as part of the larger exhibition at the MAC and CCMA, curated by&nbsp;Justin Witte.&nbsp; TicketsTickets are now on sale. Anytime Tickets (specific date/flexible time) for “Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World” are $40. Timed Tickets (specific date/specific time) are $27 (Tuesday-Friday) and $32 (Saturday, Sunday). VIP add-ons are also available, including the “Shogun,” which includes an exhibition poster, tote and VIP Lanyard for an additional $25; and the “Emperor,” which includes the Shogun package plus an audio tour and exhibit catalogue for an additional $70. Tickets can be purchased at&nbsp;Hokusai2025.org.&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1737003133/eonpcxyzxcw6yudfxdaz.jpg">

Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection.

The Art Center Highland Park, in partnership with Oliva Gallery, proudly announces&nbsp;Facades, a powerful new exhibition opening August 8, 2025, that foregrounds three influential voices in contemporary Midwestern art: Nikki Renee Anderson, Aaron Becker, and the late Molly Schiff. Through sculpture, color, and dynamic form,&nbsp;Facades&nbsp;confronts themes ofidentity, visibility, and public space, inviting audiences to consider how we construct, obscure, and reveal ourselves in a constantly shifting social landscape. These three Chicago-based artists—each rooted in a distinct material language—deliver an experience that is visually compelling and emotionally resonant, shaped by Midwest sensibilities and a commitment to community dialogue.Nikki Renee Anderson, known for her ceramic sculptures and immersive installations, brings a tactile intimacy to the exhibition. Her works challenge static notions of femininity and identity, drawing on personal history to create forms that are at once soft and assertive, playful and deeply psychological. Anderson’s practice reflects a career of national and international acclaim, with exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Hyde Park Art Center, and the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Italy. A professor and leader in ceramic education, Anderson’s work reclaims the domestic and decorative as spaces of feminist resistance and self-exploration.Aaron Becker&nbsp;engages viewers with a sculptural language that distorts familiarity. Trained in ceramics, Becker constructs imagined environments through abstract form and geometric composition, asking us to examine the energies that shape our perception of place. His work, which often pairs the functional with the conceptual, explores the thresholds between domesticity and disorientation. His installations provoke questions about presence, interiority, and what it means to occupy space.Molly Schiff&nbsp;(1927–2018), a visionary Chicago modernist, rounds out the exhibition with vividly colored paintings that channel emotional immediacy through abstraction. A lifelong creative force who began painting after a career in the garment industry, Schiff earned multiple degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and exhibited widely across Illinois. Her works exemplify a blend of expressive form, bold palette, and open invitation to interpretive intimacy. She remains a cherished figure in Chicago’s art history and her legacy continues to influence new generations. Together, Anderson, Becker, and Schiff present a multi-generational conversation on form, identity, and the surface tensions that define civic life.&nbsp;Facades&nbsp;is more than an exhibition, it is a reflection on visibility, vulnerability, and the connective power of art in public discourse.

Artist Talk: Facades

The Art Center Highland Park, in partnership with Oliva Gallery, proudly announces Facades, a powerful new exhibition opening August 8, 2025, that foregrounds three influential voices in contemporary Midwestern art: Nikki Renee Anderson, Aaron Becker, and the late Molly Schiff. Through sculpture, color, and dynamic form, Facades confronts themes of identity, visibility, and public space, inviting audiences to consider how we construct, obscure, and reveal ourselves in a constantly shifting social landscape. These three Chicago-based artists—each rooted in a distinct material language—deliver an experience that is visually compelling and emotionally resonant, shaped by Midwest sensibilities and a commitment to community dialogue. Nikki Renee Anderson, known for her ceramic sculptures and immersive installations, brings a tactile intimacy to the exhibition. Her works challenge static notions of femininity and identity, drawing on personal history to create forms that are at once soft and assertive, playful and deeply psychological. Anderson’s practice reflects a career of national and international acclaim, with exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Hyde Park Art Center, and the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Italy. A professor and leader in ceramic education, Anderson’s work reclaims the domestic and decorative as spaces of feminist resistance and self-exploration. Aaron Becker engages viewers with a sculptural language that distorts familiarity. Trained in ceramics, Becker constructs imagined environments through abstract form and geometric composition, asking us to examine the energies that shape our perception of place. His work, which often pairs the functional with the conceptual, explores the thresholds between domesticity and disorientation. His installations provoke questions about presence, interiority, and what it means to occupy space. Molly Schiff (1927–2018), a visionary Chicago modernist, rounds out the exhibition with vividly colored paintings that channel emotional immediacy through abstraction. A lifelong creative force who began painting after a career in the garment industry, Schiff earned multiple degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and exhibited widely across Illinois. Her works exemplify a blend of expressive form, bold palette, and open invitation to interpretive intimacy. She remains a cherished figure in Chicago’s art history and her legacy continues to influence new generations. Together, Anderson, Becker, and Schiff present a multi-generational conversation on form, identity, and the surface tensions that define civic life. Facades is more than an exhibition, it is a reflection on visibility, vulnerability, and the connective power of art in public discourse. Opening Reception: August 8, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM&nbsp; Exhibition Dates: August 8 – September 2025 Location: The Art Center Highland Park 1957 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035 <a style="color: rgb(49, 95, 195);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rkcgwygbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pQCTLAZWoLcf8QKJ7bW0UTmQQvLi8QCbGnkKtsql4i6I9ZL64t5o-ClLO30U4qlgbzz1_RMl0TnO4ySsyGSgn5p0R6WKlrHrsVsqKwvj43J5pwb-3qIzuQdxhUrAKrZZeE5lQN-624hOFVumazIUgXhjCn3B9ybpA0oJH7BBUbjNK8knTWgzan41fTzp867IrUp_dYhlprGi3zshErrhVtkvEbFk1r-jYLNoXfuO-1T4w1MaGVWcu38dRLUkgnbQSMKVKwDyfDfky2mTo8On3eMZ4nEXLlOhQ443AHZ73Zx9Tpvau5sDr0_uylojA8TswWV5fJL37D3cj1bKBq8FOFhm93ReWXo-qaAGtYHf84c=&amp;c=IJzV2jz8yvZtX5CTPVPXoMUDippq0o1jIRBZpwu4VeFXp_eCnKxnzg==&amp;ch=kzLhgOqA5aEWuRf34Ovhff1OQt3YOA0ZU-fCxhD596BhhhFEKh0xXw==" target="_blank">Learn more</a>

Facades

Artists Reception Friday, September 5th 6-8pmImage: Impulse, Christina Cooley

Somewhere Between, Christina Cooley

In&nbsp;Alchemy,&nbsp;Walker retreats to the analog with the meditative process of wet plate collodion photography. His botanical studies move beyond traditional decorative imagery, conjuring&nbsp;resilience from the dormant and damaged.

Chris Walker: Alchemy

In&nbsp;A World Undone,&nbsp;Shur brings us semi-abstract, digital composites that place familiar forms in uncomfortable or unlikely spaces. The images speak to the notion that the world, as we know it, is becoming increasingly splintered and fractured.&nbsp;The resulting compositions hold a deep sense of psychological unease and societal volatility.

Paula Shur: A World Undone

On Friday, September 5th, we will be having an exhibit opening for newly represented and featured artist Patricia Dolan's show "Pistevo (Believe)."&nbsp;The opening will run from 5-7 PM and will display Patricia's abstract waterscape paintings, which are influenced by her experiences around Lake Michigan and the Aegean Sea.Image: Patricia Dolan, 300 DPI image of "Wise."

Patricia Dolan: Pistevo (Believe)

Hubbard Woods' annual Art Walk will be held on Friday, October 3rd! 18 businesses will host the work of a local artist during the event, and the artists will be on hand to speak with visitors and discuss their work. Live music and refreshments round out the evening. Don't miss out on the fun! The event will take place from 4pm to 7pm and will include music and after-hours shopping.

Hubbard Woods Art Walk

Flourish: Embracing Indigenous and Scientific KnowledgeSupport Brushwood's impact&nbsp;at the 42nd Annual Smith Nature SymposiumHonoring author, scientist, mother, professor, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer Saturday, October 11, 2025Chicago Botanic Garden1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022 Smith Nature Symposium Co-Chairs:Lois Morrison and Janea Harris About the Smith Nature Symposium 2024 Environmental Leadership Award winner Dr. Mona Hanna with emcees Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra at the Smith Nature Symposium Awards DinnerThe Smith Nature Symposium is Brushwood’s largest fundraising event of the year, and all funds raised from the Smith Awards Dinner directly benefit our programs for youth, families, and Veterans across our community.&nbsp;&nbsp;On May 6, 1984, more than 350 people gathered for the first Smith Nature Symposium featuring Roger Tory Peterson. Organized under the leadership of Barbi Donnelley, Symposium Co-Chair, this jam-packed convening of nature-lovers became the first of four decades of annual Symposia memorializing the significant civic legacy of Hermon Dunlap and Ellen Thorne Smith, who donated their land and cabin to help form Ryerson Woods. About Robin Wall Kimmerer Robin Wall Kimmerer&nbsp;is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of&nbsp;The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants&nbsp;and&nbsp;Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.&nbsp;She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. The Serviceberry As Indigenous scientist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most?&nbsp;Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.” Braiding Sweetgrass As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In&nbsp;Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).&nbsp;Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, a mother, and a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings—asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass—offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a rich braid of reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

42nd Annual Smith Nature Symposium Awards Dinner

What is the relationship between an artwork and its maker? Can we confidently link the two, or do they diverge in meaning and intention?In this keynote lecture, Alexander Nemerov (Stanford University, Department of Art &amp; Art History) will reflect on these enduring questions. Drawing from his acclaimed biography&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://northwestern.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=904f932038284b4d9eea69636&amp;id=4b0069d16a&amp;e=ec81127d70" target="_blank">Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York</a>, Nemerov will invite audiences to consider how chance, abstraction, and artistic identity intersect in Frankenthaler’s work and legacy.&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://northwestern.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=904f932038284b4d9eea69636&amp;id=61c7046ef0&amp;e=ec81127d70" target="_blank">RSVP FOR KEYNOTE</a><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://northwestern.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=904f932038284b4d9eea69636&amp;id=713205aa33&amp;e=ec81127d70" target="_blank">EXPLORE ALL FALL 2025 PROGRAMS</a>

Alexander Nemerov on Helen Frankenthaler’s Diversions

The Annual Recycled Art Sale&nbsp;includes thousands of pieces of art that have been donated to The Art Center from private collectors, galleries, estates, corporate art collections, and institutions throughout the year. Each October we organize, research, and price to sell all of these donated items and offer them in a 10-day event that benefits our programming, education, and outreach. A community favorite for over 20 years, the variety of items is vast and of high quality, including paintings, prints, ceramics, decorative objects, vintage posters, sculpture, art glass, jewelry, and more.We take art donations all year!&nbsp;Donations of artwork in good condition are accepted all year and can be brought to the front desk during office hours. If artwork can not be delivered to TAC by the donor, pickups can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Recycled

Paul Mitchell is an art professor and digital artist living in Illinois. This selection is from a body of work reflecting his interest in climate change, beginning in 2006, with the publication of&nbsp;An Inconvenient Truth&nbsp;by Al Gore. This led to the realization that climate change was connected to global warming, ocean acidification, wildlife extinction, and massive migration of life on the planet. Most recently, his focus has been on mitigation of the problems and suffering caused by climate change. The art is meant to work together, supporting a context of healing our planet.&nbsp;Closing reception and gallery talk: October 23, 7-9pm Wadsworth Family GalleryLewis UniversityOremus Fine Arts CenterOpen 9am-9pm DailyContact Natalie Swain for more information,&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:swainna@lewisu.edu" target="_blank">swainna@lewisu.edu</a>

Paul Mitchell

Aces &amp; Art: A Night of Luck &amp; Giving at Elmhurst Art Museum Tickets: $150-$175 Join us for&nbsp;Aces &amp; Art:&nbsp;A Night of Luck and Giving&nbsp;at the Elmhurst Art Museum on&nbsp;Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 7:00-11:00 pm&nbsp;for an evening filled with style, and a touch of casino-night fun — all in support of the museum’s exhibitions and education programs. The evening includes:• Gaming tables of roulette, blackjack, craps, and more--put the fun in FUNdraising!• Complimentary cocktails &amp; heavy hors d'oeuvres• DJ and dancing• Raffles, artful prizes &amp; surprises Whether you're feeling lucky or just love a night out surrounded by creativity, this is the can't-miss event of the season! Tickets available for $150 per person until September 15th - price increases to $175 per person on September 16th!Special thanks to the&nbsp;Aces &amp; Art&nbsp;Committee:&nbsp;&nbsp;Jen Blanchette, Alina Cahill, Kristi Bieber Gibbs, Christina Kanno, Kierstin Madda, Karen O'Keefe, Kate Subramanian, Karon Sullivan, Christina Witt Can't make the event?&nbsp;Please consider supporting us, so that we can continue to&nbsp;make the power of art accessible and to sustain our ongoing efforts of programming for audiences of all ages through art, education, and architecture.&nbsp;We thank you! <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://shop.elmhurstartmuseum.org/collections/online-shop/products/aces-art-donation" target="_blank">Donate Today!</a>

Aces & Art: A Night of Luck & Giving at Elmhurst Art Museum 

Perspective Gallery is proud to present a new show by fine art photographers Suzanne Metzel and Kaushik Sunder Rajan. Metzel’s&nbsp;For the Love of Trees&nbsp;celebrates trees through the medium of photopolymer gravure.&nbsp;Each image, hand-printed on an etching press, explores different ways of seeing these noble works of nature. Sunder Rajan’s work, titled&nbsp;Gods of Small Things, is a tribute to Arundhati Roy’s novel&nbsp;The God of Small Things,&nbsp;documenting his own visit to the village of Ayamenem in which it was set and the feelings that both the novel and its setting evoked.&nbsp; For the Love of Trees and Gods of Small Things&nbsp;open on October 2, with a public reception on Saturday, October 4 from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Suzanne and Kaushik will give an artist’s talk on zoom on Thursday, October 9 at 7 p.m. Please see&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://perspectivegallery.com/" target="_blank">perspectivegallery.com</a>&nbsp;for details on how to register for the zoom talk. The show will close on October 26.﻿ Kaushik Sunder Rajan,&nbsp;Untitled

Gods of Small Things

Perspective Gallery is proud to present a new show by fine art photographers Suzanne Metzel and Kaushik Sunder Rajan. Metzel’s&nbsp;For the Love of Trees&nbsp;celebrates trees through the medium of photopolymer gravure.&nbsp;Each image, hand-printed on an etching press, explores different ways of seeing these noble works of nature. Sunder Rajan’s work, titled&nbsp;Gods of Small Things, is a tribute to Arundhati Roy’s novel&nbsp;The God of Small Things,&nbsp;documenting his own visit to the village of Ayamenem in which it was set and the feelings that both the novel and its setting evoked.&nbsp; Suzanne Metzel,&nbsp;Cottonwood

For the Love of Trees

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 6, 2 to 5 PM&nbsp; The True Colors Exhibition offers fresh, painterly approaches to the landscape genre. Color is an expressive tool which illustrates emotional depth and subjective responses. In this exhibition, juried by Nina Weiss, selections include paintings executed from memory, abstract interpretations of the landscape, and Impressionistic approaches. As a result, this compelling exhibition is comprised of oil, pastel and watercolor paintings with evidence of brush strokes, texture, and bold, Expressionistic colors. All of the artists in this exhibition employ color as an evocative tool that conveys the essence of a place, whether real or imagined. They have painted their authentic emotional responses to nature.&nbsp; Artists: Colette Wright Adams, Piotr Antonow, Michael Birnbaum, Alan Brunettin, Carlos Cerrato, Anna Marie Crovetti, John Fleck, Peter Jablokow, Anne Kauff, Mike Barret Kolasinki, Basia Krol, Angela McElwain, Robyn McMurray Hurtig, Elaine Miller, Carol Neiger, Deborah Newmark,&nbsp;Deb Popely, David Ray, Alice Rebechini, Beth Shadur, Pam Spicer, Kris Stebbins Kelly, Maria Sundqvist, Claire Tarnacki, and Sally Wille Location: 619 Grove Street, Downtown Evanston, ILGallery Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 6 PM<a style="color: rgb(56, 101, 115);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.grovegallery.shop" target="_blank">www.grovegallery.shop</a>Contact: Sarah Kaiser-Amaral(773) 318-0163

True Colors: Fall 2025 Juried Exhibition

Exhibition of Impressionistic Landscape Paintings, juried by Nina Weiss

True Colors: Expressive Landscape Paintings

We are thrilled to be displaying a new collection of work by represented artist Debra Delbecq. These paintings reflect Debra's quiet, contemplative connection to the rhythms of nature that surround her Indiana farmhouse studio.

Entwined Landscapes

The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to our upcoming exhibition,&nbsp;CSI | Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form. The exhibition will be on display from September 27 - November 9, 2025, and will be free and open to the public.Juried by Debra Favre,&nbsp;CSI | Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form explores the interplay of materials in the realm of sculpture, showcasing works that challenge, celebrate, and redefine our understanding of material substance through freestanding and wall-hung sculptures as well as installation and video. Forty members of Chicago Sculpture International have been selected for this exhibition.CSI | Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form&nbsp;will be exhibited in the&nbsp;First Floor Gallery&nbsp;of the Art Center. The opening reception is free and open to the public. This exhibition is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the EAC’s general membership.

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