CGN Virtual Gallery Tour: West Loop
By CGN Staff
The eighth edition of our "virtual" district tours focuses on the West Loop. There used to be many more galleries in this particular neighborhood, but today there really are just a few, and they are in the same building together at 835 W Washington. What used to be an outpost in the city's meatpacking district, which of course made it attractive to galleries in search of space and lower rent, eventually attracted the attention of real estate developers and then thousands of people looking for a hip but easily accessible place to live. Restaurants, private clubs, hotels and corporate headquarters formerly in the suburbs have pretty much replaced the galleries and even the meatpackers.
As this crisis goes on, in addition to making every effort to stay home and to keep others healthy while also sending love to those are sick or caring for the sick, we are especially mindful of the financial pain that galleries, artists and museums are experiencing while their doors are closed and their exhibition plans are in limbo. We are looking at the abundance and diversity of art in the Chicago region with fresh eyes, and while we enthusiastically cheerlead all there is to see from home, we know that there is a real cost to be borne by small galleries and nonprofits that have put effort into shows that aren't happening. They need your support, whether it's a message of "I love what you're doing" or a request for a catalog, or most of all, a sale. Everyone's resources are so precious right now, but if you are moved by a work of art at a gallery, see if you can buy it. If you're browsing a museum site, make a donation or become a member. It all helps share hope that the crisis will be over but not the art.
So, maybe someday we'll get a 360° camera and do these tours properly, but we hope that for the most part we just get back to real gallery hopping and seeing art in person – for our sakes yes, but mostly so that artists and the cultural lifeblood of the country can keep going and do not have to step back from what they love to do and from what they are able to share with the public.
Until then, go image by image and dive into individual websites.
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The galleries highlighted here each have strong local and national reputations and each has been active on the international art fair circuit for many years. McCormick focuses on abstraction, contemporary work as well as the Abstract Expressionists. Secrist features a range of mediums and career levels, with much of the art being bright, and appealing. Kavi Gupta actually operates from two buildings in the West Loop. Their second building is nearby on Elizabeth Street. The gallery's roster includes a range of artists, from Tony Tasset to Roger Brown.
I continue to emphasize that in-person is far superior to virtual, but right now, virtual is much better than not at all!
And don't forget if you really like something you see online, chances are you and a dealer or artist can figure out how to physically get it to you despite the current climate. Hey, maybe gallery curbside pick-up will be the next big thing!
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835 W. Washington Blvd.
Carrie Secrist Gallery, established in 1992, features contemporary artwork by emerging and mid-career artists who work in a variety of mediums. Represented artists include: Whitney Bedford, Stephen Eichhorn, Shannon Finley, Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Andrew Holmquist, Anne Lindberg, Liliana Porter, Michael Robinson and Dannielle Tegeder.
835 W. Washington Blvd.
Kavi Gupta is a leading contemporary art gallery based in Chicago that hosts more than a dozen museum quality exhibitions each year; its publishing imprint, Kavi Gupta Editions, produces unique, high quality artist books and catalogues. Artists represented by the renowned gallery include Firelei Báez, Inka Essenhigh, Beverly Fishman, Glenn Kaino, Manish Nai, Angel Otero, Roxy Paine, Devan Shimoyama, Tony Tasset and Mickalene Thomas, among others.
835 W. Washington Blvd.
McCormick Gallery features both modern and contemporary art, focusing primarily on painting, works on paper and sculpture.
Auction Houses
It's worth noting that there are two well-known auction houses also located in the West Loop. Both are offering virtual consultations right now as well as continuing to host online auctions.
With an unyielding focus on client service, Hindman offers holistic solutions to connect clients in local US cities to the global art market. Hindman operates more salesrooms in the United States than any other firm and conducts over 100 auctions annually in categories such as fine jewelry, fine art, modern design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, couture, Asian works of art, arts of the American West, and numismatics, as well as special focus subjects as the need arises.
Founded in 1993, SUSANIN’S is Chicago’s oldest independently owned auction house and one of the “World’s Top 100” auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, coins, antique furniture, silver, decorative items, Asian works of art, mid-century design, and a variety of specialty categories.