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The best of art in Chicago
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The art world in Chicago seems to be a vast and over populated place to be in. Artists and galleries pop up every second in the city and in every neighborhood it seems. The days of Wicker Park and Pilsen being the only artists community have been overshadowed by new comers like the West Loop, Bridgeport, and even Lakeview. Galleries are soon to follow with this expansive push with artists spreading out all over the city. Even in lieu of economic disaster, there are still buyers, collectors, and art aficionados who keep the art world financially stable. There will always be a market for art because there are so many different tastes and avenues for art to be presented.
With that said, my best list is comprised of having experienced this recent surge of art and satisfying my specific tastes. It is always so hard to pick just one best for each of these categories, however I am picking the best in my opinion so if there are any nay sayers, feel free to comment for discussion! I have taken the liberty of not posting any images for my choices because one image can not do my choices justice. So if you have some time, please click on the links and really look at the content.
Best Artist in Chicago: Jeff Zimmerman
I can't say enough about how strikingly detailed and complete his murals are. I have seen his massive projects mostly in Pilsen and have been blown away by the sheer size and composition of his murals. Most of these mural's subject matters seem to revolve around people in and around the neighborhood he paints in. I feel that this makes the murals so much more personable and interactive in a way. The composition and the way certain objects and abstractions are placed on the wall along side these realistic portraits tells a story that is openly interpretable. He has done murals in clubs, grocery stores, and all kinds of brick walls in the city with precision and a very vibrant palette. He has all kinds of eye candy on his website including murals, studio work, shows, and my favorite progress shots of said murals.
Runners Up: Juan Angel Chavez, Dzine.
Best Art Gallery in Chicago: 32nd and Urban Gallery
With this current creative boom of art from all genre's, its hard to weed through the thousands of artists out there and decide what to showcase in a gallery. This is the dilemma that 32nd and Urban likes to confront and conquer. They have almost all of 2009 scheduled and is always looking toward the future. I have already featured this unassuming gallery a couple months ago and since then, they have been non stop having an all female art show a couple weeks back. The four owners work together like a well oiled machine - each with their own duty to make sure everything goes according to plan. The space is large, with high ceilings, well prepped walls for any kind of installation and a bathroom that has plenty to look at while you do your business. They pick artists of all range and profiles, making sure that they always stay current and in tune with the ever changing art world locally and nationally. I think they are helping Bridgeport become a common name when thinking of contemporary art which is refreshing for a neighborhood where mullets and White Sox fans exist. Get on their very informative mailing list which lists upcoming shows and updates you on other art news around the city.
Best Art Museum in Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago
C'mon, this is a no brainer when you think of art museums. This is one of the best museums in the world boasting a heavy permanent collection that will make any monacle wearing art collector drool his Johnnie Walker blue. They seriously have everything here with all kinds of historical artifacts and rooms you can spend hours in. Despite what anyone says, you can not see the whole museum in a day, unless you're on a segway and that would be just weird. This institute is important for the city as it serves as a lesson in history with works dating back to the Renaissance. You can see all the greats here and you can't beat their free nights because it makes an excellent date that makes you look cultured and frugal.
Runners up: MCA, Hyde Park Art Center.
Best Street Artist: The Grocer
When you see that name, you almost think of a guy holding a basket of produce happily refilling the bins at your local grocery store, except imagine your produce cut and pasted on a wall for the city to see. His wheatpastes are all hand painted and painted realistically enough for you to look twice at the giant kiwi on a boarded wall. I've seen almost every fruit and vegetable he's done and they are all so distinct and almost comical that you just have to appreciate it. It's original, themed, and executed in a way that is so refreshing to see over posters for cars or viagra. Check out his website for upcoming shows, past spots he's wheatpasted and if you are interested in purchasing any produce.
Runners up: the viking, and a special mention to solve who recently passed away.
Best Graphic Designer: Cody Hudson
Cody Hudson is to the design world what Charlie Trotter is to the culinary world. His company Struggle Inc. is a cornucopia of mixed media ranging from art shows, prints, street art, and design that will make you want to delete your bootleg copy of Photoshop 8. Cody is a Chicago resident by way of Wisconsin and has been non stop in the visual arts world. You can almost instantly tell if he designed a poster or a record cover by the way it's so craftfully put. The balance, the colors, the fonts and the layout are all sure tell signs that he's been doing this for years and does not plan on stopping anytime soon. I may have picked him for best graphic designer, but there is a lot more to this Hot Doug's fanatic.
Runners up: Peabe, Ibrahim Hassan
Best Artists Resource: Chicago Artists Coalition
The Chicago Artists Coalition is an online resource /networking/gallery - you get the point. This site posts everything you need to know about being a full time artist. You can post upcoming events, or attend any one of the hundreds of events being uploaded by the users and administers of the site. It's real easy to join and is very user friendly, so its always easy to update your profile or events as it happens. They also happen to sponsor a lot of great art related events with guest speakers deep in the art industry. This is a testament to how many artists live and work in Chicago.
Runners up: Chicago Artist Resource
This city is filed with all kinds of great artists and talent so if you have any favorites, let me know about them! Everyone has their own likes and dislikes so I'm sure my list may not match a lot out there but this is a list that I am proud of and sticking by!
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