Explore West Town on the first Friday of every month, when our neighborhood galleries and arts- based businesses stay open until 8PM.
The upcoming First Fridays on October 2nd, aligns with the West Town Art Walk. You can see all the Art Walk participating galleries and artists here. You can see the details regarding the West Town Chamber of Commerce Art Walk Exhibition below.
West Town Chamber of Commerce
1819 W Chicago Ave
Messengers and Oracles
Artwork & Book Release by Duncan Robert Anderson
"Late last year, in a quiet, shared moment of grieving for Tony, his wife, dear Ms. Michele, offered with a tearful but steady gaze, in both consolation and injunction, "Tony handed you the baton. Now run with it." It was everything I needed at that moment.
This Summer I turned the same age as my Mother when she was stolen away by cancer. A devoted RN and Director of Nursing, she stoically hid for too long her own pain, preoccupied instead with the care of those in her charge, a duty she held as a sacred calling.
This year seemed the time to finally realize this book and exhibition. As the hourglass sands slip away ever more swiftly, it seems imperative to recognize perpetually hazy 'somedays' demand a sharp refocus to 'now'.
Many voices were a part of this project, and for their boundless generosity and dedication I am endlessly grateful. This is not 'my' book, it is ours. And it is Tony's. And Meckley's. And Sammy's. It's for my Mother, my Father, my brother, Miss Yoko's Daddy. And Smokey. And all the family, friends and artists who forge a community together, especially those we mourn but who we've never truly lost.
October is traditionally a season when the curtain between worlds parts more freely. It is also the season of the birth of my Mother and brother. And the loss of Miss Yoko's Father.
With this book and upcoming show, I hope to honor in some small way all these families - both of blood and bond - and the love and kindness I have been so very lucky to have known."
Messengers and Oracles
Essays: Laura Herrera, Suraiya Nathani Hossain, Douglas Reichert Powell
Creative Production: Drew Colglazier
Cover Design: Brian Hedrick
Visual Sequencing and Artwork Selection: Suraiya Nathani Hossain
Photography: Nathan Keay
Design: Katie Leonard
Exhibition and Book Release
Featuring sound design by Paul Deuth
Friday, October 2nd 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.,
West Town Chamber of Commerce
1819 W. Chicago Avenue
You can purchase the Messengers and Oracles book at the MCA store website.
The WTFF program facilitates connection amongst West Town's galleries and arts-based businesses and their represented artists, collectors, and patrons, as well as independent area artists.
The West Town Chamber of Commerce launched the First Fridays program in October 2022 at the request of and with support from a contingency of its Member galleries.
The goal of WTFF is to ensure the continued success of West Town area galleries, both emergent and established, as cornerstones of the West Town neighborhood—a nexus of organic growth and sustainable development in the arts and beyond.
The program intends to amplify Member galleries' own programming efforts by creating a monthly guide to exhibitions and events and supplementary programming for patrons to utilize when visiting the neighborhood on the first Friday of each month.
Is your business interested in participating? Here are the guidelines:
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Be located within (and be a Member of) the West Town Chamber of Commerce's service area: Division Street to Hubbard; Halsted Street to Kedzie Avenue. Not a Member yet? Apply today!
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Be showcasing art in some form. This includes traditional galleries, as well as retail, food & beverage, or service businesses that are exhibiting art.
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Be open from 6-8 p.m. the First Friday of each month. Extended hours of programming before or beyond that window are fine, but 6-8 p.m. is the minimum requirement.
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Provide your programming details in advance of the first Friday of the month via this google form.
Interested in presenting an exhibition or event in our office gallery?
In addition to organizing the monthly initiative, the Chamber has also transformed its office space into a rotating gallery where arts-based Members that lack a traditional gallery space are invited to utilize the space for their own exhibitions and related programming.
Interested Members can fill out this Member Expression of Interest form. Not a Member yet? It's easy to apply!
