NORTH LAWNDALE — A West Facet artwork heart highlighting tales of social justice and the work of Black ladies artists is providing free applications all summer time.
The Chicago City Artwork Retreat Heart is providing free workshops centered on storytelling by way of portray, speaking, writing and music. Workshops are 2 p.m. Saturdays by way of Sept. 20 on the North Lawndale heart’s Peace Park, 2101 S. Spaulding Ave.
“The factor that goes by way of [our programs] is social justice,” mentioned heart founder Dianna Lengthy. “All the pieces’s about artwork and social justice, and we attempt to attain individuals the place they’re at by way of our summer time programming.”
The Saturday workshop sequence is centered on the theme of “Telling Our Tales,” and courses are open to individuals of all ages. This Saturday’s workshop will function African drumming and storytelling. Following weeks will give attention to clay face masks making and a musical jam session.
Contained in the two-flat that homes the middle, sweeping artwork galleries greet visitors and stream into the home’s rooms. “Black Ladies Artists That Contributed To [The] Artwork World” is the present exhibit, and it options work from ladies artists from all over the world, together with Edmonia Lewis, Harriet Powers and Alma Thomas.
Cat Roberts, who grew up in Bronzeville, is featured within the gallery along with her “Afropuff Gurlz” items, that are an Afrocentric depiction of “The Powerpuff Women” cartoon characters.
Roberts mentioned that being surrounded by robust feminine characters and illustration in media is a precedence in her work, and she or he’s grateful for the alternatives she’s had whereas working with the middle since 2021.
“Nobody’s ever actually been all that assured in having any alternatives as an artist,” Roberts mentioned. “There have been many Black feminine artists which may not have had as massive of a illustration and even in common dialog have been mentioned [at the center].”
Lengthy, initially from New York state, based the middle because the City Artwork Retreat in 1984 whereas dwelling in Portland. The middle began with a mission of selling group engagement by way of artwork galleries, workshops and occasions. She moved this system to Chicago in 1991, basing it within the former Uptown Nationwide Financial institution constructing.
This system bounced round areas by way of the ’90s earlier than settling at its present dwelling within the early 2000s. Providers on the heart expanded to incorporate group volunteer work and social assist companies for low-income artists, together with a residence program for as much as 5 ladies. Rooting this system in North Lawndale represented a counter to disinvestment and selling group arts, Lengthy mentioned.
“We felt like there have been lots of people right here that would profit from our programming,” Lengthy mentioned. “There have been no applications that had been seeking to artwork as a means of serving individuals.”
The middle’s summer time workshop sequence will conclude with a Social Justice Stage Occasion Sept. 20 at 1959 S. Kedzie Ave. in a vacant lot close to the Pink Line cease.
For extra details about the Chicago City Artwork Retreat Heart, go to its web site.
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