Chicago, NFO EXPO
DivaTV, Panda Express and cBlends were shown in NFO EXPO, part of Version Festival in Chicago last week. Chicago seems to be a big enough city to contains both commercial art scene and underground art scene in large scale. Last week of April, several art festivals were happenning at the same time, from Art Chicago in Merchandise Mart in downtown, to Version Fest in south side of the city Bridgeport area. It was fortune to get to know something from both side of the Chicago art scene, by taking part in Version fest and having friends Ana and Niki in Art Chicago.
Living in San Francisco for the past almost two years, I almost forget about abandon factories are paradise for artists’ work and live. Warehouse building in Chicago is more immense than New York in my opinion. Giant concrete blocks are laid from downtown to suburban. Newer high rise buildings in downtown are adopted from these same solid style but go on vertical level instead of horizontal. Headquarter of Version fest is in Bridgeport, the edge of residencial and industrial miles. Their building and people who in the organization is the very example of alternative art space takes off by reusing abandon industrial house.
Organizer of Version Fest Ed Marszewski and his friends moved in and repaired a two floor building to live, work and host shows and parties. They called it “The Village”. On the second floor living area, the space was divided into different unites and each comprise its own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and hangout area. The set up reminds me commune houses in China, where neighbours live very close to each other and yet family unites are separated within. And this seems to be effective for artist community where a group of individuals live and work together and still maintain good level of privacy and organization. Plus the house is great for housing visiting artists like me or friends need a place to crash after party. Ed and many others who live in the building or in the neighbourhood have put out a magazine, shows and art festivals.
The image below is Brad and Desa modeling in cBlends jackets in front of all the other artists booths in NFO EXPO.
