M a r w e n

2007-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Stop by Marwen's 2007 Technology Fire Sale from 5PM-7PM on December 14th. Computers, monitors, audio input devices, scanners, and other gadgets will all be priced to go. Not only are the prices right, we are also giving away CDs loaded with free/open-source art making software!

It is going to be a busy evening around Marwen. The Fall Term Exhibition will be on display, there will be family workshops, free unclaimed art from 2007 courses, and a raffle.

2007-11-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

Eddie Morfin's piece for the Alumni Artist-In-Residence Show at Marwen includes a wall for visitors to copy a quote from Mahatma Gandhi in their own handwriting.

"We have to make truth and nonviolence not a matter of individual practice, but for practice by groups and communities and nations. That at any rate is my dream. I shall live and die in trying to realize it"

I noticed the note pictured above amongst the text the other day.

2007-09-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

EWW!!!!!
Haven't seen Maria Gaspar's eerie video installation in the alumni gallery? Want to share it with a friend? Take a look at a clip now (unless you're about to have a meal)

For the rest of the awesome art up in the gallery now, take a look HERE

2007-09-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Marwen's Executive Director, Antonia Contro, has a just published a beautiful book. It was created around her exhibition entitled "Closed | Open" at the Newberry Library last spring.

There will be two book signings in Chicago in the next month- one at Newberry Library on September 19 at 6:00 and the second at the Museum of Contemporary Art on October 2 at 7:00.

2007-09-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

BACK TO SCHOOL! BACK TO SCHOOL! I hope everyone had a g-r-e-a-t summer and that the first week of school wasn't too bad... I know we're all looking forward to Marwen students returning to classes in just a few weeks.

And now for a personal plug... If anyone has any questions or wants additional counseling on college stuff (stuff= applications, essays, financial aid, portfolio preparation, test prep, etc) just come by and say hi, you know where I work. Or give me a call, the number is: 312.944.2418 x.207.

Hope to talk/see you all soon.
Sarah (assistant manager of college and career programs)

2007-08-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

Check out the new blog for Marwen's alumni Artists-In-Residence! Five former Marwen students are taking up shop in the studios this summer, making amazing artwork, and some of them have something to say (and show) about it. You can stay tuned to their thoughts, photos, and videos. Check it out here, subscribe to the blog!
http://artistsinresidence.blog spot.com/

2007-08-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

On the Verge: Youth Video Festival
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Doors open at 11AM, Screening starts at 12PM
at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago

2007-08-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

In the studios Summer 2007
YouTube Theater with Marwen teaching artist Steve Ciampaglia

Steve based his course "YouTube Theater"on the lonelygirl15 saga, where film student/actress Jessica Rose created a serial videoblog highlighting fictional accounts of "Bree."

lonelygirl15 first portrayed herself to be a real 16-year-old who had to deal with typical teenage angst but quickly morphed into a bizarre narrative that portrayed her dealings with secret occult practices within her family and included the mysterious disappearance of her parents after she refused to attend a "secret" ceremony prescribed by the leaders of the family's cult. The series was an immediate hit and quickly became the most subscribed channel on YouTube. Due to her popularity, fans became suspicious of whether she was really genuine and an investigation was initiated by the NY Times which eventually outted Jessica Rose.
link to the NY Times Article outting Jessica Rose
link to the Wikipedia Entire for lonelygirl15

Above is "fredgreen61" who videoblogs about his troubles sleeping.
More vlogs from the course:
fredgreen61
allyxxdizzle
Hikaristar12
LorettaVBall
DuhDuhDum

2007-08-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

Marwen's homepage needed a little update in order to keep things fresh. While searching our archive, we came across this excellent self portrait created by alumna Alexsandra Gamboa. It defiantly captures the look many students get in their eye while thinking creatively about their future.

2007-07-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

things are coming together for John Huynh's
solo exhibition in the alumni gallery!

please join us for the opening celebration:
Thursday, August 2, 2007
5-7 pm

exhibit runs through August 23, 2007

2007-07-17T14:46:00.001-07:00

Students in Jake Elliott and Jon Satrom's DreamMachines Course cart their computers outside to Marwen's garden in order to clean the dust out of them. Computer dust does wonders for plants and flowers!

2007-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Artward Bound Maine participants returned safely from a wonderful week on Little Babson Island off the coast of Maine at the end of June. Six students and two teaching artists spent five days on the island, making art and experiencing a completely new environment as a group.
Many thanks to Virginia, our hostess and supporter! Please stop by Marwen on August 2nd from 5 to 7pm for the Artward Bound Exhibition opening. Student work from the AB Maine and AB Los Angeles trip will be featured.

2007-07-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Come to Marwen's next exhibition
opening on August 2nd, 5-7pm. 833 North Orleans Street, Chicago.

Susan and Steven Berkowitz Gallery

ARTWARD BOUND 2007

Alumni Gallery
John HUYNH

Image From “The Human Form: Advanced Mixed Media”
Fall 2004 Studio Program
Teaching Artist: Guillermo Delgado

2007-07-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, students from the 2007 Pre-College Program, led by teaching artist Maria Gaspar, filled Marwen with site-specific installations.

2007-06-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

Through The Arts Action Center it is easy to be an advocate for the arts. You can sign up to receive notifications about pending legislation, stay informed about issues that affect arts funding, and send quick letters electronically to your local representatives.

2007-06-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

ART FAIR!!!!

Marwen's second annual Art Fair will be held on Friday, October 26, 2007.

Marwen alumni, students in grades 11 & 12, staff, and teaching artists once again have the opportunity to sell work and participate in a really fun event.

For questions about Art Fair call Allie (ext. 213) or Allison (ext. 256) at 312.944.2418.

Particpation forms can be downloaded from marwen.org. Forms are due no later than August 18th, the last day of summer term. All work needs to be submitted to Marwen in early October. Artists may submit a range of mediums. Last year, Art Fair featured silk-screened t-shirts, photographs, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and drawings. The Marwen staff is happy to help participating artists select work to sell and to assess an asking price--just give us a call.

2007-06-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS! Many of our seniors are graduating over the next couple weeks-- a huge shout out to them and their families. We're so proud of you and all you've accomplished at Marwen and beyond, congrats!

2007-06-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

This was spotted amongst the signatures within Jordan Seaberry's piece Cultivating Marwen: 20 Years of Growth. Jordan's mixed media piece celebrates Marwen's 20th anniversary and invites the public to sign a tree rendered on the gallery wall. Steven Berkowitz founded Marwen in 1987.

2007-06-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Paintbrush Ball is Marwen's largest fundraiser. Each year, the parking lot is transformed into a magnificent tent for one spectacular evening.
Shout out to HDO Productions

2007-05-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Come Check Out our First Gallery Walk!

Shifting Stories: Gallery Walk Project
Friday, June 8, 2007
5:00 to 7:30pm (Locations One and Two)
7:30 to 9pm (Location Three)

Presented by Marwen, the focus of Shifting Stories will feature works of Marwen students who have adapted impressions of home through a narrative of installation art. Beginning at Marwen, a collaborative piece will reflect on their vision followed by individual works at the Chicago Art Department and the artist studio of Maria Gaspar. Each location will have an opening reception followed by a viewing of works. We encourage you to view each site to accurately interpret the entire narrative of each student’s work. Please bring friends, family, and guests!

Locations of Gallery Walk Project:
Location One: Marwen
833 North Orleans
Location Two: Chicago Art Department
1837 South Halsted
Location Three: Maria Gaspar Studio
1900 W. Cullerton

2007-05-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

Shifting Stories opens on June 8!

This week students from Marwen's "Shifting Stories" program began their installation at three different locations. Here we see the start of their exhibition at the Chicago Art Department. The public openings happen on June 8!

2007-05-23T14:01:00.001-07:00

New Banners on Orleans Street

Thanks to Marwen alumni, John Huynh and Stephen Flemister, for providing artwork for Marwen's new street banners.

2007-05-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Jon Satrom's College & Career course "DigiJobz" took a field trip to Gensler, one of the world's largest architecture firms. Thanks to Deeg Snyder for showing us around!
Check out the DigiJobz Blog for more pictures!

2007-05-15T13:28:00.001-07:00

This is an early edit of Marwen's 2007 fundraising video for the annual Paint Brush Ball. It uses the new green and orange pallet and contains voices from Marwen students, alumni, teaching artists, and staff. Enjoy!

2007-05-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

2007-05-09T13:06:00.001-07:00

Day in the Life of an Animator
April 28, 2007
Teaching Artist: Joe Merideth

Nine students had the fantastic opportunity recently to visit Joe Merideth’s personal studio, ChewBone Animation. Joe went through all the aspects of being a professional artist—how a freelancer works, what types of clients he works with, and the many phases of animation. He talked about going from the big client who commissions a project, to the advertising agency’s role, to the team of animators who actually put it all together. The students were given the “job” as animators of a Trix commercial—each student created original characters and used those characters in creating story boards for the 30-second spot. Students listened to the actual voiceover that was used in the commercial to inspire and guide them through their initial animation ideas. The story boards were combined and matched with the voiceover to create a final project that very closely resembled the initial stages of an animation project in the professional world!

2007-04-13T16:32:00.001-07:00

Marwen teaching artist Joe Merideth mentioned BJ Crawford's animation "A Time for All Seasonings" to me today. BJ taught a couple of character animation courses at Marwen and works with Joe at ChewBone Animation. BJ has a great blog that documents the project. http://www.allseasonings.blogspot.com/

"I am a first time filmmaker. A Time For All Seasonings has been a two year project in partnership with ChewBone Animation. Seasonings is a 6 minute "silent film" about a dancing salt and pepper duo. The idea grew from a love I have with the look and feel of old silent films. The film has another month of production and it should be finished by mid-April."

2007-04-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Uploaded...
My notes and resources from Marwen's Open Options presentation are up on the internet!
http://jonsatrom.com/edu/OpenOptions/

2007-03-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Things have been buzzing here at Marwen. I can't believe that Winter Term 2007 went by with little to no blogging! We have been working on a number of objectives that you will see come to light here on the TechStudio Blog... I must admit, though, I do have a bit of Blogging Guilt...

2007-01-16T14:17:00.001-08:00

Join Firelight Rising, Zen Shiatsu Chicago, and painter Leah Schreiber for a night of music, beauty, and relaxation. Bring your instrument, words, your talent, and a vegetarian or vegan dish; and come be part of our next album! We’ll be recording our low-fi set and the accompanying meditations for 2 upcoming releases. We will mix the live performance and make it available at our live shows. The other recordings will begin our sample library for new material.

There will also be various self-healing exercises and an Open Mic.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT

www.zenshiatsuchicago.org
825A Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202 (847) 864-1130

2006-12-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

Marwen dot org was featured today on Fox News's "cool websites" section...

Every day on Fox News in the Morning, and again at Noon, Nancy Loo takes a look at some of the best websites around.

As you can imagine, it's a tough job surfing the web and picking the "cream of the crop" - and that's where you come in.

12/12/06

www.marwen.org - Chicago holiday cards by underserved kids

2006-12-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

New Study Shows Students Lack Tech Literacy
"A report released by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) finds that high
school and college students do not have many basic information literacy skills,
including the ability to solve information problems using technology. Researchers
observed 6,300 students who were asked to perform a variety of information-
related tasks, such as locate reliable information online, and communicate
information effectively. Over half of participants were unable to evaluate the
quality of a Web site, and students demonstrated especially poor skills in being
able to narrow search engine results. Experts hope the study will raise awareness
about the importance of young people's mastering these skills. Alexius Macklin,
Associate Professor of Library Science at Purdue University, said, 'It's important
to help our students better evaluate, manage and communicate information so
that they can succeed in school, at work and in life.'"
URL: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/11/15/infolit
Referred by: The Children's Partnership's Newblast

2006-11-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

On November 10th, Marwen's Student Advisory Board partnered with Catherine Forster and LiveBox Gallery and facilitated a field trip to Unfolding Spaces, a virtual reality exhibit by Julieta Aguilera at Kasia Kay Art Projects.

"The tridimensional shadow of a four dimensional textured grid unfolds in a virtual reality environment. Julieta Aguilera places the viewer within the abstract version of a walk into a forest, at the precise moment that light causes foliage and shadows to merge into a unified pattern." - LiveBox

Students had the opportunity to explore the artwork and talk with the artist, curator, and gallery owner. After the exhibit, everyone hopped on the bus and visited Swim Cafe on Chicago Ave. for cookies, coffee and an open discussion about the artwork.

2006-11-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

GlowGadgets with Artist-teacher Sarah Fox created laser installations and light-art craziness in class last week.

"The students are so engaged in class. Working with electronics is something new at Marwen," said Sarah Fox while picking up LEDs, unused wire, and Plexiglas after class was over. "They are consistently surprising me with their ideas and projects."

Come to Marwen's Fall Term Gallery Opening / Holiday Party on December 15 and see the students present their sculptural light work.

2006-09-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Allison Jones in Marwen's Development Office writes: "Yes, the future is now." as she forwarded me the article below. One cannot deny how technology has reshaped the way we learn and remember. I can't help but wonder about two things: 1. In an environment created in partnership with Microsoft Corp, will students be able to learn about non-Microsoft platforms, softwares, and approaches? 2. Is it seriously called the School of the Future? What is their mascot, a cyborg?

'School of the Future' opens doors
First-of-its-kind school seeks to meet the needs of 21st-century learners
By Corey Murray, Senior Editor, eSchool News
"A paperless environment; flexible classroom furniture that easily can be arranged to support collaborative, project-based learning; high-tech tools to support hands-on instruction; and a sustainable architecture designed to save thousands of dollars in energy costs--all of these innovations mark Philadelphia's new School of the Future, which opened its doors to students for the first time Sept. 7. Built in conjunction with Microsoft Corp., the school is more than just
a showcase for new technology; project leaders hope it will serve as a replicable model for other districts to follow as they look to design learning environments that can engage, motivate, and address the unique needs of every student."
URL: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6579
Referred by: eSchool News

2006-09-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

65GRAND is reopening after a long summer break and is extremely pleased to
present:

Bob Jones: New Work and Ian Pedigo: Hallway Installation, Avion

September 15 - October 14,
Opening Reception: Sept. 15, 7:00 - 10:00 pm.

Bob Jones has exhibited in group exhibitions most notably COMA #4 and Autumn Salon at Bucket Rider both in Chicago. This will be the first solo exhibition of his work in Chicago. Bob was also co-curator (with Ed Schad) of Between the Forest and The Cavern, an exhibition at The Guest Room Project, Chicago, IL.

In 2006 Ian Pedigo presented a solo exhibition Original Products have Lapsed at KLAUS VON NICHTSSAGEND Gallery in Brooklyn and has participated in numerous group exhibitions, most recently in CRG Gallery presents: Klaus Von Nichtssagend Gallery, at CRG Gallery, NY. 65GRAND is honored to debut a new work Avion in the hallway space.

65GRAND
1378 W Grand Ave. -entrance on noble- (312-719-4325, 65grand.com).

EL: Blue to Grand. Bus 65 Grand. Fri-Sat. noon-5:30pm.

2006-08-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago:
"Fool's Paradise" (exhibition on view August 15 - September 22)
Reception: Thursday, September 7, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

A nation, a home, the pastoral, urban, a city, a forest, suburban, rural. How do we define these places? Where does one start and another begin? In this exhibition, each artist explores the elusive geographic and metaphoric meaning of a particular place. What emerges are new landscapes that seek to fictionalize, rather than represent the environment, by using imagination to fashion a fantasy. Whether romantic or mythical, bleak or idyllic, the artwork questions the future of landscape art while investigating the evolving boundaries of place in today's society.

Artists include Stephen Eichhorn, Brock Enright, Ivan Hürzeler, Rashid Johnson, Jessica Labatte, Rich Mansfield, Thomas Rapai, and jon.satrom.

This exhibition is curated by Murphy Dunn and Madeline Nusser and is supported, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state
agency.

Betty Rymer Gallery
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
280 S. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60603
312.443.3703
saic_brg@artic.edu
http://www.artic.edu/saic/bettyrymer
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm

2006-08-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

Marwen Alum and current Artist-teacher will be in a small group show opening at Polvo this Friday. Stop by and see some of his new work: artists' books and drawings.

Regin Igloria: Gone Backwoods
mini-exhibit: more stuff from the polvo archives/collection
flatscreen dvd: Michael Gumhold (Austria)

Polvo's summer continues by showcasing the work of Regin Igloria. For this show Regin will exhibit a series of drawings and artists' books. He describes his work: "My drawings and books utilize the tactics of popular imagery seen in catalogs, outdoor magazines and public phenomena-examples of cultural media-to convey this emotional plight. Longing to be elsewhere, of finding a home which may never be lived in is a joy in itself. The physical act of creating my work is a slow, methodical process. I participate in such an activity as I might on an outdoor hike, experiencing its difficult moments, continuing forward, finding a place to stop and rest, and moving forward once again."

Regin has an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is responsible for active recruitment for Ragdale, collaboration with other arts organizations, managing all phases of the application process including panel selection and review, serving as a liaison between residents and staff during residency and establishing a strong alumni program.

Opening Friday August 18 from 6pm-10pm
August 18 - September 9, 2006

Polvo
1458 W. 18th St. 1R
Chicago, IL 60608
773.344.1940
http://www.polvo.org
Hours: Saturdays from Noon-5pm or by appointment

2006-08-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Meet Mike Nourse...
Mike joined the ranks at Marwen as Marwen's Manager of Studio Programs in early July.

Mike Nourse is a man of many fingers, but he works primarily in digital video. Since graduating from SAIC's Visual Communication program in 2002, he has been teaching media studies at both Depaul University and SAIC. Mike has produced a series video shorts focused on entertainment, news, and political media commentaries that he considers "investigations" or "re:constructions", as they follow rules to yield results. While he works with various festivals (both as contributor and curator), he also paints digital transfers which have also been showcased in Chicago galleries and in the loop's Thompson Center. In 2003, Along with 2 other like-minded instructors, Mike co-founded an intermedia arts school called The Chicago Art Department, which has recently moved into a new location in the Chicago Arts District.

Mike recently showed me his blog:
http://fnewsmagazine.com/mikenourse/

2006-08-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Marwen presents
On the Verge: Youth Video Festival
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago IL

PERSONAL, POLITICAL, HUMOROUS, CUT-UP, DOCUMENTARY, ANIMATION, NARRATIVE, RE-MIX, EXPERIMENTAL...

On the Verge is a Youth Video Festival developed by Marwen's Student Advisory Board. Participating organizations include The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Early College Program (Chicago, IL), The Institute of Contemporary Art's Fast Forward Program (Boston, MA), Free Spirit Media (Chicago, IL), Marwen (Chicago, IL), Street Level Youth Media (Chicago, IL), and The Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN).

Young artists from across the country present work shot in bedrooms, classrooms, and neighborhoods; sampled from tapes and found footage; and filmed in imagined landscapes. Using video to express their stories, create their visions, and document their experiences, these youth projects illustrate diversity in time-based and screen-based media. From animation to documentary, experimental to narrative; On the Verge: Youth Video Festival reflects contemporary youth culture by representing a wide range of styles, techniques, and perspectives.

On the Verge: Youth Video Festival
Presented by Marwen
Saturday, August 12, 2006

11AM to Noon: Opening Reception and Info Fair Noon to 2PM: Screening followed by a raffle drawing

Gene Siskel Film Center
164 North State Street
Chicago, IL. 60601

Marwen was founded in 1987 to provide high quality visual arts education, college planning, and career development programs--all free of charge--to Chicago’s under-served youth in grades 6-12. In addition to after school and weekend programs for middle and high school students, Marwen offers opportunities for its alumni to continue their involvement with our organization; courses for Chicago public school teachers of all levels and disciplines; and school partnerships that take place during the day in our studios. With our facility welcoming students, alumni and teachers from every neighborhood in the city, Marwen is a thriving center for the arts in Chicago.

Participating organizations:

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Early College Program
The Institute of Contemporary Art's Fast Forward Program
Free Spirit Media
Street Level Youth Media
The Walker Art Center

2006-07-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Art @ work sneak peak!
This picture is a composite of the current wall where the Art @ Work Mosaic will be and the design chosen last week by the students.

2006-07-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

PAINTALLICA @ Western Exhibitions
opening: July 29, 2006
Group-show w/ Marwen Artist-teacher Jeremy Tinder

Paintallica is a roving collaborative group of artists founded and directed by Dan Attoe, Jamie Boling and Bill Donovan. The sole mission of Paintallica is to mold random crap into something cool. Paintallica shows, influenced heavily by pop culture, incorporate drawing, painting, sculpture plus things, as well as stuff. Their materials come from Wal-Mart, lumberyards and garbage bins and their members from all over. For their show at Western Exhibitions, the men and women of Paintallica will utilize the talents of a video artist, a cartoonist, an editor of a nudist magazine, a ceramicist/Iraq war vet, a video game designer and a Fulbright scholar/designer, among other trained artists. Four of them ride Harleys. There is no predetermined direction to a Paintallica installation, which always start with a drawing session, followed by a trip to get supplies, then an all-nighter of alchemy. The resulting collection of artifacts easily fills a space and often incorporates the gallery walls, ceiling and floor. Some elements are site specific and some exist independently.

[URI:] http://www.westernexhibitions.com/current/paintallica/index.html

2006-07-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

::project:: 100 images
Every Monday, for fifty weeks, you will see two new photos that Marwen Artist-teacher Eduardo Angel, in collaboration with Timothy Campbell have taken in Chicago. They are both adding a new photo every week without seeing the other’s photo. The pictures are placed next to each other on the 100 images website.

Week 14 of the 100 Images Project:
Cell phones have us asking, “Where are you?” instead of “How are you?”
There’s an obsession with location over condition. Geography over emotion.
Remember to check the 100 Images web page every Monday for two new photos.

[URI:] http://www.eduardoangel.com/100images.html

2006-07-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

.:studio blip:.
Using Marwen's Painting and Dawing studio in conjunction with the TechStudio, Artist-teachers jon.satrom and Ann Worthing created the above collaborative work. Marwen's Pixel & Paint course mixes the digital and physical worlds by utilizing software and paint.

2006-07-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Marwen Summer 2006 has officially started.
A couple of TechStudio courses are on the global info super web.

Fine Art Graffiti w/ Hilesh Patel
http://marwengraf.blogspot.com/

Tell Your Story Comics w/ Jeremy Tinder
http://marwencomics.livejournal.com/

2006-07-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

Artward Bound Maine students are back from Maine...

Each summer a select group of Marwen students are chosen to travel to Little Babson Island, Maine, for a full week of intense art making. This creative endeavor is combined with island exploration and the opportunity to learn from mentors, educators, and peers. Removed from the familiar routine and the hustle of city life, students are given the freedom to test their limits as they delve into the wonderful world of nature on this art making adventure.

In the past, over 72 students have participated in the Artward Bound Maine program and all have come back inspired and empowered by this unique art making experience.

2006-07-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Antonia!

A packed house of 300 arts, business and foundation leaders joined The Arts & Business Council of Chicago on Thursday, June 15 to recognize the extraordinary achievements of individuals and organizations behind the scenes in the arts at The 2006 ABBY Awards. The Ballroom at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago provided a beautiful backdrop for the evening's festivities.

As co-writer of the charter and mission of Marwen, Antonia Contro has guided the growth of an organization where more than 1,000 students from all over Chicago come free of charge
each year to participate in arts education, college planning and career development programs. Executive Director since 1993, Antonia brought the original vision for the organization to a reality, providing disadvantaged youth from grades 6-12 with an enriching after-school art program that helps to transcend barriers—whether economic, racial, educational or social—and prepares them for a successful future.

Marwen’s diverse student body finds encouraging mentors everywhere they turn—among artists, teachers, alumni and staff. This is a reflection of Antonia who, in addition to serving as an outstanding administrator, is a celebrated artist and educator herself. In 2004, with co-author Philip Yenawine, Antonia wrote and published Fuel: Giving Youth the Power to Succeed, an extraordinary exercise in disseminating the “Marwen method” to colleagues in the fields of youth development and arts education.

In 2000, Marwen purchased and renovated a wonderful new facility, and in this period of growth and success, Antonia always kept an eye on the bottom line. In fact, in Marwen’s nearly 20 year history, the organization has never carried a deficit. As a result of her strong leadership, Marwen has been awarded with several honors, including the 2003 “Coming Up Taller Award” from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Antonia is an accomplished artist and an exemplary manager, nurturing a financially sound, socially responsible organization where no idea is discounted and new ideas are always encouraged from staff and students alike.

For more information on Marwen, visit: www.marwen.org.

[Ripped From] the ABBY Program Book
[URI] hyperlink

2006-04-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

The Long Hike From Lake Forest
New Work by Regin Igloria

Damen Studio
4528 1/2 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60625
(1 block south of Damen stop on Brown Line) Friday, April 7, 2006
6-9 pm

Food, drink, the company of nice people...it's definitely worth the hike, AND...

Souvenirs! Get your limited edtion "Lake Forest to Chicago" patch...

**FREE if you buy a drawing!**

2006-03-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

Darrell Roberts, a Marwen artist-teacher, is in a show. See details below!

"how did I get here" Ten Artist
Opening Saturday, March 18th 6-8pm
2830 N. Milwaukee 2nd floor
comments on hereness by ten artist
karin patzke brenda moore rima grybauskas brian curtis aviva alter janeil englestast leah schreiber darrell roberts allan winkler alan lerner

2006-03-23T07:58:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Tinder has a new book out, its called Cry Yourself to Sleep.

You should also stop by the Steve and Susan Berkowitz Gallery at Marwen to check out the mini-comic made by students in his winter 2006 course, Comic Creations.

Check out Cry Yourself to Sleep at Amazon.

Review Ripped from Amazon:
Cry Yourself to Sleep explores the disappointments of early adulthood by following the lives of three unique characters: Jim, a minimum wage rabbit struggling to pay his rent; Andy, an aspiring novelist dealing with rejection; and The Robot, a machine who just wants to be a better man. In this stellar debut, Jeremy Tinder mixes sadness, sweetness and humor to tell a quirky little story of pride-swallowing, fake moustaches, car crashes and friendship.

2006-03-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

jon.satrom has a low-fi installation called SUBTXT up @ 65GRAND

jon.satrom: SUBTXT
rebekah levine: COLONEL PANIC
February 24 - March 31, 2006
Opening Reception: February 24, 2006 (7 - 10pm)

"Satrom has essentially translated the architecture of the space with a program used for translating images into text. Using the artificial light taken from nighttime photographs of the walls of Gross's apartment as his map, Satrom translated the light-and-shadow pattern into text. His program output as standard keyboard characters the various light gradients in his source photos. The capital letter "X," for instance, produces a higher density of dark ink on the page than the rows of small-letter "c." These pages were then output onto rolls of paper that stretch floor to ceiling, perfectly matching the existing light in the room. Two intense spotlights from ceiling tracks are positioned right in the middle of the center rolls, producing an odd layering effect of light and light reproduced as text-based work on paper. I sat down with Satrom and Gross to discuss the work, scheduled to open this coming weekend."

Eye Exam: Wall Text
by Michael Workman
New City Chicago

2006-03-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

Marwen Artist-teacher Jon Gittelson has a solo show; Gitelson rawks the "The Car Project" at Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago Illinois
One Man Show, March 17-April 22

Jon Gitelson presents his "Car Project" at Peter Miller Gallery
East Gallery: Jonathan Gitelson — Photographs: The Car Project Jonathan's photographs and sculpture offer a wry commentary on nightclubs and mass
advertising. He collected 1000s of flyers (the kind you find stuck under your windshield
wipers) and sewed a car cover with them. He then photographed his car wearing this
cover while it was parked in front of various dance clubs in Chicago. The obsessive nature of this activity, the compulsion to catalog, index and organize is spun away from sobriety into
the comical and the absurd.

2006-03-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

Subject: visual mashup
Article URI:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/14028718.htm

Media Referenced:
http://www.tomatopatch.com/films/sleepless.htm
http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING%20FINAL.mov
_________

A rudimentary article about visual mashups.

2006-03-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

so, i've wanted to do this for a bit. there are so many interconnections that happen between work + art + life. i hope this blog can act as both an idea-base + a resource for ppl in/around marwen.

we come across things every day that could be useful tools for educators, students, and ppl. we'll see how this goes... thnx for stopping by!