Art in Place

05/25/20

By Tom Burtonwood

Cecil McDonald Jr., For Sabina, 2020. Mylar and pigment ink, 40” x 30”, Chicago.

We’ve been thinking a lot about ideas and how the good ones spread virally. “Art-In-Place,” our current Terrain Exhibitions collaboration with CNL Projects, is a great example of this. When Cortney Lederer of CNL Projects approached Terrain with an idea to work together on “Art-In-Place,” we knew it was a good one. What we didn’t know was how excellent it was, and how many artists would rise to the challenge with such imagination and spirit. Our community's response to the quarantine is full of joy and love for each other. It is a message of hope and a reminder that even when working apart we can work together well.

Roni Packer, Yellow is Not the Color of the Sun, 2020. Each manhole cover 20” x 20”, enamel paint on cast iron, Israel. 

---

The call went out early in May and invited artists to exhibit an original work of art to be displayed outside their home or from a window visible to the public from May 20th to June 20th, 2020, and to submit documentation that we could post on the project website. We expected to have about 50-60 participants. Instead, we have received 275 submissions from all over the world, including Peru, Japan, India, Canada, Israel, and Germany.

Sonja Henderson, The Harbor for Mending Hearts, 2020. 10’ Lx 10’W x 8’H, hand-crafted mixed media textiles, Chicago.

---

As a collective action, “Art-In-Place” provides artists and community members in Chicagoland neighborhoods (and beyond) with a sense of hope and connectivity through the experience of public art. “Art-In-Place” offers makers the opportunity to participate in a collective action to create a sense of connectivity during an unprecedented moment of extreme isolation from the community.

Anna Brown, Masked/Unmasked, 2020. Bodice, size S/M, Scraps of Halyard H600 medical grade fabric, remnants from the production of medical masks for first responders, Chicago.

“Art-In-Place” promotes the work of artists to positively contribute to their careers during a challenging moment.

Oscar Gonzalez Diaz, Not Even The Bundestag Understands a Narcomanta, 2020. 25.5 x 17.7”, polyester color threads stitched on unbleached muslin with cotton interface, Berlin, Germany.

---

This project is completely volunteer-run. We will be designing a collection of postcards featuring all 275 artists’ work. This, we hope, will inspire connection with others outside the virtual and into the tangible through the process of letter-writing, while also supporting USPS. All proceeds from postcard sales will go to the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, which provides financial relief to workers and organizations in the creative industries impacted by COVID-19, and directly supports Illinois artists. In addition, all 275 artists have the opportunity to sell works of art to potential collectors and will donate 20% of their sales to the relief fund as well.

Chad Kouri, You Still Deserve Joy / Todavía Mereces Alegría, 2020. 3ft x 5ft, heat-pressed vinyl on polyester flag, Chicago.

---

Arts for Illinois is a collaboration between the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and the broader philanthropic community. Visit https://www.cnlprojects.org/artinplace to view all participating artists and to learn more about the project. A map is forthcoming.

Beatriz Guzman Velasquez, hoy hay mas muertos que vivos [there are more dead than alive], 2020. 8” x 10” , newspaper, Hargill, Texas.

---

CNL Projects (CNL) was founded in 2016 by Cortney Lederer to provide artists and organizations with a platform to creatively produce impactful art experiences. CNL’s work is centered on their unique, collaborative approach to working with artists, businesses and organizations to advocate for the value of art and culture in our daily lives. CNL Projects is committed to working closely with their clients to create dynamic art programs that reflect an organization's vision, while capturing the imagination and innovation of contemporary artists. https://www.cnlprojects.org/.

Chenyu Lin, Browning Banana, 2020. 70” x 54”, Post-it notes, banana, Chicago.

---

Terrain Exhibitions is a 501 (c) 3 not-for -profit organization established in the State of Illinois. Founded in Oak Park Illinois by artist Sabina Ott and author John Paulett, the "Terrain Biennial" has produced four editions in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. With each edition, the biennial has grown in size and reach. The 2019 biennial featured installations and all over the United States of America and beyond, with over 500 participants over the years.