Detroit and Chicago artists meeting and presenting their work to each other at Chicago Artists’ Coalition

Chicago Artists’ Coalition (CAC), in partnership with Power House Productions in Detroit, is pleased to present EXCHANGE, two group exhibitions that culminated from a Midwest Artist Exchange initiative in the two cities.

In March 2012, artists from CAC’s BOLT Residency program traveled to Detroit to visit artist studios, artist-run spaces and galleries with a select group of Detroit artists. Sites visited included Power House Productions, Signal Return letterpress shop, CAVE, The Alley Project, artist Scott Hocking’s studio, Popps Packing, Public Pool, and 2739 Edwin, in addition to Detroit’s abandoned train station.  The Chicago-based artists reciprocated in May 2012, when the Detroit artists visited Chicago art venues including 6018 North, Theaster Gates’ Dorchester Projects, Smart Museum of Art, Mess Hall, threewalls, Southside Hub of Production (Shop) and the Hyde Park Art Center.  EXCHANGE is the result of this initiative, offering an opportunity for extended social engagement by exposing audiences to the artistic practices of these Midwestern cities and fostering new dialogues on cultural production.

EXCHANGE is made possible with support from: Art Founders Inc., CAVE, Chicago Artists’ Coalition, Grigg Graphic Services, Power House Productions, Public Pool, Quicken Loans, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

EXCHANGE (in Chicago)

Venue:  Chicago Artists’ Coalition

Exhibition dates:  January 11-31, 2013

Opening Reception: January 11, 2013 6-9pm

Featuring Detroit Artists Taurus Burns, Design 99, Jessica Frelinghuysen, Scott Hocking, Chido Johnson, Nicola Kuperus, Faina Lerman, Adam Lee Miller, Clinton Snider, Vince Troia and Graem Whyte

Chicago Artists’ Coalition (CAC) 217 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60607 312.491.8888

EXCHANGE (in Detroit)

Venues:  CAVE and Public Pool (The exhibition will take place at two gallery spaces simultaneously)

Exhibition dates: February 23-March 16, 2013

Opening Reception: February 23, 2012, CAVE, 6-9pm; Public Pool, 7-10pm

Featuring CAC 2011-12 BOLT Residents Melika Bass, Sarah Belknap and Joseph Belknap, Gwynne Johnson, Jenny Kendler, Homa Shojaie, Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite, Eric Wall and Stacia Yeapanis.

CAVE, Russell Industrial Center, Building 4, Floor 3, 1600 Clay Street, Detroit, MI, 48211 313.872.4000

Public Pool, 3309 Caniff Street, Hamtramck, MI, 48212 313.405.7665

Chicago Artists’ Coalition (CAC) is a 38-year old nonprofit dedicated to empowering artists and the creative community by providing professional resources, programming, and advocacy to foster a sustainable arts community and cultural engagement. CAC provides professional development, exhibition opportunities, and work-space residencies for artists, alongside public programs that form a bridge between artists and the communities in which they live and work. Through this hybrid programming, CAC nurtures the local arts sector on an individual and community level to advance Chicago’s role as a cultural capital.

Power House Productions (PHP) is an artist-run neighborhood-based nonprofit organization. Incorporated in December of 2009, its mission is to develop and implement creative neighborhood stabilization strategies to revitalize and inspire the community. PHP incorporates a broad array of activities ranging from marketing vacant properties to creating public art installations. Strategies include integrating artist live-work spaces within the existing cultural resources of the community and inviting artists to visit for extended periods to research and propose projects. In just a short few years, PHP has brought over 25 artists and designers into the community to work, learn and observe.

To learn more, visit the EXCHANGE:  Chicago ><Detroit website at www.chixdet.com, designed and supported by Art Founders Inc.