BRIDGEPORT ARTISTS SHOWING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE
2010
BRIDGEPORT the South Side community closely associated with the Daley clan and home to the White Sox, has a powerful legacy, which the Bridgeport Art Center hopes to extend. The center, housed in a 500,000-square-foot former white elephant that once served as the Spiegel warehouse, holds its spring open house this weekend. Festivities kick off with an opening reception at 6 tonight.
The facility, at 1200 W. 35th Street, is the newest hub for local artists, including Amanda Williams, who will be competing on Bravo's upcoming series "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist." The show premieres at 10 p.m. on June 9.
Known for her large-scale abstract oil paintings, Williams, who grew up on the South Side, also teaches architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Bound by the show's disclosure policy, she couldn't reveal information about her time on "Work of Art" or how she fared with the judges, but she did share how competing on the show affected her as an artist.
"Be careful what you wish for," she said. "Artists are regarded as the creators and narrators of time. When your name is out there, you have a responsibility to produce relevant works."
Exposure on television also can do wonders for a career, as Williams knows.
"A show like ['Work of Art'] can take art to the next level, the way 'Top Chef' and 'Project Runway' did for food and fashion," she said.
Williams will be on hand throughout the weekend to greet visitors to the open house. Her works, which range in price from $800-$8,000, will be available for purchase. Williams' studio, No. 44025, is located on the building's fourth level.
Lora Delestowicz-Wierzbowski, who grew up in Douglas Park, is also a member of the colony of artists at BAC, known collectively as Artists of Eastbank.
The former graphic artist is known for her truck stop murals. Her studio work is primarily paintings replicated from old photographs, including landscapes. They range in price from $100-$300.
Both artists are proud to have the art center in their back yard.
"There's a synergistic vibe being with a community of artists in a neighborhood with a similar fabric that helped form who I am," Williams said.
Delestowicz-Wierzbowski echoes Williams' sentiment.
"I have lived on the South Side all my life," she said. "It's awesome to be able to work and be a part of a group of artists in a community that I am closely connected with."
Works to be showcased by other artists at the open house include mosaic tiles, Medieval-themed wood works, sculptures, jewelry and photography. Hours are 6-10 tonight, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit the Web site artistsoftheeastbank.com.
The facility, at 1200 W. 35th Street, is the newest hub for local artists, including Amanda Williams, who will be competing on Bravo's upcoming series "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist." The show premieres at 10 p.m. on June 9.
Known for her large-scale abstract oil paintings, Williams, who grew up on the South Side, also teaches architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Bound by the show's disclosure policy, she couldn't reveal information about her time on "Work of Art" or how she fared with the judges, but she did share how competing on the show affected her as an artist.
"Be careful what you wish for," she said. "Artists are regarded as the creators and narrators of time. When your name is out there, you have a responsibility to produce relevant works."
Exposure on television also can do wonders for a career, as Williams knows.
"A show like ['Work of Art'] can take art to the next level, the way 'Top Chef' and 'Project Runway' did for food and fashion," she said.
Williams will be on hand throughout the weekend to greet visitors to the open house. Her works, which range in price from $800-$8,000, will be available for purchase. Williams' studio, No. 44025, is located on the building's fourth level.
Lora Delestowicz-Wierzbowski, who grew up in Douglas Park, is also a member of the colony of artists at BAC, known collectively as Artists of Eastbank.
The former graphic artist is known for her truck stop murals. Her studio work is primarily paintings replicated from old photographs, including landscapes. They range in price from $100-$300.
Both artists are proud to have the art center in their back yard.
"There's a synergistic vibe being with a community of artists in a neighborhood with a similar fabric that helped form who I am," Williams said.
Delestowicz-Wierzbowski echoes Williams' sentiment.
"I have lived on the South Side all my life," she said. "It's awesome to be able to work and be a part of a group of artists in a community that I am closely connected with."
Works to be showcased by other artists at the open house include mosaic tiles, Medieval-themed wood works, sculptures, jewelry and photography. Hours are 6-10 tonight, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit the Web site artistsoftheeastbank.com.
