11th Annual 2008 Chicago Art Open
The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open—the largest survey of Chicagoland artists at the historic Merchandise Mart in River North
The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open was held at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza) in Chicago’s River North District.
The Chicago Artists’ Coalition (est. 1974), the city’s oldest and largest visual arts service organization, coordinates the Chicago Art Open.
The exhibition is a centerpiece of Chicago Artists’ Month, a citywide celebration of the visual arts organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Chicago Art Open features several new Artist Divisions in 2008, including: Emerging Artists, Nominated Student Artists, and Arts Organizations. Emerging Artists are no more than 40 years of age and working towards a professional practice. The Nominated Students division features outstanding undergraduate students nominated by their respective local college or university art program. Participating colleges include Columbia College, Loyola University, DePaul University, Concordia University, and others. The Arts Organization division features emerging and established artists nominated by local arts organizations, including: The Korean-American Art Association, Arte Y Vida Chicago, Southside Community Arts Center, Little City Foundation, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. These divisions compliment the traditional Professional Artists Division.
The Chicago Art Open accepts entries on an open basis from artists living and/or working primarily in the greater Chicago region. The exhibition includes nearly 300 original works of art in all mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, video, and installation. Each year a panel of guest curators reviews all entries and designates approximately 10% as Curator’s Choice. This year’s Guest Curators are: Candida Alvarez, School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC); Kymberly Pinder, SAIC; and Catherine Edelman, Catherine Edelman Gallery.
Previous Artist: The Aztec World at Chicago’s Field Museum
Next Artist: The Art Institute of Chicago
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