Co-Prosperity Sphere

Really more of an event space than an art gallery with regular gallery hours, which seems to have misled a couple of previous reviewers. The events here are absolutely unique, excellent values, and highly recommended.

I recently moved to the Bridgeport area and I came across the Co-​prosperity Sphere. My friends told me this place was very cool and sometimes would have events open to the public. So when I walked into the place there were several staff standing around. I said «hello» they completely ignore me for at least 30 seconds. Then one guy approached me and asked me «what do you want in here». I simply responded, I would like to know about your events. His response was,” There is no events .we are not open to the pubic this is only a radio station”. However, the following day, there was a punk rock music event and of course it was open to the public.lol. What a douchebag Perhaps I was the wrong color.

This place is really interesting. I’ve never been here during an art event, but I’ve visited while they had the WLPN music events.
Co-​Pro is now the home of the online radio station, WLPN or Lumpen radio (
) which is an online, independent, interesting and eclectic radio station that is trying to raise enough funds to get their stuff on the actual radio.
I attended their fundraising finale where they had some interesting electronic performers and also got to witness a friend’s DJ set that was live on the radio.
What little art they had on display the two times I went was interesting, but I love the atmosphere of this place. It’s really a great space for events and has a sort of humble hipster vibe.
I’m not sure if they rent out the space for events, but I’d be interested in attending other events here!

I’ve been to this gallery several times, and they’re never open during normal gallery hours. Out of 5 visits, I’ve been in once. Typeforce 4 a couple years back. Cool show.
They don’t have hours of operation posted anywhere, and they don’t answer the phone. Guess you need to go there on opening nights of shows only. Not really worth it to trek to this place to see if they’re open or not.

Co-​Pro is the artist space owned by Ed Marszewski, who also owns Maria’s down the street. I went there for Over the Influence, which was a beer-​art show. I honestly had a great time there and I think the space really gave an opportunity for all the art to be displayed, especially the sketches for local beer labels. There was even a weird, alien beer bong which attracted a lot of attention and a keg bottle opener thingy.
The space seemed small with a lot of the tables next to each other but it was easy to try everything and talk to the brewers to. The only downside was the line for the bathrooms-​which was probably the longest line there.

My friend’s punk band played here. For a show I think the punks were respectfully un – rowdy, there was no moshing, partially because the audience area was really horizontal/​crescent shaped instead of vertical. There were also movable walls that people were maybe scared of tipping over? Regardless it was a blast, in addition to the beer they served behind the counter people brought in their own from Maria’s down the street, sparklers were lit, twerking was done on the walls of the store window, and my friend had an allergic reaction to the smoke machines. Also the event organizer that night was this super nice guy wearing a spaghetti-​stained tank top, dress slacks, and motorcycle jacket. I’d be really interested to see what it’s like with art on the walls.
Aesthetically the place has awesome color panels on their skylight level windows and is very clean – I appreciated the courtesy candle in the extremely overused single bathroom stall. I feel really really bad that the black dye on my pants came off on one of their white wooden seated areas. That was not a co-​prosperous move, and I apologize! There is a my-​butt sized black mark tarnishing this place now.

Awesome local art gallery with a nice rotation of art from local artists. They host great events and are very open. Bridgeport needs more places like this.

The Co-​pro is a giant room that they fill with stuff in the hopes someone like you will come out, have a good time and not snake the cash box. Rather, this places facilitates the merrily drunk and reprimands the manchildren that frequent the party scene here in Chicago. Honestly, sometimes it’s pretty boring. But it’s better than paying $ 20 for some q101 rock bull shit at the metro when you just want to have a good time.
They host a myriad of art crap while once in a while giving into your not so average rock shows. The space hosts anything from Mahjongg playing way too long to black metal bands that play way too long. The space is for hire, so if you want to throw the best party ever, cough up the cash, charge at the door and you might be remembered late into the following Sunday evening. No guarantees, though. Even I already forgot who you are.

Not so much a review as a correction… the co-​propsperity sphere is firmly in BRIDGEPORT.
bridgeport is bordered by archer to the north (although theres a little pocket that goes two blocks north round loomis/​ashland to the west/​the dan ryan to the east and pershing (39^th street) on the south.
Pilsen is to the north of bridgeport– Mckinley Park is to the West– Canaryville and Back of the Yards is South — Bronzeville and the IIT campus is due East.
I know this may seem petty to many, but these neighborhoods still do have clear boundaries and specific cultures/​styles/​constituencies (sp?). I think its important to note the facts… I apologize if it comes off as rude.
Anyway, its been a while since Ive hit up CPS, but its a pretty phenomenal space. Its cool to see people work to rational and sustainable space after building fantastic things that were destined, determined and assumed to be crushed to dust.

I hit up this spot for VersionFest 08 with my art school gal pal, and co conspirator in owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to an institution which has given us zero career options, yay art school. We saw a few old classmates, gallery contacts, and current co-​workers all while shit talking about the WP hipsters who are totally colonizing this area while I quietly sleep at night. Loved the space, loved the art, and I love Lumpen in general. We enjoyed some Grolsch, checked out some possible haircut options, and avoided a few nemeses (sp) all while having a great time viewing our colleagues work and chatting in our own social anxiety disordered wallflower way. Hellz yes for getting Pit R Pat for opening night and on closing night, which I may find my way to, they’ll be hosting Brilliant Pebbles and Aleks and the Drummer. Yay party time in my neighborhood.
Yes I am tipsy and that is A-​OK

Ed and his Lumpen crew have a fantastic space down in Pilsen. It used to be a department store, then a pinball gallery, then a junk-​storage space. I’ve been there twice and I’m glad i went. They also just redid the floors and it really looks great. You should go just to see the architecture. The first time I went, a neighborhood guy sang opera for the crowd. The second time, I caught the poster show Radar Eyes and was very impressed. Good show.
The Co-​Prosperity Sphere is going to be a player on the scene. Go now and you can say «I used to go when NOBODY else even knew about the place.»
BTW: don’t get this place mixed up with other Co-​Prosperity Spheres… there are others.

What a cool space the Lumpen crew have created down in Pilsen. It’s sprawling and they have made and are making all kinds of improvements to the space. They OWN this space. It’s so impressive to see that they have come so far. They are turning the basement into a music space. We went here on Saturday to see the current exhibit since they have Saturday viewing hours. It was called Radar Eyes: A survey of hallucinogenic print making. Seripop curated part of it. It was really amazing to see all of the poster art in one space. It was kind of like walking through a nightmare since there were tons of visually and mentally shocking prints. Good job!
When I was talking to Edmar, he said they too were also looking for volunteers.

Part of the Lumpen media juggernaut, the Co-​Prosperity Sphere is an unadorned gallery space with aggressive and eclectic programming.
I just saw a very singular exhibit documentening abandoned mental asylums throughout America, mostly on the east coast. There were photographs, logbooks, and actual instruments used in these hospitals, creating a palpable sense of sanitary insanity.
The photographer was there and answered all sorts of wacky questions I had, and the crowd was a pastichey mix of cool kids, arthounds, and elegant slummers. Nice!
Ther are lots more exhibits on the docket, and they come and go fairly quiclkly, so be sure to check these guys out regularly.