Pilsen Art Walk

Amazing… Restaurants, lofts, Gardens, drinks niblets great people watching… An in expensive but amazing evening

i’m shocked at how few people there were last Saturday. Regardless, we had a great time touring the galleries and learning more about the artists. I fell INSTANTLY in love with Studio Oh!
Great (free) way to spend the day.

One of my favorite places to take people that are visiting. It is a universal hit and I love going too. People open up their non gallery apartments just to entertain the random strangers on the art walk. No better vibe in my city.

Got to take in Pilsen’s Second Friday event, located just south of UIC. It’s an appropriate location because like UIC, the art walk lets everyone in and most of the participants won’t have real jobs any time soon. It’s also a great excuse to take in the Pilsen neighborhood. Unlike the trust fund babies in Wrigleyville, you’ll never see a Pilsen resident get in someone’s face and ask «Do you know who my father is?» (unless the question is directed at their mother). And unlike those bridezillas in Lincoln Park, Pilsen brides aren’t afraid to open a wedding registry at Family Dollar. Sadly, strolling the art walk, you realize that although this event has a small but devoted following, it will be dead within a year (which reminds me I need to go read some ebooks on my Nook and then check out the Facebook page of [insert Glee cast member name here]).
Make your first stop the visitor’s center at 18^th and Halsted and ask the blonde hostess for a map. It’s unnecessary to tell her «I’m willing to pay top dollar for things of exquisite beauty» and definitely don’t add «If you know what I mean» or «gigidy, gigidy.» The map helps you locate art amidst all the empty gallery space — a depressing reminder that although in previous art walks the spaces may have buzzed with the activity of an Apple store, most are now as dark and abandoned as a Microsoft outlet. Still, there is a variety of art beyond traditional paintings. In one studio, the artists turned mannequins into decorative robots and other statuesque creations, the best use of mannequins I’ve seen since Ferris Bueller placed one under his bed sheets to fool people into thinking he was there asleep (also the crappy, alternate ending to The Shawshank Redemption). At Crazy Xavier’s studio, you could buy photo prints for $ 1. Although cheap, many of the photos were de-​focussed shots of random objects, similar to what you see when Mohammed Ali takes a selfie. There was even «performance art,» in which a girl within one of the studios sits at a table, rolls dice, and then spoons water between bowls as the audience watches from outside. It was amazing how oblivious she was to the people peering in, no matter how many times they shouted «Take it off!»
So to those of you who disparage south side neighborhoods saying you’d feel safer playing «Wife Swap» with Drew Peterson, I say for shame! Girls who are worried about being pawed and fondled like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s housekeeper, will pleasantly find themselves untouched and ignored, like Maria Shriver. Even better, now you have an exciting south-​side survival story to take back to the (choose all that apply) [lacrosse team, book club, north side of Chicago].

Just attended for the first time with some friends.
I got to poke around a new vintage store, sip on some sipping chocolate, and see all kinds of beautiful art (ranging from not for sale to cheap to well out of my personal price range).
I got a really cute whimsical yoga painted plaque for $ 15.
The show/​area has a really fun and laid back atmosphere, I will be back!

It’s not as high a traffic as art walks of Wicker Park & the like, but it’s a little more upscale; YES I said it & I prefer it! The walk is more intimate & the food seems a little more gourmet. There are a few fun bars in the neighborhood to go to afterwards so there is a little more comfort in this event. I used to go to art walks up North in the city but those were more like fests than actual ART walks where you NEEDED to go with a group of friends to enjoy it (Gallery Row walk DOESN’T count). This is more intimately ART; I don’t mind going with a date or a friend but if I went alone, I would still have a wonderful time.

I absolutely love the Pilsen Art Walk. A great way to appreciate a wide range of art and mediums in a nice area with interesting people and artists all sharing their enthusiasm over wine and energy bars! I rarely miss a Second Friday. Bought a great piece entitled Urban Warrior from Brian Sperry in the 1900 S. Halsted Building. Many folks head over to Simones afterwards. Really nice atmosphere there as well. Second Fridays is a good night to plan to be here.

I love the Pilsen Art Walk. Me and my boyfriend look forward to the new art exhibits every second Friday. I wish that there were more open galleries but I appreciate the ones that are open. One of my favorite places on the Art Walk is «I Shoot Rockstars».

My boyfriend and I live in Pilsen and this is one of my favorite things about being in the area. Even with my hellish commute, it will be hard for me to ever leave. So the deal is, on the 2^nd Friday of each month (winter included!) the art galleries around Halsted stay open late. You can come in, talk to the artists, drink some booze then stumble to Simone’s (or home) afterwards. I know some have commented that there is free booze at these shows. While they do not «sell» booze, there is definitely a recommended tip at the places we have seen. My boyfriend loves to be able to chat with the artists about their work while I tend to just wander and sip some PBR. In December I won a piece at an exhibit that was celebrating the art of giving (get it?). It is already framed and up in my living room — I love it! If we don’t have plans on a 2^nd Friday, then this is where you’ll find us, trying to expand our art collection.

A day after doing the Ravenswood art walk, I visited East Pilsen Sunday. I was underwhelmed by the number of galleries/​studios open, and not many pieces struck my fancy. Sorry.

I had never been to Pilsen before, but I enjoy art shows, and when my friends suggested going to the Pilsen Art Walk I was game (even with a bum footsie.)
We saw some interesting things and I was able to buy a few small and inexpensive pieces. We wandered into one gallery that had a vintage jewelry table set up and the word sucker appeared on my forehead the second I saw it, but only because I’m a sucker for the vintage bobbles… the prices were very affordable and I’m wearing some new clip-​on earrings as I type this.
There was wine everywhere, albeit in teeny plastic cups, and one place had a bucket cheap beer on ice (Blatz, PBR, etc.) that was free for the taking. Sort of like that «Please take one» bowl of Halloween candy, except for grownups.

On the 2^nd Friday of every month, the galleries in Pilsen open up for exhibits, parties, platters of cheese and cheap wine served in plastic cups.
Sure some of the art was pretty lame and overpriced, but I also saw some really amazing, creative pieces. Like any exhibition, some of it’s crap and some of it’s great. At some of the galleries, the vibe is more welcoming than at others, and at some, it’s a downright party with free-​flowing wine and music.
Start at the welcome center, grab a map and then wander in and out of the galleries. Grab some wine and a few free cubes of cheese and enjoy a free night out.

I did the ‘walk’ for the first time a couple of weeks ago.
I think its a fun concept and a real opportunity to see local artists showcase their work. I had a great time and was exposed to a few artists that I think are good enough to follow. I have a real respect for people who do what they do for the sake of their art and try to make a living from doing what they love.
HOWEVER, I would have to echo the sentiment of Erika G. I think that the event was replete with what I refer to as ‘Arteeests’ that mass produce ‘art’ for the purpose of commerce (that’s backwards).
For example, I walked into a loft where a guy had several wet oil canvases on his walls that he had obviously produced within the last hour priced from $ 2000 and up. They were not ‘bad’ but frankly, I have a hard time reconciling the price with his effort to produce them.
I was a fan of Xavier Nuez’s photography work — especially his «Glam Bugs’ exhibit. Also I really enjoyed the work showcased at the Logsdon1909 Gallery.
Bottom line — I would definitely attend again. Its worth it if you can filter out the art of mass production.

Give me a break.
Trustafarian «artists». Minimalists with giant VISA logos displayed larger than their «art». I literally saw a «photographer» that had pieces of black paper framed. Nice. Only $ 98! Mark Rothko wannabes (hint: it’s been done, and he killed himself).
I went here a few years ago before tonight, and there were many more galleries and a lot more going on. People, if you art sucks, at least let the wine flow freely.
It’s the New Minimal Around the Coyote. .. with minimal describing the talent.
And Pilsen is such a disappointment. I also went to a gallery night back in 1994 and there was such promise here. Now it’s just a lot of Podmajersky signs with «Gallery? Restaurant? Studio?» begging for tenants. The buildings are great, the hidden gardens are gems. .. there’s just no people, and nothing going on.
Seriously, Pilsen. .. gentrify a bit more or die.

I live close by. it’s worth your trip just by going through the amazing lofts and gardens.

Really one of the best reasons to live in Pilsen. I’m getting excited for next week’s event now that it’s getting warmer outside. Don’t limit yourself to the inside spaces and a lot of the outside courtyards and backyards are just as beautiful as the art itself.
The artists are always so friendly and welcoming. It’s a bit shocking when you realize a lot of these folks live right in these studios, but you truly get to see people living for their craft. Great event to support local art!

Great event this year, as always. Peeking into studios is always fun (as it is on 2^nd Fridays), but at the yearly art walk, aaaaall the studios are open, whereas 2^nd Fridays are kind of spotty some months. Plus you get to see a bunch of the second floor studios, which aren’t allowed to be open on 2^nd Fridays – weird, I know.
The art and variety of art out for viewing is awesome. I really did walk away inspired, and I’m not usually the cheeseball type that will admit to that. The artists are all pretty laid-​back, happy to talk with folks, so I even learned a lot while I was out and about. Oh! And there were concerts in the little pavilion in one of the enclosed garden spaces with different acts running all day Saturday and Sunday. Very cool.
For me, this was über-​convenient since I live nearby. It was literally a matter of walking half a block and I was there.
The mixed blessing is that folks are open the whole weekend, and if it’s just one artist, it’s hard to be there every moment during all the open hours, so occasionally you’ll walk up to a door to find the studio closed.
There’s ample street parking (unfortunately for me, that means I don’t always get to park on my usual block during this event) and there are also a few lots available around and about.
A fantastic free outing. I’d definitely recommend folks check it out when it rolls around again next year.

Great spaces. 2008 seemed better than other years I’ve gone. Got some good advice from Robert Marshall on building a lightbox for a glass piece. Jason Lewis (
) furniture… i want. Deva Suckerman (
) painterly depictions of a cast of characters on found objects… as found or as woven together into painted sculptures. The images on the website don’t do the work much justice due to the variety of scale. So go see her stuff. Also don’t miss the showroom at Grid Gallery (643 W. 18^th /​18^th & Ruble). Great space packed with furniture, paintings from local artists, decorative items, etc. Never know what you might find.
We went a little too late on Saturday so I fear we missed quite a lot. There were many closed doors after 5:00 so better to go right at the start on Friday night while everyone and everything is fresh and that piece you want so bad hasn’t been sold already.

Let’s be frank. It’s tough to go wrong with art and free booze. It helps that the artists are friendly and generally quite good at what they do.
For a fun, cheap evening (unless, of course, you plan on purchasing) check it out!

I’ve gone both years I’ve lived in Chicago and couldn’t imagine missing it. I love that they offer this. It’s so much more personal than going to a sterile gallery and seeing only one or two artists’ work. Here there’s a large variety, all the artists are on hand and there’s free wine. Some of the art is so-​so but some of it is just incredible. Both years I have found that I lost my friends because I was so enthralled in a particular artist’s work that I didn’t notice them leaving. No matter how much you do or do not like art or where you live in the city, make sure you make it down to the Art Walk at least once.
A little aside: Last year at the Art Walk I saw some woman get hit by a car so hard she slid up to the windshield. Luckily she was alright. So, pedestrians, reminder, take caution when crossing the road and don’t wear black at night… cars can’t see you. Drivers: pay attention to the crosswalks especially during festivals. That guy was lucky it wasn’t a kid and that it had been raining so she went over instead of under the car.