Center Cultural Chicago

   East-coast; West-coast; Lake-coast. Considering the central location in America, Chicago is a mecca for business, but it's (in my opinion) a promised-land for artists of all kinds.






   The sculpture shown above, to the bottom right and the mural are made from a wire of very large gauge and wrapped in a double (and in some instances triple) knitting/crocheting. The exhibition is Not Your Grandma's Future Juice Bar by Mike Andrews. 

"Fueled by dynamic relationships between bright and dull colors, hard and soft materials, and range of scale, this series of sculptures and tapestries pointedly occupies the gallery space demanding the viewer’s attention. Andrews uses the format of the tapestry because he feels it is an ideal information delivery system that simultaneously functions as object and image. This exhibition is informed by the grandeur of historical tapestries, non-representational abstract painting, and the delirium of the home crafter." (source: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/mike_andrews.html)

This last work (seen below) uses a technique that is similar to water-color. However, the surface painted on is cotton. So, the soaking/bleeding rate is very high and therefore doesn't allow much control. 

The end product is incredibly beautiful. The figures in the pictures are outlined by embroidered lines. They probably served as a good starting point for the painting. 

The Chicago Cultural Center (right across from the Northwest corner of Millennium Park).