Gallery

Simmerling Gallery

jack simmerling gallery

Upcoming Second Friday Exhibit

Pulling No Punches

Friday Reception – July 14 | 6-8 pm

Brilliant, intense, raw, vibrant and impactful works by: Kevin Blake, John Colson, Dan Estep aka Flooding Factory, CJ Hungerman, Antonio Martinez aka Cobalt Studio, Robin Power, Amy Regutti, Bruce Riley and Sub_Urban_Warrior

Musical guests: Leroy Bach and Dan Bitney

Image shown: “Interstellar Salesman” by Flooding Factory

The Beverly Arts Center announces a call for artists for ABSURDITY: IN DADA WE TRUST. This show is part of a greater, city-wide exhibition of Dada’s work, including shows presented by The Art Center Highland Park, Stola Gallery, and Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art.

Beverly Arts Center, Simmerling Gallery: August 11 – September 8 When the world goes mad, the arts go Dada. Racism and extremist nationalism are empowered and bullies are applauded. Women’s rights are being set back by 50 years, and the LGBTQ community is dangling by a thread as individual rights are regulated but assault weapons are not. Social media has hijacked the news and the term ‘alternate set of facts’ has become the norm, no longer just the brunt of jokes. The world is witnessing a new rise of insanity. For artists, it’s a clear call to look to the past for guidance and take a stand. How? In a word: Dadaism. Created as a reaction to the absurdity of war and the propaganda of WWI, Dadaism was the reaction of a group of artists from another time in history when the world was on the brink of madness.

Second Fridays is a collaboration of the Beverly Arts Center, the Beverly Area Arts Alliance and Saint Xavier University to bring exciting new art, live music and cocktails to the Simmerling Gallery at the BAC every Second Friday.

Still A Constant Struggle, Part 2

Opening Reception: August 8, 2-4pm, Simmerling Gallery

Special Exhibit Reception from 5:30pm-7:30pm after the Saturday 3pm performance of Ragtime.

On view through September 12th.

The legacy of slavery in America has had a profound effect on the wellbeing of generations of Black Americans in all aspects of life and has insidiously shaped the culture and structures of society to build and reinforce a culture of hatred, division and violence that we still struggle with today. In Still a Constant Struggle, Part 2, seven Chicago artists work in a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, collage, quilting, ceramics, assemblage, and poetry—to explore the history and legacy of slavery in America and seek to confront these realities with resilience, bravery and humanity. These artists ask us to consider that this systemic dehumanization of black and brown people, in fact, leads to the dehumanization of all. The artists of Still A Constant Struggle seek to inspire people to look critically at our history, our society, our communities and ourselves to determine how we can create a more just and peaceful world. Featuring works by Tina Jenkins Bell, Jomo Cheatham, Malika Jackson, Dawn Liddicoatt, Dorothy Straughter, Takako and Zebediah Allen. This is Part Two in an exhibition series that began in May at The Studio Space, a community art incubator space in Beverly.

Second Fridays Exhibit

Second Fridays is a collaboration of the
Beverly Arts Center,
the Beverly Area Arts Alliance
and Saint Xavier University
to bring exciting new art, live music and
cocktails to the Simmerling Gallery at the BAC
every Second Friday.

Pshshshshshshs! Stories of Ukrainian Artist

Curated by: Sandra Leonard
Dates: August 9th – September 13, 2024
Opening Reception – Friday, August 9th

Closing Reception – September 14th, 2024, 2pm-4pm

Valeria Tarasenko is a Ukrainian artist and teacher. She studied at the Polygraphic Department of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 2013, she graduated from the Ukrainian National Academy of Fine Arts, Painting Restoration department. Since 2008, she has worked as a teacher at the art school. Valeria is also co-founder of an organization that works with Down syndrome people — “Atelier Normalno”. Participated in many Ukrainian and international art projects.

Artistic Statement
I researched the topic of memory, which is mostly reflected in my works through the depiction of deserted places (projects “Bat in the Pool”, “Social Towns”, “Elastik” etc). I also have a collection of abandoned fountains, which includes more than 100 examples from different cities of the world. The theme of marginalization is also presented in my pedagogical practice in “Atelier Normalno”. I’m trying to integrate the creations of Down syndrome people into the contemporary art scene and show its creative potential it. My main expression tool is a large-size painting. After the full-scale invasion of Russia to Ukraine, I incorporated documentary footage to my drawings to fix my personal experience of war and share it with others. However, I also work with photos, installations, graphics, and printings and have an experience as an exhibition curator.