TWO YEARS OF CLOUD COVER!

Thats right, Black Cloud Gallery is officially 2 years old! To celebrate our birthday, we are presenting a retrospective show of the best work from the last 2 years. Two Years of Cloud Cover will feature works from our resident artists, Eric Stefanski, Matt Maniscalco, Jason Thompson, Mark Yee, lan Mitchell Wallace, and Peter Walsh.

Come celebrate this milestone with us as we commenmorate 2 years of creativity, community, and above all, well, some really great art!

Opening reception is Friday night, October 5th.

CHICAGO ARTISTS MONTH IS BACK ALL OCTOBER LONG!

The month of October is Chicago Artists Month, and we are excited to participate in some of the events going on around town! This year’s Chicago Artist Month celebrates the wonderfully unique neighborhoods of Chicago, each a vibrant and beautiful piece of the puzzle which connect to make Chicago a world class creative city. Black Cloud Gallery is proud to represent Pilsen!

Check out the full Chicago Artists Month schedule at chicagoartistsmonth.org!

INTRODUCING: BLACK CLOUD’S ART MARKET

Inspired by the enthusiasm and popularity of our semiannual Art Bazaar, Black Cloud is proud to introduce yet another innovative idea sure to shake up your concept of the fine art gallery: our own in-house store, aptly titled the Art Market. Located at the rear of the gallery, the Art Market will house small art pieces, crafts, artisan wears, handmade apparel, and other creations made by local artists. Best of all, whether you wear it, hang it, or simply collect it, all items are available for immediate purchase at reasonable prices!

This permanent addition to the gallery opens October 5th. LIKE US on Facebook and get all the grit on our brand new shop!

THE ART BAZAAR RETURNS THIS AUGUST! OPENING NIGHT FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

Are you ready? We are! And we're ready for the best Art Bazaar! we've hosted yet! Our debut night is Friday, August 3 at 6 PM. Come and see selected works from artists dabbling in paintings, multi-media, photography, sculpture, practically every medium! And it's all available for only $200!

The Black Cloud Art Bazaar! is one of the most exciting events in the Chicago Art Scene. It's a twice yearly show with one rule...Everything costs $200, no matter what it is!

See established artists or see the debut of a new artist entering the Chicago scene. Come in and take a piece right off the wall and take it home! It's art for the people and it's at Black Cloud every August and February.

Visit our Facebook page to see samples of some of the artists we're featuring this time around. See you Friday, August 3!

UNDERDOG SERIES BY ERIC STEFANSKI DEBUTS JULY 13

“There is more honesty in the voices of the discarded than in the wrongfully admired. ‘Give us a chance, we will make you proud.’ This is the voice of my generation. This series was developed from acknowledging the correlation between the winners and losers and the fronts and backs of paintings. Between the privileged and oppressed and the admired and painted over. This work is a call for equality and to show the unrecognized beauty in the disenfranchised.”

-Eric Stefanski

Can an Underdog be just as interesting as the actual painting, if not more? The name originated because the backside could say so much, but is usually left in the dark by the front of a piece. No matter the art, Stefanski points out that “underdogs” have been around ever since art itself began. By presenting this exhibit, The Black Cloud Gallery hopes to excite a movement to see beyond the front and hear the voice from behind. It is fun to imagine what some of mankind’s most famous masterpieces are keeping quiet about.

Stefanski shows a true dedication to his work. Like and actor would do to portray a character, he gained ten pounds to appear in a charismatic photography series accompanying the paintings. The photographs represent an average guy who probably could not win a fight but has a true sense of spirit within. They are shocking and hard to not look at twice. It’s hard not to wonder how would each of us look exposed in front of the camera lens admitting to our own failures amid societal pressures. What would your Underdog say?

Opening Reception: Friday, July 13th, 6:00 - 10:00 PM

MILK, HONEY, AND A LEFT ARM IS COMING JUNE 1ST

Milk, Honey, and a Left Arm features works by CJ Hungerman, Tracy Jones, and Black Cloud's resident artist, Lauren Richards. The concepts of conflict, memory, and personal history are explored through the use of color, pattern, and found elements.

Black Cloud Gallery is located at 1909 S. Halsted St. in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Business hours are Monday 10-3, Wednesday 11-6, and by appointment.

Opening Reception: Friday, June 1st, 7:00 - 10:00 PM 2nd Fridays: Friday, June 8th, 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Open during business hours: Friday, June 1st - Wednesday, June 27th

CJ Hungerman
I find that when creating my images, even though they have a whimsical feel to them, they do reflect conflict. All of our lives have struggles internally and externally. I believe that the Random Robots represent my personal pitfalls, conflicts, successes, all running around like little protons, neutrons, and electrons smashing together throughout ourselves, space, and time.

Tracy Jones
Tracy G. Jones trusts art.
Color sets his course, even though it doesn’t tell him where they’re going. Paint drives, often recklessly, swerving and veering, narrowly avoiding ruin. Found objects and memories are always there to bail him out. Art is not the most predictable of companions. Art isn’t even trustworthy. But Tracy G. Jones has never been locked up or hospitalized because of art, and art is always a good time, so yeah. Tracy G. Jones trusts art. Maybe art trusts Tracy G. Jones, too.

Lauren Richards
I strive to keep my process spontaneous, youthful, and fresh. With impulse and randomness, mistakes are often made early on. I seek a certain level of precision and have an obsession with hand drawn perfection. Fears of creating contrived paintings cause me to make decisions that force me out of my comfort zone. Mistakes are corrected by straightening lines, covering them with collage, or blocking them out altogether. An initial problem is sometimes covered by a past error, only if it is the right solution. For me, spontaneity and a youthful approach to painting are key.

Also, check out our Wordpress site for even more gallery information and other cool things.

NATURAL SELECTION FEATURING MARK YEE, JESSICA HOGBERG, KRISTEN MANISCALCO AND GRACE SCOTT DEBUTS MAY 4

Black Cloud Gallery presents Natural Selection. Works from Jessica Hogberg, Kristen Maniscalco, Grace Scott, and Mark Yee revolve around the theme of nature, the systems within it, and our impact upon it.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 4th, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
2nd Fridays: Friday, May 11th, 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Open during business hours: Friday, May 4th - Wednesday, May 30th

Jessica Hogberg: My artwork focuses on the systems, variations, and interactions between marks. The work can be viewed as a visual documentation of marks and movement that inevitably creates a system. Ranging from earthy and gestural to sterile and mechanical, marks become forms that evoke an existence. They mimic events such as mutation, micro-systems, and reproduction. Systems and marks become the building blocks with which I disassemble, reconstruct, and reinvent structures.

Kristen Maniscalco: Since humans have lived on this planet, they have been using and exploiting resources to the point of exhaustion, and without respect for other life. My work is a reaction to our exponential population increase, and communicates the importance of respectful forethought regarding our natural resources. Using clay, glaze, wax, and metal, I create sculptures that deal with environmental, health-related, and social concerns.

Grace Scott: Observations of the deep forests and rolling hills of Northern Michigan I grew up in, combined with my creative right brain, have created a new myth I live and work by. This ‘myth’ is an ongoing and growing creation. It represents a spiritual connection with nature, and is influenced by folklore, native myths, religions,and science. By integrating the ‘myth’ into my work, I am able to juxtapose it with the harsh realities of the modern world. I see the damage inflicted on the environment and animals, and view them as martyrs. I intend to show viewers nature as I see it, and remind them of our beautiful world’s fragility.

Mark Yee: My work explores the ideas of energy and rest; peace and strife; yin and yang co-existing and occurring simultaneously in natural phenomena. Depth, layering, and balance are explored while creating spatial tensions in landscape-related compositions. Large-scale abstract work concentrates on creating as well as capturing movement. Allusions to windswept night skies or where a rocky shore meets the ocean can be found in the work, yet it remains purely abstract. My work is about balance and having the viewer finding peace for themselves in the paintings.

Michigan Avenue Magazine says, "... local artist Mark Yee whose stunning abstract paintings stand 6 feet tall have the power to transform ..."

EMBODY: EXHIBIT FEATURING JENNIFER CRONIN, MATT MANISCALCO, AND IAN MITCHELL WALLACE COMING IN APRIL

Black Cloud Gallery is proud to present Embody. Paintings by Jennifer Cronin, Black Cloud's Resident Artist Matt Maniscalco, and Ian Mitchell Wallace will be on display throughout the month of April. All three artists offer various takes on contemporary figure painting.

Featured in New American Paintings, Jennifer Cronin's most recent work is about personal fantasy and escape amidst everyday experience. Her large scale oil paintings are re imaginations of everyday life, based on often small, seemingly insignificant frustrations. They are about what a mind does with what it is given.

In contrast to Jennifer's cerebral take on figure painting, Matt Maniscalco's paintings of DIY punk/ hardcore shows display physicality and chaos. The unrelenting energy and emotion that circulates during these performances informs Maniscalco's paintings. Geometric shapes, places, and colors disrupt the background scenes and provoke as sense of tranquility. The two subjects within each painting compete for the viewer's attention while balancing the overall composition.

In his series of figure paintings, "The Gilded Gaze: Gold Leaf and the Element of Seduction," Ian Mitchell Wallace sets the gold standard in creating an intelligent and visually striking body of work. His postmodern watercolor paintings entice the viewer to interact with the beautifully crafted figures adorned with golden medallions. His intriguing subject matter depicts mythological tales with humorous contemporary twists.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 6th, 7- 10 PM
Second Fridays: Friday, April 13th, 6-10 PM

ART AUCTION AND FUNDRAISER, SATURDAY MARCH 31

Come and enjoy an evening at the Black Cloud Gallery in support of the Jordan Community School. Bid on a variety of student artwork including custom guitars!

Black Cloud Gallery
Saturday, March 31st - 6-9 PM

DECKED SKATEBOARD SHOW IS COMING MARCH 2, 2012

Black Cloud Gallery in conjunction with Character Skateboards and Small Town Skate Shop is proud to present DECKED. This will be an in depth and varied skateboard themed group art show that captures the independent and innovative spirit of skateboarding. Also, the Chicago-based company Character Skateboards will be celebrating their 10th anniversary, displaying a retrospective of their deck artwork, and premiering their new decks.

The t-shirt press is making a come back! Character, Small Town, and Black Cloud are all creating designs specifically for this event. Bring in a blank t-shirt, select a design, and POOF!, enjoy a freshly printed tee.



Join us for the opening reception at Black Cloud Gallery on March 2nd from 7-10 pm. We will have live DJs and free organic whiskey tasting provided by Chicago's own Koval Distillery. A second showing for Second Fridays will be on Friday March 9th from 6-10pm.

For more information, LIKE US on Facebook yo!

ART BAZAAR IS HERE AGAIN! ALL ARTWORK ONLY $200!

Yes it's back! The THIRD installation of the popular Art Bazaar is coming back to the Black Cloud Gallery, where all of the artwork on display is ONLY $200! Everything from paintings to photography to sculpture from over 30 different artists is available for only $200. The Grand Opening will be held on Friday, February 3rd, at 7 PM.

Come down and get yourself or someone special a new piece to compliment your home or office. There will be so many different styles and mediums to choose from, you're guaranteed to find something you like. The reception will also have drinks and hors d'oeuvres, so make a night of it and come down to beautiful Pilsen East, then cap it off at Skylark, like we always do.

Check us out on 2nd Fridays along with the other galleries in the district, Friday, February 10th, from 6-10, or come on in Mondays 10-3 or Wednesdays 11-6 during our regular hours.

HOLIDAY HANGOVER SHOW JANUARY 6 & 13, 2012 WITH ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY

How can pingpong balls, retro view finders and found objects promote placemaking and creative development in Chicago? Find out on Friday January 6th and 13th, 2012 when you join us as we partner with Architecture for Humanity to celebrate their third year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing pro bono pre-development architecture and design services to communities in Chicago. View their projects with new perspective and start 2012 off with a resolution to support community based participatory design and local artwork in Chicago.

Can't make either date? The exhibit will continue through the month of January.

MESHED: A SERIGRAPHY EXHIBITION SHOWCASING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS

Black Cloud Gallery will be featuring a group print show throughout the month of December. The gig posters, fine art, and t-shirts at the gallery created by screen printers from the Chicago area and from around the country exemplify the versatility of screen printing. Our intent is to have an exhibition that showcases established and emerging artists side by side, creating new conversations and ideas in screen printing.

Just in time for the holidays, screen prints can be purchased for a fraction of the price of an original painting, yet are still hand made. Featured artists include Aaron Coleman, Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff, Justin Santora, Andy Baushke, Jane Ryder, Richie Bearden, Ramon Soto, Billy Craven, Ameila Spinney, Jim Ford, DKNG, and many more!

Join us for an opening event on Friday, December 2nd from 6-10. Between 6-8 we will be printing t shirts in-house, so please bring your old (blank and light-colored) t shirts, sweatshirts, tanks, or totes. We'd be more than happy to spruce them up with a print created by our resident artists, Matt Maniscalco and Lauren Richards. Also, come back on Friday December 9th for the Second Fridays Gallery Crawl.

NOVEMBER FEATURED ARTISTS TIAGO RAVAZZI AND MARK YEE

We are proud to be featuring two well known, up and coming artists this November at Black Cloud. Many of you are familiar with Tiago Ravazzi from our past shows; his delicate, and at times haunting figurative work has always been a favorite and in the six months since weʼve last shown him Tiago has been all over the city in art festivals and in his studio producing all new work for this feature show at Black Cloud.

Joining him this month will be Black Cloudʼs newest artist, Mark Yee, an abstract specialist. His color fields and layers evoke the rawest of natural elements yet posses a human connection rarely seen in abstract works. Fairly new on the Chicago scene Mark has already had shows all over the city to rave reviews. Michigan Avenue Magazine recently said, “Local artist Mark Yee whose stunning abstract paintings stand 6 feet tall have the power to transform ...His energetic brush and palette knife work crisscross the canvas. Lower layers of paint emerge and meld with the top layers, only to retreat or to be overlapped by other layers, bringing the viewer on a journey forward and backward through the painting”.

This is our most anticipated show yet, and for good reason. Join us on Friday, November 4 from 7-10 for our opening reception and come down for the 2nd Fridays Gallery Crawl on November 11.

FILTER PHOTO FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THIS FRIDAY!

This october Black Cloud is one of host galleries for the Filter Photo Festival, a citywide International photo competition. We are hosting the show Beginnings: Stories and Starting Points, with work from forty different artists from all over the U.S.

The show kicks off during 2nd Fridays, October 14th, and runs until the end of the month. Come check out some of the most innovative and original photography in Chicago this month at the Black Cloud Gallery!

Check out www.fitlerfestival.com for a schedule of all of the other shows/lectures from the event. Also, don't forget to stop by Mondays from 10-3 and Wednesdays from 11-6 during our regular gallery hours.

Whoa! Look Who's Turning 1!

Come celebrate with the Black Cloud Gallery on Friday, September 30th, as we kick off the 41st Annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House with our 1st Birthday Celebration! I know! Get a peek at what we will be doing for the coming year with work by Tara Zanzig, Mark Yee, Tracy Jones, and Black Cloud's very own Jason Thompson, Matt Maniscalco, and Lauren Richards, along with some other surprises.

Come see all of the galleries and studio spaces in the Chicago Arts District as everything is on display and open during this three-day festival with music in the courtyards and activities all along Halsted. We're getting so big now and we couldn't have done it without you! Thanky!

THE ART BAZAAR RETURNS FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH!

Yes it's back! The second installation of the popular Art Bazaar is coming back to the Black Cloud Gallery, where all of the artwork on display is ONLY $200! Everything from paintings to photography to sculpture from over 30 different artists is available for only $200. The Grand Opening will be held on Friday, August 5 at 7 PM.

Come down and get yourself or someone special a new piece to comliment your home or office. There will be so many different styles and mediums to choose from, you're guaranteed to find something you like. The reception will also have drinks and hors d'oeuvres, so make a night of it and come down to beautiful Pilsen East, then cap it off at Skylark, like we always do.

For updates to this Event and other happenings at the Black Cloud Gallery, Like Us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter.

BUY ART NOT PEOPLE AT THE BLACK CLOUD GALLERY, JULY 22

Buy Art Not People is a Chicago-based grassroots arts initiative that engages artists to raise awareness and funds to combat modern slavery. Modern slavery is defined as “People forced to work without pay, under threat of violence and unable to walk away.” There are estimated to be more than 27 million men, women and children in slavery today — more than at any other time in history.

This is a very special event, so please join us on Friday, July 22 to help a great cause and pick up some great art! For more information on this event, please visit www.buyartnotpeople.org.

FUSEDCHICAGO ENCAUSTIC SHOWCASE - FRIDAY JULY 1 AT 7

FUSEDCHICAGO is an organization of Midwest artists who share an interest in encaustic, a method of making art using pigmented wax fused to a surface by heat. Their mission is to advance public awareness of encaustic art through workshops and thematic exhibitions of member work, and to create professional opportunities for networking and learning exchanges for their members.

We are very excited to have this crew in our gallery this month, and we hope you can join us for a special exhibit Friday, July 1 ant 7 PM. THere will be a live demonstration by Jenny Learner, who will show you how encaustics work. This is a FREE event and drinks/apps will be available! Hope you can make it out!

JUNE FEATURED ARTIST RECEPTION, FRIDAY JUNE 3 AT 7 PM

Join us Friday, June 3 for our dual show featuring Tara Zanzig and Emily Rutledge, ZANZIG + RUTLEDGE = ORDER + CHAOS. Tara Zanzig shows off her beautiful geometric style and Feng Shui influence, coupled with Emily Rutledge and her chaotic, urban encausticsat the Black Cloud Gallery in the historic Chicago Arts District of Pilsen East.

The reception is free to attend with drinks + apps available.Come down and join us for our first summer artist showcase, hang out with our artists, buy some cool art, and see our beautiful gallery space!

MAY FEATURED ARTIST RECEPTION, FRIDAY MAY 6 AT 7 PM

Welcome to Spring (seriously, it's about time) and what a way to start with an amazing group of artists! This month the gallery will be dominated by an all-female show who's vision and talent we have wanted to showcase for quite some time. And we're kicking it all off with our May Featured Artist Reception this Friday, May 6 at 7 PM.

Deva Suckerman is the master of found object art. It's the only canvas she'll use. We feel that's the strongest feature of her portfolio. She has the ability to create something not just from the imperfections of wood or board, but to use those chips and breaks to create something new. It's problem solving. Her artwork represents that idea. We welcome her and her fantastic collection. See her work on her Artist page.

Chandrika Marla is originally from New Delhi and has been showing in Chicago as of late. An artist with a fashion design background and a love for Matisse, she has beautiful pieces mixing fabric patterns and acrylics representing people and relationships. Her style comes from the countless hours of fashion sketching, developing her unique, artistic style.

"'Nothing' leads to 'everything'" is how Jane Michalski describes her collection of encaustic works, blending beautiful, earthy tones split up by rough cuts and dark edges, a perfect juxtapose for the smooth, clean surfaces of encaustics. She has been showing all around Chicago the past few years in group and solo shows.

And finally, we are very excited to have Kasia Polkowska, who is not only a Pratt Institute Alum (ya, so is our own Jason Thompson, go Pratt kids!), but also a Warsaw, Poland native and an extremely talented artist. She specializes in lovely stained glass mosaics representing beautiful landscapes.

This event is free to attend and the public is more than welcome, just like all of our monthly Featured Artist Receptions. And ya, we have a lot of new events coming to the gallery this summer, from private events to live music, and of course the monthly Second Fridays gallery crawl. May is going to be a great month and we hope you join us Friday, May 6 at 7 PM for our May Featured Artist Reception! We'll have refreshments and hors' doeuvres and our artists will be around to talk to about anything awesome. That's what they like, art and awesome things.

GROWING WORKS RUNWAY SHOW BY FLASHES OF HOPE, MAY 17, 2011 AT GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY, CHICAGO

On May 17th, 2011, Laundry Magazine and We Do All Events will present Growing Works, a runway show featuring collections by Chicago's best new fashion design graduates. This exceptional event will be Laundry Magazine’s next step towards supporting emerging designers in Chicago and will provide a great chance for the Chicago creative community to come together for a great cause. Not only will LaundryMagazine support the talented young artists by showing their work in a professional and creative environment, but they have also chosen to align with a wonderful non-profit group, Flashes of Hope.  

Flashes of Hope is a national nonprofit whose goal is to change the way children with cancer see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research. They provide award-winning photographers and stylists for beautiful portrait sessions that help many families find grace and beauty so often missing in a hospital setting.

Black Cloud Gallery's own Jason Thompson will be one of the volunteer photographers for the event. Other volunteers are still wanted. If you would like to help out the event in any way, please contact Carrie Gowans at carriegowans@gmail.com or Kelsey Kreiling, Editor in Chief, Laundry Magazine at klkreiling@gmail.com.

Event Details:
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
VIP and Press Cocktail Party 6-7:30 PM
General Admission: 7 PM, Runway Show: 8 PM
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

TICKETS
Student/General Admission- $15
Reserved Seating- $25
Monet Garden VIP- $125
Includes entrance to our private pre-show cocktail party and a reserved seat.

TIAGO RAVAZZI ARTIST SHOWING AT CHOCOLOATE FOR YOUR BODY SALON & SPA,
APRIL 21, 6 PM ON SOUTH HALSTED

One of our past Featured Artists, Tiago Ravazzi, is showcasing artwork at Chocolate For Your Body Salon & Spa, 1743 South Halsted Street at 6 PM. CFYB is one of the premier salons in Chicago, and now you can get a mani with Tiago's amazing artwork gracing the walls!

CFYB will have a special reception for Tiago on Thursday night, April 21 and would love for you to join and show your support. If you have purchase information on any of the artwork at the spa by Tiago Ravazzi, please contact The Black Cloud Gallery. Hope to see you there!

Want to konw why art is so important for our children? Come join us on Friday, April 23 from 6—10 PM for a very special event we are extremely excited to be a part of; Pictures of Hope art exhibit and charity fundraiser for foster children, hosted by One Hope United and the Black Cloud Gallery.

Read more >

APRIL ARTIST RECEPTION, FRIDAY NIGHT 04.01.11

This isn't an April Fools Day gag, for reals! This Friday night we welcome our April crew of Featured Artists with an evening reception at the Black Cloud Gallery! Come down and see some seriously kick ass art from 3-dimensional art specialist Anna Vlaminck, Surrealist Matt Maniscalco, and Tracy Jones, who also gets our vote for the best names of art pieces ever! We also have Richard Benoit, who's back with us from our Grand Opening Gala in October, and his new series is quite nice!

Also we'll feature new works from resident artists Peter Walsh and Jason Thompson.

Matt Maniscalco is going to blow you away with his latest piece that literally fills the room! Ya, it's huge. Come down and have a few refreshments, chill out with good music and good people, and check out the latest works from some of Chicago's (and elsewhere's) best emerging artists. Then hit up Skylark with us.

Enter to win original Black Cloud artwork and a postcard set from artist Jason Thompson.
Come down this Friday and enter to win original artwork from resident artist and Black Cloud designer Jason Thompson! We'll have posters, prints, t-shirts, and a set of postcards up for grabs. Jason has created an identity for Black Cloud that has been wooed over by many who come in and pick up original prints, Black Cloud t-shirts and other swag. Now come and snag some yourself!

On March 29, 2011, we were honored to be the spot that musician David Bazan chose for his only Chicago stop on his annual Living Room Tour. David played to a sold out crowd of dedicated fans that filled the gallery with great music, making it a really wonderful evening.

Unfortunately tickets were sold out quickly and we weren't able to promote the event in advance, so those that had tickets were pretty lucky to see such an intimate performance.

More info and photos here.

GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE AT SECOND FRIDAYS!

Yup, you heard us right. Glenn Phenicie, one of our Martch Featured Artists will take your very own "Face Pucher" original bloody photo at the Black Cloud Gallery this Friday, March 11 starting at 7 PM.

Get more details here.

OOH YA, IT'S ON NOW! "ART IN MARCH" FEATURED ARTISTS LINEUP IS HERE!

Spring is almost here! Well, this is Chicago so maybe not quite yet, but spring is arriving. And we now have our lineup for our March Featured Artists ready to go! Welcome to "Art In March."

Tulika Ladsariya: Urban architecture and the human movement. Her work has been described as being influenced by the "construction and environmental impact" of mankind. Strong, bold colors and beautifully crafted figures in stark contrast are blended over beautiful background patterns and imagination.

Dan Giordan: His creative use of multi-media and image transfer techniques focusing on architecture and urban landscapes are a stunning achievement and an anticipated addition to the gallery.

Glenn Phenicie: A fantastic designer and great photographer, Glenn has conjured up a series called "Face Puncher." Explanation? Do you really need one? Well, come see these beautifully crafted prints for yourself. His exhibit is fun and frightning at the same time. You won't be disappointed.

Tiago Ravazzi: His work is very popular, and Tiago has exhibited with us in November of 2010 with rave reactions, so we welcome him back with open arms. His work dangles on the edge of despair and quiet joy. Most of his works are oils, but has dabbled in acrylics as of late.

Eric Cronin: Stark multi-media pieces representing his views of the labor force of Chicago's urbanism, and influenced from the culture of motorcycles and tattoos, Eric Cronin returns to us from our grand opening in October 2010 to show us his newest works.

Jason Thompson: One of our resident artists, Jason is also a partner of the Black Cloud Gallery. His very popular work consists of a very unique style, blending acrylic paints and creative image transferring, all stemming from moody, retrospective imagery of seductive portraits and concepts of childhood memories.

We'd like you to join us for our Open Artist Reception on Friday, March 4 at 7 PM. All the artists will be present to talk shop and answer any questions you may have about the works on hand. It'll be a night you won't want to miss. Hope to see you there!

ART BAZAAR CONTINUES THROUGH FEBRUARY ONLY! HURRY!

The Art Bazaar is almost over! (le sigh...) So don't wait any longer to get your hands on some of the coolest art we've exhibited by over 30 different artists with all artwork priced at only $200!

Everything from original oil paintings, acrylic paintings, drawings, mixed-medium, photography, and sculpture. There are pieces from past Featured Artists and upcoming Featured Artists, as well as newcomers. Don't wait. Get down to the gallery during our regular business hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10–2 PM. Come check out Pilsen East's ever popular Artist District, with lots of other galleries and great restaurants to visit too.

BELLY DANCER PERFORMANCE FOR SECOND FRIDAYS! HELL YES!

This Friday, February 11 we have a special treat at the Black Cloud Gallery; a belly dancing performance for Art Bazaar Month at 6:30 PM. Come down for the monthly Second Fridays art crawl and see a live performance by Phaedra. How cool is that? Pretty cool.

Her performance is expected to start promptly at 6:30 PM so get there on time to see the full dance. For more information please visit www.phaedradarwish.blogspot.com.

And don't forget that all artwork in the gallery is only $200.
We have nearly 100 pieces in all styles and mediums by over 30 different artists, some of them on display are previous and future Featured Artists of the Black Cloud Gallery. Our opening night on Febraury 4 was a success, so join us for more this Friday!

NEW CITY ARTICLE ON THE GALLERY

411: Art Marketing, by Jonas Simon
“We represent artists, not just display them,” says gallery co-founder Clarke Canedy, in the article written by Jonas Simon for New City, a comprehensive guide to arts and entertainment in the Chicago area. Clarke did an interview, discussing operating a business in Pilsen East, creating a buzz, and getting artists' exposure. Very well written article.

ART BAZAAR! ALL ARTWORK $200, ALL FEBRUARY LONG!

What better way to get the best variety of artwork from a large range of different artists than to throw together a giant Art Bazaar?!!!

Yes, it's for real. February 2011 is Art Bazaar month and every piece in the gallery is only $200. All February long. I know! It's crazy! And to help us celebrate, we'd like you to join us for a special opening:
Friday, February 4
7-10:30 PM.
Cool people will definitely be there. And lots of art in all types of mediums and styles, from photography to Impressionism, Pop Art to mixed media. There is an array of different artists, who are all excited to be a part of such a fun event. Not to mention a couple of future Featured Artists giving us a sneak peek of their artistic style. Come down and hang out at the gallery, then nightcap it at Skylark with us, like always. Sounds good, right?

You can download a copy of the Event Poster as a PDF. There are three different color designs:

RENT THE GALLERY FOR PRIVATE EVENTS

Did you know you can rent us for private events? Yes, you can. We have used the gallery for more than just art, but also birthday parties, classes, fund raisers, and other performances, like poetry slams or a comedy show. We can accommodate 80 comfortably. See the Gallery Space section for interior photos.

If you have any questions about setting up private events, contact Dana Schmidt at dana@blackcloudgallery.net.

JANUARY 2011 BLACK CLOUD GALLERY ALL-STARS!

So a whole new decade is upon us, and what a way to enter 2011 than to have an All-Star line-up of some of our coolest members of the Black Cloud family?! We are showcasing new artwork from Anna Vlaminck, who blew us away with her amazing 3-dimensional pieces that really are best seen up close, Tim Hughes, who is truly coming into his own with some very cool Pop Art influenced acrylic paintings, and Matt Maniscalco and his epic oil paintings of Surrealism that take imagination to a whole new level. He also has some awesome screenprint t-shirts of original artwork available at the gallery as well.

Clearly we couldn't go any further without mentioning Adam Cipcic, who has become a very good friend of ours and a fixture here at the gallery with some seriously killer pieces, ranging from acrylic paintings to furniture to mixed media. Dope indeed. Also returning with some of photographic stories of the streets of Chicago is Satoki Nagata, featuring beautiful black and white images that are available in a range of sizes, framed and unframed, and also limited edition prints as well.

Don't forget we have our Resident Artists Jason Thompson and Peter Walsh who always have some new visual story adorning our walls each month. We have so much in store in the coming months so stay with us and keep yourself updated! Happy New Year everyone!

FINANCING NOW AVAILABLE!

Wait, you don't have enough for that killer piece you saw, but you reall want it? Did you know you can make installments on that awesome artwork you saw at the gallery or on our website?
Yup, you can. Don't destroy your budget, make 30 or 60 day installments instead. It's much easier.

For more information on financing and payment options, contact Clarke Canedy at clarke@blackcloudgallery.net.

GALLERY CHRISTMAS PARTY 12.18.10

Well well well, it's Christmas time. The best time of the year. We are so grateful to not only have such a wonderful group of artists in this month, but also to those who have supported us since we opened our doors. We are really excited to invite you to our very first Gallery Christmas Party on Saturday, December 18 from 6–10:30 PM.

We will have artwork and photography exhibited from our December Featured Artists, as well as hors d'ouevres and refreshments. Bring your friends and family down to Pilsen East for a night and maybe you'll find that perfect gift for the impossible-to-buy-for person you know! Our artists will be here to talk with, along with other art aficionados too.

Download the invitation here.

For more information visit our Facebook page. Hope to see you there!

WE'RE ON TV AND A DOCUMENTARY!

Pilsen was featured in the morning show "You & Me This Morning" on WCIU recently, and they interviewed Cynthia West from the Chicago Arts District about Second Fridays while in our gallery.



You can see the video on www.WCIU.com

Also, Clarke and Dana are featured in a documentary by Nick Padiak called A Generation Lost In Space: Overeducated and Underemployed In America.

The film takes you through the lives of four young adults starting their careers or struggling to make the transition from college to the workforce. It is very well done and the site also features outtakes from the film as well. Our Grand Opening Gala was the highlight of our segment. Check it out here.

A Generation Lost in Space: Overeducated and Underemployed in America from Nick Padiak on Vimeo.

OUR DECEMBER FEATURED ARTISTS HAVE ARRIVED FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Well it's that time of year again. The holidays are upon us and what a great time to feature such a great group of artists at the Black Cloud Gallery. So, join us this Friday, December 3 at 6 PM as we exhibit work from our December Featured Artists.

We welcome Anna Vlaminck and her beautiful 3-dimensional pieces that are best seen up close and in person, Matt Maniscalco and his incredible surrealist paintings, and Satoki Nagata, who shows us a delicate, raw yet artistic viewpoint of Chicago with his amazing photography that he has captured over the past decade.

As always this event is open to the public, so come down and clear your shopping list this season with original artwork, artist prints, Black Cloud t-shirts and more. We will have hors d'ouevres and refreshments, and our talented artists will be here to talk shop with you.

We're very excited not just for the holidays but for our new artists and their stellar work that will be hanging in our gallery for the entire month of December.

And don't forget about Second Fridays, the monthly Chicago Arts District open gallery crawl on December 10. We've had a fantastic crowd the past couple months and are eager to show off the new additions this time around.

A BIG "THANK YOU" FROM US

We'd like to thank all those that attended our "Thanks For Giving" Charity Event for the Pilsen Homeless Health Services last weekend. We were able to make a great donation thanks to those businesses that donated to our cause, and to those that bid in our silent auction to raise money to help those in need for the holidays.

Also a big thank you to Adam Cipcic for doing a live painting exhibition at the gallery. How cool was that?! It's always a thrill to see how our artists work and the techniques they use in their artwork, especially when the artist is quite awesome.

His new piece, created with acrylic paints on stretched black canvas, will be on display indefinately at the gallery and will also be available for purchase. Again, thank you. We appreciate it very much.

"THANKS FOR GIVING" CHARITY EVENT FOR THE PILSEN HOMELESS HEALTH SERVICES, NOVEMBER 21, 11 AM–7 PM

On Sunday, November 21, we are proud to be hosting the “Thanks For Giving” Charity Event to donate portions of sales from the Black Cloud Gallery to the Pilsen Homeless Health Services located at 1515 W. Monroe Street in Chicago. They are a 501(c)(3) organization that provides food and aid to the homeless and near homeless. They have recently become a mobile company that sets up in various shelters around the city. They work with other organizations like the Salvation Army and the San Jose Shelter.

This is our way of helping those in need of a Thanksgiving meal, and we’d really like you to join us.

We will have original artwork, artist prints, Black Cloud t-shirts, and handmade pottery. Hors d’ouevres and refreshments will be available, along with an exhibition from our November Featured Artists. There will be a silent auction that starts at 2 PM where you can bid on gifts donated from area businesses and restaurants, as well as original artwork. There will also be a live paint exhibition.

We have a number of donations from some of the local restaurants and businesses, including:
         • 2 dozen homeade cookies a month for 6 months from Fig Catering ($350 value)
         • 2 $50 gift certificates from Grand Lux Cafe
         • $25 gift certficate from Knee Deep (best vintage store in town)
         • Nightwood Restaurant Gift Card
         • Efebina's Cafe Gift Card

This is a free event, and since we had such a great turnout last week for November's Second Fridays, and expect great things this holiday season, we'd like those who are less fortunate to be able to enjoy the holidays as well. It's a great way to spend a Sunday by viewing and purchasing beautiful artwork, checking out the Pilsen East neighborhood and the Chicago Arts District, while also helping others. The artists exhibiting are also willing to donate portions of their sales to this wonderful charity, and we couldn't be more grateful to have them. We hope to see you there!

For event updates, friend us on

VISIT US DURING SECOND FRIDAYS, NOVEMBER 12, 6 PM

Well, it's that time again! The monthly Pilsen East Artists Second Fridays open gallery crawl is upon us on November 12. Visit us and see our November Featured Artists that were quite a hit during our Artist Reception last weekend. The neighborhood comes alive during this monthly event sponsored by the Chicago Arts District and all the galleries open their doors to let the public walk through and check out all the artists exhibiting in the area.

This is truly a special event that brings a lot of people down to the neighborhood, and their are plenty of things to do and places to see, you can make a night of it! Visit the galleries, and have a drink or a bite at local restaurants like the ever popular Nightwood or Simone's on 18th Street. Or grab a craft brew and good eats at our favorite spot Skylark.

We will be showcasing art from Adam Cipcic, Tim Hughes, Peter Walsh, Tiago Ravazzi, Fabiana Glazer, and Jason Thompson. Bring your friends if they haven't been down to this wonderful tradition and enjoy the Pilsen East Artist District, a very special part of Chicago!

WE WELCOME OUR NOVEMBER FEATURED ARTISTS!

Join us for a special Artist Reception on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 6–10 PM. We will hold an event to showcase our artists who will be adorning our walls for the month of November. This truly is a blessing to have such fine artists in our gallery and we are very excited to have them in our family.

We welcome Adam Cipcic with his beautiful abstract pieces, Tiago Ravazzi with his haunting distant figures, and Tim Hughes whose influences from Pop Art and Street Art are evident in his works. Returning from our opening month is Fabiana Glazer, whose fabulous still life studies (which were quite successful during our opening month) have evolved into beautiful pastel representations of Chicago's colorful summers. Also Jason Thompson, one of our resident artists, brings back his very successful graphic artwork, and Peter Walsh showcasing his elegant Abstract Expressionist works.

We are extremely excited about this group, and have very high hopes about the rest of the year for our gallery and our artists. We hope you come down and see us! Also we have another showcase during the monthly Second Fridays on November 12.

For constant updates on this event and others, friend us on

PILSEN OPEN STUDIOS, OCTOBER 16—17, 2010

Chicago Artist Month keeps pluggin' along with the 18th Street Pilsen Open Studios, a gallery crawl highlighting over 55 spaces and 80+ artists from Halsted Street to Western Avenue, and from 16th to 23rd Street. The Black Cloud Gallery will be open from 12—7 PM Saturday and Sunday during this event, so please come by to see our space, purchase fantastic artwork and talk to some of our artists.

For more information on Pilsen Open Studios, click here.

MARATHON BRUNCH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 9 AM—12:30 PM

Come visit us this Sunday during the Chicago Marathon from 9 AM—12:30 PM. We are located at Mile 20 along the Marathon course on South Halsted and will have coffee, mimosas and bakery. We had a great showing at Second Fridays this past week and are very excited to be a part of this wonderful arts community! Now come and see artwork from our October featured artists, then hang out and watch the race.

For more information on the Chicago Marathon, as well as course information and a map, visit www.chicagomarathon.com.

OUR FIRST SECOND FRIDAYS, OCTOBER 8, 2010

This Friday, October 8, is our first participation in the monthly Pilsen East Second Fridays, when all the galleries in the area are open to the public for viewing. We are very excited to be a part of this neighborhood tradition, and since we had such a fantastic opening weekend with a very strong showing, we hope you join us again this coming Friday. And if you missed us last weekend, now's your chance to see who we are and to meet our fabulous artists.

We will have art by our featured artists Peter Walsh, Jason Thompson, Fabiana Glazer, Eric Cronin, and Richard Benoit. All of our artists got a very positive reaction from all those who attended the Grand Opening Gala, and from those who cruised the neighborhood and dropped in to help us celebrate.

"FUNNIER THAN ART"–CHI-CAST STAND-UP COMEDY OCTOBER 2, 2010

While you're taking in all the sights and sounds of the Pilsen East Open House, join us at the Black Cloud Gallery on Saturday, October 2 at 7:00 PM for live comedy with Seth Martin. A $5 donation is asked.

GRAND OPENING GALA FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010

Join us as we celebrate our Grand Opening on Friday, October 1st, 2010 featuring some of Chicago's top emerging artists. During the Chicago Art District's Annual Open House, a tradition in the Pilsen East neighborhood where all the local art galleries open up their doors to the public, and live music and food vendors take over the streets and the gardens of South Halsted.

Featured artists for the opening include Jason Thompson, Peter Walsh, Fabiana Glazer, Eric Cronin, and Richard Benoit, all of whom will have their art on display in October 2010. All artwork is for sale. Come in and visit us and talk with our artists and the experience rest of the Pilsen East neighborhood. Please visit our Artist page for details and individual bios.

ANNUAL CHICAGO ART DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 1-3, 2010

The Annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House is the neighborhood's most recognizable and anticipated event. It originated in 1970 when a small group of neighborhood artists opened their doors and invited friends and family to view art in an intimate and relaxed setting. The event proved to be a great success and attracts visitors year after year to explore the studios and hang out in the community gardens while experiencing art right at its source.