WILLIS TOWER ART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
In conjunction with a new arts initiative unfolding at Willis Tower, entitled Art of the Neighborhood, CNL Projects proudly facilitated a partnership between EQ Office/Willis Tower and the Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) through which 10 local artists were selected for an inaugural exhibition.
CNL Projects curated Art of the Neighborhood and ensured that all participating artists received a stipend for the loan of their artwork: a core principle of CNL Projects’ work and advocacy. EQ Office/Willis Tower was thrilled to have this new exhibition as part
of their redevelopment plan, furthering its investment in local artists and culture to amplify the new vision of the building. By the end of the exhibition, Willis Tower tenants will select and purchase one work of art to be permanently installed on their amenity floor.
Art of the Neighborhood is currently on view in the Tower’s lobby and is accessible from the Adams Street entrance. The exhibition is open to building tenants and the general public and is on view until the summer. Please visit this stunning work of local artists and stay tuned as this art program continues to develop over the next year.
The 10 featured artists on exhibition:
Cassie Tompkins, Dianna Frid, Edra Soto, Erin Hayden, Jean Alexander Frater, Jordan Martins, Kelly Kristin Jones, Melissa Leandro, Ruben Aguirre, Whit Forrester
MARWEN PARTNERSHIP AT WILLIS TOWER
CNL Projects worked with EQ Office and the Chicago nonprofit Marwen to enliven the new beehives by Alvéole on the Willis Tower’s Outdoor Terrace through art. The project is part of EQ Office's ongoing initiative, Art of the Neighborhood. Marwen teaching artists and alumni Stephanie Guillen, Anabelen Zuniga, and Asha Edwards painted colorful murals on the three hives.
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL OF ETHICS EXHIBITION
CNL projects worked in partnership with the Ethics Resource Center of the American Medical Association (AMA), the Wellness Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the International Museum of Surgical Science to curate an exhibition of Scottish artist and medical researcher Mark Gilbert June-August 2020. CNL worked with Masters students from the SAIC to design and manage all associated programming at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago. This program was interrupted to the pandemic of 2020.
Mark Gilbert’s work consists of portraits of patients and caregivers that explore arts as a component of medical research/humanities, and seeks to inspire discussions about empathy, compassion, and resilience to enhance both medical education and the human essence of care. A primary interest of the artist and all partnering organizations is to identify ways the exhibition can be used as an educational resource for different audiences.
PROMPT
PROMPT is an ongoing program of dinner gatherings for artists and creative producers.
PROMPT intends to create a space for artists to gather, share ideas/resources and build community, while expanding CNL Projects mission to advocate for and invest in the needs of contemporary artists. We believe artists deeply impact and shape our communities, identify alternative ways of thinking and bring new ideas to the forefront in innovative ways. Artists have the capacity to actively engage our imagination, contribute to society, and make meaningful, deep change.
If we believe that artists are our change-makers, then it’s critical to support them and create space to gather and exchange. We also believe community fuels artists’ practices by creating the opportunity for direct support and resources.
PROMPT is also an experiment to take a look at what happens when we intentionally gather together to listen to the needs of our community. It also prompts us to consider the need to create a sustainable program like this, and if so, how it might continue to evolve.
DEPAUL ART MUSEUM
CNL Projects facilitated a roundtable discussion about how the DePaul Art Museum can better serve artists in Chicago, allowing participants to leave the meeting with a menu of tangible action items for the museum to consider.
3ARTS STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP
CNL Projects was hired by 3artist to collaboratively design and facilitate their annual Strategic Planning workshops for 3Arts awardees to create a sustainable career.
PALAIS DE TOKYO/EXPO CHICAGO/DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
CNL Projects collaborated with EXPO Chicago, DuSable Museum of African American History and the Palais de Tokyo to serve as project manager for the exhibition while managing all affiliated curated programming.
September 13 – October 29, 2017. Courtesy of the Palais de Tokyo and EXPO CHICAGO. Photo: Tom Van Eynde
