Make believe, reflect and vote

The lens of the present captures Jeff Snider pieces, with reflections of current city life on a hot steamy night on Milwaukee Ave.

"Into the lens of the future, through the lens of artists" is the theme for the WPB's (SSA #33) Make Believe, a project to fill vacant store fronts with art. Viewers are encouraged to participating by voting for their favorite site before the event ends on Oct. 29.  The winner will receive the $5,000.00 prize.

Ten store fronts along North Milwaukee Avenue from 1452 to 1251 plus 1240 N. Ashland make up the spaces. On opening night of the project, July 15, the creators of the ten exhibits spoke to a touring group of press and VIPs. Below are the presenters and information about their pieces.

The 'You are here...' team

A team led by Steward Hicks, Jimmy Luu and Allison Newmeyer produced "You are here...and here" located at 1240 N. Ashland. Viewers are encouraged to interact with the display.

Steph Yiu displays white camera

Steph Yiu and Jared Novack created the concept of "TakeMeWithYou," which is to be displayed at 1251 N. Milwaukee. White disposable cameras, 100 of them, have been hidden in the Wicker Park Bucktown area. Finders are to take pictures, telling a story. Cameras are to be mailed, according to instructions with the camera, to the creators who will then "share them in the store and online."

They are the Chicago Robot Theatre

A kinetic sculptor (robots), a composer and a lighting/stage designer combined as the Chicago Robotic Theatre and produced "More than clouds in the sky," which is a robotic theater piece loosely based on Galileo Galilei. It is installed at 1271 N. Milwaukee with video, robots and audio.

Jeff Snider explains his exhibit

Jeff Snider at 1275 N. Milwaukee produced "Recycled Light," a living room with functioning sculptures such as tables and lamps. All pieces were created from repurposed material, looking to the future of eco friendly sustainable living.

Tony Osborn

Wicker Park architect Tony Osborn's "The puzzling unplanned city zoetrope machine" is spinning tube at 1283 N. Milwaukee.  Inside this spinning tube is the image of a possible future - one with no end-goal and few rules.

The 'Wing It!' team

Team Robinson with "Wing it!" is composed of artists Tom Robinson, Charlie B. Thorne and Laura M. Coyle.  Their venture into the future uses Leonardo's flying machine as the mechanical base for flight at 1287 N. Milwaukee.

Mark Boyer explains how he and his sister Rine created their exhibit

Brother and sister team, Mark and Rene Boyer at 1291 N. Milwaukee used mixed media to produce "Let's go to work."  Portrait images are of local business/organization people.

Christophe Gauspohl's creation appears to be escaping from the storefront as he explains his concept

"Artichoke [an urban constellation]" at 1366 N. Milwaukee is to have six satellite displays in nearby businesses. Christophe Gauspohl used repurposed materials to explore abandoned space, architectural gesture and human form as they intertwine.

When walking passed 1448 N. Milwaukee, one will see two screens on which people in Beijing, China are walking through their streets as do people on Chicago's commercial streets. Entitled "Wangfujing * Sanlitun * Wicker Park * Bucktown," the work is from Matt Siber. (Siber was out of the country during the opening.)

Indo group answer questions

The last installation is at 1452 N. Milwaukee. "Slow" is the work of Indo, window installers that use found objects in their creations. They used styrofoam cups to create spheres.

For a more detail explanation of the works visit the Make Believe where you can vote for your favorite display.