Artists at Work Forum: Gallery Lowdown February 16, 2006

ARTISTS AT WORK FORUM: Gallery Lowdown
Thursday, February 16, 6:00 pm
Chicago Cultural Center -- 1st Floor Garland

Four of Chicago's top gallerists -- Dubhe Carre?o, Carl Hammer, Stephen Kelly, and Carrie Secrist -- join Natalie Van Straaten, Executive Director of the Chicago Art Dealers Association and publisher of Chicago Gallery News, for a candid discussion of strategies for artists working with galleries. Artists are encouraged to bring specific questions for the panel.

Carreno is a Venezuelan-born ceramic artist and former instructor at The School of the Art Institute, who opened his gallery in October, 2004. Dubhe Carre?o Gallery explores the current state of ceramic art through exhibitions and events designed to promote national and international emerging and mid-career artists who, in many cases, have transformed ceramics into a new genre.

Hammer, a veteran gallerist of more than 25 years, started out on North Michigan Avenue with a focus on self-taught and outsider artists including such well-known figures as Lee Godie, Mr. Imagination, Bill Traylor, Henry Darger, Eugene von Brunchenhein and others. Today in River North, Carl Hammer Gallery augments this stable with contemporary mainstream artists whose work which concerns itself with the figure, the image of Man, and the essence of his or her being.

Stephen Kelly is a visual artist himself, who opened his River North gallery over a year ago to present his work along with that of other artists. Kelly's goal in visual arts is to allow creativity and inspiration to flow without interruption. To him, honesty is what is most important in painting-working towards understanding what is within oneself, and allowing this truth to spring forth without pretense.

In 1992 Carrie Secrist opened her first gallery, Gallery A, in River North, where she remained for eleven years until relocating to the West Loop in 2004. Featuring both established and emerging contemporary artists in all media, she has participated in major art expositions in this country and abroad and is on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Art Dealers Association

Natalie van Straaten has been a professional writer on arts subjects for more than 30 years and founded Chicago Gallery News in 1983. A curator, educator, administrator and organizer, she serves on various arts advisory boards and is a frequent juror in art competitions. She served as Executive Director of the Chicago Coalition for Arts in Education (1983-1986), and co-directed an art gallery for fourteen years.

Artist at Work Forums invite artists, advocates, and related professionals to address current issues of interest and concern in Chicago's art community. AAWF are made possible through the generosity of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.