Deconstructing the Chicago Arts District
in Pilsen
A Vibrant Community Anchored by the Arts
There is a reason why the Chicago Arts District, located within the neighborhood of Pilsen near Halsted and 18th Streets, is celebrating its 36th anniversary. From fine art studios and galleries, to Mexican street mosaics and murals, creativity is what keeps this community alive and enduring.
Pilsen was recently featured as part of the Great Chicago Places and Spaces weekend celebration, which includes tours of local architecture and design. However, Pilsen was also featured on last year's list of the Seven Most Endangered Chicago Buildings and Neighborhoods produced by Preservation Chicago, an organization working to save the city's endangered historic places. Located just outside of the South Loop, Pilsen could soon find itself facing a fate similar to that of other neighborhoods bordering high-priced districts - becoming invaded by luxury condo developers and commercial retail chains.
But, 40 years of arts history is quite a legacy to be reckoned with. The Chicago Arts District emerged in the early 1960s when John and Annelies Podmajersky began to revitalize the neighborhood by converting dilapidated buildings into artists' lofts and studios, as well as transforming abandoned alleys into lush and beautiful gardens. Such inspirational spaces have helped to unleash the creativity of the thousands of painters, photographers, sculptors, textile designers and other artists who have lived and worked here during the past few decades.
The Chicago Arts District nonprofit organization hosts an "Opening Night" event every second Friday of the month showcasing the works of the 21 galleries and studios in the area. Click here for a list of the galleries and their websites. And, the Annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House in late September draws visitors year after year to explore the District's studios and gardens, as well as includes musical and dance performances.
The photos on the left feature the Chicago Arts District and gardens. The images above are from the National Museum of Mexican Art.
Authentic Mexican Food, Culture and Fine Arts
Pilsen is also home to a thriving Mexican-American community. Many of the murals painted on buildings were commissioned by the neighborhood, and the area also features shops run by artists and designers, not to mention great restaurants.
One of the many must-sees in Pilsen is the National Museum of Mexican Art at 1852 West 19th Street. Starting June 22, view the new exhibition, Women Artists of Modern Mexico: Frida's Contemporaries, which will feature the works of 26 women who have produced art, music, dance, literature, theatre and film since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Each summer, Pilsen hosts the largest Hispanic festival in the Midwest, the Fiesta del Sol, which attracts more than 1.5 million visitors. Interestingly, Pilsen is actually named after a Czech city and was once home to the largest population of Bohemians in the nation.
So, take advantage of the warm weather to explore the rich artist colony and history of the Chicago Arts District in Pilsen!