A few weeks ago we were given the opportunity to work with the Chicago Loop Alliance, a chamber of commerce-like organization that serves the downtown loop area merchants. They started their Pop-Up Art Loop gallery project and gave us the old Ritz Camera store to engage with a project.

We are opening a new joint project with our friends and collaborators called The (Con)Temporary Art Space this Tuesday. It’s located at 208 S Wabash. It will be open Tuesday through Sunday 11:30am to 5:30 pm and later on Thursday.

Here’s the brief mission statement:
The (Con) Temporary Art Space, due to open February 16th, 2010, will be an avenue for discussion, research and action. The former retail space will be used as a working studio by cultural workers, producers, artists and designers for projects they are working on collectively and individually. The Public will be able to absorb these presentations as well as share their ideas about contemporary art. The (Con)Temporary Art Space will function as a information center and a place to learn about Chicago’s diverse art ecology.
Read more about the space’s mission here.

We are opening up a shop to sell what we think are the best artist publications around. There is also a co-working space/studio, a reading lounge, and the (An)Other Chicago Mapping project. Every Thursday night we will feature a new exhibition and opening showing work by various groups, spaces and individuals that represent the variety of Chicago’s art worlds.

Why don’t you join us Thursday, February 18 4:30pm to 8:30pm for our grand opening and inaugural exhibition showing work by the founding members? Stop by and find out how you can have a show in our Display Case Gallery or participate in the space, or help us create a collaborative map of the city’s Other Culture. If you put out a publication or zine, bring that to us for us to consign and sell!

Lumpen magazine printed a shadow CAA program in issue 114.  There is a lot to check out, so good luck.

” The College Arts Association (CAA) is the country’s most important gathering of professionals in the visual arts. It takes place in Chicago this year from February 10 to February 13, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Hundreds of presentations, lectures and associated programs are featured in a conference hall setting. It is also the place academics troll to find jobs within the art schools.

This year a few local organizations, spaces and groups bring the CAA outside the conference corridors of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. These selected off-site programs will be a treat for socially engaged artists in Chicago. We highly encourage your attendance. ”

The schedule is located at this URL.

A box containing free copies of the current issue of Proximity will be available to all you cheapskates at the Mess Hall event this Friday nite.

Hey all. Most of you know that issue #6 is already out. It was released a couple of weeks ago and we are working to get some of the new content online for you to check out.

Stay tuned in the next week when we refresh and add the new issue. In the meantime, you should track down a copy and buy it or order one from us! Cheers!

VERSION FESTIVAL 10:
Infrastructures and Territories
April 22, May 2, 2010

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: March 1, 2010.

Version is an annual springtime convergence that brings together hundreds of artists, musicians, and educators from around the world to present some of the most challenging ideas and progressive art initiatives of our day.

This is the Ninth edition.

Submit your proposal online:
http://www.lumpen.com/V10/theme.html

Please spread the word to all of your networks. Thanks.

We are excited about the release of another issue of our sister publication, Lumpen magazine. Issue 114 should be out this Friday, February 5, during the Save the Whale fundraiser at the Co-Prosperity Sphere.  Plural Design’s tender care in creative direction makes printing on paper worth it.

There are only a few weeks left before our deadline. Please contribute to the next issue. Read about the theme here.