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Mission Statement/History
January 2005
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The Contemporary Art Workshop
celebrates its 55th Anniversary this year. It has been a phenomenal achievement. We have had the
privilege of working with thousands of emerging artists for over five decades and providing them with
exhibition opportunities and support at crucial stages in their careers.
We have come a long way since our beginnings in the old Cyrus McCormick carriage building on what is now Chicago's Magificent Mile.
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Meeting of artists involved in the Contemporary Art Workshop, c. 1950. |
Founded in 1949 by John Kearney,
Leon Golub, Cosmo Campoli and Ray Fink, the Contemporary Art Workshop is one of the oldest artist-run alternative spaces in the country. |
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With two exhibition spaces, CAW hosts approximately fourteen individual and two group shows yearly. Demonstrating proven dedication and skill in their respective media, many of our artists are recent graduates from world-renowned institutions and are developing their practice in the art world. The group shows, hosted during the summer months, bring together many artists of different backgrounds. CAW fosters camaraderie between these artists and encourages the use of valuable networking resources.
One of our artists recently wrote us:"More than anyone in Chicago...CAW deserves an immeasurable amount of credit for your dedication to helping countless upcoming, unknown, underrepresented artists get exposure. For this unique vision, these artists and the Chicago art community should be thankful."
The CAW annually participates in SOFA Chicago, an international art exhibition at Navy Pier, where we expose high quality Midwest artists to an international audience. The one universal aspect shared by all the brilliant artists we have shown is that they are struggling to succeed in the extraordinarily competitive field of art. The CAW exists as a facilitator, engaging and encouraging artists to create and show their work in the public arena.
Studio Space
A major part of our programming is to provide eighteen spacious, low-cost artist studios. Formerly a dairy, CAW's three-story, turn of the century building provides a safe and supportive environment. The studios offer an opportunity to exchange aesthetic and technical ideas and the freedom for artists to work in a community of their peers. We have painters, sculptors, fiber artists and photographers, more than half of which are women. On the main floor, the CAW has an open sculpture workshop where artists can work with sculpture media individually.
Artist Submissions
The Contemporary Art Workshop accepts artist's slides on a rolling basis. In addition to our monthly shows in the two front galleries, we exhibit artwork on consignment in the common areas of the Workshop. *Please note: If you are interested in exhibiting with the gallery, CAW only considers work by Chicago and vicinity emerging/mid-career artists.
Image:
Contemporary Art Workshop
Front Gallery |
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