The second annual Beverly Art Walk took place Saturday, October 3, 2015, noon-7pm, featured art by talented local artists and artisans, home studio tours, music, demonstrations, children’s activities, coffee, wine tasting, public art, and trolleys to get you to and fro. Work by more than 150 artists, from Beverly and across the city, were exhibited in 50+ small businesses and pop-up galleries across the neighborhood. More than 6,000 attended the Art Walk in 2015, doubling previous year attendance.

The goal of the annual Beverly Art Walk is to celebrate art in our community and to showcase the venues and businesses that support the arts. The Art Walk takes place in Chicago Artists Month, and includes anchor arts and culture organizations in our neighborhood, The Beverly Arts Center and Vanderpoel Arts Association, the Beverly Library, as well as our small businesses and organizations. Thanks to our Alderman, Matt O’Shea and the Beverly Area Planning Association for being an advocate for the arts in Beverly and for supporting the Art Walk. A special thanks to our 2015 sponsors, whose investment in the Alliance and the Beverly Art Walk is helping transform our neighborhood into a hub of culture and creativity on Chicago’s Far South Side, including The Beverly Bank, Mariano’s, Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business Association, Horse Thief Hollow, St. Xavier University, Olivia’s Garden, The Beverly Review, The Villager, Alphagraphics, Smith Village, Lagunitas, Revolution, The Sign Stop, O’Rourke’s Office, Blue Island Beer Company, Kelly Assurance, Ellie’s Cafe, Pacor, Edward Jones, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Barney Callaghan’s, Tranquility, Running Excels, The Quilter’s Trunk, Everything’s Relative, Southtown Health Foods, Ken’s Restaurant, Belle Up, 95th St. Business Association, Town Liquor, Kiddie Kouture, Heirloom Antiques, and Beverly Unitarian Church.

The Beverly Art Walk is a part of Chicago Artists Month. Read about the event on the CAM website.

**THE BEVERLY ART WALK 2015 PROGRAM BOOKLET (PDF)**

Neighborhood Magic by The Queen of Luxuria

The Alliance commissioned artist Carron Little, who creates and performs under the name the Queen of Luxuria, to create a community based art project that premiered at the Beverly Art Walk, October 3rd, 2015.  Little interviewed eight elders about their life stories and interpreted these stories into poetry. She then collaborated with a group of singers, performers, and musicians to turn those poems into a performance. Read her blog about this exciting project. Development of the project has continued with the creation of a video of the performance.

Community Projects hosted by The Alliance for the BAW 2015

Beverly/Morgan Park Peace Flag Project

A colorful visual display of diversity, unity, and creativity in the Beverly area was created by local community members and school children who were invited to design personal flags that were joined together and displayed as a chain during the Art Walk. Select flags will also be displayed on the Alliance website. Barnard Elementary School will be participating in this project and flags were available for decorating at the Beverly Farmer’s Market on September 13, 2015.  Special thanks to Corinne Rose, Peter Gizyn, The Quilters Trunk, and community sponsor The Beverly Bank.

In addition to the work of local exhibiting artists, The Alliance invited several Chicago area artists to present public and interactive projects.

Jennifer Reeder and the Tracers Book Club brought their interactive radical craft fair the Feminist Parking Lot to 11112 South Hoyne Avenue.

Claire Ashley presented the dance piece Disco Dozen where visitors interacted and danced with her brightly colored mobile inflatables!

The Ed Paschke Art Center generously donated postcards and coloring books to be distributed at the Beverly Art Walk Children’s Park.