New arts studio to open its doors in Elgin

Submitted by Side Street Studio Arts

Side Street Studio Arts, a new gallery and performance space at 15 Ziegler Court in downtown Elgin, has scheduled its grand opening for Friday, March 1.

The organization’s first exhibition, “Reveal: Ten Essentials,” features the work of 10 Chicago area artists working in a variety of media. The show is curated by Steven Lockwood, who is co-founder and gallery director at Water Street Studios in Batavia, where he works as a sculptor.

“This show will feature the work of 10 amazing artists I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the years,” Lockwood said.

The opening reception for “Reveal: Ten Essentials” and Side Street Studio Arts’ grand opening celebration will be held as an open house from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 1. Regular gallery hours, which begin Saturday, March 2, will be: noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, as well as by appointment.

The art exhibit will feature the following artists: photographer John Caruso, sculptor Rita Grendze, pen-and-ink artist Chris Hodge, sculptor James T. Jenkins, photographer and sculptor Jim Kirkhoff, portrait artist Virginia Melanson, photographer Brad Pogataz, painter and digital artist Steve Sherrell, painter and artist Alice Van Acker, and watercolor and ink artist Ana Zanic, as well as the work of guest curator and sculptor Steven Lockwood.

Side Street Studio Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was founded earlier this year by Elgin residents Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg.

Rehberg comes from a dance and media arts background, Melvin from a theater and visual arts background, and both have a strong interest in arts education.

Side Street was founded as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene in an effort to provide an accessible space encouraging all aspects of the artistic process, from creation to curation.

The space will have a full year of guest-curated visual art exhibitions, including a kids art show, as a culmination of two weeks of interdisciplinary arts workshops led by Core Project Chicago’s Community Moves education and outreach programming in July and August.

Additionally, Side Street intends to bring cutting-edge performance art to Elgin through opening its doors as an informal, white-box style performance space available at low-cost rental rates to Elgin area artists.

For more information, contact Side Street Studio Arts at (847) 429-2276 or visit www.SideStreetStudioArts.org.