Side Street Studio Arts sets visual art exhibit calendar

Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court in the heart of downtown Elgin, kicks off 2016 in its visual art gallery Wednesday, Jan. 6, with an exhibition by their current Artist-in-Residence Martinez E-B.

In preparation for his large scale solo exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio, Martinez E-B, has developed a visually challenging series of paintings and collages during his time in residence at Side Street that re-contextualize signs, flags, mementos, color, and the notion of social belonging entitled "Because Black Absorbs All Color - Part 1."

The exhibition runs Jan. 6-10, with an artist reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. The event is free and open to the public

A native of inner-city Cleveland, now living and working out of the Chicago area, Martinez E-B creates artworks that simulate the cultural/social/political fog of his birthplace. E-B received a B.F.A. in painting from Cleveland Institute of Art and his M.A. in interdisciplinary arts from Columbia College Chicago. He is a multidisciplinary artist who has illustrated and written books, had his works adapted into theater, shown in numerous exhibits, and has been featured in Cleveland Magazine and in LEF(t) an artist publication by Critical Practice Inc. NYC. Martinez E-B, is a devout advocate for social change and holds a seat at the Kent State University's Culturally Responsive panel. He has also launched his own company, Red Light Go Studios, where its mission is to create entertaining critical thinking material for the benefit of the youth mindset.

"Because Black Absorbs All Color - Part 1" is this first exhibition of an exciting and challenging year in the gallery. Jan. 13-31 will be the gallery's first "INSTALL" project. Nine artists take over both Side Street Studio Arts and Next Door Theater. Each artist has been assigned an area to create and exhibit within, from the basement to the kitchen, these artists will turn the space into theirs. The only rule assigned was to consider the space in the creation. Ansel Arnold, Shay Atkinson, Jane Erlandson, Karl Jahnke, Roberto Martinez, Tanner Melvin, Erin Rehberg, Bobby Rowland, and Lindsey Wiseman will gain access to their spaces starting Wednesday, Jan. 13. Their creative and installation processes will be open to the public for viewing during gallery hours through Friday, Jan. 22, when works will be finished. An artist reception and performance will be held that Friday and all works will be available for viewing during gallery hours through Jan. 31.

There is currently an open call for February's monthlong exhibition "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A Tribute to St. Valentine's Day," which is the first of seven uncurated open-call exhibitions scheduled for 2016. These exhibitions accept all work submitted until the walls are full and allow the gallery to exhibit a variety of nontraditional and up-and-coming artists in the same space as established working professionals.

Gallery staples returning this year are "Unidos II" (June), "Americana" (July), "Re:PopIV" (August), "Something Wicked" (October), and "EXCHANGE." The second EXCHANGE project will show over 20 Illinois-based visual and performing artists' work to be shown in Nashville, Tenn., and bring Tennessee-based artists to Elgin. This exciting collaboration will allow artists' work to travel and reach audiences in two up-and-coming arts markets, create moneymaking opportunities for artists, create networking opportunities among artists, and work to bridge the distance among working artists in the United States. In 2015, this project sold over $3000 on behalf of visual artists to art buyers residing in Arizona, California, and IL and featured multiple live performances from the Elgin-based hip-hop groups Watch City in both Elgin and Phoenix, Ariz. The Illinois-based artists selected for 2016's "EXCHANGE" are Joel Amore, Laura Chiaramonte, Erin Cramer, Angelina Diana, Dropshift Dance, Lucia Espinoza, John E. French, Doug Hanson, Ron Haynes Game Changers, Chris Hodge, Karl Jahnke, Little Yellow Dog, Jim Lloyd, Steven Lockwood, Lance Long, Rachel Elizabeth Maley, Amy Porter, Nate Matthews, Madeline Richmond, Bobby Rowland, and Freddrick Wimms.

Side Street Studio Arts was founded by Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Currently under the direction of Amanda Harris, Melvin, and Rehberg, Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an accessible space, run by artists. Side Street's mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration.

Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, or by appointment.