Side Street Studio Arts gallery opens 2022 with 'Black Spectrum: What I See, How I See It'
Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin opens its 2022 exhibition season in the gallery with a show inspired by Black History Month entitled "Black Spectrum: What I See, How I See It."
"Black Spectrum" opens this Friday, Feb. 4, with an artist reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 15 Ziegler Court. It runs through Feb. 26. The exhibit is free and open to the public. It is supported, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
"Black Spectrum" was curated by Elgin artist and Side Street Studio Arts board president Freddrick D. Wimms with assistance from visual art coordinator Chris Arrecis. It features the work of Curious Art Glass, Joshua Dixon, Chris Dylan, Bay Kennedy, Dan Nelson, Danielle Piloto, Yolanda Richards, Aybee Russell, Branstarr Sihanath, Kelly Swayne, and J. Travis.
"Color isn't absolute; it is relative, it is subjective, and it is variable," Wimms said. "My red is different from your red, but both are red. The same holds true of black. It is a spectrum of stories, perspectives, ideas, histories, and experiences.
"This exhibition is about the art and how it communicates our perceptions of black from individuals to individuals based on their specific personal experiences," Wimms added.
"This is our second annual February exhibition in honor of Black History Month, and 'Black Spectrum' is a gripping way to open 2022," said Erin Rehberg, founder and executive director. "Artists are working to maintain and expand conversations on race in our communities through creative, beautiful, and thoughtful advocacy and presentation."
Side Street Studio Arts was founded by Elgin residents Tanner Melvin and Rehberg in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an inclusive space, run by artists. Its mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration. For more information on any of the programs, visit sidestreetstudioarts.org, call (847) 429-2276 or email info@sidestreetstudioarts.org.
Join Side Street Studio Arts onwww.facebook.com/sidestreetstudioartselgin/ or www.patreon.com/sidestreetstudioarts.