Gallery, Schaumburg boast of growth
Only 2½ years after opening, the American Indian Center of Chicago's Trickster Gallery is becoming an indelible part of Schaumburg's cultural landscape.
Representatives of the American Indian Center spoke to Schaumburg village board members Tuesday about the accomplishments of recent months and their goals for the year ahead.
The Trickster Gallery is in a refurbished 7,552-square-foot feed store at 190 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg's Town Square, leased from the village for $1 a year.
"I wanted to reiterate the great opportunity we have and we're having a ball over there," American Indian Center Executive Director Joseph Podlasek told Schaumburg officials Tuesday. "We're growing slowly."
"We think you're an essential part of Town Square," Mayor Al Larson replied. "We want to see you get more active over there and I'm sure you will."
Apart from being a constant showcase for Native American art, films and performances, the Trickster Gallery hosted a "Native Sounds" concert series in Town Square last summer in conjunction with its neighbor, the Schaumburg Township District Library.
In July, the gallery hosted a skate demo at the Schaumburg Park District's new skate park in Olympic Park, just before opening an exhibit of skateboard decks designed by contemporary Native American artists.
Arts Director Jessica Pamonicutt said the two events have since made the Trickster Gallery a favorite haunt of local skateboarders.
Village board members joked that that was fine as long as they were truly there to appreciate the art, not skateboard in Town Square.
On Nov. 1, the gallery will host a mini-powwow previewing the 54th annual powwow at the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion Nov. 16 to 18.
During the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, the gallery will tie in to the Christkindlesmarkt festival in Town Square with its own Native Artists Market inside.
Larson said the village has always wanted a cultural component to complement the stores and restaurants in Town Square, and couldn't have done better than it has.
"I think it's a major cultural institution," Larson said of the Trickster Gallery. "This worked out great."
The gallery's Web site is www.myspace.com/trickstergallery.