Side Street Studio Arts to host Tenn.-based artists for annual 'Exchange' Friday
Side Street Studio Arts in downtown Elgin, in partnership with artists Carrie Gant, Kyle Numann and Semi Song out of Nashville, Tenn., will present "Exchange," an art swap featuring Tennessee and Illinois-based artists.
This collaboration allows artists' work to travel and reach audiences in both up-and-coming and established arts markets, creating moneymaking and networking opportunities for artists. It is starting to bridge the distance between working artists in the United States.
In March, Illinois-based artists made their way to Nashville for two nights of performance and visual art exhibitions. This week, Side Street Studio Arts welcomes the performances and visual art works of 18 Tennessee-based artists in combination with a selection of Illinois-based artists.
"Exchange" will open at 6 p.m. Friday, April 1, in the gallery at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court in Elgin. The event is open to the public, with a $5 suggested donation at the door.
"During our time in Nashville, we were able to sell the work of five Illinois-based artists and enjoy sold out performances from musicians and dancers from both states," said Side Street founder/director Erin Rehberg. "We look forward to welcoming our friends from Tennessee, showing off their work, and inviting them to take in downtown Elgin."
Friday's event will feature performances from Joel Amore (Illinois), Blue Stocking (Tenn.), Laura Chiaramonte (Illinois), Cloudmouth (Tenn.), Dropshift Dance (Illinois), Madeleine Hicks (Tenn.), Little Yellow Dog (Illinois), Moore (Illinois), and Emily Mortenson (Tenn).
The visual art will be on display at Side Street Studio Arts on Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 10. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. .to 3 p.m. Sundays, or by appointment.
"Last year we sold over $3,000 worth of work for Illinois-based visual artists in Arizona," said Rehberg. "The performing artists were inspired by the change of location, and the event created a variety of future collaborations among both local and national artists. We have already met these marks with this year's 'Exchange' project, and we're only halfway done!"
Side Street Studio Arts was founded in 2013 by Elgin residents Melvin and Rehberg. Currently under the direction of Amanda Harris, Tanner Melvin, and Rehberg, Side Street has become an outlet for the Elgin arts scene providing accessible space encouraging all aspects of the artistic process from creation to curation. For information, visit sidestreetstudioarts.org or call (847) 429-2276 or to donate to the "Exchange" GoFundMe campaign, visit gofundme.com and search Illinois-Tennessee "Exchange."