Chicago is gearing up to host the Democratic National Convention next week, and as activists prepare for the event, art organizations are also getting involved to explore the connection between politics and protest. Gertie, a local cultural organization, will be hosting the Next Stop: Chicago public art series to bring attention to infrastructure inequity along the Green Line. This initiative aims to showcase a different narrative of Chicago than what is typically portrayed in the media.
Next Stop: Chicago will feature seven community organizations participating in various art projects. One of the highlights includes a living sculpture by Grow Greater Englewood and Englewood Arts Collective at the Englewood Trail entrance. Additionally, artists Jack C. Newell and Vinod Havalad will unveil a new permanent light installation under the Washington/Wabash el station. Arts + Public Life will also host a two-day activation event on its new Arts Lawn on August 20-21. The full list of projects can be found on nextstopchicago.co.
For those looking for more activist-centered art events, Democrazy, organized by Public Media Institute, offers a range of workshops, panels, and art-focused activities as counter programming to the DNC. This two-week event will feature a free speech experiment, a performance where participants can write postcards to the president, an experimental theater piece on AI, and more. The full schedule can be viewed at coprosperity.org/chicago/2024/8/12/democrazy-dnc-counter-programming-at-co-prosperity.
Another event to check out is Into Action 2024, an art exhibition and community festival at Resolution Studios from August 16-22. This exhibition will focus on non-partisan issues facing local and national communities, featuring work from various artists. The festival will include programming on book censorship, a sound healing session, and discussions on peace for Palestine. Attendance is free, but an RSVP is required at intoaction2024.com.
In addition, the Chicago Justice Gallery is hosting the Echoes of Ferguson photography exhibition, curated by Lola Ayisha Ogbara and the Let Us Breathe Collective. The exhibition commemorates the aftermath of Ferguson’s uprising and features work by various artists. It will run through May 25, 2025. For more information, visit tickettailor.com/events/socialjusticeinitiative/1321926.
For those interested in exploring Chicago’s history of protest art, the Chicago History Museum is currently showcasing “Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s.” This exhibition highlights Chicago as a hub for protest movements and the design that mobilizes them. Another exhibition, “In Politics: Conventions and Campaigns,” is on view at the Chicago Center for Photojournalism and features protest photography through September 30. These exhibitions offer a glimpse into Chicago’s rich history of activism and art.
