P003 → Projects
2024
Exhibition Curator at MdW Summit at Charlotte St. FoundationThe MdW Summit Exhibition celebrates the vibrant creative practices of artists across the Greater Midwest, showcasing a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, moving image, and fiber works. This dynamic survey explores the intersections of art, life, and work, highlighting how artists navigate their multifaceted roles as laborers, activists, organizers, researchers, and more. By fostering connections among participants, the exhibition aims to cultivate a supportive community that encourages dialogue and collaboration, enriching the cultural landscape of the region and emphasizing the dynamic interplay between creative practice and everyday life. Curated with Kimi Kitada (CSF).
2022
Curatorial Lead at MdW AssemblyCuratorial Lead for the MdW Assembly, a revival of 10-year dormant MdW Fair in Chicago, artist-run convening featuring projects across the central Midwest. Developed research and launch strategy and state partner recruitment, ran regular meetings on zoom and on visits to partner orgs. Consulted on development of digital platform and programming. Led and liaised with artists on physical installation of 70+ galleries and hundreds of artists on 2 floors of Mana Contemporary. Led monthly trips as project ambassador building bridges with like-minded local artist community stakeholders.
MdW project resumes in 2024 with a new Fellowship program, research Drifts to new states and regional partners, new Atlas multimedia content, and the MdW Summit, conversation forward gathering taking place Fall 2024.
Skills: Arts Organizations · Leadership · Team Leadership · Team Building · Contemporary Art · Curating · Visual Arts
2021
Silver Galleon PressFounded in 2008, Silver Galleon Press transforms books into tactile sculptures, leveraging content from the internet (public domain, open source, and pirated texts). Using cost-effective methods, titles are printed with a prosumer-grade Epson printer and a Samsung laser printer, bound by hand for a handmade aesthetic. Proficient in mobile operations for workshops, lectures, instant publishing, and pop-up sales.
Skills: Bookbinding - Prosumer-grade printing - Content curation - Economical production methods - Mobile operations for events and sales
2014
The StorefrontThe Storefront at 2606 N. California, 2010-2014 The Storefront was a multi-purpose non-commercial/non-non-profit institution-as-art project that operates according to the logic of a gift economy. Its mission was to support temporary and/or long-term projects by local cultural producers. Emphasis was given to process-oriented public participatory projects. Recipient of Propellor Fund Warhol Foundation regranting program.
2011
BEN RUSSELL at BEN RUSSELLBEN RUSSELL, an art space in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, co-curated by Brandon Alvendia and Ben Russell, operated from 2009 onwards, featuring month-long 5-person shows. Themes were derived from the letters in "ben russell," adhering to strict constraints, with varied installations, time-based works, and live performances by Chicago and non-Chicago-based artists, available for viewings one night a month and by appointment.
2007
artLedgeArtLedge, situated on a Chicago apartment's staircase at 1638 N. Western Ave, served as an experimental platform for projects tailored to its unique setting. Despite spatial constraints, it provided an unconventional exhibition space, inspiring artists to create site-specific installations during its 4-year tenure, organizing 28 exhibitions in multiple cities with over 200 artists.