New Directions in Collage
Group show consisting of collage-inspired work

NEIU Fine Arts Center Gallery
June 14th - July 23rd 2010

Opening Reception: Friday June 18th, 6-9pm

www.neiu.edu/~gallery

Works by: Leslie Mutchler, Neva Sills, Stephen Eichhorn, Chad Kouri, Alexis MacKenzie, Clark Ellithorpe, Juan Angel Chavez.

NEXT- The Invitational Exhibition of Emerging Art
April 30 - May 3, 2010
www.nextartfair.com

Opening Preview, Thursday, April 29
12-3pm: First Focus Preview, benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; $150
3-6pm: Professional Preview; by invitation
6-9pm: Opening Preview; $40, open to the public.

2010 Show Hours
Friday, April 30: 11am - 7pm
Saturday, May 1: 11am - 7pm
Sunday, May 2: 11am - 6pm
Monday, May 3: 11am - 4pm


EbersMoore
Booth 7061

Exhibiting works by:
Rob Carter
Stephen Eichhorn
Mark Mulroney
Michael Rea
Paul Wackers

Heaven Gallery
Booth 9053

Exhibiting works by:
Chris Bradely
Stephen Eichhorn
Adam Hoff

Art Chicago
April 30 - May 3, with an Opening Preview Thursday, April 29 at the Merchandise Mart.

Opening Preview, Thursday, April 29
12-3pm: First Focus Preview benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; $150
3-6pm: Professional Preview; by invitation only
6-9pm: Opening Preview; $40, open to the public

2010 Show Hours:
Friday, April 30: 11am - 7pm
Saturday, May 1: 11am - 7pm
Sunday, May 2: 11am - 6pm
Monday, May 3: 11am - 4pm

NewCity
Booth 165

Exhibiting as part of NewCity's
2010 Breakout Artists

Get It Together Again
Curated by Chadi Kouri & Ed Marszewski
Chicago Tourism Center Gallery
Mar 19, 2010 - Apr 16, 2010
Opening Reception: Friday, March 19, 5-7 pm

72 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60602

http://www.getittogethershow.com

Works by: Adi Goodrich, Pete Skvara, Emily Clayton, Chris Roberson, Mike Pajon, Richard Smith, James Ewert, Matt Nichols, Rod Hunting, Ben Speckmann, Ryan Duggan, Ron Ewert, Alex Valentine, Stephen Eichhorn, Joe Tallarico, Netherland, Chris Schreck, Tom Torluemke, Jordan Martins, Doug Shaeffe, Matthew Rich, Greg Lamarche, Hisham Akira Bharoocha, Mario Wagner, Anthony Zinonos, Nazario Graziano, Tez Humphreys, and Sarah Jeziorski.

Trendbeheer Meets Proximity Rotterdam-Chicago
SingerSweatShop
March 12, 2010
Opening From 17:00 til 23:00

Hoogstraat 170
Rotterdam, NL

http://proximitymagazine.com
http://coprosperity.org
http://www.singersweatshop.nl

Works by: Emily Van Hoff, Dayton Castleman, Abby Christensen, Stephen Eichhorn, Aron Gent, Gunsho, Scott Fortino, Joseph Rynkiewicz, Anna Shteynshleyger, Tom Torluemke, and The Yes Men.

PAPER! AWESOME!
Curated by Brion Nuda Rosch
BAER RIDGWAY EXHIBITIONS
February 20 - March 27, 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 20, 4-7pm
www.baerridgway.com


SOLO: Stephen Eichhorn: New Work
WINTER 2009-2010
LULA CHICAGO
lulaswalls.com


The Leaf and the Page: Group Show
Traveling Schedule:
AUG 2008 THROUGH JAN 2009
Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery

MARCH 2009
Illinois State Museum Springfield Gallery

DATES TBA
Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery
Illinois State Museum Southern Illinois/Rend Lake

www.museum.state.il.us

Super Bad Ass
Nov 20- Dec 18, 2009
Co-Prosperity Sphere
As part of the Select Media festival 8

www.selectmediafestival.org

An exhibition featuring the work of:

Juan Angel Chavez, Dayton Castleman, Stephen Eichhorn, Aron Gent, Jeremy Tubbs, Hilary Olson, Tom Torluemke, Gunsho (James Quigley), Berry Sanders, Montgomery Perry Smith, Hui-Min Tsen (with dozens of participants), and Justin B. Williams.

NEXT Art Fair with HEAVEN GALLERY
Booth #7-9046
MAY 1-4, 2009

NEXT will be located at:
The Merchandise Mart
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654

FEATURING:
Jen Stark
Alvaro Ilizaro
Cayetano Ferrer
Stephen Eichhorn
Jeremy Boyle

Opening Preview takes
place Thursday, April 30

Show Hours:
Friday, May 1, 11am - 7pm
Saturday, May 2, 11am - 7pm
Sunday, May 3, 11am - 6pm
Monday, May 4, 11am - 4pm

In That Golden Land: Group Show
Curated by Thad Kellstadt

Thad Kellstadt (Chicago, IL)
Jesse Hulcher (New York, NY)
Molly Schafer (Chicago, IL)
Jerstin Crosby (Raleigh, NC)
Jacob Ciocci (Pittsburgh, PA)
Matt Barton (Colorado springs, CO)
Josh Tonies (Pittsburgh, PA)
Corey Antis (Philadelphia, PA
Jim Lingo (Pittsburgh, PA)
Kevin Molloy (Louisville, KY)
Stephen Eichhorn (Chicago, IL)
Heidi and Erika Anderson (Portland, OR)
Adam Grossi (Chicago, IL)
Frank Van Duerm (Chicago, IL)
Bill Thelen (Raleigh, NC)
Ladyboy (Pittsburgh, PA)
Jae Ruberto (Pittsburgh, PA)
Allison Grant (Chicago, IL)

MAY 16, 2009
Heaven Gallery
1550 North Milwaukee, 2nd floor,
Chicago, Illinois 60622

www.heavengallery.com

Illinois State Museum Springfield Gallery
Opening March 2009
Eleven Illinois artists explore plants as conduits between humanity and the natural world. This exhibition considers the connection between the historic canon of botanical images, the plant as specimen, and contemporary practices that imbue the subject with emotive and narrative qualities. Artists in the exhibition are Judith Brotman, Melissa Jay Craig, Stephen Eichhorn, Winifred Godfrey, Dennis Lee Mitchell, Carolyn Ottmers, Olivia Petrides, Rebecca Shore, Eric West, Scott Wolniak, and Andrew Young. Curated by Douglas Stapleton, Assistant Curator of Art ISM Chicago Gallery.
(exhibition previously on view at Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery)

http://www.museum.state.il.us/

Opening Reception Friday, September 12th, 6-9pm

Cairo proudly presents House Plants, new work by promising young artist Stephen Eichhorn. Opening Reception Friday, September 12th, from 6-9pm. Eichhorn will be in attendance.

Chicago-based artist Stephen Eichhorn creates delicate hand cut paper collages from reproductions of foliage - palm fronds, grasses, leaves and flowers. Mining a variety of sources including National Geographic magazines and the dead stock of 70's and 80's wall coverings, he composes works that mimic the natural world, and yet seem almost outside reality. Eichhorn's work formally transcribes the simplest elements of the pastoral onto a conceptual framework, generating a visual language exclusive to its own world, one rooted in anthropology and humans quest to understand and recreate architecture found in nature. The final product eerily retains a sense of its origins.

House Plants is an allusion to both the source material and the popular use of the plant as a structural object. Banal & everyday, but also an artful cultivation of structure and form, the hand and sensitivity to the plant form are the mystique of his pieces.

House Plants will be on display in the Cairo gallery space through October. Exhibition to include a window installation with fellow Chicago Artist, Cody Hudson.

Stephen Eichhorn lives and works in Chicago. he received a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been exhibited at José Bienvenu Gallery in New York, Bucket Rider Gallery in Chicago, and the Illinois State Museum. His work is included in a number of private and corporate collections, including a recent acquisition by Fidelity Investments. This is his first solo exhibition in Seattle.


For more information please contact Justine Ashbee or Joel Leshefka at 206.453.4077

SOLO SHOW: Tristes Tropiques

Opening Friday, June 13 from 5-8pm
Runs through August 2, 2008.


BUCKET RIDER GALLERY
119 N Peoria St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 421-6993

http://bucketridergallery.com

Look for some of my work at this year's NEXT art fair in Chicago.
I will be showing with BucketRider Gallery as well as Harold Arts.

April 24th, opening preview 7-10p.m., by invitation
April 25th - 28th 2008

NEXT, a new invitational art fair installed in 150,000 square feet of space on the 7th floor of the Merchandise Mart, Chicago, April 25-28, 2008, to complement Art Chicago 2008, will offer focused curatorial visions of some of the most important developments in contemporary art.
http://www.nextartfair.com

SNOWBLIND

Curated by Stephen Eichhorn

A group show featuring work by:

Nadine Y Nakanishi
Romeo Oros
Jessica Paulson
Brion Nuda Rosch

@ HAROLD ARTS
1254 N Bosworth
Chicago, IL 60622

OPENING: FRIDAY, FEB. 22 2008
7-10PM

http://snowblind-snowblind.blogspot.com/

Harold Arts Presents Harold Fest '08

January 24-29th
A six-day celebration of our 2007 residents and the release of our first annual compilation record. Including art exhibition "Birds of Prey" and nightly concerts both featuring Harold artists.

More information on Harold Arts and all the Harold Fest events at www.haroldarts.org


Fr: "Birds of Prey" Opening and concert @ Heaven Gallery

Sa: "Birds of Prey" Screening and concert @ Heaven Gallery

Su: Harold @ The Hungry Brain

Mo: Harold @ The Skylark

Tu: Harold @ The Empty Bottle


**********************************
Fri. January 25th @ Heaven Gallery

1550 N Milwaukee, 2nd Fl.

Heavengallery.com
6PM

"Birds of Prey" Art Opening

Works by:

Clara Alcott

Jason Ajemian

Justin Berry

Janine Biunno

Jonathan Bush

Melissa Damasauskus

Ben Driggs

Natalia Duncan

Stephen Eichhorn

Emily Green

Maggie Haas

Jason Lazarus

Thomas Macker

Curtis Mann

Clare Parry

Paul Roux

Marc Riordan

Mary Scherer

Jamie Solock

Greg Stimac

Jacob Wick

Nicholas Wylie

Allie Yasukawa
10PM, $5, All Ages

Who Cares How Long You Sink

Monika Heidemann Band (NYC)

Josh Sinton (NYC) solo saxophone

*************************************
Sat. January 26th @ Heaven Gallery

1550 N Milwaukee, 2nd Fl.

Heavengallery.com
8PM

"Birds of Prey" Screening of video works

Work by:

Clara Alcott

Maya Jensen

Jessye McDowell

Marc Riordan

Paul Roux

Julie Troost


10PM, $5, All Ages

Pillars and Tongues

Ensemble Pamplemousse (NYC)

LoversRock

SUMMER BUCKET RIDER : Gallery 2 FRIDAY JUNE 13, 2008

Friday, November 30th / 7 to 11pm /

PUBLICO
1308 Clay Street
Cinti. OH 45202
513.784.0832
www.publicoart.com/

Gallery hours every Saturday, 2 to 4pm, and by appointment

"Local Color"
A group exhibition featuring the work of:

-Stephen Eichhorn (Chicago, IL): http://stepheneichhorn.com/
-Steve Mumford (New York, NY): http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/baghdadjournal.asp
-Object Orange (Detroit, MI): http://www.paulkotula.com/artists/objectdetroit/index.html
-Scott Roberts (Chicago, IL): http://www.ubutopia.com/
-Denis Wood (Raleigh, NC): http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=110

"Local Color" is an exhibition about regionalism. Featured are works by 5 American artists/artist groups whose process of art-making and idea generation is in some way fundamentally informed by location. Locations of several varieties, real and imagined, provide a catalyst for the realization of artworks in a wide-range of media. Exhibited artworks include collage, drawing, photography, sculpture and map-making.

"Local Color" also marks the final regular exhibition at Publico, as the gallery will be closing following its fifth anniversary/final show celebration in January, 2008 (details forthcoming).

On view: through Sunday, December 30, 2007

Stephen Eichhorn (b. 1984) lives and works in Chicago, IL. He received his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006 with a focus in sculpture and architecture. Stephen's exhibition history includes solo and group shows both nationally and internationally. He currently works with Bucket Rider Gallery in Chicago and serves on the board of directors for Harold Arts Residency.

Steve Mumford, born in Boston in 1960 ,is a New York based artist who has spent the past four years traveling to Iraq to document the war through a series of drawings made there and a subsequent group of paintings made in his studio. The drawings were shown at The Moore Space, Miami, Tufts University Art Gallery in Medford, MA, Pritzker Military Academy Library in Chicago, Meadows Museum of Art in Dallas and Savannah College Art Gallery in Atlanta. Mumford is represented by Postmasters Gallery in New York. A book of his drawings "Baghdad Journal" was published by Drawn and Quaterly in Toronto , Canada (2005)

Object Orange is a collective of four anonymous artists living in Detroit, MI. Beginning in 2005 the group began covertly painting blighted, abandoned buildings bright, "Tiggeriffic" orange. Detroit is home to thousands of these such buildings. To date the group has painted eleven of these condemned eyesores throughout Detroit, four of which were immediately demolished by the city. Object Orange has exhibited photos of the project at Paul Kotula Projects in Detroit, Eyebeam in New York, The Cranbrook Art Museum, and elsewhere.

Scott Roberts is a sculptor and animator who lives in Chicago. His work has been exhibited at Max Protetch Gallery in NYC, Bucket Rider Gallery in Chicago, Southfirst Gallery in Williamsburg, Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, Galaria Comercial in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at least eight galleries around the country that no longer exist. He's also an Associate Professor of Animation at DePaul University.

Denis Wood was Professor of Design at North Carolina State University from 1974 to 1996. He curated The Power of Maps exhibitions for the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design in New York and the Smithsonian in Washington. A uthor of The Power of Maps, Home Rules (with Robert Beck), Seeing Through Maps (with Ward Kasier), Five Billion Years of Global Change, and Making Maps (with John Krygier), this spring he will publish The Natures of Maps (with John Fels). He has a PhD in geography from Clark University.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Group Show NOV 15: The smallest depARTment store in the World hosted by Daniela Sea Los Angeles, CA. Opening November 15th at 1282 Sunset blvd in Echo Park


GROUP SHOW NOV 30: LOCAL COLOR @ PUBLICO Opening November 30th at 1308 Clay Street Cincinnati, OH.

LOCAL COLOR

Opening Friday, November 30th and will be on display through December 30th

Stephen Eichhorn (Chicago): http://stepheneichhorn.com/
Steve Mumford (NYC): http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/baghdadjournal.asp
Object Orange (Detroit): http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Look/Bright_Orange
Scott Roberts (Milwaukee): http://www.ubutopia.com/
Denis Wood (North Carolina): http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=110

PUBLICO
1308 Clay Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513)784-0832
http://www.publicoart.com/

ART EXHIBITION 'CONCERNING TOMORROW' OPENS SEPT 14TH
Sponsored by Harold Arts

"Concerning tomorrow…," an exhibition curated by Chicago artist Jason Lazarus, features an ambitious roster of 27 artists wrestling with the provocative exhibition title, "Concerning tomorrow…"

The exhibition opens on September 14th, 5-10pm at 303 W. Erie (basement
gallery)

Harold Arts, a non profit arts organization based in Chicago, embarks with "Concerning tomorrow…" to advance recognition of its greater mission: to cultivate creative opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists and musicians through artist residencies, gallery showings, and concerts within the Chicago area. Learn more at HaroldArts.org.

Participating artists include:

Duncan Anderson
Hector Arce-Espasas
Melina Ausikaitis
Kelly Breslin
Amanda Browder
Benjamin Driggs
Stephen Eichhorn
Ken Fandell
Michelle Faust
Dolan Geiman
Jonathan Gitelson
Cody Hudson
Wyatt Kahn
Emily Konnerk
Phelan LaVelle
Curtis Mann
New Catalogue
Noelle Mason
John Opera
Chris Schedel
Matt Siber
Greg Stimac
Brian Ulrich
Elspeth Vance
Siebren Versteeg
Benjamin Walas

KYLE O. PRODUCTIONS PRESENT:
FILM FUNDRAISER @ A+B STUDIOS

SATURDAY, APRIL 7TH
8PM-12AM

A+B STUDIOS
1023 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago Il 60607

Artists include:
Mary Shearer
Anders Nilsen
Craig Hansen
Justin Schmitz
Mike Goss
Stephen Eichhorn
Chad Davis
Kyle Obriot

NEW(er) WORK AT PENELOPES CHICAGO

1913 W. Division St.
Chicago, Il

Monday - Saturday: 11am - 7pm
Sunday: 12pm- 6pm

WWW.PENELOPESCHICAGO.COM

BABY CHICAGO @
THE GREEN LANTERN GALLERY

1511 N MILWAUKEE AVE. SECOND FLOOR
CHICAGO IL 60622

Ribbon cutting @ 7:00pm on Friday Feb 23rd

Fri, Feb. 23: Opening Featuring DJ stylings of Fenchel and E (7:30pm)
Sat, Feb. 24: Musical Performance by band of Bird Names (8:00pm)
Sun, Feb. 25: Film Festival presented by Bike-In featuring works of Tom Pallazola and Adventures in Babysitting (6:30pm)

http://www.thegreenlantern.org/

HEY! The Friday August 4 LUMPEN 15 Anniversary show had MOVED!!!!

The kingdom of Liquorland has dealt a blow to the forces of Lumpen. Our venue and campaign headquarters for our Adventure City has moved from Heaven to Manifest Arts due to an act of revenge by Heaven's heartless Troll landlord, Ken Lubinski. It's a long story, but it has everything to do with buddy, grudges, loose lips, and irrational hatred of anything to do with Lumpen and Korean Polish elves.

We are pissed. A hex on you Ken Lubinski of Lubinski Furniture 1542-1550 N Milwaukee ave. You will get your just rewards.

argghrghrh!!!

Anyway.

Unfortunately many newsweeklies and papers have printed the previous show details so DO NOT pay attention to those pretty and welcome press blurbs. Also keep in mind our big Adventure City show did not take place last weekend, like Michael Workman of New City wrote in this week's column. Apparantly he had a good time.. Oh but none of you read New City so you don't know what i am talking about. that guy is on some good time travelling acid.

Anyways i am delerious and i digress!

Please, mark your calendar! And tell your friends! Please join Lumpens to celebrate 15 years of counter cultural activity Friday August 4, 2006 at Manifest Arts and their sister storefront! We feel its time to bust out the Epic Life. You have allies in the Great Struggle! Meet them! It's time to challenge the haters and the fakers and Get Adventure City goin!

Get your cloak on.

Join us at Manifest Arts, who saved our asses.
Manifest Art is at 2130 N Milwaukee Ave. (next to the Congress Theater) a few block from the Blue line stop at Western.

Lumpen will hold an art exhibition called Lumpenthology: Adventure City featuring works by friends of lumpen. It looks good.

The nite will also feature the release of our 100th issue! What a nice coincidence!

There will also be live action silk screening by Myles and Aay of Adventure City illustrations and their own personal work. Come early and enjoy some Korean Polish Bar-B-Q ! And there will be complementary PBRs for everyone (of age).

A sister storefront space 3 doors down from Manifest Arts will feature performances by Water Babies, Seoul Man Gene Lee, Warhammer 48K, Aleks and the Drummer, Miraj, and other special guests to thrill your bones with the latest in Chicago meets Columbia style entertainment. Lumpenistas Logan Bay and page three boy Rand Sevilla will hold down the decks and laptop. Live music starts at 9:30pm. we're not kidding.

Festivities begin at 8pm and admission is a $10 donation . You must prove you are 21 to drink the complementary PBRs. Bring extra t-shirts and whatever clothes you want to silkscreen on as we will only have about 120 shirts to give out. If you wear a cloak or look like you are a D character you get half off your admission.

Lumpenthology Adventure City runs through August 15th
Call to make an appointment.773.837.0145

Featuring the work of:
Bridgette Buckley, Phoebe Fischer, Joel Bruner, Kelly Noah, Elisa Harkins, Logan Bay, Rachael Olson, Olivia Guigue, Steven Eichorn, Jessica Paulson, Greg Stimac, Michael Merck, Brian Ulrich, Mike Slattery, Nick Black, Michael Gumhold, Mr Thor and friends, Ryan Davies, Randall Bailey, Erik DeBat "RISK, Kingdom Kilpatrick, Michael Mills.

This show is brought to you by the Public Media Institute, a non profit mega media art conglomerate.

Much love to blake, greg, burke, matt, rachel, olivia, sandy and logan for making the transition into the new realm seamless.

Massive respect and gratitude to Mikal and the Manifest Art guild.

thanks to all of you for making the journey worth taking.,
happy 15 indeed!

After this we are on a few month sojourn to open our new space sometime next Fall. Its time we take things into our own hands again and wage war on the Trolls from a secure and defensible fortress in Bridgeportia.

Lumpen is 15.

Celebrate 15 years of counter cultural activity Friday August 4,
2006 at Heaven Gallery.

Heaven is at 1550 N Milwaukee Ave. 2nd floor

Lumpen will hold an art exhibition called Lumpenthology: Adventure City
featuring works by friends of lumpen. A sampling of past Lumpen stuff from
the magazine archive will also be on display. The event will also feature
the release of the 100th issue, live action silk screening of Lumpen
t-shirts and a Korean Polish Bar-B-Q on Heaven's outdoor terrace. Plus
performances by Water Babies and Aleks and the Drummer and DJs Logan Bay and
Rand Sevilla will hold down the decks.

///

Lumpen's controversial and irreverent history of publishing, scene
cheerleading and counter cultural art and activism has been a standard
bearer for Chicago's radical music, art, and activism
scenes. Lumpen has both helped define the underground in Chicago and
been instrumental in launching various movements of art and social
activism. Join us as we celebrate the past and envision the future.

Festivities begin at 8pm and admission is $10 (which includes a
t-shirt, Korean Polish BBQ, pbrs, and some other stuff.)

Lumpenthology Adventure City runs through August 15th
Gallery hours :: Saturdays 1-5pm

Featuring the work of:
Bridgette Buckley, Phoebe Fischer, Ryan Davies, Joel Bruner, Kelly Noah
Elisa Harkins, Logan Bay, Michael Genovese, Rachel Smith, Olivia Guigue,
Steven Eichorn, Jessica Paulson, Greg Stimac, c2ak, Brian Ulrich, Mike
Slattery, Nick Black, Michael Gumhold, Thor, Ryan Davies, Randall Bailey,
Michael Freimuth, Adrianne Goodrich, Michael Mills, Aya LaFillete.


ABOUT LUMPEN:
Lumpen started as a photocopied zine in Champaign-Urbana before the
first Gulf War and 15 years later is putting out its 100th issue from
the bowels of the community of the future, Bridgeport. In between then
and now Lumpen has branched into various other media formats and
activities. It's part of an organization that puts on two annual
international art convergences (Version and Select Media Festival);
releases DVDs and CDs; puts on numerous art exhibitions and events;
publishes a few other publications such as Select Magazine and War
News; has a cable TV show called TLVSN and will be opening a new
alternative cultural center/ gallery this fall. For more information
please visit: www.lumpen.com

August 15 – September 22, 2006
Fool's Paradise
* Reception: Thursday, September 7, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
* Curators' remarks: Thursday, September 7, 6:30 p.m.

Betty Rymer Gallery
280 South Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60603

A nation, a home, the pastoral, urban, a city, a forest, suburban, rural. How do we define these places? Where does one start and another begin? In this exhibition, each artist explores the elusive geographic and metaphoric meanings of a particular place. What emerge are new landscapes that seek to fictionalize, rather than represent the environment, by using imagination to fashion a fantasy. Whether romantic or mythical, bleak or idyllic, the artwork questions the future of landscape art while investigating the evolving boundaries of place in today's society. Artists include Stephen Eichhorn, Brock Enright and Ivan Hürzeler, Rashid Johnson, Jessica Labatte, Rich Mansfield, Thomas Rapai, and jon.satrom. This exhibition is curated by Murphy Dunn and Madeline Nusser and is supported, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Stephen Eichhorn (Chicago)
On first glance, Stephen Eichhorn's drawings and sculptures appear to be landscapes or cityscapes with horizontal stretches of structures that resemble architectural drafts and models. Yet, upon closer inspection, a fantastical space emerges, one that lacks the proportion and apparent representation of the land. Often his artwork is, in actuality, a man-made object deconstructed to reveal its similarities to the systems of nature, or sometimes the work is a landscape that more closely resembles a manmade object. Within this ambiguity, Eichhorn simulates patterns that coexist in nature and construction. By dismantling the boundaries of the natural and artificial, Eichhorn recreates spaces that do not exist in reality but may provide a new way of analyzing the existing landscape to fabricate possible sustainable architecture that is at once beautiful and regenerative.

Brock Enright and Ivan Hürzeler (New York and Los Angeles)
In Brock Enright and Ivan Hürzeler's film FOREST a gaggle of high school cheerleaders and jocks drink, smoke and copulate for five days in the surreal setting of woods surrounding a river. In this open-narrative film, it's the artists' friends, fellow artists and other twenty-somethings who are acting out a hedonism that seems derivative of both fictional teen movies and German director Werner Herzog's portrayal of man's primeval instincts. As the film plays, the viewer is stuck in debauchery, in a sense mimicking the social scene and self-involvement of the young contemporary art world.

Rashid Johnson (New York)
Rashid Johnson was born and raised in Chicago, but his identity as an African-American is linked to his family, who generations before him worked on the land of rural Mississippi. Examining the folk culture of Mississippi in the context of his urban black upbringing, Johnson's United Boogie Down Baptist Beathouse Crew combines the custom of gospel singing with a digitally altered soundtrack of beat-boxing. The artwork creates a fictional place that fuses Johnson's ethnological study with urban and rural black identity stereotypes. The resulting artwork resembles the modern-day music video, the mediated space of which ultimately transcends location and is projected into the place-less realm of popular culture.

Jessica Labatte (Chicago)
Jessica Labatte's photographs and installations are influenced by her upbringing in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah, a region where religion has affected both the ideological and the physical landscape. The area was settled in 1847 when the religious leader Brigham Young, making a mass exodus with Mormon Church members, had a vision of the Salt Lake's barren desert growing bountiful. In her work, Labatte investigates the Church's use of land as metaphor and the link between the spiritual and the idealized landscape. In Untitled Labatte forms traditional wedding garments into a pastoral landscape to illustrate the importance of the intangible place in the Mormon religious marriage.

Rich Mansfield (South Bend)
Before becoming an artist, Rich Mansfield taught ecology, an investigation of the relationships between organisms and their environments. These ideas now are at the heart of his artwork. Mansfield focuses on the way humans construct their habitat, particularly people's tendencies to fabricate boundaries that form confining spaces. Often the work suggests a space that is built from the combination of a memory and an investigation of a specific place. Whether this has to do with Mansfield's past experiences in the U.S. Army, or his pursuits of a transient lifestyle, the viewer is always invited to interact with the artwork to encounter first-hand the space that Mansfield meticulously creates.

Thomas Rapai (Detroit)
Late in Thomas Rapai's life, he discovered convenient stores that sell liquor, tobacco and greasy snacks are not always called "party stores"—the term exists only in Detroit's vernacular. While growing up in Detroit, Rapai also witnessed the city slowly change; these mom and pop stores created an all too appropriate back drop for rubble and poverty as well as the city's independent culture. In Party Store Series, Rapai meticulously paints these shops revealing a morose beauty in deterioration.

jon.satrom (Chicago)
jon.satrom’s digital work converts the flow of data into a visual experience. He creates systems from the ground up that are influenced by a mixture of current technology and previously used, or dead, technologies. The resulting artwork explores the interactions between technology and art while equally aestheticizing both the urban and rural, proposing a new way to visually perceive space.