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Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center

SOCIAL JUSTICE STAGE EVENT. September 21 1959 S. Kedzie vacant lot !

Our Annual Event including emcee Blaq Ice, DJ Hott putting on a show of entertainment and information about social justice issues and solutions for our neighborhoods!

Plenty of vendors like vegan bakers, artists, and jewelry makers!

Youth Talent Show! PRIZES!

URBAN ART RETREAT – LEARN MORE. RSVP contact@urbanartretreat.com

October 19, 2024 to January 4, 2025

This group show of art by women of color from around the world is open to works that go on the wall and on sculpture stands. The curator is especially interested in art about social justice issues. Pieces should be under 32 inches in all directions. Artists take responsibility for sending their art to the gallery and getting their art back from the gallery. Artists will invite people to the gallery opening, discussions, and art workshops associated with the art show.

Liz Long Gallery at Urban Art Retreat 1957 S. Spaulding Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60623

OPENING RECEPTION – OCTOBER 19, 2024

Prize Summary: 

$100.00

Prizes Details: 

Throughout the time on display, visitors will vote for their favorite piece in the show.

One the last day of the show, a winner will be announced with the most votes at 4p.m.

Payment will be made BY check to the artist who wins most votes.

Deadline to apply: 

October 4, 2024

How to Apply: 

Send images of your art to curator: contact@urbanartretreat.com

Indicate for WOC art show.

include your bio. and artist resume.

which piece would you like included in the show and why?

Contact Information: 

contact@urbanartretreat.com

What Women Are Thinking About  was a group show of works by women artists from around the world at Liz Long art gallery at Urban Art Retreat in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. The show was on display from  Feb. 10 – Mar. 23,  2024  at 1957 S. Spaulding Ave. Chicago, Il. 60623. Visitors were surprised by the variety of artists and that the artists were form around the world!

Some artists are local such as Val Cavin who resides in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. Her piece is about growing old. Val says look forward not backward with regrets.  Julia Shangguan from the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago contributed a dynamic piece about Asian women feeling a need to assimilate. Tamara Berger of Serbia says her primary focus in painting is on feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. She has contributed a piece called “Mothers are Super Heroes”.  Veronica Ceci from Texas has two pieces in the show about air quality and pesticides. Nymera of Texas has a piece in the show called Since You Asked, about women of color often being asked  what is on their minds.   Maria Coletsis, of Vancouver Canada, shows us a beautiful photograph of roses and when you look up close you see the pot is not a pot but a covid mask and when you look closer, you see on the mask a man spraying pesticides. One of the pieces that Cat Roberts has in the show says- I Am worthy I Am Bold I Am Melaninaire. Cassandra Robinson from Wisconsin’s assemblage piece is about Incarceration. Meghan Du from the UK enchanted everyone with her art- TRIBE about women’s land and women’s empowerment. Renee Kuharchuk of Bartlet, Illinois also fascinated people with her pieces. Both large, one is called Commodity & is the pelvis bones of a woman with paper money woven in & out of it, the other is- hands, picking the skin especially around the fingernails and is called Picking (about anxiety). Monica Mills from Prague  contributed a powerful piece alluding to (FGM)FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION. The piece is comprised of pieces of canvas not too big sewn together on a round form. The canvas pieces have traces of reddish hue. And we have a black and white photograph by a woman we shall call L who is self- identified as homeless. She lives in Australia. L told me she was hard pressed to enter the show since some men had just stolen everything she had. The photograph is high contrast mostly black above the large tree. Top heavy with black sky, at the very bottom one sees a very small woman reading/studying a book on her lap with legs crossed, on some cement, in front of where it says Modern Contemporary Art on the building.

The curator is an artist, originally from New York. Dianna C. Long has included her collaged tall cupboard piece-  Woman As Survivor which chronicles the decades she has put into showing art by women who have survived trauma (mostly rape, domestic violence, incest). She has covered a tall old cupboard from top to bottom, even the door with scraps of papers about the art shows and times they existed in. The artists bared their trauma selves and allowed the public to look at their art about surviving trauma. This validation and sharing helped to heal the artists and some viewers. For others is has been an awakening.

Also included in the art show is a video of many of the actual pieces that have been in the largest Woman As Survivor art show that Dianna has curated. This silent video of one trauma piece after another on view to see is riveting. It is here to see. Dianna says that many women are thinking of wanting to be safe from rape, domestic violence, and incest.

COMING UP: Artists who live in other countries, April/May art show of art from countries other than USA.

contact@urbanartretreat.com for information about anything on our website.

Winter program at Urban Art Retreat of North Lawndale   contact@urbanartretreat.com

Saturday afternoon program consists of watching a documentary with discussion and art making, spoken word and poetry contests, flash card games featuring black history, learning about Kwanza and gifting parents. Adults & Teens are welcome.

The American Black History classes are comprised of viewing a documentary by Henry Louis Gates Jr. called The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. The film is watched in segments, discussed, and then we make art about the film. Visitors are also invited to tell their own story in the context of history. In addition, we learn about past and present African Americans who have contributed to American life and paint their stories. We also have discussions about current American life as it affects African Americans. Each participant writes a story on African American history as they see it and will illustrate the story. We will create our own short book on African American History with participants.

Objectives

  • To bring history alive and fill gaps in Black History for participants
  • To provide a platform for participants to analyze and interpret current life in relation to historical facts
  • To foster participants interest in their own history

Activities

  • Watch documentaries and discussion
  • Make art and engage in spoken word and poetry
  • Use flash cards featuring black history, learning about Kwanza and gifting parents
  • Produce participants’ written history books and documentaries

Outcomes/Benefits

  • History books with stories and artwork by participants
  • Participants’ interest and understanding of their own history
  • Enhanced skills to write stories

Workshops by request:

  1. Incarceration Affects Families & Communities
  2. Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment
  3. How Covid has Changed our Lives

Workshops include discussion & art-making.

We met in the vacant lot on corner of 21st & S. Kedzie where we provided a fun and exciting event on September 16 for all of us to experience joy and understanding. Our purpose was to provide a space for people to express ourselves about solutions to social justice issues in our communities.

Along with the performers we had provided, attendees were interested to speak up with solutions they knew of and shared with us. Everyone was welcome to share.

We had snacks and fruit drink on hand.

Have a wonderful Day!

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Our Youth Art Fest was on August 26 from 1-4p.m. at the Peace Park 2101 S. Spaulding at 21st street, just 2 short blocks west of the Kedzie pink line stop!

There was a wading pool, watercolors table, Open Mic stage, vegan refreshments, games & prizes, Teen Portrait Painting Contest with top prize of $125.00         

Teens painted portraits of black heroes. Every youth received free art supplies!

Previous winner of Teen Art Contest!

The Ann Richter Fund (private donations) provideD cash prizes for the first, second and third prize winners, chosen by the highest number of votes during the afternoon. Visitors and judges voted on the best artists of the day. The first prize winnerreceived $100.00. The second prize winner received $50.00. The third prize winner received $25.00.

We encourage people to attend and support young artists by showing enthusiasm for their art. For additional information and questions, please email contact@urbanartretreat.com.

Summer Art Program! 2023

FREE Chicago Community Summer Social Justice & Arts Program for Adults & Youth. Our program was about – gardening, carpentry, social justice issues, conflict resolution, painting, collage, sculpture, Covid discussion, Mural work, Painting sneakers, Poetry writing, mask making, theatre, Meditation & Relaxation, & organizing events & activities !


TEENS’ Night Out ” May 2023 at Urban Art Retreat, 1957 S. Spaulding in the Outdoor Space!

TEENS’ NIGHT OUT was MEMORIAL Day WEEKEND May 2023 Friday & Saturday nights

at URBAN ART RETREAT 1957 S. Spaulding Ave at 21st  in the garden!

 DJ!  Music!  Dancing!  Outdoors! Safe Space! Snacks! Art! Open Mic!

International Artists Show: Artists From Anywhere But USA

Each spring, Liz Long Gallery welcomes International Artists From Anywhere But USA 

to send their art to become part of our international art show here in Chicago.

We especially look for art about social justice issue

by Mexican artist, Karla Ramirez, called Conversations

Dates:

April – May

Liz Long Gallery at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center 

1957 S. Spaulding Ave. Chicago Illinois 60623 Facebook.com/urbanartretreat 

To participate next year – send email to – contact@urbanartretreat.com

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We are recruiting artists now for these two art shows for 2024:

Art workshop/Presentation: Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment. Easy supportive art workshop where we all experiment with making art about how Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment. Join a small group of folks who will discuss the topic: Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment and then make some art about this topic. Experienced artist/teacher will assist people to be successful. Part of a project that will take place at Urban Art Retreat, 1957 S. Spaulding (at 21st Street) about this topic.

Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment

We have free workshops on this topic available for your site upon request. Just ask. contact@urbanartretreat.com

All the energy it takes to house, feed, transport, kill, cut up, package, and transport animals to the stores

plus…..the emissions and waste produced which effect the air, land, and water………

by Cat
by Veronica
by Cesar

ART SHOWS TO SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORKS TO !

Incarceration Affects Families and Communities

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How Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment: Call to artists/writers

We offer FREE workshops on these two topics

at our site and yours!

Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment:

Responding to the question- How we can can use art to protest, process, and object to  How Animal Agriculture Impacts the Environment ?—this project including writing, art exhibit, documentary, and book. It will focus on the art making and writing of works that engage this difficult topic. We will consider the function of art & writing to document, bear witness, and to show how the breeding of animals, their rearing, killing, packaging, transportation; growing animals to kill and eat instead of growing plants to eat has impacted the earth/environment, & climate change. Along with offering written works and art, that take up the subject, we will create a documentary, create a book from the writings and art, and post our outcome online to show our discussion of the ethics of representation, and what it means to write about this violence and trauma, and neglect & damage of the earth. We will focus on the craft of writing and art, and intertextuality which will engage viewers in responding both to the works of art in the exhibition and the writings we will combine in the book and film with spoken word.

BACKGROUND for “Animal Agriculture Impact on the Environment” Art Show & Writings Event

COP26- the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow – is now underway, with a strong sense that we are reaching a point of no return when it comes to halting climate emissions.

Nations that signed up to the 1992 United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) pledged to reduce emissions and take action to decrease critical temperature rises. And yet, since then, we’ve seen a steady rise in emissions, in temperature, and increasingly frequent weather anomalies, from flooding to drought, to wildfires to melting permafrost.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa describes the Glasgow Summit as “a credibility test for global efforts to address climate change” while calling on nations to show “bold and courageous climate leadership.”There’s little that’s bold or courageous about making piecemeal tweaks to pollution-spewing fossil fuel facilities. There’s nothing courageous about flying into Glasgow, offsetting personal emissions to assuage your conscience.

The elephant in the (conference) room:

Every day, we are being told to take all sorts of actions, like not owning or using fossil-fuel powered vehicles, switching to local produce, consuming less and conserving water. But the elephant in the COP26 conference suites is that there is simply not enough dialogue around consuming less meat and dairy.

Governments and bold leaders need to be introducing policies, new regulations and dietary guidelines to bring about a reduction in the consumption of animals. At the very least they could stop subsidizing the meat and dairy sectors who right now are being paid to pollute.

As with fossil fuel, industry behemoths dominate. The five largest meat and dairy firms produce more annual emissions than big oil. Based in just five economic areas, Brazil, the USA, China, Japan and the European Union, action on the part of just five government entities could deal with the majority of the problem.

Time to pivot to plants:

Global demand for meat is growing: over the past 50 years, rearing animals for human consumption has more than tripled. The world produces more than 340 million tonnes each year. Moreover, meat consumption is increasing as the world is getting richer. 

Globally, around 800 million tonnes of bovine milk is taken each year – more than double what was consumed fifty years ago.

Both the physical impacts of climate change and the rapid expansion of the alternative proteins industry will massively impact meat industry profits, if not decimate the sector in the coming decades. Global leaders can and should encourage the meat industry to pivot to more efficient, sustainable and humane food production, without the industrial scale raising and slaughter of animals.

Ahead of COP26, the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, along with 40 leading scientists, called for a step-change in habits, including a reduction in meat-eating.

Apparently, a plant-forward, more sustainable menu is being offered to the thousands of delegates in Glasgow. But, even as delegates discuss the need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, there is still meat on the menu.  

It’s a simple choice: encourage global change in the food industry, and in particular meat consumption, or face catastrophic, irreparable damage to our planet.

Cows Slaughtered for food…in process of being cut up…transported.

Liz Long Gallery at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center 

1957 S. Spaulding Ave. Chicago Illinois 60623 Facebook.com/urbanartretreat 

to apply to this art show please email to : contact@urbanartretreat.com (indicate which show)

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How Incarceration Affects Families and Communities: Call to Artists & Writers

“Crowded In Here” by James V. Allen

Responding to the question – How we can can use art to protest, process, and object to How Incarceration Affects Families and Communities?—this project includes writings, art exhibit, a documentary, and a book. It will focus on the art making and writing of works that engage this difficult subject. We will consider the art works & writings to document, bear witness, and to show how the incarceration of humans has impacted the families and communities who are related to and who know those who have been incarcerated. In addition how have the neighborhoods of those families been affected? Along with offering written works and art, that take up the subject, we will create a documentary, create a book from the writings and art, and post our outcome online to show our discussion of the ethics of representation, and what it means to write about this violence and trauma, and neglect & damage of the people incarcerated and their families and their communities. We will focus on the craft of writing and art, which will engage viewers in responding both to the works of art in the exhibition and the writings which we will combine in a book and a film with spoken word.

Background:

American Incarceration: A Social Justice Issue 

The American Criminal Justice System arrests, convicts, and then incarcerates people 

to serve sentences in the prison system. 

The number of people in prisons and jails in the U.S. more than quadrupled from 1980 to 2015, and now total more than 2.2 million. Another 4.7 million people are under parole or probation supervision (Trends in U.S. Corrections, 2017). This growth is the result of changes in policy, not a dramatic rise in crime. The institution of long mandatory minimum sentences, the declining use of parole, and more punitive responses to substance use disorders helped to expand the prison population and the number of people entangled in the criminal justice system (Travis, Western, & Redburn (Eds.), 2014). These trends have continued even as crime rates have declined by nearly 50% after peaking in 1991 (Ghandnoosh, 2017).

By the start of the 1990s, the United States incarcerated more persons per capita than any other nation in the modern world. The combination of overcrowding and the rapid expansion of prison systems across the country adversely affected living conditions in many prisons, jeopardized prisoner safety, compromised prison management, and greatly limited prisoner access to meaningful programming. Paralleling these dramatic increases in incarceration rates and the numbers of persons imprisoned in the United States was an equally dramatic change in the rationale for prison itself. The nation moved abruptly in the mid-1970s from a society that justified putting people in prison on the basis of the belief that incarceration would somehow facilitate productive re-entry into the free world to one that used imprisonment merely to inflict pain on wrongdoers (“just deserts”), disable criminal offenders (“incapacitation”), or to keep them far away from the rest of society (“containment”). The abandonment of the once-avowed goal of rehabilitation certainly decreased the perceived need and availability of meaningful programming for prisoners as well as social and mental health services available to them both inside and outside the prison. Indeed, it generally reduced concern on the part of prison administrations for the overall well-being of prisoners.

The emphasis on the punitive and stigmatizing aspects of incarceration, which has resulted in the further literal and psychological isolation of prison from the surrounding community, compromised prison visitation programs and the already scarce resources that had been used to maintain ties between prisoners and their families and the outside world. Support services to facilitate the transition from prison to the free world environments to which prisoners were returned were undermined at precisely the moment they needed to be enhanced. Increased sentence length and a greatly expanded scope of incarceration resulted in prisoners experiencing the psychological strains of imprisonment for longer periods of time, many persons being caught in the web of incarceration who ordinarily would not have been (e.g., drug offenders), and the social costs of incarceration becoming increasingly concentrated in minority communities (because of differential enforcement and sentencing policies). 

Punitive policing and sentencing policies have had a disproportionate impact on communities of color. While people of color comprise 37% of the U.S. population, they represent 67% of the prison population. African Americans are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than similarly situated white Americans (Ghandnoosh, 2015). Among young African American males, one in three will spend some time incarcerated during his lifetime (Trends, 2017). While greater involvement in certain crimes explains some of the racial and ethnic disparity, issues of biased enforcement practices, inadequate legal defense resources, and structural racism are also key factors (Ghandnoosh, 2015).

Black students represent 31% of school-related arrests. Black students are suspended and expelled 3 times more than white students. Students suspended or expelled for a discretionary violation are nearly 3 times more likely to be in contact with the juvenile justice system the following year.

Studies report numerous negative outcomes for children as a consequence of parental incarceration, ranging from depression and anxiety to aggression and delinquency depending on circumstances such as the child’s age and the length of a parent’s incarceration (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015). Additional evidence points to children’s extreme trauma resulting from the experience of parental arrest.

In the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale, there is disagreement as to how many residents have been incarcerated at some time in their lives. It has been suggested that from 47% to 85 % of families have had someone in their family imprisoned at sometime. Imagine the effect on the children, the families, the school system, the neighborhood, and the self-esteem and attitude of this community.

Call to Artists: Incarceration Affect on Families and Community

name of show/project: Incarceration Affect on Families and Community

We are accepting art works, size limited to 30 inches(ceramics, fiber, sculpture, wall art), written words (poems, essays, spoken word- all to be written and spoken & video taped)

Each artist will speak on tape about their art, or will read their words. We will use the recordings in our documentary. We will also use images of the art in the show in the documentary. Art from the show and writings from the project will be used in the book. Painting by James V. Allen “Crowded In Here”

Send images of art or samples of writing about topic now: email to contact@urbanartretreat.com

Actual art, framed and display ready 2024

Final words for the event are due 2024

how to prepare art to be sent: If the art is to be hung on the wall it must have a wire on the back across from side to side about ¼ down from the top. We prefer this method as opposed to others. Make sure to wrap all art carefully and protect it from harm. 

how to prepare words to be sent: Make sure you have your work proofread. Make a videotape of you reading your work. Writings will be reproduced and accumulated in a booklet for people to read in the art gallery. 

Incarceration Affect on Families & Communities is 2024. Questions & guidelines send email to contact@urbanartretreat.com

We offer this at our site and yours! Art workshop/Presentation:

Easy supportive art workshop where we all experiment with making art about how Incarceration Affects Family and Community. Join a small group of folks who will discuss the topic: Incarceration Affects Family and Community and then make some art about this topic. Experienced artist/teacher will assist people to be successful. Part of a project that will take place at Urban Art Retreat, 1957 S. Spaulding (at 21st Street) about this topic.

Studies report numerous negative outcomes for children as a consequence of parental incarceration, ranging from depression and anxiety to aggression and delinquency depending on circumstances such as the child’s age and the length of a parent’s incarceration (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015). Additional evidence points to children’s extreme trauma resulting from the experience of parental arrest.

In the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale, there is disagreement as to how many residents have been incarcerated at some time in their lives. It has been suggested that from 47% to 85 % of families have had someone in their family imprisoned at sometime. Imagine the effect on the children, the families, the school system, the neighborhood, and the self-esteem and attitude of this community.

Children are Separated From their Parent/s


Women of Color Artists at Urban Art Retreat gallery Fall 2024. The group show is built around the art of Simone Bouyer. Simone grew up and lived in Chicago. She currently lives in Florida. Her art is about people. People on the block, people talking, people laughing, people living life. Simone also makes art about our heroes.

Simone Bouyer

Last year This show has women from around the globe. Dennissa Young of Chicago interacted with show visitors asking them questions via her performance art. Bifei Ba is from China. You must really think when you look at her works. Acquaetta Williams of Maryland, Cassandra Robinson of Wisconsin, Ashley Leyva of Dupage- all worked hard to get their art to the gallery. Karla Ramirez-Rosas lives in Mexico. Tami Amit has her art coming all the way from Israel. Her mother died while she was submitting her art to this show.

an open discussion about “How Covid Has Changed Us”

A vehicle for Volunteerism!

URBAN ART RETREAT is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization formed in 1984 by artists/activists who wanted to provide support for each other, no matter how low income or whether they were the “walking wounded”. We have thrived over the years to become an organization of artists/activists who work on social justice issues through discussion and art-making.

We have always been and still are comprised of an all volunteer staff. We get things done by volunteering. Our core staff keeps the mechanics of things going. Periodic individual volunteers and groups of volunteers make projects take place. To volunteer, one just needs to attend a one hour orientation on a Saturday of their choosing. RSVP contact@urbanartretreat.com

For 2023 we have a variety of projects for volunteers to help with and to support:

Gardening in our own Florence Garden, gardening and sculpture creation of black hero in Peace Parks, participate in workshops about animal agriculture impact on the environment, participate in workshop about incarceration affect on family and community, women of color art show, international art show, social justice stage event, creating a focal point and meditation, animal welfare presentation, learning about being vegan, face painting in outdoor festivals, dog grooming & play.

This program is geared toward people who like to learn about history & meet new people. It will take place on Saturday afternoons.

Black American History Saturdays

at Urban Art Retreat 1957 S. Spaulding

The American Black History Saturdays is comprised of viewing a documentary by Henry Louis Gates Jr. called  The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. We will watch it in segments, discuss it, and make art about the film.

We will have visitors to tell their own story in the context of history or the real black history. In addition we will learn about black Americans who contributed to American life and made art & write about them. We will have discussions about current American life as it affects African Americans. People will learn about black wall street. Each person will write a story on African American history as they see it and will illustrate the story.  

For more info and to get on the wait list for classes, please email –

contact@urbanartretreat.com 

To visit Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center: We are open on Saturdays between 1-4p.m. or email us to make an appt. to visit when it is convenient for us both!

and find to find out more! contact@urbanartretreat.com

On Saturday, February 19, 2022, artist and activist Cat Roberts talked about her own Black Experience. Please listen to what she has to say. Cat volunteers with animal rights organizations and with the Chicago Urban Art Retreat.

DO YOU LOVE ANIMALS? Contact our Animal Welfare Program and see what you might be able to do on-site or from home to help animals! Ask for Cesar – contact@urbanartretreat.com

Mister Deboo is a dog we rescued from a slaughter house in China where they were going to torture him, kill him, and sell him as “meat”. We helped an animal rescue organization, NO DOG LEFT BEHIND, raise money to empty this slaughter house. We decided to adopt one of the the dogs. He is an ambassador for the effort to stop Animal Cruelty. When people meet him, we can tell his story. He lives at Urban Art Retreat with two other rescued dogs- Wayne, who was rescued from a Puppy Mill, and Glennie who was left tied to a tree in a vacant lot.

Glennie and Wayne

To volunteer from time to time with our Animal Welfare Program, please contact us at contact@urbanartretreat.com. Get on our email list after attending a one hour orientation session. You could attend a rally for animal rights, or sign a petition to support legislation supporting animal rights, or go to city hall with others to ask for support for animals.

Orientation in person by RSVP, Saturdays noon-1p.m.

For questions & information, to RSVP:                                  contact@urbanartretreat.com

Tubman Kahlo Center : planning for good!

Tubman/Kahlo Center: We are working on grant writing to fund the building of a 3 floor center to house businesses, cafe, art gallery, entrepreneurs, and much more (see brochure in side panel). We hope it will be located near the Kedzie stop on the pink line at corner of 21st & Kedzie. It’s emphasis will be on health and resources. 

We are looking for volunteers who want to help make it happen. We are signing up individuals and organizations who we can refer people to for resources. We are registering entrepreneurs who will want a space in the building to grow their business. 

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Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center black logo banner with a peace sign

Support

Get involved with Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center via fundraising events, volunteer work, and participating in activities.

You can make a donation, become a member to show your support, or become a volunteer!

Send your check payable to Urban Art Retreat or using the email address sophiebella@sbcglobal.net
go on Paypal.com to give a donation!
 
Right now, we are raising money to build a ramp & become accessible. Please help!

Volunteers are joining us from Chicago neighborhoods and from the suburbs to assist our organization in meeting our needs. Volunteers help with planning the Tubman/Kahlo building, grant writing, cleaning & updating the women’s residence, caring for the three rescue dogs we have, picking up litter in the area, maintaining the Peace Parks, household tasks, and much more. We offer an orientation on Saturdays from noon-1p.m. by RSVP. The volunteers on Grants Committee meet via Zoom Sundays at 2 p.m. Volunteers who are planning the Tubman/Kahlo Center meet via zoom on Fridays from 11 a.m. – 1p.m. contact@urbanartretreat.com to attend an orientation and then join a committee.

Donations are tax deductible:

Get Involved

Support our community programs encouraging growth and understanding.

Send us an email at:
contact@urbanartretreat.com

or leave a message at:
(773) 542-9126

Kedzie Pink Line District 
Women’s Residence
Peace Art Studio
Peace Parks of North Lawndale  
Garden Nature/Nurture
Animal Welfare Group

Volunteer

Explore volunteer opportunities!

Our organization is totally run by volunteers! Attend an orientation on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m by RSVP only and we do ask that you wear a mask.

We are looking for office staff, youth volunteers, board members, Peace Parks volunteers, gardeners, realtors, marketing folks, etc.

Children sit at a table and make art at the annual youth art festival
Photo of children volunteering at a garden and digging a hole

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