Past Shows

Explore the Past Exhibits at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center

2020

Women Artists Speak Out About the Issues!

In addition to other subjects of interest to women, artists were encouraged to create and submit art that tells a story about violence against women and girls – whether in the past or current. We gather art to display and show how violence against women and girls is happening now and in the past, and it shows how women have been controlled through fear.

Rape keeps women from going outside and having a full life. Domestic violence keeps women in abusive relationships and away from their own personal power. Honor killings keep women from leading full lives and having options. These are just a few ways that women are controlled by violence.

Lena Townsell art piece of a woman in the desert

Women need to continue to speak up and let their voices be heard. Men who support women need to get on board. Women need platforms for their opinions and their voices to be heard. This art show will allow viewers to discuss what they see, and what the status of women and girl’s lives are like.

This art show took place in February and March.

During the art show, we offered art workshops to make art about issues women are particularly concerned about. To find out about discussions, hours, and opportunities to make art during the show’s display, send an email to contact@urbanartretreat.com.

2019

Women Speak Out on Social Justice Issues

black and white art piece that says I know exactly how you feel. It happened to me too.

This art show took place from February 9 – March 30. The following artists participated:

Andrea Slaughter Chicago
Sanja Matkovic Slovenia
Karen Gagich Illinois
Rebecca Mendez Chicago
Michelle Boggess Michigan
Jennifer Weigel Kansas
Karla Ramirez-Rosas Mexico
Candice Newsome California
Debora Meltz New York City
Linda Gleitz Colorado

Jessica Willis Chicago
Cassandra Robinson Minnesota
Kat Huddleston Chicago
Lynn Estomin Pennsylvania
Norma Zamarron Mexico
Wandiann Illinois
Mary Silicato New York City
Dianna C. Long Chicago
Maureen Cummins Brooklyn
Verneen Hill New Jersey

Check out the online store for art pieces that are for sale.

Artists From Anywhere but USA: International Artists

We encourage artists who live in countries other than the United States to submit art for our annual International Artists show. Artists may submit art on any topic or theme, although we encourage art about social justice issues. Artists from Morocco, China, Turkey, France, Mexico, and more participated in this year’s art show that took place from April 13 – May 25.

Moroccan artist Bahya El Bahraini “Net Over Deep Hole”

See our website gallery page for step-by-step guidelines on how to submit art.

About Animals

Artists who make art about animals are encouraged to submit their art for the show in our gallery. We are interested in art about animals in their natural habitat, animals who aid and love people, the struggle of animals to remain on Earth, humor about animals, the beauty of animals, the relationship of animals to each other, animal herds, animals in nature, and animal love. We hope that animal rights activists who make art about the struggle will decide to include their art.

This art show took place from May 25 – May 30.

Art piece with a cat and an artistic blue background

2018

End Violence Against Women and Girls

The 2018 group art show called “End Violence Against Women and Girls” took place in the gallery at Urban Art Retreat during February and March. The following artists participated:

Dr. Ayo Maat of Chicago
James Allen of Chicago
Candace Nelson from California State Prison
Debora Meltz from New York City
Dianna C. Long of Chicago
Jennifer Weigel from Massachusetts
Lena Townsell from Chicago
Karen Gagich of Southern Illinois
Barbara from Deborah’s Place in Chicago
Cassandra Robinson of Illinois

and the Woman as Survivor Video represents the women from that large art show. The slide show was created from some of the works in the art show.

2016

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Art Show

The Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center programs are about social justice issues. This is a great opportunity to inform and educate people about important issues LGBTQ+ folk face all the time. Alone with art, we asked artists to submit 1,000+ words about the important issue their art was about. The words could be anonymous. They would go into a notebook associated with the show for people who attend to write about also. For instance, maybe the art was about civil rights. So, artists wrote a narrative about the civil rights issues LGBTQ+ people face. Maybe the art was about how LGBTQ+ people are viewed, how they are parents, how they want to help make choices for their dying partner in a hospital. This means there is careful consideration of the theme of the show and the theme of the art and narrative. We are especially interested in positive images of LGBTQ+ people.

Special viewing and popcorn date for videos for LGBTQ+ adults. We also show some videos while the show is being viewed. Again, the material is okay for children to see during regular viewing hours. Outsider art is welcome too. In fact, any person who would like to make art was to be included in the show and to attend our onsite art studio on Saturday mornings.

Curating the show was Dianna C. Long! People on the Out Artists Network Meet Up are invited to help curate people into this art show for June. Artists from other states and countries are especially welcome to submit their art for consideration.

Artists from other states and other countries are invited to show their art in an exhibit called Artists From Anywhere but Illinois each spring. We encourage artists to show in Chicago if they live in another state or another country.

2015

Women of Many Colors Art Show

Women of many colors from around the globe proud of that they would like to share with viewers via this group exhibit. subject matter diverse, given women working on a variety of subjects and themes. interesting to see what artists come up with. The art show was on display at Liz Long Gallery in February and March.

HerStory: Women’s Contributions to History

Women from around the country submitted art to show what women have down over the ages. This art show took place in February and March.

Oppressions Women Have Faced and Continue to Face: A Postcard Art Show

This art show took place in February and March.

The Chicago Black Artists Show

The Chicago Black Artists Show is all about today’s African American Artists – who they are, what their interests are, where they are coming from. These are artists who are expressing themselves and are showing as part of a group show of black artists – powerful and strong. This is a fall art show and it took place in October and November.

2014

A Show Dedicated To Women Artists

At this show of works by many women, artists contributed personal histories and historical contributions. Paintings, prints, installations, fiber art, videos, photography, all included. Artists who participated were:

Filiz Cicek from Istanbul
Laureri Raine of Arizona
Jennifer Weigel of Missouri
Diana Delgado
Laurent La Rose
Sara Peak Convery
Lea Antiq
Therese Staples Burton

Dianna C. Long of Chicago
Kate Brandt
Willie Marlowe of New York
Linda Gleitz of Colorado
Melody Croft of Georgia
Melissa Farley of California
Wen Redmond of New Hampshire
Dare Boles

This exhibit was on display in February through March 29.

With A Broken Wing: Oppressions Women Face

In this postcard art show, women expressed their views about oppressions that women faced yesterday and face today.

2013

Annual Youth Fashion Art Show

This show took place in September. The theme was nature with fabric/clothing being repurposed. The fashion was shown at our annual fashion show at the end of the month.