OPEN Surreal Exhibition

Surrealism is a cultural movement and artistic style that was founded in 1920’s which uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.

OPEN Center for the Arts proudly presents 35 Chicago Artists will be showcasing their unique interpretation of surrealism.

Rick Therrio

“Three Guys Go Into A Bar” Watercolor/ Acrylic,and Tempera 20” x 26”

His imaginary has evolved from a wide variety of sources, music, films, literature, comics, history and science fiction. he finds an inexhaustible source of humor in the absurdity of existence

Sara Peak Convery

"Fetal Flower" Oil on canvas 21.5" x 25.5"

Fecundity is something that has always slightly disturbed me. I am not a parent and I have no regrets about this. Still there is something fascinating about the mechanics of reproduction.

Jon Beskin

“Bonfire” Mix Media - 11" x 14”"

My art explores the spectrum of harmonious organization, from the atomic scale to the rationality of pure mathematics, and the chaotic middle ground occupied by humanity. My tools of choice are pen and marker: thrillingly unforgiving, but offering clarity and chromatic richness unique from all other media.

Damon Rowley

“Red� Airbrushed canvas - 24" x 30"

I am a surrealist / realist painter. For the last fifteen years , I've worked mainly with an airbrush using acrylic and automotive urethane pigments .

Mykael Leigh

“Hidden Valley” Photography - 16” x 20”

My work expresses my inner thoughts and tells a story visually. I always have been fascinated by the essential reality of the mind, symbolism, and people. Whatever started out as a negative ended in triumph and soon became a blessing, leaving only a sense of relief and a new reality.

Jacqueline Carmody

”Storm Series” Oil on canvas 22” x 28”

Jacqueline’s work reflects her values of being present in the current moment and exploring mindfulness based art therapy practices. Through mindful-based Art Therapy, She observes new ways of being present with what she is feeling emotional, mentally, and physically. This Art therapy process allows her to slow down repetitive thinking patterns and allows the work to reflect a consciousness that is present to the process.

Saskya Fun Sang

“Growing Things� Paper cast - 18" x 23"

Through the exploration of the female body, I intend to disrupt with ideas about the body as something fixed that should not be transformed. By combining materials such as textiles, ceramics, paper, found objects, I allow my pieces to exist in ambiguous territories in order to raise questions about gender.

Emmanuel White Eagle

"Sea Venus" Digital print - 11� x 14�

His art are an eclectic mixture of styles and mediums. From his visual stand point he fuses ethnic design from all over the world from iconography, fashion, culture, spirituality and religion as well as some political and cultural statements of the world around him. He sees the world reflected as a kaleidoscope either from his surrounding culture or globally and brings that fusion into his work visually and philosophically. Emmanuel’s art puts the world into unison from his personal yet global perspective deriving the cosmos into his way of life with pure creative expression whether trough fine art, illustration, animation,video and film.

Alba Margarita Romero

“Días del Mes” Acrylic on canvas - 16” x 20”

In these pieces I explore and honor the natural life cycles that a woman goes through, as well as strive to exorcise the fears and anxieties that come with the ebb and flow of female nature.

Daniel Olguín

“Why?" Digital print on wood - 20” x 24”

Uninhibited by rules, Daniel is able to explore and experiment, opening his mind to potential and possibility. Following the lead of a line and inspired by memory and images from his dreams, Daniel breathes life into strange ethereal creatures and makes one wonder about what else might exist that we have yet to discover.

Carmen Chami

“El que es perico donde quiera es verde” Oil on mazonite 7.8” x 9.8”

People inspire me with their stories permeating from their eyes.

In my painting the body with all its nuances is the main protagonist. My characters are theatrical and have exaggerated postures either through their aggressiveness or passivity.

Stephanie Karamitsos

Acrylic painting/collage on hardboard - 18" x 24”

“Cartographic Interior”

The titles of my current painting/collage works usually begin with the word “cartographic,” as the collage elements are all about maps. I apply map fragments as if I’m putting down brush strokes. I look to share my works as if to share special experiences with my audience.

César Alexis Torres

“Drowning Seasons” Mix media on canvas - 24” x 24”

Cesar Alexis Torres (CAT) Mexican self taught artist raised in Cicero. Using an elaborate mix media palette. I bring my abstract mind into every single one of my paintings to show the world what goes on inside my head and inside my life. I learned that where there’s abstraction there is also reality.

Alex Wells Shapiro

“Body” - 16” around base

Alex Wells Shapiro is a text based artist from New York whose work includes sculpture, poetry and installation. He is interested in culturing text in overlooked or obstructed environments. Recently this work has included creating sculptural objects from broken shards of glass to house, distort and engage with texts.

George John Larson

�Belmont Coyote 5" Acrylic on canvas - 20" x 16"

My art is trying to capture the subliminal ironies and absurdities of events, words, and things, real or imagined. This is for my need of comprehension, and my need to create beauty with an alternate reality.

To share this is also desired. "Belmont Coyote", is about almost hitting a coyote with my car on Belmont Ave.

Rena Church

“Book of Days 2015”

Acrylic on board -11” x 14”

This series of paintings reflects my interest in the ancient art of Alchemy: the transmutation of base metals into gold, or miraculous change of one thing into another. Through the use of certain colors and images I find that my story slowly emerges and reveals itself.

Roxana Pereira

“Mother” Clay, paper and dry flowers - 12” x 12” x 6”

I am Peruvian, I use various elements like mud, wires and other means to make my sculptures. I feel very connected to nature and that is why also use flowers, branches and other natural elements that inspire me in my sculptures .

Christian Peña

“GMO” Acrylic on wood panel - 10.5” x12.5”

Iim I like to paint the dark truth of reality. I love to paint monsters from my imagination. Here, I present the dark side between the connection of humans and nature.

Celia Rose Marks

“©1985” Collage - 22" x 30"

Where does the time go? Does anyone look at clouds anymore? How did you afford such a magnificent timepiece?

Where were you in 1985? You have a fire inside, a flame. Stop looking up and get back to work. Tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc...

Justin Miller

”Indigo Fire” Acrylic - 12 “ x 15”

I try to create paintings that bring pleasure or mystery to the viewer, through recognizable objects or things that have been changed in whimsical ways not possible in the three dimensional world.

Tim Arroyo

"Fish Boy" Digital - 18" x 24"

Local Pilsen artist, educator, award-winning photographer. He holds an MFA in Digital Arts, and teaches image manipulation, retouching, and fine art printing in the Commercial Photography program for Harrington College of Design in Chicago. His works have been exhibited internationally and published in international photography and design magazines.

Steven Tritt

“Three Shaman walk into a Bar…” Mixed Media on Canvas - 10" x 20"

My work has slowly evolved from abstracted landscapes to figurative images with a focus on african masks and guitars. Recurring forms and contours drive my compositions as I overlap multiple images and reconfigure hem to create arrangements. I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and Master’s in Fine Arts, emphasis in painting.

Elvia Carreón

“Twisted Nature” Prismacolor pencils - 10.5" x 12.5"

Elvia Carreon is Chicago based artist raised in the heart of the Little village community. Her piece "Twisted Nature" captures the surreal relationship between nature and man.

Michael Everson

"Quite the Family" Printing inks and pencil - 14"x 10"

At the center of this image is a mother holding a child in her lap. Swirling closely around them is their family, a varied collection of characters and perhaps a pet or two. This monoprint is part of my recent work which focuses on using classic themes such as mother and child, portraits, family and nudes. Utilizing these classic themes I am attempting to depict images that are contemporary and unique.

Emil Ferris

"A Sangre Fria or The Fashionable Spirit of War" Ballpoint pen and acrylic on paper 17” x 14”

Writer of a forthcoming graphic novel slated to be published by Fantagraphics in the Fall of 2016, Emil Ferris is a graduate of the Masters Program of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ferris’ orik -written and visual- is inspired by a deep and abiding love of monster movies, comics, Surrealism, her New Mexican heritage and her fondness for the city of Chicago and its people.

Tania Magallón

“Inyectame tu vida para calmar mi dolor” Acrylic on paper - 18" x 24"

The alchemy of imagination in dream images of self and nature. In this paper I raise subconscious union with nature and creative potential from within. The cycle of life as a dream, in which the symbols appear as a constant in the apparent meaninglessness .

Mynor Paredes

“Polen� (3 Parts of 6) Oil on canvas - 11" x 14" each

I express a visual reality that is emotional response to my life. Music, social conscience, and accidents in art are crucial for me. I acquired an interest in the works of Kahlo, Dali,and Orozco. Most of my work is done with oil on canvas and pen and ink sketches. Though my pieces are almost entirely from photographs and imagination, the pieces are painterly with strong brush strokes and palette knife applications.

Frank Díaz

“Invisible Mujer” Stone wood - 13” x 17”

Frank Diaz is a local Pilsen artist, his work includes sculpture, painting and poetry.

Roy Villalobos I am not what I think or say,

“Heartache” Acrylic on canvas - 24" x 24"

I am what I feel and do.

Julie Jaidinger

“Escaping The Underworld� Composite Photography - 15" x 30"

The duality of good and evil, death and life, entrapment and freedom are brought together at a crucial moment, the moment of escape. After breaking away from the snakelike arms of the underworld, a place of deception and exploitation, the subject emerges to boundless life and abundance.

Arturo Fresan

"Ceremonia: Yaqui" Acrylic and Ink on Paper - 12� x 16�

Graduated from the Design and Arts Faculty, UNAM, Mexico city, 2006. His style is reminiscent of religious painting from a candid view, medieval etching, muralism. Images reflecting anxiety and despair, usually framed by a calculated political load, symbolisms and surreal landscapes.

Alma Domínguez

“Moon’s Daughter” Mix on canvas - 20" x 24"

I paint because I need to... it is a safety valve, the best therapy to keep from going crazy.

José A. Terrazas

“Rooted State” Alabaster - 17" x 12"

Sculpting with stone is not only a physical craft but a craft in patience and adaptability. Like people, every stone has its own personality. One must take care to listen and understand its strengths and weaknesses in order to expose the soul through its multitude of colors, textures and hard surface.i

Jasso

“Inter Dimensional Paradox” Acrylic on wood - 26” x 30”

Jasso has become a noticeable artist in the streets of Chicago.

Started as a graffiti artist and then moved to work with stencil and wheat-pasting techniques. He plays with traditional icons from Mexican culture and mix them out US popular culture.

Omar Magaña

“Kaboose” Iron and copper - 25" x 8"

His imaginary has evolved from a wide variety of sources, music, films, literature, comics, history and science fiction. He finds an inexhaustible source of humor in the absurdity of existence.