View Larger Image In 2003, Lillstreet expanded to a 39,000-square-foot space, almost three times that of the original building. This allowed for expansion not only of facilities, but of programming as well.

July 9, 2007

From art to zoos, there is a lot you can pack in during a visit to Chicago

by Ceramic Arts Daily | Read Comments (1)

Summer time...and the living is oh-so easy, especially if you spend part of the time traveling on vacation. To help you plan a trip, we occasionally spotlight travel destinations famous for their ceramic art and pottery. During Destination Week this time around, we'll take a look at Chicago--or "The Windy City" as it's often referred to.

Pack Your Bags for a Full Day (and Night) of Ceramics!
From art and food to sports and zoos, there is a lot you can pack in during a visit to Chicago. In 1998, the city officially opened the Museum Campus, a lakefront park surrounding three of the city's main museums: the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium. Nearby is Grant Park, home to Chicago's other major downtown museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, which is partnered with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After spending the day museum-hopping, whet your appetite with one of Chicago's several signature foods. How about a slice or two of deep-dish pizza or a Chicago hot dog loaded with mustard, chopped onion, sliced tomato, pickle relish, celery salt, sport peppers, and a dill pickle spear? Mmm...With your craving for great-tasting food now satisfied, next, why not satisfy your craving for ceramics by visiting Lillstreet, the biggest ceramic arts facility in the Midwest?

The Lillstreet Art Center  
From an old horse barn to a 39,000-square-foot former gear factory, the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago is no stranger to change. As executive director and co-owner Bruce Robbins explains, "Lillstreet has always been a continuum that we knew needed to change through the years. When there was an opportunity to turn studios into classrooms, we did it. When there was an opportunity to rent more space to artists, we did it. We were always moving in an expanding direction, and it has been exciting to see Lillstreet grow from nothing into what is now considered the biggest ceramic arts facility in the Midwest."

When asked if he had always envisioned Lillstreet as the major institution it is today, he cast his eyes about the café to his right, the exhibition and retail galleries to his left, and smiled faintly with what seemed to be both amazement and exhaustion.  "Well," Robbins said, "we certainly didn't plan for it to be this big."

As Janeil Engelstad, executive director of the Learning Center explains, "What was until a few years ago a small organization, serving 1000 people a year, has, in the past three years, grown into one that serves nearly 5000 people per year, and is supported by high-profile funders like Neiman Marcus and the Boeing Company. Over time, we've seen many of our at-risk students go on to become teaching assistants at Lillstreet's summer camps, go on to college to study art, or just become adjusted individuals who are better able to tap into their creativity and critical skills. This is our success."

As Lillstreet's educational initiatives have grown, so too has its standing as a major destination for ceramics artists. "Lillstreet certainly served as a magnet," says Eric Jensen, a founding studio member in residence at Lillstreet for over twenty years. "I think anyone who was interested in ceramics eventually found their way here."

When asked what he felt most proud of, Robbins said, without a moment's hesitation, "Survival." When asked what the most challenging part of Lillstreet's thirty-year run has been, he again said--this time with an ironic smile--"Survival." And yet, all lively repartee aside, it is this exact sense of proven endurance and playfulness that ensures Lillstreet an even brighter future as the center continues to provide enjoyment, support and education for its ever-broadening arts community.

Editor's note: Excerpts from an article that originally appeared in the March 2006 issue of Ceramics Monthly were used for this newsletter. The original article was written by Elizabeth Reichert. For more information about the Lillstreet Art Center, visit www.lillstreet.com.

Coming Wednesday...Now that you've read about what makes Chicago an exciting, international city with a friendly Midwestern attitude, don't miss the next issue of Ceramic Arts Daily as we spotlight Amy Lemaire, one of Chicago's premier ceramic artists.