ALT SPACES TAKING A HIT

The past year has been hard on the alternative art spaces in Chicago.
It's a difficult endeavor. Most spaces fail because they become more about the party and not
enough about the art. Personality clashes. Lack of fcous. Power struggles. FickIeness. I know the nature of these spaces is always a bit ephemeral, but
we've lost some great ones recently.

COMA- Held their final show this spring

Deadtech - long running space closed its doors this summer

POLVO: I can't believe this one....

People Projects; the space we all wanted to succeed

Medicine Park -just opened and already have to move!
(hopefully they'll find a new home)

Here's an excerpt from their blog...

"I have had the pleasure of experiencing so many small moments of grace at MP, as agonizing or pleasureful as it may have been. And maybe MP’s brief life in this neighborhood is a perfect metaphor for life.. that the direction of everything meaningful and larger than ourselves can be lonely, transitive, and cruel at the most inopportune moments.
I am sad that art will not live here, but we will find a new home for it that will embrace it fully."

There are some great new spots opening up recently
in Uki Village and Wicker Park. We'll see if they can float
the hefty rent in those neighborhoods, but it's good to see
some new blood, especially when some of our beloved spots
have left us.

Yikes! This just in The Burkhart Underground is closing its weekly coffeehouse after 12 years! This is a bad year for Chicago

Wow! Just when I thought things were bad...South Union Arts is closing!@#$