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Multiples. Moves to Art Expo Weekend

Multiples., Chicago’s original DIY art and indie craft crossover show, is proud to announce its move to Art Expo weekend, Sept. 16 & 17. Get in on the action and apply now for a spot! Our first 10 vendor applicants pay no application fee: http://www.artmultiples.net/applyfall15.html

Image courtesy Cody Bartz.

Multiples. Spring Applications Now Open!

Multiples. is making crazy amazing plans for this fall. Get in on the action and apply now for a spot in our April 11 Spring event! Only those who apply by the February deadline will be guaranteed consideration for available space in the show!

Multiples. Opening Night Costume Party, Fri Oct. 17!

Join us for the opening night of Multiples. and jumpstart your Halloween spirit! We will be hosting a costume party for the opening night, complete with door prizes!

Chicago Cupcake Truck Fri & Sun at Multiples.

Chicago Cupcake will be dropping by Friday and Sunday to station out front during Multiples.! Bring the family and come have a try of one of their ridiculously delicious cupcakes!

About Chicago cupcakes, in the words of owner Brandan Bolger: "My love of the sugar, spice and all things nice stems from my childhood but did not flourish until my years in college. While earning a degree in Finance I really put my baking skills to the test and found a true enjoyment in the creation of delicious goodies for all to enjoy! This love of sweet things, and the continued production of such treats went on for many years after college while working in the world of finance and real estate. After careers in both the mortgage industry and real estate development, I decided to turn my focus on what I truly enjoy...The creation of delectable desserts. I hope you find as much enjoyment consuming them as I do creating them!!"

Multiples. Exhibitor Five Question Spotlight: Scott Blake

How long have you been making your current work? I started making art with barcodes in 1998, so this is my 16th year. In 1990 I started doing graphic design for friends who played in bands; I was 14 years old. My high school had a morning news show; I created the graphics for that show on an Amiga Video Toaster in '93. I got a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2003. I have been working on my art full time since 2010. Do you respond to current trends in making your work? or is your tendency to shut out influences to hear your own voice? I like a mixture of influences. I stay in touch what's going on by watching Democracy Now, The Real News, Vice, PBS Frontline, Joe Rogan Experience, and Bill Moyers. I will usually have a video running in the background while I work, but if the content is too intense and I need to focus, I will switch to internet radio, usually WFMU. Hyperallergic is my favorite art website. I like to know what others are thinking. I'm constantly bouncing ideas off my wife and adjusting my work. The internal dialogue with myself never stops. Is there a conscious connection between the way you represent your work two dimensionally online, and your in-person displays during fairs? My website is full of videos explaining my art, and I always have a laptop with a barcode scanner at every event. I enjoy talking about my creations and seeing people react to my work. I don’t consciously think about my “brand” and how to best represent my work across multiple platforms. I have only done a handful of fairs, so I might get a better strategy after I do more. What do you think is particularly unique about your work? My art is interactive. I want people to touch my work. My flipbooks will not flip themselves, so the viewer has to get involved. Scan a barcode, spin a zoetrope, enter data on a computer. People can use their smartphones to interact with my art using basic price matching apps, or I have my own iPhone app that allows users to scan barcodes and watch interactive videos. Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert when dealing with the public and your work? Tell us a little about what's next? I'm like a carnie standing outside a tent telling to people, "Step inside, see the bearded lady, and scan some barcodes!" My jaw and cheeks will probably be sore from talking non-stop after the Muliples fair. What's next? I just got the application for the next LA Art Book Fair; I can’t resist, I admit that I hope I get in. In addition, I will be showing three of my interactive barcode portraits at the Arvada Center outside of Denver in 2015.

Pictured: 9-11 Flip Book

Multiples. Exhibitor Five Question Spotlight: Cheryl Casden

How long have you been making your current work? My work has been ebbing and flowing for over five years. Until recently, my works have been apart of the fine art conversation, taking inspiration from selected painting, performance, and installation artists. My current work brings me into the craft versus art conversation and where the two have synthesis. Do you respond to current trends in making your work? or is your tendency to shut out influences to hear your own voice? Yes, this new medium takes some cues from trends and popular culture. However, I don't let it take prescient in the work. The process and ideas were actually conceived from my intense state of overwhelm since departure from art school. I desired a care-free medium that would allow me to simply get my thoughts out without some large conceptual backbone or complex "artsy" spectrum. Button making was and is truly the medicine for addressing overwhelm, or when too many ideas get backed up in the mind without enough physical output, however dumb, vulnerable, bizarre, enlightened, naughty, or clever they may be. I think within every good art practice, there is a need to shut out other voices to hear your own. I call it my "bubble" -- a shiny creative vortex that allows me to channel and articulate my inner voice. But, as easy as it is to create a bubble, it is equally easy to destroy -- It takes a strong buddha mind to withstand sharp edges and uphold ones own crystal clear voice. It takes a warrior artist.

Is there a conscious connection between the way you represent your work two dimensionally online, and your in-person displays during fairs? Yes, there is always some consideration and difference when trying to represent my works online verses in public. I recently created an Etsy store that requires me to take many many individual photos, which can be a bit taxing. When I first started creating, I gave each button its own number and gave people the option of tracking them online --so if they decided to give it away, they could see where it travels. I always try and experiment with new ways of displaying the works for festivals or galleries. My most successful display was when my partner/sister Jody Casden and I combined all our 350 buttons and tacked them to the wall -- creating an interactive button mural. People where able to take down their button and replace it with their own message, creating a really interesting statement at the end. I think it was most successful because it blurred the lines of art and craft when displayed on a "gallery grey" wall. It gave an illusion that they were expensive and intangible -- but really they were $10.00 each and could be touched by anyone. What do you think is particularly unique about your work? Well, Jody and I use salvaged materials and mixed media to create one of a kind authentic, wearable collages. No longer for political campaigning and generic statements, these buttons push to make a fresh creative statement and influence positive individual and social change. Inspired by the stream of consciousness and the memes of the everyday, we hope to leave you with a piece of our minds: a thought, an inspiration, a memory, a self reminder, a laugh, and a vision. Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert when dealing with the public and your work? Tell us a little about what's next? I consider myself a little bit of both. But, give me a blanket and a sunny day and I'll share and sell my buttons till sunset. I don't like being loud but I enjoy standing out in a positive way. I feel like there needs to be more artists that take their creativity to the streets and build a collective consciousness around the message "Everyone is creative!" During Multiples, Jody and I will be on the move, functioning as human displays for our works! I will also be giving out free Henna upon request. Our next show is at Lillstreet Arts Center for their Holiday Art Fair, November 22-23rd. A big thank you to Multiples for supporting local artists and their big dreams!

Visit Cheryl Casden online.

Pictured: One of a kind collaged button pins. "All buttons are one of a kind, multi-dementional collages focused on spreading positive messages, thoughts, ideas, and concepts. Not just pins, we turn them into pocket mirrors and magnets!"

Multiples. Exhibitor Five Question Spotlight: Dan Estep & Jessica Rosenbaum / Flooding Factory

How long have you been making your current work?

Our current body of work has been in progress for the last several years now. We are self-taught screenprinters and work from our basement studio. We just branched out into creating the digital prints within the last six months or so.

Do you respond to current trends in making your work? or is your tendency to shut out influences to hear your own voice?

It's pretty clear that we take influence from a variety of sources in our work. We believe its important to absorb as much visual culture as possible and use it to inform our work while staying true to our own vision. We definitely feel free to work in many styles depending on the content of the work. Some of our pieces are simple and graphic and others are intensely illustrated; some pieces are deeper explorations of symbol and others are more about color and fun. We are conscious not to limit ourselves in general.

Is there a conscious connection between the way you represent your work two dimensionally online, and your in-person displays during fairs?

Our primary online presence is through Etsy. Etsy has an incredibly limiting online format, but it has been the easiest way for us to promote our work so far. We are new to the fair scene, so I think we are still figuring out our display persona. The way we display the prints in our booth is similar to our drying system at our home studio-clothesline and clothespins, so there's definitely a connection between the aesthetic of our studio and our in-person displays.

What do you think is particularly unique about your work?

There's two of us, and we each have our own aesthetic and style. Some of the pieces are made only by Dan and some are made only by Jessica, and some are total collaborations. Even though we sometimes work separately, there's influence from each other in all of the pieces. Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert when dealing with the public and your work? Tell us a little about what's next?

We both greatly enjoy meeting people and talking about our work. We are both public school teachers so I think we are pretty seasoned at talking to groups of people, especially about art. As for what's next? We are just trying to make as much as possible while teaching full time. We are hoping to continue developing our online and fair presence and to get our work out there!

Pictured: "Escape," 3 Color hand pulled screenprint

Multiples. Exhibitor Five Question Spotlight: Carolyn Kassnoff

How long have you been making your current work?

I've been creating pet and map illustrations for almost two years. My newest work can be found on my Etsy page.

Do you respond to current trends in making your work? or is your tendency to shut out influences to hear your own voice?

I pay attention to current trends, and a lot of my work is commission-based, but I like to put my own voice and sense of humor into my drawings as well.

Is there a conscious connection between the way you represent your work two dimensionally online, and your in-person displays during fairs?

Yes. I have several different series, and want to make everything easily accessible and as cohesive as possible.

What do you think is particularly unique about your work?

I like to put a lot of humor and things I love into my work. I enjoy making people laugh, making personalized illustrations, and I like seeing people's reactions to the jokes in my drawings. I like making realistic-type drawings with lighthearted puns.

Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert when dealing with the public and your work? Tell us a little about what's next?

I believe I'm more of an extrovert when talking with people about my work. I think the love of exploring and companionship from a pet are pretty universal, and I like meeting people who are just as enthusiastic about these things as I am.

I've just started a collaboration with the fantastic LA-based shop Paper Pastries. I'm drawing custom pet portraits, and Paper Pastries turns the drawings into beautiful rubber stamps. I'm also working on a children's book about conquering your fears. The story takes place in Chicago.

Pictured: "I Canada Wait to See You Again!" The design is a sky blue drawing of the country of Canada, part of a series of "Geography Love drawings."

Multiples. Exhibitor Five Question Spotlight: Joseph Wilcox

How long have you been making your current work?

I’ve worked with photographs for a long time, but I got into self-publishing zines and books about four years ago. Do you respond to current trends in making your work? or is your tendency to shut out influences to hear your own voice?

I’m aware of what’s going on in the photo book and zine communities and I’m always responding to work that I see. I’d like to think my work is in conversation with other work that is being created. Is there a conscious connection between the way you represent your work two dimensionally online, and your in-person displays during fairs?

Displaying photographs online is easy, but it’s really difficult to display books and zines online. Any attempt to put a book in digital format is just referencing the physical object, so it makes more sense to just see that book or zine in real life. So I like to stack up books and zines in piles so they look and feel more like a physical thing that you could imagine on your desk or coffee table or whatever. What do you think is particularly unique about your work?

I like to think that the work is thoughtful and accessible. Accessible in terms of content but also price. The great thing about self-publishing is that you control all of the aspects of production, including how costly the materials are that you make it out of. Some zines warrant nicer paper, ink, etc but many work better on cheaper materials. Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert when dealing with the public and your work? Tell us a little about what’s next?

I am a very extroverted person so I really enjoy talking about my work with people, but I usually don’t bring it up in social situations unless someone asks. That’s why I enjoy events like zine fests and Multiples, because the expectation is that people are there to engage with the work and discuss it with the makers. It removes that question about whether or not the person you are talking to actually wants to know anything about what you make.

Get Your Multiples. Chicago Tickets Online

Avoid the lines at the event and get your tickets to Multiples. Chicago ahead of the crowds! Available online, with VIP and student price options, and discounts for Illinois SNAP benefits recipients. Visit our Eventbrite page to buy now.

Multiples. Beneficiary: Jakmel Ekspresyon Community Arts Center

Meet the beneficiary! Admission fees to Multiples. Chicago benefit Jakmel Ekspresyon community arts center, located in the southern town of Jacmel, Haiti. The town is the arts and cultural capital of Haiti. The Jakmel Ekspresyon provides local artists with space and facilities in a non-discriminatory environment. The center provides skills and resources to empower self-change and entrepreneurial spirit to local and international artists. Jakmel Ekspresyon is the expression of Jacmel’s artists and provide Haitians with the freedom to create and speak through their artworks. It is our mission to provide a space of non-discrimination for all Haitians wanting to explore that freedom.

The Center was founded in May 2010 after the earthquake. Eight Haitian and American artists came together to discuss the needs of their community in the wake of the earthquake. They recognized the rampant discrimination of many marginalized people and believed that every person has the ability to create change through the beauty of art. The Founders realized that without health and the ability to create financial stability, the artists would not have the ability to be social and economic innovators that create change from within the community. The Center has programs for theater, screen printing and workshops in dancing, drumming, karate, health and professional development.

The Jakmel Ekspresyon Arts Center provides local artists with space and facilities in a non-discriminatory environment. The center provides skills and resources to empower self-change and entrepreneurial spirit to local and international artists.

Please click here to visit the Jakmel Ekspresyon site, to learn more and to donate.

Drawing Show Selections at Multiples. Chicago

Multiples. is proud to showcase the work of three artists selected for its Drawing Show Special Exhibition: Tom Rice, Kevin O’Malley and Emily Sheehan. The Drawing Show, premiered at the Verge contemporary art fair, has proudly continued its commitment to mounting a section devoted exclusively to drawing as a medium that overlaps all visual disciplines. The Drawing Show presents drawing as a unique artistic practice, one that is universally accessible, and often the first step in an artist’s exercise of ideas that inform both their larger creative practice and the cultivation of new forms of visual art.

Tom Rice: “These drawings are part of a series of very large ink drawings on plastic begun in 2014. The pieces explore ideas related to climate change. They hang loosely and sway with any gentle breeze caused by our human bodies.”

Kevin O’Malley: “My work stems from an encounter with temptation and the overcoming of that temptation. The apple was the source of original sin in the book of Genesis and is a perfect container for the projected vagina prints I draw.”

Emily Sheehan: “We perceive through our bodily senses, absorb and evaluate each encounter, and construct means to interpret, respond to and convey our understanding to others. This human space, between encounter and communication, is where we make our moments personal.”

Pictured: Tom Rice, “Monument to an Iceberg,” 2014. Kalamazoo, MI.

Tomorrow Stars Selections at Multiples. Chicago

Multiples. is proud to showcase the work of two artists selected for its Tomorrow Stars Special Exhibition: Desiree DeLong and Grant Newman. Premiered at the inaugural Verge: Art Brooklyn, ‘Tomorrow Stars’ has proven an important platform for artists to receive essential exposure to gallerists, museum curators, press and collectors.

Grant Newman: “These works are made by cutting drywall into individual units which are arranged into a composition and joined together using joint compound. The units are painted using acrylic paint and finished in a custom frame.”

Desiree DeLong: “Her work as a seamstress and draper for the theater and ballet heavily influences her sculptural approach to metal — form and silhouette being extremely important in each piece. She is also heavily influenced by anatomy, which she learned while working as an ICU nurse. She studied at Penland School of Crafts to develop the conceptual and technical skills necessary for fine metal work.” Pictured: Grant Newman, “CruiseViewsHuesBluesConfuseBoosLollapalooz,” 2014. Lyons, IL.

Rooftop Acoustic Music Showcase GoFundMe Campaign

We are still running the GoFundMe campaign for the Rooftop Lounge Acoustic Music Showcase. As mentioned on the GoFundMe page, this effort will run through the end of the week before the event. So: share, donate, tell your friends! Please note that selections from the Rooftop Program at Multiples. will be recorded live and presented in conjunction with the Chicago Loop Alliance's Lightscape Program. Post-show, recordings will be made available for listening at the Multiples. Chicago Rooftop Program Soundcloud group. We have also created a Facebook event page for the Rooftop Series that visitors may join by clicking here.

Healing Henna with Cheryl Casden

Artist Cheryl Casden will redefine the concept of henna tattoos, providing her services free of charge to attendees of the October Art Multiples. Instead of flipping through a generic book of henna tattoo designs, she requires her participants to just simply trust. Her designs are all intuitively realized on the spot, taking inspiration from tribal and indian cultures. Recently, she has been investigating the healing power of circles and mandalas. "My intuitive approach challenges me to keep a fresh and creative eye at all times. I don't enjoy doing the same designs over and over again, it looses its meaning and doesn't facilitate a unique experience for me or my participants."

Peter Bagge at Multiples.

PETER BAGGE WILL JOIN PRINTED MATERIALS AT MULTIPLES to give a very special talk on his inspirations, working in the comix world in the '80s and 90's, and later for Dark Horse and DC, his recent work with Reason magazine, and the history of Comix. BIO Peter Bagge was born on December 11th, 1957, and raised in Peekskill, New York, about 40 miles north of New York City. While enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1977, Bagge discovered underground comics, and the work of R. Crumb in particular turned what had initially been only a vague interest in cartooning into a passion. In the early '80s Bagge co-published three issues of COMICAL FUNNIES (1980-81), a New York-based comic tabloid which saw the debut of Bagge's dysfunctional suburban family, The Bradleys. Bagge broke into R. Crumb's legendary magazine, WEIRDO, and Bagge took over as managing editor of that magazine from 1983 to 1986. Bagge started his own comic book series, NEAT STUFF, for Fantagraphics Books, producing 15 issues from 1985 to '89. Buddy Bradley, the Bradleys' alienated and pessimistic teenage son, emerged as Neat Stuff's most engaging and fully-realized character. In 1990, NEAT STUFF evolved into a new title, HATE, which exclusively followed the foibles of the semi-autobiographical Buddy Bradley. Hate became the voice of the twenty-nothing slackers as well as being hailed by critics for its brilliant characterization in its complete chronicle of the 1990s. HATE and Buddy Bradley continue to appear in print, albeit less frequently, under the title HATE ANNUAL. Since 1999, Bagge has worked on many other comic-related projects, including writing an all ages comic book for DC called YEAH! (drawn by Gilbert Hernandez). as well as the short lived humor series SWEATSHOP, also for DC. He also wrote and drew a one-shot satire of Spider-Man for Marvel, and has done the same with Marvel's The Hulk, though the later title has yet to be scheduled for release. Other projects include a 2 year stint writing and drawing a weekly comic strip about Bat Boy for THE WEEKLY WORLD NEWS, and a series of illustrated essays for the now defunct website Suck.com, which led to his becoming a current regular features contributor to the political and social commentary magazine REASON. Most recently, Bagge has been working on a 6 part mini-series for Dark Horse called APOCALYPSE NERD, which should be complete in 2007. Bagge's exaggerated and distinctively in-your-face illustration style has also appeared on many record and CD covers, and in magazines as far ranging as HUSTLER, MAD and the OXFORD AMERICAN. He's also had a hand in several animation projects, most notably the online Rock & Roll Dad cartoon series he co-created with Dana Gould for Icebox.com. Peter Bagge has lived in Seattle since 1984. He resides with his wife Joanne, and daughter Hannah, and three darned cats.

Here's a map to share of the location at 2605 W. Armitage where Multiples. Chicago will take place this October 17-19! Please share and help spread the word - artmutliples.net!

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