Shared History

Shared Histories is celebrating the Black art history forged between the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the South Side Community Arts Center (SSCAC). The oldest museum dedicated to Black art.

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SPOTLIGHT: Founders of the Southside Community Art Center:

Educator, prinmaker, and sculptor Elizabeth Catlett (April 15, 1915 –d. April 2, 2012) SAIC (1941)

Watch the entire playlist here.

Read more about the Shared History of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Shared History: As SAIC and the South Side Community Art Center celebrate milestone anniversaries, an exhibition showcases the ties between them.

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Exhibiting Emerging Artist: André Fuqua

A He, 2015

18 gauge steel, wire cable

36" x 48"

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Installing for this great exhibition, can’t wait for you guys to see this amazing collection of work from some of the most promising black emerging artist from Chicago.

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SPOTLIGHT: Founders of the Southside Community Art Center:

Artist and Educator Charles Wilbert White (April 2, 1918 – October 3, 1979): SAIC 1936–41)

Read more about the Shared History of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Shared History: As SAIC and the South Side Community Art Center celebrate milestone anniversaries, an exhibition showcases the ties between them.

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and when we spoke of freedom we spoke of our hearts as ever green

Carolyn Rodgers

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A response to, and contextualization of Biggers’ 2012 installation written by Nettrice Gaskins. The article argues that the work’s materials have a historical resonance, that when stitched together tell a story of black intellect, creativity, and therefore freedom! Click the link to learn more about the historical references quilted into “Codex.” 

Details of Biggers work will be shown at SSAC in conjunction with the Shared Histories show, which opens April 22nd at 6pm

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Meet The Curators

Masequa Myers

Rashayla Marie Brown

Claire Frost

Veronica Sesana

Al-Qawi Nanavati

Anthony Folks X

Itunuoluwa Ebijimi

KT Hawbaker-Krohn

Darryl DeAngelo Terrell

Janelle Miller

Brianna McIntyre

Delaney Eubanks

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Exhibiting Artist.

Exhibited Artists:

Alex Bradley Cohen Archibald Motley Ayanah Moor Barbara Jones-Hogu Chanel Thomas Charles White Elizabeth Catlett Faheem Majeed Garland Martin Taylor Kelly Lloyd Margaret Burroughs Rashid Johnson Raymond Thomas Samantha Hill Sandra Bridges Sanford Biggers Tony Lewis Al-Qawi Nanavati Alexandra Antoine Alexandria Eregbu Amanda McLin Amina Ross André Fuqua Andres Hernandez Annette Jackson Anthony Andre Smith Auburn Ellis Brianna McIntyre Brittney Williams Cameron Welch Claire Alicia Smith Darryl Deangelo Terrell David Alekhuogie Gerald Griffin Imani Love Diltz James Britt Jesus Miguel Hilario-Reyes Lawrence Pearson Mark Allan Blanchard Sabrina Grieg Shane Gooding Shavana Green Sherae Rimpsey Stephanie Lin Tiana Mincey Yemonja Smalls

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Exhibiting Emerging Artist: Jesus Miguel

“Untitled”

While my back is painted black, I preformed a series of lashings and body prints.

"Beat the black off"                                  

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The 4 W’s

What Is It?

Shared History is an amazing celebratory exhibition. Celebrating the 75th Anniversary for the Historical South Side Community Art Center, located in the Bronzeville Community of Chicago. In conjunction with the 150 Anniversary of one of the most Prolific Art Institutes in the US, The School at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Where Will It Be?

The Exhibition will be located at the South Side Community Art Center  located at 3831 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653.

When Does The Exhibition Open?

The Opening Day for the Exhibition will be on Friday April 22nd 2016

Who Will Be In The Exhibition?

There will be a large majority of emerging, mid-career and Iconic artist who has ties with the SSCAC, as well as SAIC in the Exhibition.

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SPOTLIGHT: Founders of the Southside Community Art Center:

Dr. Margaret Taylor-Borroughs (November 1, 1915[ – November 21, 2010)- BA 1942, MA 1948, and HON 1987 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Museum Founder, Educator, Poet, Activist, Artist, and Community Leader

Read more about Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs on SAIC’s 150th Anniversary Microsite:

150 Years of Chicago: The Community Artist and Educator

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10 Things You Gotta Know About The South Side Community Arts Center

On April 22, the South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) celebrates its 75th anniversary in conjunction with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) 150th. Shared Histories will exhibit work from alums who created at both institutions and influenced the shape of art history in the Windy City. In preparation for the big event, get to know the SSCAC and its impact on black art history.

The SSCAC is the last museum of its kind.

A result of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Work Progress Administration, the SSCAC was one of 110 arts centers funded by the Federal Art Project. 75 years later, it is the only one left standing.  

       2. Dr. Margaret Burroughs championed the SSCAC.

In 1932, Burroughs joined other artists in the south side and formed a group known as the Art Craft Guild. On the weekends, they group gathered to learn the techniques being taught at SAIC from George Neal, a student. After she graduated from Chicago State in 1937, Burroughs reimagined the Art Craft Guild with other members of the group, started the SSCAC, and secured federal funding.

        3. Archibald Motley, Jr was also one of the SSCAC’s founders.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

“Motley, who died in 1981, began his career in a classic mode, painting family members and neighbors in quiet, richly detailed portraits of weight and dignity. Among these are paintings of his mother, his wife, an aunt and uncle and, from 1924, Woman Peeling Apples (Mammy) (Nancy). But within just a few years, Motley's work shifted into a more stylized examination of his community in motion during the Jazz Age. Many of his canvases became crowded with people engaged with the culture, from strip joints to the pulpit. The contemporary soundtrack to that culture included transformative jazz from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.”

           4. Gwendolyn Brooks taught here.

The first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, poet Gwendolyn Brooks was integral part of the South Side and the national poetry community. In writing Brooks’ biography, the Poetry Foundation refers  to Dictionary of Literary Biography contributor George E. Kent and quotes his description of Brooks’ "unique position in American letters. Not only has she combined a strong commitment to racial identity and equality with a mastery of poetic techniques, but she has also managed to bridge the gap between the academic poets of her generation in the 1940s and the young black militant writers of the 1960s."

            5.Gordon Parks’ first dark room was in the basement.

Through his camera lens, Parks captured some of the 20th century’s most important moments of justice and injustice. He first bought a camera at a pawn shop and taught himself how to use it, developing a distinct style that charged his photographs of racism and poverty. Before his death in 2006, he had over 50 honorary doctorates.

               6. The building received landmark status more than 20 years ago.

In 1994, the SSCAC received a Chicago Landmark status. According to law, the SSCAC meets the following crtieria:

 Its value as an example of the architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social, or other aspect of the heritage of the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, or the United States;

   Its location as a site of a significant historic event which may or may not have taken place within or involved the use of any existing improvements;

  Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social, or other aspect of the development of the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, or the United States;

    Its exemplification of an architectural type or style distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship;

    Its identification as the work of an architect, designer, engineer, or builder whose individual work is significant in the history or development of the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, or the United States;

 Its representation of an architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social, or other theme expressed through distinctive areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, or other objects that may or may not be contiguous;

   Its unique location or distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City of Chicago.

                  7. The SSCAC worked directly with AfriCOBRA.

AfriCOBRA, the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists, began in 1962 out the Black Arts Movement and had a heavy influence on the morale of the South Side in this era. While the organization is most famous for their Wall of Respect, they now have several prints housed by the SSCAC. AfricCOBRA’s manifesto continues to inspire art educators and organizers moved by collective creativity and social justice.

             8. They received a National Endowment for the Humanities in 2012.

             9. The SSCAC offers classes on everything from publishing to textiles to photography to film.

Check out their website for upcoming classes!

             10. It’s historically linked to the Chicago Defender.

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South Side Community Art Center Founders + Art

Richmond Barthe

Eldzier Cortor

Charles White

William Carter

Elizabeth Catlett

Charles Sebree

George Neal

(Sorry, We Couldn’t Locate a Photo of the Artist.)