Friday, October 7, 2011

CHICAGO: The Future's Past / Blanc Gallery / October 7, 2011




THE FUTURE’S PAST
October 7, 2011 
Blanc Gallery
4445 South King Drive
Chicago, IL

Presented by Blanc Gallery and the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC), The Future’s Past brings the history of Bronzeville to vibrant new life with a project that spans miles and media. The Future’s Past premieres October 7, 2011 from 6 pm – 9pm at Blanc Gallery, 4445 S. King Drive. 

The Future’s Past is orchestrating a dynamic dance between yesterday’s cultural giants and today’s contemporary artists—against the backdrop of historic Bronzeville. The Future’s Past challenges viewers to engage new modes of technology to unearth and interrogate the history of Martin Luther King Dr.—to see their streets with new eyes. Curator Tempestt Hazel ambitiously energizes one of Chicago’s most historic corridors by presenting two project components: a Public Art Installation and a Gallery Exhibition. 


Public Art: Tempestt will activate King Drive from 35th to 47th Streets and pay architectural homage to four landmark structures by mounting light and image installations of archival photographs in their windows:
  • The Supreme Life Insurance Company @ 35th and King Drive @ 35th and King Drive
  • The Lutrelle "Lu" & Jorja Palmer Mansion @ 37th and King Drive @ 37th and King Drive
  • Metropolitan Funeral Systems Association and The Parkway Ballroom @ 45th and King Drive
  • Former site of The Regal Theater and The Savoy Ballroom @ 47th and King Drive and The Parkway Ballroom @ 45th and King Drive
Gallery Exhibition: Four contemporary artists will present work that is in visual dialogue with the Public Installations. Each artist employs modern media to question the role technology can play in illustrating history. This exhibit will be mounted at Blanc Gallery, 4445 S. King Drive. 
The Future’s Past premieres during Chicago Artist Month, on October 7, 2011 from 6 pm – 9pm. Visitors will depart from Blanc Gallery and be transported back in time on a nostalgic trolley ride along South Parkway to see the Light Installations. They will return to the Gallery to see these landmarks re‐interpreted through a contemporary prism.

Tempestt Hazel is the curator of The Future’s Past project and a 2011 fellow of the BMRC. Her experience as a Bronzeville resident sparked the idea to bring history and contemporary culture together through archival work and modern technology. Tempestt has combed through the archives of institutional members of the BMRC and engaged Bronzeville legends in first person audio interviews; visit futurespastchicago.wordpress.com. Blanc Gallery, (blancchicago.com) seeks to engage African‐Americans and all Chicagoans through the arts and to ignite dialogue on issues of spiritual, political and social significance. Participating Chicago artists are Krista Franklin, Stephen Flemister, Emmanuel Pratt and Amanda Williams

The Light Installation is sponsored by Black Metropolis Research Consortium and East Lake. The Blanc Exhibit is sponsored by Illinois Service Federal Bank, Alderman William D. Burns, Ariel Investments, and Uptown Magazine.

Future's Past challenged 4 Chicago artists to collaboratively respond...each artist brought their unique voice to the conversation. The artists were selected because of their ongoing interest in combining and blurring the lines of digital and analog technologies in creating artwork.

Krista Franklin is a multi‐talented poet and visual artist. She creates breathtaking mixed media collages that chronicle universal truths.

Stephen Flemister combines his advanced knowledge of technology with his tremendous representational skill to explore themes of identity, surveillance, and culture.

Emmanuel Pratt is a nomadic Renaissance man, combining his passions for architecture, urban agriculture, community development and art.

Amanda Williams is an award winning artist who explores ways to combine art and architecture as catalysts for sustainable societies.

For more information contact:
Curator Tempestt Hazel


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