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'Exploding' Edgewater Art Scene Showcased at Saturday Show

By  Linze Rice and Benjamin Woodard | November 21, 2014 5:19am 

EDGEWATER — The "exploding" art scene in Edgewater and other North Side neighborhoods will be on display at this weekend's DIY Trunk Show this Saturday at Broadway Armory Park, vendors and organizers said.

The free, one-day event will showcase 130 Chicago-area artists from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the park at 5917 N. Broadway and feature a variety of hand-made crafts. The show will also feature vegan-friendly local concessions, free craft beer and chair massages.

The first 100 patrons this year will also receive a re-usable gift bag with goodies from the show’s vendors. 

“It’s my favorite show of the year because there’s such a diverse and eclectic group of vendors there,” said Rebeca Mojica, artist and owner of event sponsor Blue Buddha Boutique, at 1127 W. Granville Ave.

There are so many artists featured that she advised shoppers: “I would come in with a plan of attack.”

The show has attracted thousands of people to the neighborhood after moving from Pulaski Park three years ago. In 2012, the last time the show was held, 8,000 people came.

“It’s just a great art scene that has a lot more mileage before it becomes tiring or mundane,” said vendor and painter Anastasia Mak. “I think it’s pretty much exploding. I do love the area a lot.”

The Ukranian-born Rogers Park artist said it’s the emerging art space in her neighborhood and Edgewater that help keep her inspired to paint vivid, local Chicago scenes.

Ally Brisbin, co-owner of sponsor Edgewater Workbench, said she agrees Chicago’s growing art scene is “all kind of happening around here.” She says her business partnered with Swift Elementary School to help students create 3-D printed designs to sell at the show.

She cites the close proximity of businesses like Sifu Design Studio, Blue Buddha, Halsey Onstage and Edgewater Workbench as the beginnings of “a really strong arts-focused corridor.”

“I would say the leadership in Edgewater has been really nurturing to the art scene,” Brisbin said. “Ald. [Harry] Osterman (48th) is really supportive of the arts and is really big on getting public arts in Edgewater.”

Brisbin said it "would be a dream" if if an art supply store, like Blick, set up shop in the neighborhood.

In addition to the Blue Buddha, the show's sponsors include the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Artists In Motion (EAIM) and the Chicago Craft Mafia.

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