LOGAN SQUARE — The pastor of a Logan Square church is putting out a call for artists in the Black Lives Matter movement for a months-long residency inside the church.
Pastor Mark Schol of Grace Church of Logan Square sees parallels between today's racial climate and that of the '60s, and wants to do whatever he can within the church's means to help the Black Lives Matter movement.
"If you were alive in the 60's how would you have acted?" Schol said. "Would you have marched? Would you have protested? Would you have sat on the side?"
One way Schol hopes to lend a hand is by offering up free studio space to an artist who is involved in the movement to create art involving social justice issues particularly race, class, poverty and homelessness.
"Right now we are really trying to figure out ways that the church can become more involved in Black Lives Matter," said Kristin Taylor, who is in charge of the program for the church.
The program, Studio 3325, is designed to accept two artists per year for up to six-month stays.
The church, 3325 W. Wrightwood Ave., is accepting applications for this fall's residency through Sept. 1.
The resident will have free access to the studio space and have his or her work exhibited during the residency at the church.
The resident will also be required to work on-site one Sunday morning per month and be accessible to answer questions about their work to members of the church and also organize at least one community event related to their practice.
The church's first artist in residence, Aime Sell, was accepted into the program after being yanked from the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival after a representative of Mark Fishman, a controversial Logan Square landlord, found her work to be offensive.
After Sell, the church continued to move in the direction of social justice with its artist residency program.
"The artists that make the most sense in our church and the most sense in the community are artists who work on social justice," Taylor said.
Artists interested in applying can find more information at gracelogansquare.org.
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