artXposium is a multimedia art event that takes place each year in the city of West Chicago, IL. Part exhibition, part symposium, artXposium offers artists working in different disciplines a place to meet, exhibit, and exchange ideas during a long weekend in mid-May and early September.
artXposium is the brainchild of local resident and internationally shown artist, Anni Holm, and former Registrar of the West Chicago City Museum, Brian Reis. Involvement from community organizer, Sara Phalen, artist, Irene Pérez, and art administrator, Meghan Borato, along with many others over the years, has helped nurture the event to where it is today. In 2009 artXposium became a division under People Made Visible, Inc., a non profit organization founded by Anni Holm and Sara Phalen.
Artist Involvement
Due to space and/or time limitations, past artXposium events have been either by invitation or curated. However, as of 2011, artXposium has launched a new application process, making the event accessible to artists worldwide. artXposium applications will be accepted from art students in their last years of college to internationally exhibited artists – and ranging the full spectrum from painters to interdisciplinary social arts activists.
Applicants will be selected based on project proposals/descriptions by a jury composed of curators and former artXposium artists. Selected artists will be paired up with a local host, with whom they will stay during artXposium, artists are responsible for their own travel, boarding and material arrangements and costs. Chicagoland participants are not required to stay with a local host, but it is an option. Participating artists will have the opportunity to present past work during the Visual Open Mic & Potluck, along with creating and/or displaying a newly created piece for the exhibition segment of artXposium. Besides two “traditional” exhibition spaces, artists will have the opportunity to utilize empty storefront windows, an old train depot, and two open green space lots.
Artists can apply by sending the following information to [email protected], please put “submission” in the subject line:
- Name, Address, Phone number, email, and website
- A list of any allergies and health / dietary issues that your host family should be aware of
- Short descriptive project proposal, including images or sketches
- An artist statement containing the main reason you should be chosen
You can also apply online using the form below.
Volunteer
artXposium is all about the possibility of meeting and sharing experiences with other individuals. If you are interested in taking part in the possibilities, we have all sorts of volunteer opportunities available. From hosting an artist /artists (West Chicago area residents only) to assisting with the installation of artwork, and from sending out press releases to dj-ing the artists’ reception. The opportunities are endless, we need your help.
To become a volunteer, please send us your CV/Resume along with a short cover letter to [email protected], please put “volunteer” in the subject line.