Summer Solstice Celebrates Local Art and Spirit
June 21 is the longest day of the year, and the perfect night for the Beverly Area Arts Alliance (The Alliance) to celebrate the spirit, inspiration and interaction of the vibrant local arts community at the Uprising Summer Solstice, 5 to 10 p.m.
The onset of sizzling summer days and languid summer nights has inspired an event that mixes a quirky variety of hands-on arts activities and music in an outdoor setting 99th and Walden Parkway with the opening reception for the Prairie Gothic art exhibit at the Joplin Marley Co-Creative Space, 9911 S. Walden Pkwy.
Family friendly art “projects” invite people to create something fun, then take it home. Projects include making flower crowns, doing screen printing with members of the Spudnik Press cooperative and creating unique personalized images of the community on wood.
Summer’s spirit will be captured in festival hair creations by stylists from Tranquility Salon, Tarot card readings and a bonfire.
Fans of the Alliance Uprising events can expect to find hand-crafted items from a number of vendors, as well as merchandise from Fair Trade Chicago. The 99th and Walden shops will also be open. Available for purchase will be tote bags featuring the Summer Solstice poster graphic created by Chris Wilczak and screen-printed by Spudnik Press.
The highlight of the event is the opening of Prairie Gothic, a group show featuring works by artists from across Chicago: Kass Copeland, John Walker, Robin Power, Jake Saunders, Larry Tuckman and Kevin Blake, that promises “the dark side of the prairie and the mysteries of the midway will be revealed to the more curious among you.” Following the Summer Solstice, viewings can be scheduled with exhibit curator Sal Campbell, sal@beverlyarts.org. The exhibit closes with a reception Sat., July 20, 7 to 10 p.m.
Summer Solstice food vendors include Ellie’s Café. Music will be supplied by DJ Ruta Spencer and pop-up musicians.
The Alliance was formed in 2014 to coordinate art-focused events and projects fostering collaboration between artists and the community. The Alliance presents the Beverly Art Walk, The Frunchroom reading series, art exhibits and music events. Learn more at beverlyarts.org.
