Im march it was our pleasure to host, ‘Off The Line,’ featuring photographic works by students and collaborators of Alternatives, a Chicago not-for-profit youth center based in Uptown. This was the first time that these budding, urban youth had been given a chance to show their works in a gallery setting, and proceeds from this show directly funded their after-school creative programs.
The works in this exhibition chronicled the gritty but brilliant urban landscape that is Chicago. Through this show we followed the youth’s camera lenses through abandoned, often discarded Uptown, along the ‘L’ lines, through the ignored and hidden settings that build up the captivating maze that is our prided city. In this show we sas portraits of locals, the glittering Chicago River, our favorite theaters, the many seasons that captivate our senses, and much more Chicago-based imagery.
Connect Force, the specific program of Alternatives that this exhibition funded, functions as a positive space for members of all ages of the community to participate in the Hip-Hop Arts, including mural painting, breakdancing, DJing, poetry writing, and so much more. The space based on Lawrence and Sheridan Road allows people to flourish creatively in a supportive, beneficial environment, encouraging healthy life choices, and offering everything from homework help to the use of a new up-and-coming darkroom for the photographers to develop and hone their skills.
Started in 2001, Connect Force has grown to incorporate hundreds of different speakers and volunteers from around the world, boasting a truly multicultural experience. While CF gains most of it’s funding through small grants and government funding, recent Illinois state budget cuts have made it increasingly difficult to offer as much programming and support as they would like to. Come to the opening to appreciate the photos of our city’s youth, full of infectious curiosity and true love for the city of Chicago!
Contributing Artists
