After Supper Visions

The December Zip Car promotion is moving full speed ahead, with over 100 hours of driving time reserved already on the two “art cars” specially painted to gain visibility and monetary support for After Supper Visions.

Here they are on the streets of Chicago, turning heads wherever they go. More reservations are confirmed too, as we head into the middle of the month. Hurry – time is limited on this special opportunity, to rent one of these exciting vehicles and support ASV artists at the same time. Follow the excitement on Twitter @zipcarchicago, where you can see tweets from those who have already had their turn behind the wheel of these travelling pieces of fabulous artwork.

Rent one of both of these cars today! Thank you Zipcar!

Artists Czr Prz and George Berlin stopped by Catholic Charities headquarters today to unveil the two Zipcars they personally painted!

Remember: ASV will receive a percentage donation from anyone who rents a painted Zipcar until January 1st.

Join Zipcar and reserve one (or both!) of these amazing works of art on wheels! Imagine the looks that will be “driven” your way!

Things are revving-up for a fantastic finish to this HUGE year for ASV!

In addition to ongoing sales of ASV Christmas/holiday cards, another fabulous opportunity has emerged to help ASV artists.

The Chicago Loop Alliance sponsored our recent Pop Up Art exhibit at 230 E. Madison. Now Program Manager Tristan Hummel has introduced us to Zipcar, an innovative start-up company that wants to make a positive impact on the economy and on the world.

Zipcar offers a new new way for people to rent and drive cars by the hour or day, gas and insurance included. These cars are available in neighborhoods, cities and airports around the globe. Drivers join Zipcar with a driver’s license and credit card then, at a place and time of their choosing, they walk up to a car they reserved, unlock the car with their Zipcard, and be on their way. Zipcars provide a smart and easy way for people to customize their driving experience, while helping reduce the number of cars on the road, the amount of gasoline needed worldwide and the amount of crude oil needed to produce the gasoline.

Zipcar and Marketing Manager Tony Paske arranged to have two local artists use their Honda Insight “Isthmus” and their Mazda3 Hatchback “Mccollam” as blank canvases to showcase their talents. These two cars are now decked out and, for every hour each is reserved, Zipcar will donate $1 to ASV! What a wonderful gesture, for Zipcar to make this monetary donation, while helping to spread the word about ASV, and promote a greater appreciation for art, wherever Zipcar vehicles go!

Click here to read the full Catholic Charities Press Release: Zipcar After Supper Visions Press Release 11 19 13

You can directly support ASV artists, by joining Zipcar, then reserving “Isthmus” at 1537 N Damen or “Mccollam” at 950 W Belmont Street today!

Follow @Zipcar, @ChiLoopAlliance and @ccofchicago as this promotion continues, and learn more on these websites: http://www.zipcar.com/chitownart, loopchicago.com and catholiccharities.net.

Thank you, Zipcar and Chicago Loop Alliance, for bringing the business, art and social service communities of Chicago together for this groundbreaking effort to help those in need! We are honored and very grateful to be a part of it!

Loop professionals, shoppers and tourists were given a real treat in October, as they strolled by the Pop Up Loop art gallery at 23 E. Madison, and saw select photos from the ASV artists’ collection. People who had never heard of the program took the time to stop and learn, about ASV artists and their work. Catholic Charities extends sincere thanks to the Chicago Loop Alliance for its sponsorship of the ASV Pop Up Exhibit, which has helped given fantastic new exposure to this program.

As November begins and thoughts turn to the holidays, we invite you to view the magnificent ASV Holiday Card collection, here on this website. The photos of Chicago in its festive beauty are stunning and the messages contained in the cards express beautiful sentiments that you will be proud to send to your family and friends. You can personalize you cards, as well, for a minimal fee. All sales support the After Supper Visions project.

Quantities are limited so please place your Holiday Card order today. Thank you!

He has been called “an ideas guy,” originally from St. Louis but quickly rising to prominence in Chicago’s respected art community, as creator of such hugely popular exhibits as Art on Track and Built. Now, Chicago-based artist Tristan Hummel is Program Manager and Curator of Chicago Loop Alliance, giving tremendous new publicity, affirmation and credibility to “After Supper Visions” and its artists. As crowds continue to visit the new exhibit at 23 E. Madison, Tristan graciously paused to answer a few questions on the impact ASV is having, on the Pop-Up program and in the art community of Chicago.

1) How long have you been Program Manager and Curator of the Chicago Loop Alliance?

Two years.

2) How many Pop-Up Art exhibits have you coordinated in that time?

In two years I have programmed and/or curated 316 unique pop-up exhibitions in the Loop. That’s nearly one every other day.

3) How would you describe the “After Supper Visions” artwork in comparison to other exhibits you have served as Curator for?

We get a huge variety artworks submitted to our program from every type of artist you can imagine. In the past we’ve exhibited works by Banksy and first Year School of The Art Institute of Chicago undergrads. Though the work varies it is always within a certain context of contemporary art making. What really excited me about After Supper Visions was that the work had a completely unique perspective. This work wasn’t made in the same way other artworks are. These photos weren’t necessarily made for exhibition or sales (though they do well at both) or even to be seen – they were produced purely as creative practice. It was exciting to find something that fresh. It was like thumbing through an artist’s sketchbook, seeing all the works that weren’t meant to be shown, sometimes that’s where an artist’s best body of work is.

4) Are there any artists that you have met, or any photos, in particular that have made an impression on you? If so, may we ask what intrigues you about them?

I had a great conversation with Ray at the opening. His work is the product of meticulous attention to the relationship of bisecting bodies in a field of view. He loves the area where shapes overlap or connect. His attempt to capture the perfect angle where all the relationships map themselves out in a visual way gives his work the feel of a stock image but without the lifelessness.

5) You have a great deal of experience in knowing what types of artwork and exhibits are most successful. Do you have any suggestions for “After Supper Visions”?
The most successful exhibitions are the ones people can relate to. I think ASV has nailed this part of the process. Next steps – go bigger; throw an event on a larger scale around the opening. I see this being successful as 2,000-3,000 black tie thing.

Our sincere thanks To Tristan, for this interview and for this fantastic opportunity to let all of Chicago see the fabulous works of art created by the ASV artists. We invite all readers to visit our HOMEPAGE to purchase the ASV Photos, on display throughout the month of October at 23 E. Madison Street In Chicago.