Chicago Studio
2010 W Carroll
Chicago, IL 60612
T (312) 829-2787
North Shore Studio
1963 Johns Drive
Glenview, IL 60025
T (847) 486-0808
Meet our newest artist, Montell Payne!
Montell has been in our community for a little over a month and he’s a perfect addition to our community. He’s always in good spirits, talks to everyone, and has a generous smile and contagious laugh. Everyone enjoys his sense of humor and addiction to practical jokes.
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During this holiday season I feel that it is especially important to thank our founding artist, Veronica Cuculich, for the inspiration she continues to give us and for the wonderful person she was.
It’s hard to believe that January 3rd will mark 12 years for our community and even harder to believe that Ronnie isn’t here to share in the success. If you are an old friend of the studio, you had the pleasure of meeting Ronnie. If you are a new friend and weren’t able to meet her, I want you to know the important role she had in creating The Arts of Life.
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Why do we keep falling in love with
Kelly Stone over and over again?
Ever meet someone and instantly feel like you have known them forever? And then as your relationship develops, you wonder why it took you so long to meet? That’s how we feel about Kelly Stone. He’s so amazing in every possible way; we can’t believe that we haven’t been friends forever.
What does The Arts of Life mean to Shannon and her family?
As part of The Arts of Life community, Shannon has gained friendships, pride in herself, and independence. Shannon’s family is pleased to find that at the studio “Shannon can be herself; she can express herself in a way that works for her. She’s finally come out of her shell and has become her own person”.
Happy Holidays from the Board of Directors for The Arts of Life! We hope you had a wonderful, healthy 2011, and wish you continued happiness in 2012.
On January 3rd, we will celebrate twelve years of providing high quality, innovative service to 50 adults with developmental disabilities. I believe strongly in the core values with which Denise and Ronnie formed The Arts of Life and it has been an amazing experience for me to watch both studios grow using our model of collective decision-making. Each artist that joins our program challenges our model and moves us forward with their unique views and creativity. It has been a pleasure for me to help continue our mission of creating an artistic culture for both people with and without disabilities. I continue to be both encouraged and motivated by the artists in our community who have taught me how strong the need is for an environment that is open to both learning from all of its members and growing to represent everyone equally. (more…)
What does Jean mean to
The Arts of Life and L’Arche Chicago?
“Jean believes in The Arts of Life community”, says Steve Nazaran, Community Coordinator at L’Arche, an international federation of intentional communities in which people with and without intellectual disabilities live, work, play and pray together, creating home. Steve remembers a meeting before she joined the studio where Jean stated, “I guess workshops just don’t work for me”. She felt they weren’t invested in her and, in return, she wasn’t invested in them. “The Arts of Life is a natural extension of her life in L’Arche and something that she believes is really worth investing in”, says Steve.
On Saturday, October 15 The Arts of Life will participate in Chicago Artists Month by presenting Fashion Forward. Fashion Forward will be an exciting art show exhibiting fashion and style-related art and wearable art created by local artists as well as artists that work at Arts of Life.
The term “fashion forward” means creating and wearing items that will soon become very fashionable, influencing others in the process. As Chicago’s most unique art studio – operated by a collaboration of artists with and without disabilities – The Arts of Life is honored to be a source of influence in the celebration of creativity, ability, and diversity among the Chicago artists community.
The Arts of Life will also have a closet sale of affordable used and new clothing. All proceeds benefit their art programming.
At 5 PM in the Kinzie Corridor gallery, along with the wonderful art exhibit, there will be a live skyped catwalk from Project Grow art studio in Portland, OR. Project Grow also has differently abled artists that make up their studio.
At 7 PM, The Arts of Life band will be rocking out in new uniforms designed by designer Audrey Lauck to finish off this celebration of style.
There will be a raffle, drinks, and pretzels from Kim and Scott’s Pretzels. Paper doll creative party favors provided by Art Enables.
Many of the creative collaborations happening in this community event were helped along by the Chicago Calling Arts Festival. Fashion Forward is proud to be part of their festival of collaborations!
This FREE event is open to the public and will take place at the Kinzie Corridor Gallery located at 2010 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 on
Saturday, October 15th from 4-8pm.
This year, The Arts of Life is creating a 2012 wall calendar which will include artwork from both the Chicago and North Shore studios! The calendar will be sold for $15 to families, friends and the public at our Fall events. Right now, we are in the designing phase and we’re hoping to send them to the printers by Monday, October 3rd. It beautifully displays the incredible artwork of The Arts of Life artists and we couldn’t be more proud!
Since we are ordering a limited print run and we want to make sure that friends of the studio get as many copies as they need, we are now taking pre-orders! The calendars will be finished and ready to pick-up at the Chicago studio or the North Shore studio October 17th onwards. They can also be delivered to your home for an additional packaging & shipping fee. If you would like to buy any calendars for yourself, friends or to give as gifts, please click the buy now button below.
The proceeds from the calendar sales will help The Arts of Life continue to serve artists with developmental disabilities in Chicago and the North Shore.
If you have any questions please contact Emily at esmith@artsoflife.org
