Seasons' Greetings!

Later-er Night this Friday!

Later-er Night Andersonville - December 16th, 5:00 - 10:00pm

Join us for our second night of Late Night Andersonville, just a little “late-er” than usual.  For four more hours, take advantage of the same discounts from Late Night Andersonville, plus once again enjoy free entertainment and refreshments.

 Late-er Night Andersonville Events

5:00-8:00pm	Pictures with Santa Andersonville Holiday Pop-up Gallery
6:00-10:00pm	Art + Design Exhibition Las Manos Gallery
6:00-10:00pm	Free Samples of Chef Martin's Alpine Brand Sausages, Spark of the Heart Soups and CounterCulture Coffee's Holiday blend. Urban Orchard
7:00-7:30pm	Holiday dance show & sweet treats Gus Giordano Dance School
7:00-9:00pm	Christmas carolers Room Service
7:00-9:00pm	Live music Marguerite Gardens
7:00-9:00pm	Sci-Fiber Friday featured movie: "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Sifu Design Studio
7:00-10:00pm	Toffee tasting Terry's Toffee (at the Andersonville Galleria)
7:00-10:00pm	Live artist demos in the windows Andersonville Galleria
8:00pm	Meet characters from The Nutcracker Ballet Chicago Dance Supply

“Chinese Mountains” By Derek Ottens

‘Chinese Mountains’ references Chinese painters, and writers, copying manuscripts, ideograms, and

landscapes over and over. If I do the same I may eventually get it right…

Like the educated but underemployed Chinese scholars during the Mongol Yuan dynasty I sometimes

share the cultural ideals of a reclusive world and often try to translate those ideals through a symbolic
shorthand. 

Many Chinese mountain paintings were painted in shades of black and white to limit distractions and concentrate on the inner essence of energy and spirit. These mountains remain unfinished and with time will acquire a patina through handling and exposure to the elements.

Like the men for centuries wandering in mountains to purify spirit and find renewal, the making of these mountains seems to be a hike for me, realizing something that has no real purpose or function other than to be or to have been.

The inscription of the maker is inscribed on a Chinese landscape painting and each owner thereafter

adds their names or inscriptions as an ongoing response so the painting was not really completed when the artist put down his brush. 

That evolution I would hope will happen with these mountains as they remain unfinished but will continue to acquire a patina through the hands of each consecutive owner.

Andrea Chiu - Together in a Red Room

Artist Andrea Chiu installed her piece "Together in a Red Room" at Las Manos Gallery for this month's exhibition titled ART+DESIGN. Watch the video for a bit of insight into this incredible piece!

Together in a Red Room from Mieke Zuiderweg on Vimeo.

Art+Design Show!

Urban Mischief, Scout, Brimfield, Haymaker and Room Service!

Click on the image to launch the slideshow!

The Art+Design Opening at Las Manos Gallery!

Las Manos Gallery's ART+DESIGN show featured vignettes created by local Andersonville design shops. Each business staged furniture, lamps and objects in the space. The gallery paired art with each vignette.

People mingled and took the time to be in each space.

Sherry Elfstrom, left, the owner of Urban Mischief sits in the space she designed at the gallery. Artist Mitch O'Connell's paintings were paired with her boudoir-style setting.

Italian leather chairs were tested out and Ben Brant's piece made of Ipe wood was ogled.

Artist Christopher Ilth, left, sits with a few of his collage pieces on Friday night. At right Photographer Paul Clark talks about his 90-panel piece made up of small fuji insta prints.

Monika Wulfers and Derek Ottens discuss his piece "Chinese Mountains," at left. Ceramic vessels by Doug Reyes are seen in the image at right.

Artist Nathan Torrence tries out an electric guitar build by Phil Wright, who looks at artwork in the image at right.

Artist Jonathan Glick sits with a few of his "egg" candles. At left are his lanterns.

ART+DESIGN Show!

OPENING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd  7-10PM

In order to have good design you must have original art. Las Manos Gallery is embracing this concept by working together with independently owned design shops in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Each business is invited to use their design method to create vignettes in the gallery.

Work by gallery artists will be paired with each unique installation. This gives the designers a chance to showcase their vision and give patrons an opportunity to understand how to incorporate new or existing artwork into their space with an eye towards good design.

Featured artists are Michael McGuire, Tricia Rumbolz, Patrick Manning, John Mosher, Ben Rosecrans, Rita Grendze, Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Doug Reyes, Steve Green, Mieke Zuiderweg and James Peterson.

Manga book sculptures by Monika Wulfers

Artist Monika Wulfers creates a cone-shaped sculpture out of Manga - Japanese comic books for boys and girls. Wulfers originally started working with newspaper strips, weaving both American and foreign papers together but transitioned into this series after finding the colorful booklets intriguing. Several of her pieces will be on display during Las Manos Gallery's Art+Design show this month.