May 29th 2015

Betsy Zacsek: The Cabinet of Secret Paintings

@ Corner

2912 N. Milwaukee Ave (storefront), Chicago, IL 60618

Opening Friday, May 29th, from 6 PM - 9 PM

On view through Tuesday, June 16th

The Cabinet of Secret Paintings is an exhibit of artworks that were never meant to be seen. It features works that tell a private story, works for personal reflection, works have a loaded past, works that reveal too much vulnerability to ever be shared with the public, displayed in a conventional gallery setting, or subjected to critique. This is a rare opportunity to examine artists’ personal creative practices through dialog and revelation and to confront otherwise forbidden works.

The assumption underlying the creation of most art objects is that they are made to be seen by others. Whether these audiences are known, such as for an exhibit at a specific venue, or the artist is making it to “just put it out there,” it has an affect on what the work looks like. Artists spend a tremendous amount of mental energy dealing with the inner voices of this anticipated outside judgment as they try to find and maintain focus on their own authentic voice. But what would their work look like if they were able to silence that noise and truly make something that was never meant to be seen? That is the paradoxical premise of The Cabinet of Secret Paintings.

Due to the nature of this work, the artists will remain anonymous and the work will be presented and discussed through a series of four programs during which the artists may or may not choose to be present. As Zacsek puts it, “The show is structured to provide a safe, anonymous environment to explore secret paintings within a supportive and curious community.” Other than these four programs, the gallery will be open by appointment or by chance when the “Open” sign is on the door.

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