AWR History
As President of the Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art in 2002, local artist Judith Roth sought to involve her community in celebration of Chicago Artists Month; that October the inaugural “Ravenswood Art Walk” took place.
In 2003 Ms. Roth encountered two natural partners, artist Dave Avery and Sarah Shumate (current Program Director, The Jane Addams Resource Corporation). JARC had been running a “Tour of Industry” since 1998 that focused on the areas industrial history. The three expressed a mutual desire to focus attention on the increasing population of artists working in Ravenswood Industrial Corridor.
"(JARC) enabled us to meet at their facility and (they) took care of the administration management, set up the meetings, sent out the minutes to all who were attending the meetings. They brought in many of the industrial people, had them open for tours, and solicited donations from them (as well as from the artists), to rent the trolleys, help us fund printing the brochures, etc. This was an incredible step up from the first year, and they were wonderful to work with!" - Judith Roth
In 2004, The Ravenswood Bank joined the CWCA as a sponsor of “The Ravenswood Corridor Arts & Industry Walk”. Their Vice President in Lending, William Marquardsen, joined Judith Roth in her continued efforts to nurture the Ravenswood art walk. Ravenswood Bank also printed the brochures, their small team of volunteers stapling and hand-delivering maps personally to artists in as many as 25 separate locations. After 2004, and into 2005, the Ravenswood art walk had lost some of its momentum. Founder Judith Roth and her assistor Bill Marquardsen were doing all they could but it was clear that more volunteers were needed. In 2006 Dale Davison, inspired by her art teacher Vincent Hawkins, brought new energy to forge a fresh grassroots coalition among key community members, many of whom became members of our Board of Directors. In August of 2006, Judith and Dale re-named the organization, ArtWalkRavenswood, and it became an official 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation (1). Its main event, “The Annual Tour of Arts & Industry”, offers visitors a rare opportunity among Chicago arts festivals.
"(JARC) enabled us to meet at their facility and (they) took care of the administration management, set up the meetings, sent out the minutes to all who were attending the meetings. They brought in many of the industrial people, had them open for tours, and solicited donations from them (as well as from the artists), to rent the trolleys, help us fund printing the brochures, etc. This was an incredible step up from the first year, and they were wonderful to work with!" - Judith RothIn 2004, The Ravenswood Bank joined the CWCA as a sponsor of “The Ravenswood Corridor Arts & Industry Walk”. Their Vice President in Lending, William Marquardsen, joined Judith Roth in her continued efforts to nurture the Ravenswood art walk. Ravenswood Bank also printed the brochures, their small team of volunteers stapling and hand-delivering maps personally to artists in as many as 25 separate locations. After 2004, and into 2005, the Ravenswood art walk had lost some of its momentum. Founder Judith Roth and her assistor Bill Marquardsen were doing all they could but it was clear that more volunteers were needed. In 2006 Dale Davison, inspired by her art teacher Vincent Hawkins, brought new energy to forge a fresh grassroots coalition among key community members, many of whom became members of our Board of Directors. In August of 2006, Judith and Dale re-named the organization, ArtWalkRavenswood, and it became an official 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation (1). Its main event, “The Annual Tour of Arts & Industry”, offers visitors a rare opportunity among Chicago arts festivals.
Annual Tour of Arts & Industry Graphic ©2006 Ted Atzeff
The 2006 Annual Tour of Arts & Industry benefited enormously from its volunteers; Judith Roth, Bill Marquardsen and Dale Davison, who served as Chairs, Sharon Hayes, Rebecca Jones, Pete Jones, Dave Avery, Mary Pat Studdert, and Emily Rapport. Emily, a Ravenswood based painter and web designer, designed the ArtWalkRavenswood website, posters and newsletters; she also proposed and implemented the 2006 "Ravenswood Documentary Project" - a photographic survey of arts and industry by local photographer Andrew Steiner (http://www.andrewsteinerphotography.com) and in 2007 served as AWR's first Executive Director.
2006 generated new momentum: AWR Co-Chairs Dave Avery and Mary Pat Studdert proposed a ceremony to honor local arts supporters with an original work of art initiating the first annual Ravenswood Arts Advocate Award. Among those selected were: Maria Kolb (3) of B&R Management; Peter Jones, founder of the Peter Jones Gallery with a 25 year history of providing space and instruction to artists; and Jeanne Uzdawinis and Birgit Kobayashi, co-owners of Café Selmarie in Lincoln Square. All were awarded with a unique, ceramic plaque made by artist Jill Specks (shown above with honoree Maria Kolb).
In 2007, artist Laurie Shaman created original vase sculptures unique to the three nominees; Judith Roth (AWR Founder), Deborah Maris Lader (Chicago Printmaker's Collaborative Founder), and Richard Lange (Cornelia's "Friends of the Arts" Founder).
Since 2001, The Arts & Industry Tour (initially comprised of seven venues) has expanded to become ArtWalkRavenswood the organization, including over 50 venues and hundreds of participating artists.
Reference
In 2006 The Chicago Academy of Sciences and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum had a “See and Touch” exhibit along with a workshop in scientific illustration led by local artists. The Fire Arts Center of Chicago demonstrated a melt and bronze-pour as well as a stone-cutting workshop. Dick Bjorklund, of The Ravenswood-Lakeview Historical Association, provided a historical lecture about Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, hosted by The Conrad Sulzer Regional Library. Representatives from The Chicago Artists Resource and The Chicago Artists’ Coalition were hosted by Lillstreet Art Center.
(1) Law services provided by Steve Meier and Henry Schaeffer of Jenner and Block, LLP. ArtWalkRavenswood is incorporated as an Illinois Not for Profit 501c(3) status; we are tax-deductible and tax-exempt.
Reference
In 2006 The Chicago Academy of Sciences and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum had a “See and Touch” exhibit along with a workshop in scientific illustration led by local artists. The Fire Arts Center of Chicago demonstrated a melt and bronze-pour as well as a stone-cutting workshop. Dick Bjorklund, of The Ravenswood-Lakeview Historical Association, provided a historical lecture about Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, hosted by The Conrad Sulzer Regional Library. Representatives from The Chicago Artists Resource and The Chicago Artists’ Coalition were hosted by Lillstreet Art Center.
(1) Law services provided by Steve Meier and Henry Schaeffer of Jenner and Block, LLP. ArtWalkRavenswood is incorporated as an Illinois Not for Profit 501c(3) status; we are tax-deductible and tax-exempt.