There are many opportunities to visit galleries, studios and art centers in Chicago - for free. I'm going to get around to highlighting all the ones I know of (so far) but to start, I'll go with the Saturday Gallery Tours that take place in River North and the West Loop/Fulton Market. Full disclosure - I am currently the coordinator of the tours, since CGN took them over from the Chicago Art Dealers Association when they went 'virtual' at the start of the year. But I also know first-hand that they're quality tours purely because of the devoted dealers who lead them each week and the engaging work they share with visitors.
Anyway, these tours first started in 2001 as a way of getting more people into galleries regularly, and as a way of making gallery visits not so scary. I think that the more gallery "points of entry" that are made available to the public, the better for everyone - a perpetual "open door policy," if you will (but don't forget that galleries do open their doors and their wine boxes to everyone about every 6-8 weeks...) Plus, tours make things easy - someone else does the planning, sets the date, and acts as your on-site expert. Just knowing about the tours makes you look like a genius. How easy is that?
The tours are great for hosting out-of-towners and showing them another side of the city, for visitors looking to do something off of Michigan Ave., and for life-long Chicagoans who think they know everything. And, even if you attend every opening reception and every artist talk, the tours are a great chance to talk to the people doing the hard work - the gallery owners, staff, and exhibiting artists. And again, this is for free.
A gallery representative leads a guided tour of 4 galleries. The
gallery roster and tour leader change weekly, & conversation
centers on the exhibits and artists on view. Gallery exhibitions change
approximately every six weeks, so the tours are never the same. And there are some collectors I know who got started on these tours. And they go nearly every weekend.
Tours
are free, and run rain or shine every weekend of the year, except on
major holiday weekends. No reservations are required. For private group
tours for up to 20 people, please contact 312-649-0064.
Upcoming West Loop Tours
January 30, Led by Mary from McCormick Gallery, visiting:
1. Walsh Gallery 118 N. Peoria, 2nd Fl *Last day of Han Seok Hyun's Simply Fresh!
2. Dubhe Carreno Gallery 118 N. Peoria, 2nd Fl
3. Western Exhibitions 835 W. Washington, 2nd Fl
4. McCormick Gallery 835 W. Washington
Upcoming River North Tours
January 30, Led by Dan Addington of Addington Gallery, visiting:
1. Byron Roche Gallery 750 N. Franklin, 2nd Fl. *Gallery is closing - final reception this day
2. Ken Saunders Gallery 230 W. Superior
3. Jennifer Norback Gallery 215 W. Huron
4. Addington Gallery 704 N. Wells
Filed under: art
Tags: chicago neighborhoods, gallery walks, River North, tours, West Loop
Hi, for the loop gallery tours- can you let me know what is the meeting time and place for the start of the tour?
Hi - the next West Loop tour is this Saturday, January 30. It starts at 1:30pm at Walsh Gallery, at 118 N. Peoria St. on the 2nd floor. Let me know any time if you have more tour questions. There is also a tour in River North the morning of the 30th, meeting at 11am at Starbucks at 750 N. Franklin, and going until 12:30pm. Then grab a quick lunch and head to the west loop!
Hi, do we need to let anyone know we are coming or shall I just show up?
No need to make a reservation - just show up at Walsh Gallery on the 2nd floor of 118 N. Peoria by 1:30pm and the group will be waiting there. The 2nd gallery on the tour is also right across the hall, so if you're running late, go to Dubhe Carreno Gallery Enjoy! This will be a great group.
I went for the River North tour today and it was fabulous! I believe the turnout was one of their best ever! And Dan Addington did a great job leading us! Thanks Ginny- I will definitely do other tours as and when my schedule permits!