When I was in graduate school my mother would occasionally call me “Imagination Brains” and in-turn we would laugh. A joke not so much because of the name but because this term was originally used by her mother and father to describe someone spending too much time being creative and not enough time working (9-5 respectable, grinding it out, unhappy labor). So when I heard of the exhibition, Welcome to the World of Mr. Imagination, Betty and I hit the pavement.
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Open Tuesday-Saturday 11-6, Thursday 11-7:30, and Sunday 12-5. Admission $5
Chicago native Gregory Warmack (Mr. Imagination 1948-2012) prolifically created art from found objects and in particular, bottle caps.
Pivotal in the artist’s life was a tramatic event in 1978. For forty-two cents he was robbed, shot in the stomach, and left to die. Six weeks in a coma followed and during this time Warmack believed he traveled to a past life where he lived as an Egyptian Pharaoh. Inspired by this experience much of his work’s content is seen throughout his lifetime.
These last two beautiful images of the artist are perhaps my favorite in this body of work. Indicating by the look in his eyes, he knew something we don’t. I like to think it’s the beauty, simplicity, and potential of what is often thrown away.
And last Betty and I headed over to two events where creative souls gather…
The Bitter Betty Bazaar held regulary at The Inner Town Pub, 1935 W. Thomas
Communities that shop together support each other!
A must have from Stephanie Rohr, stephXstich.etsy.com. Adults, check out this artist work! Ha!
Betty’s Response: Now that’s ART!!!
Last, over to the Empty Bottle…
In the bathroom @ 1035 N. Western Ave., The Empty Bottled hosted the Chicago Independent Labels Pop Up Shop from noon to 5pm for local vinyl, CDs, tapes wrapped in glorious ART!
The Funs, It’s Strange I’m Here, cover art by Jom/Fumo/Majik
The Phantom Scars, cover art by J.R. Williams
Rubrics, Abolitionist
OK! Betty and I are off but first, and always, extending to you a gigantic invitation to get out there and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!! And along the way keep your eyes wide open for artistic expression…its EVERYWHERE!
-The residual purpose of art is purposeless play. This play however, is an affirmation of life–Not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a way of waking up to the very life we’re living, which is so excellent once one gets one’s mind and one’s desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord. -John Cage
My Bike Betty 