CONTENTS
1) Second Open-Air-Flyer-Art Exhibition Series Rant
 
 
 
********** FLYER ART NOTES **********
 
Hello Artists,

The morning began with a heavy rain and chilly winds in the Windy City. 
Lake Shore Drive was backed up even at 9:30. I had forgotten to tell the 
potential volunteers I emailed not to show up if it was rainy. The rain 
had stopped but the cold remained. My ride dropped me off ten minutes 
after our appointed meeting time north of our meeting place. My arrival 
at Columbia College, 623 S. Wabash, was only 16 minutes late.

This was not the way I wanted to start our "Flyer-Art" campaign off. Did I 
miss volunteers? My organizer sense said no. The weather was bad and I had 
not called people to confirm their commitment. It was our first announced 
Wednesday meeting. We need to do this regularly to build support. There were 
eight students lounging around outside to smoke a cigarette between classes. 
Behind a table sat a couple of students. The man explained they were with 
the Writing Center at Columbia College. No volunteers were present. 

On the Writing Center table were chocolate chip cookies and donut holes. I 
sampled both while listening to him explain their mission. The lady chimed 
in saying they would help anybody with their writing. We traded literature 
and I asked them to encourage any poets they met to consider visiting our 
Screen Print Workshop for Artists to learn how to print their short poems 
on t-shirts.

Just inside the door of the first floor café/gallery is a shelf for art 
opening postcards, newspapers and notices. I stuffed a feminist Hip-Hop 
newpaper, left a small stack of fliers (10-15) and handed all within reach a 
flier. Outside again, for ten minutes I passed out flyers to those coming 
out, going in or passing by. On my way walking to Roosevelt University 
passing to those on the way I gave a flyer to a man who walked twenty yards 
on then returned. He called me by name. "Paul Teruel" he said re-introducing 
himself after 4-5 years - "I used to work at Street Level Media," he said. I 
recognized him as a spirited video arts teacher who helped to found that 
organization in 1992. He now works for Columbia College in their Office of 
Community Arts Partnership helping Columbia connect to community arts groups 
and artists. "We need to talk," I said as we shook hands after he gave me 
his card. He agreed.

"Thanks for keeping up your community art activity," he added in parting.

"Since 1989 and counting proudly," I added, as I waved and continued passing 
out our Flyer Art exhibit. Yes, the Arts Policy Center is located at 
Columbia. They could support some of the future suggestions artists trying 
to make a living selling their t-shirt art will have for the City of 
Chicago. Mr. Teruel's office may well be open to our ideas. We should think 
about that!  When we do the Flyer Art exhibit the artists and people we meet 
are important, too.

My spirit lifted. Once a week, I recommitted myself to doing the Flyer Art 
exhibit on Wednesday mornings and once a week to e-mailing our list with 
this Flyer Art action report.

Roosevelt was quiet. I stuffed the class schedules for summer and next fall.  
In another corner in the lobby, on a shelf I found free papers and stuffed 
some of them. 

Back on the street, I headed up Michigan Avenue and turned 
right (east) on Columbus Boulevard on my way to the back side of the Arts 
Institute where the art students are. In passing out this Flyer Art Exhibit, 
we are looking to promote every members' art and to meet other artists. At 
the height of the bridge over the rail lines I saw across the Boulevard
25030 high school students walking towar me. They were half a block away. 
Fanning my flyers I cut across the empty lanes to confront my quest. This is
the Flyer Art Activists dream. Art? Art? Art? Art? Art?.... I was on autopilot.
Each got a different image. Most took them. Salting a few "All are different!" 
inserts nailed the doubtful. All I could reach took flyers. My soul laughed. 

"Art? Art? Art?..." 

"I got em!" my thoughts sang. A group like this will take those different flyers 
home on the bus and compare the different images and talk and ha-ha - who knows 
what comes of it. Imagine what 10 Flyer Art activists could do with thousands of 
flyers at Chicago's big art fests. We could be the talk of the fest!

Onward. Behind the Institute - where the students hang out I caught those stepping 
out for cigarettes or a fresh view of the sky and conversation. Like a bee 
to a bunch of flowers I floated asking "Art? Art? Art? And all accepting I 
presented flyer art. Then, returning to a receptive art student to find out 
where the student magazine "F" could be found (for stuffing) she told me 
instead about the "Sharp Building" where "F" is staffed on Monroe and Wabash.  

Monroe and Wabash was on my way to the El, so I decided to make a stop 
there on my way to one of my four part-time jobs. At the Sharp Building 
the security pegged me for a friendly artist type and allow me to pass 
with a nod. The elevator opened immediately and I hopped on going to the 
Fashion Department floor. There I posted a Screen Print Workshop for 
Artists notice in the Fashion and Fiber areas. A British accented 
artist, possibly an instructor, offered to post one in the print area 
for me. Cool - I was outta there and on to the El. 

The total time passing was 1 hour and forty minutes when I reached 
the El platform but all those people - I had to offer them the same 
opportunity to choose art or not. About a third took flyer art. When 
the train came I plopped down in a chair satisfied. The easy part of 
my job was done. Now to write, post online and e-mail these notes. 
You are encouraged to respond to this newsletter with your ideas. 
Thanks for taking the to read this.

C. Drew


VOLUNTEER TASKS

1) Meet out in the café/gallery just inside Columbia College at 623 Wabash 
Avenue at 10:00 every Wednesday except when it is rainy to Flyer Art the 
public.

2) Every Wednesday evening meet at the American Indian Center in our Screen 
Print Workshop to inventory t-shirts and other desperately need tasks around 
the workshop.

3) Help build and maintain the Screen Print Workshop every 4th Saturday of 
the month.

4) Co-op policy meeting the last 20 minutes for workshop time every Sunday 
we meet.

; >(|)