We may have been keeping a low profile since 2nd Floor Rear 2015, but that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped making plans. Big things are about to happen with 2nd Floor, and we’ve got a few major news items to share.
We’re almost 5 years old
…as of this February.
We’ve set the dates for 2nd Floor Rear 2016
Saturday and Sunday, February 6 & 7.
We’re branching out
Saturday is still off the blue line. Sunday’s events will take place in a totally different part of Chicago. (Details soon!)
We’ve been selected for the Goodcity Incubator Program
Goodcity is a non-profit committed to identifying, starting, and growing social entrepreneurs who make a difference in Chicago. Over the next year, we’ll be working closely with Goodcity to develop and launch 2FR Projects, a legit, year-round NFP. Check our mission-statement-in-progress:
2FR Projects celebrates Chicago’s vibrant history of alternative arts spaces and DIY cultural production. Our mission is to support and generate opportunities for experiencing and producing public-facing art that investigates new, interdisciplinary, and unexpected modes of presentation.
Through programming, education, and strategic partnerships, we aim to make creative production more rewarding for Chicago artists, enhance public understanding of DIY, alternative, and socially engaged art practices, and invigorate Chicago’s cultural landscape with wild variety, experimentation, and radical imagining.
We’re teaming up with Hume Chicago
2nd Floor Rear Director Katie Waddell is joining Hume founders Fontaine Capel and Gita Jackson to co-run Hume Chicago, an artist-led project space focused on serving the Humboldt Park and Logan Square communities through dynamic, accessible arts programming.
Fontaine and Gita will also join 2nd Floor Rear as the 2FR 2016 Collaborative Managers of Northside Programming.
As of November 1, 2nd Floor Rear will have an actual brick-and-mortar HQ at Hume Chicago, 3203 W. North Ave. (Which also means that we’ll have rent to pay, so please pitch in! You can pledge a small (think Netflix membership) monthly recurring donation via Hume’s Patreon account.)
We made some friends
Say hello to our first official board members!
Rylan F.A. Deemer (Treasurer, Business Manager) enjoys a role as an International Consultant and Actuary based in downtown Chicago. In his position, Rylan provides international finance and benefits consulting advice for multinational clients based in the Midwest. Rylan served the Chicago Actuarial Association as Treasurer from March 2010 through March 2015. As lover of the arts, he is excited to reprise his Treasurer role with 2nd Floor Rear. Rylan holds a degree in Mathematics with a focus in Actuarial Science from Michigan Technological University. Rylan is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Fontaine Capel (Program Manager) is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist and educator. She is a member of the experimental performance collaborative Pup House, and is Executive Director of the alternative art space Hume Chicago.
Gita Jackson (Program Manager) co-directs Hume Chicago and thinks + writes about video games for a living.
We’re dropping in on the MCA in November
2nd Floor Rear is proud to be a part of Cage Unrequited, happening November 21-22 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Cage Unrequited is a 25-hour marathon reading of experimental composer John Cage’s influential book Silence: Lectures and Writings (1961) organized by visual artist Pope.L. The performance reimagines the book for contemporary audiences by filtering a bit of the past through the voices and attitudes of a diverse community of more than 100 invited readers from Chicago.
We’ve got even more news (about 2nd Floor Rear 2016) coming soon!
We’re set to release 2nd Floor Rear 2016’s thematic concept, call for proposals, and info about our (brand new!) curatorial fellowship late this week/end or early next week. Stay tuned for the big reveal!
2nd Floor Rear 