West Chicago Art
West Chicago is proud of its public art collection, which serves to beautify the community and inspire its imagination. Many of the installations in various locations throughout the City are the result of the hard work and dedication of the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission. West Chicago's Public Art tells the community's many stories, serves to document the past and present, and creates a sense of place that is uniquely West Chicago.
The Shell
A partnership effort between the West Chicago Park District and the City Of West Chicago to foster the arts in the community founded by a concerted vision by former West Chicago Mayor, Michael Kwasman and community members.
The Shell officially opened in 2017.
Public Art
West Chicago is proud of its public art collection, which serves to beautify the community and inspire its imagination.
Many of the installations in various locations throughout the City are the result of the hard work and dedication of the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission. West Chicago's Public Art tells the community's many stories, serves to document the past and present, and creates a sense of place that is uniquely West Chicago.
Gallery 200
Gallery 200, an artist co-op, is a creative oasis in downtown West Chicago featuring the work of local artists for sale at affordable prices. It is a division of People Made Visible, an arts not for profit, with support from the City of West Chicago.
People Made Visible
People Made Visible, Inc. (PMV) is a non-for-profit organization with a mission to facilitate community while fulfilling the artistic, social, educational and cultural needs of the community through an innovative physical and web-based presence.
Artist in Residence
The Artist-in-Residency Program was established in 2008 and is run in collaboration with People Made Visible and the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission.
Since 2008, fourteen artists have visited West Chicago from Chicago, Denmark, Germany, Mexico and Spain.
Gallery Theater
The Gallery Theater fills a creative niche for residents and visitors on both sides of the curtain. Growing and nurturing talent for the performing arts, community theater gives many aspiring actors their first taste of the stage, while more seasoned actors enjoy performing in the intimate setting of their own hometown amongst friends, family and neighbors.
Local Music Night
Local Music Night is a free monthly event, where local artists can share their musical talents in a coffee house-type atmosphere. It has featured over 50 different performers and groups since its first event in October 2009.
Recent News about West Chicago Art
Pop-up Art Supply Distribution at Gallery 200 – Saturday, August 1, 2020
A Pop-up Art Supply Distribution in honor of McCormick Day, will take place at Gallery 200, 203 Main Street in downtown West Chicago on Saturday, August 1, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. FREE gift bags of art supplies will be given out while supplies last. The day marks the birthday of Cantigny Park’s […]
A Walk in the Kruse House Gardens
The July meeting of the West Chicago Garden Club brought members to the Kruse House Gardens, located at 527 Main Street, for an evening of beauty and fellowship. The garden aficionados were not disappointed as the plants and shrubs throughout the property were at their peak and created a lovely backdrop for a leisurely stroll. […]
New Pollinator Gardens Attracting Residents, Visitors and Monarchs
Residents aren’t the only ones attracted to two new pollinator gardens installed at Reed-Keppler Park located at 201 W. National Street and Don Earley Park, at 840 E. Washington Street. The gardens which are in their first year are taking shape, and are already attracting monarch butterflies. Superintendent of Parks, Michael Gasparini came up with […]
“Oh, the Places You Can Go When the Pandemic is No More!” by Artist Judith Horsley
While regular operations at West Chicago’s Gallery 200 have been impacted by COVID-19, one thing remains constant; it is a destination for the amazing talents of community artists. Earlier this spring, due to the required closure of the Gallery, the Featured Artist series went virtual with online shows of fabulous art and a Virtual Market […]
City Museum Hosts Virtual Programming this Summer
The West Chicago City Museum will continue to host virtual programs until it is safe to reopen. Joining its non-fiction monthly book club, Historiography, on Thursday, August 20, and September 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. is easy through the Friends of the Museum’s Zoom account and Facebook page. Book selections and information about participating in […]
City Hall Closed, Friday, July 3, 2020 – Happy Independence Day
People’s Choice Online Ballot 2020 Banner Map – .pdf The artwork of resident Bruce Treudt is the perfect choice with which to wish the community a safe and happy holiday weekend at home. Home is the theme this year, for the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission’s 2020 Art Banner Exhibit currently hanging in downtown West […]
2020 Art Banner Exhibit is Up in Downtown West Chicago – People’s Choice Ballot Online
The West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission has had a busy and creative spring. The annual Art Banner Exhibit that has been installed on Main Street and West Washington Street could not be timelier in its theme of Home. The work of seventeen artists will be on display for the entire summer and residents and visitors […]
The West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission Seeks Haiku Poetry for a Community-wide Public Art Project for the Summer of 2020
Online Haiku Submission Form – English Online Haiku Submission Form – Spanish Poets and community members alike are invited to submit their own positive haiku in a language of their choosing. The West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission (WCCAC) will screen each submission to ensure variety, originality, and quality. All poems will have to follow the […]
Spring has Sprung Video Captures Pride and Positivity of West Chicago Residents
West Chicago’s strong gardening community rallied to the call for photographs of their own spring blooms or those admired around town, for a City-sponsored campaign called Spring has Sprung that was heavily promoted through social media and other resident communications. Over 100 photographs were received and a six-minute slideshow was produced. “The City thanks everyone […]
New Butterfly Gardens at Reed-Keppler and Don Earley Parks will Delight, Educate and Inspire
Attention all West Chicago butterfly lovers, and there are many. Two new public gardens are being designed and installed through a collaboration between the West Chicago Park District, the City of West Chicago, and resident and Master Naturalist Judith Horsley, who applied and received a grant on the Park District’s behalf from the North American […]
Images of Lost and Found: An Exhibit of Art by West Chicago’s ESL Students
Photograph by Ignacio Leaving home is never easy. However, as small children we adapt pretty quickly. Our parents make those transitions more seamless since they tend to be the center of our universe. In a sense, we take our homes with us as children. As adults, we usually choose to leave our homes. It seems […]
West Chicago Community High School Art Students Demonstrate Technical Skill, Creativity & Imagination
West Chicago Community High School students created an exceptional exhibit of original art which was scheduled for display at Gallery 200 during the month of April. Unfortunately, due to the rapidly evolving events of COVID-19, installation of the exhibit made it impossible Throughout the school year, art students have grown in their mastery of materials, […]
