August 2025
News | Exhibitions | Opportunities
Board News
The fluidity of non-profit organizations is not lost on Chicago Sculpture International, and it is with regret we announce CSI President Jyl Bonaguro stepped out of the volunteer role to focus on her flourishing art career. Jyl represented CSI at the ISC’s 30th Annual Conference in 2023, providing our organization unparalleled merit that received many accolades. Jyl immediately transitioned to CSI President where she tirelessly worked to help organize CSI on many levels. Leadership, Board and Membership base alike extends Jyl a great deal of gratitude and appreciation for the hours, weeks, months and years of her care and devotion.
We thank you Jyl!
THERE IS A LOT CURRENTLY HAPPENING AT CSI
Our Leadership Board combines a total of 16 new/seasoned volunteer members
Helen Dannelly, Darlys Ewoldt, Steven Franklin, Spencer Gale, Musa Ghaznavi, Carol Hammerman, Micki LeMieux, Milena Livits, Anthony Heinz May, Stella Moon, Christine Perri, Gina Lee Robbins, Stephanie Sailer, Gene Skala, Patrick Wilson, Shencheng Xu
Learn how our non-profit organization works.
Join our Chicago Sculpture International Leadership team.
AVAILABLE CSI POSITIONS:
Board of Directors
Board Members at Large
If you have a voice, we want to hear it!
info@chicagosculpture.org
CSI Exhibitions
Impressions: Works from Chicago Sculpture International
Exhibition Dates: July 11 - August 25, 2025
“Second Fridays” Reception: August 8, 2025, 5 - 9PM
Location:
Fine Arts Building Gallery and Courtyard
410 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Phone: (312) 753-3210
Hours:
Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00AM – 9:00 PM
Cast Your Vote!
Chicagoans and visitors are invited to cast a vote for their favorite design so be sure to stop in to show your support!
Visit tinyurl.com/ProjectWindows2025 to vote for Chicago Sculpture International.
Voting deadline: August 18, 2025.
Chicago Sculpture International is delighted to join the Art Institute of Chicago to celebrate its summer exhibition, Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World, as a participant in the much anticipated window display contest, Project Windows. The contest was launched in 2012, in partnership with Stanley Smith of Oak Street Design, as a way for retailers to leverage the Art Institute’s world-class exhibitions that attract visitors from all over the globe. Over the years it has developed into a city-wide celebration of art and creativity, inspiring participants to craft beautiful, inspired, traffic-stopping displays and tap into our city’s cultural energy.
Chicago Sculpture International was inspired to create a display featuring an array of “impressions” of the urban landscape and environment. For example, textures, machinery, architecture, historical influences or comparisons, or environment could be referenced.
Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World includes more than 120 works—paintings, works on paper, photographs, and other ephemera from throughout Caillebotte’s career. In addition to recognizable works like Floor Scrapers and the Art Institute’s Paris Street; Rainy Day, the show presents lesser-known but pivotal works like the Musée d’Orsay’s recent acquisition, Boating Party, and the Louvre Abu-Dhabi’s The Bezique Game, as well as many works from private collections that are rarely seen by American audiences. Together, these works open a new window onto Caillebotte—as a complex figure with many interests, as an Impressionist who painted like no other Impressionist, and as an artist who captured his own, very distinct Paris.
Exhibiting Artists Pinar Aral, Roland Biermann, Jyl Bonaguro, Natalie Boyett, Bethany Cordero, Robert Craig, Brian Divis, Darlys Ewoldt, Ladipo Famodu, Carol Hammerman, Catherine Jacobi, Alex Jarus, Gary Justis, Gary Kulak, Micki LeMieux, Scott Mossman, Christopher Newman, Beverly Rautenberg, Dominic Sansone, Marvin Shafer, Gregory Steel, John Upchurch, Bruce Webber, and Zhizi Wu
Juried by Stanley Smith, Managing Director of Oakstreet Design
For additional information: info@chicagosculpture.org
Image credits (left to right): a drawing by Jyl Bonaguro, Circumvolution by Darlys Ewoldt, Hungry to Be Human by Stephanie Sailer
Artist Spotlight Exhibit
Exhibition Dates: July 26 - August 15, 2025
Artist Spotlight: Works by Jyl Bonaguro, Darlys Ewoldt, and Stephanie Sailer
Location:
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen avenues)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm*
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
*Open until 8pm on the 1st of every of every month for West Town’s First Fridays
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Image credits: Jyl Bonaguro, Darlys Ewoldt - Circumvolution, Stephanie Sailer - Hungry to Be Human
Confluence & Reflection
2025 China-US Sculpture Exchange Exhibition
Opening Reception: Wednesday, August 20th, from 6-8PM
Exhibition Dates: August 18 - August 31, 2025
Hosted by: Zhejiang Sculpture Society & Chicago Sculpture International
Location:
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen avenues)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm*
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
*Open until 8pm on the 1st of every of every month for West Town’s First Fridays
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
CSI Call for Entries
Image credits: Sishi Wang - The price to Pay
By Degrees IV: Student Group Exhibit
Submission Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025
Notification will be sent via email by August 24
Exhibition Dates: September 13 - October 3, 2025
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled, or recently graduated from a degree-seeking program, to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the juried group exhibition "By Degrees IV" at the CSI Project Space Gallery in Chicago.
Artists can submit up to 2 works for consideration. Other media work can be shared via URLs to a hosting site. Accepted artwork must be able to fit through a normal-sized single-door storefront. Cost for shipping work to the gallery, as well as return shipping of unsold work, is the responsibility of the artist. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or have recently (2024 or later) completed a degree-seeking program. Accepted artists who are not CSI members will be granted a one-year non-transferable student membership to CSI.
No submission fee. This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the run of the exhibition.
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry HERE.
Drop off artwork: Sat/Sun, September 6-7 from 1-5 pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 13, from 6-9 pm
Exhibit Dates: September 13 – October 3, 2025
Chicago Sculpture International 2025 Biennale
Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form
Submission Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025
Notification will be sent via email by August 24
Exhibition Dates: September 27 - November 9, 2025
This exhibition explores the interplay of materials in the realm of sculpture, showcasing works that challenge, celebrate, and redefine our understanding of material substance. To connect your own work to this theme, consider how your choice of medium and subject matter can simultaneously reflect the physical and conceptual aspects. Formats include freestanding, wall hung, interactive, installation & video. Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
About the Juror
Debra Favre is an artist who has exhibited in the Washington, DC and the Chicago areas. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Evanston Art Center and has been a juror on the Evanston Art Center’s Exhibitions Committee for the last 14 years. She studied Fine Arts at McDaniel College in Maryland and at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, DC.
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be CSI members or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
Exhibition Location:
Evanston Art Center
1717 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
Learn more and submit your entry HERE
Questions? Contact info@chicagosculptors.com
Sculpture & Film
CSI Project Space
Submission Deadline: September 1, 2025
Notification: September 10
Drop off Work: October 4-5 (other arrangements to be made for shipped work)
Exhibition Reception: October 18
Exhibition Dates: October 18 - November 21, 2025
Pick Up Work: November 22 - 23
This open-themed show welcomes a wide range of work, including Fine Art Sculptures, object- or prop-based pieces, installations, and film-related artworks.
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) members are invited to submit sculptural artwork in consideration for the upcoming Sculpture & Film exhibition within the CSI Project Space located at 1912 N. Damen in Chicago, IL. It has often been said that the art of filmmaking is sculptural, with its use of sculptural skills needed to build sets, the spatial compositions and movements of actors in a scene, or even the construction of films in the editing process. This exhibition will feature a wide range of sculptural artwork that explores the interconnection of sculpture and film, whether it displays film imagery, stills, objects, or material within a singular form; presents film spatially through projection or video monitor display; or emerges as a collaborative endeavor between two or more individuals to explore the parallels of cinematic and sculptural space.
The goal of Sculpture & Film is to provide an exhibition space that celebrates the use and inspiration of film within the world of sculpture, allowing for an expanse of traditional to experimental art-making processes, opening up diverse worlds of expression within CSI’s s Project Space. Artists and artist teams are encouraged to submit work that can be displayed on the wall, floor, or pedestal. Installation proposals are encouraged; however, spa may be limited. Sculpture & Film will be on view at the same time the 61st Chicago International Film Festival, showcasing and celebrating filmmakers and sculptors during the months of October and November.
Please Note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover one gallery sitting shift during the duration of this show.
Curated by Chris Wubbena
The submission form can be filled out here:
https://forms.gle/fMgs9NeM4bAJvsiS6
Image credit: Chris Wubbena
Member Opportunities
Paid Opportunity - Community Workshop!
As part of Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form, CSI is offering a paid opportunity for one exhibiting artist to design and lead a community-engaging workshop that connects to the exhibition’s theme. This is a chance to extend your artistic practice into a public-facing format, fostering dialogue, creativity, and participation.
Workshops can take many forms—hands-on art-making, demonstrations, collaborative sculpture, found-object assemblage, or guided discussions exploring material culture and meaning. We welcome innovative proposals that make the concept of materiality accessible and resonant for a wide audience, including youth, families, or adults with varying levels of artistic experience.
Perks:
$350 stipend from CSI
Materials donated by Blick Art Supply
Location: EAC classroom next to the gallery site
EAC will help coordinate logistics, space, and promotion.
Dates:
Deadline: Friday, August 29th, 2025 – or any time sooner!
Workshop date is up to you! Weekends are best as families might attend.
To Be Considered:
Indicate your interest in the workshop opportunity within your application.
Include a brief proposal (1–2 paragraphs) describing your workshop concept:
Workshop title
What will participants do or learn
Duration of the workshop ( 1-2 hours)
Needed materials and estimated cost
How does it relate to your own work or the theme of Materiality in Sculpture?
This is an exciting way to engage the community and share the material curiosity behind your own work. We encourage bold, thoughtful, and inclusive ideas.
If interested, please send a word doc including the above information.
Please send to Carol Hammerman. hammermancarol@gmail.com
Thank you!
Your Indoor Committee: Darlys Ewoldt (Chair), Christine Forni, Victoria Fuller, Set Gozo, Carol Hammerman, Donna Hapac, Suzanne Horwitz, Stacee Kalmanovsky
CSI Members Annual Picnic
Sunday, September 28, 2025
4 - 7PM
THE UNION
1307 Chicago, Ave
Evanston, IL 60202
Pizza + Libations + Bocce
Chicago Sculpture International says ‘thank you’ to our members.
Pizza and a drink on us!
Please RSVP by September 21 - info@chicagosculpture.org
Member News
Image credit: Bethany Cordero
Weaving Ambiguity
Featuring works by Bethany Cordero
August 1 - September 12, 2025
Epiphany Center for the Arts
Slemmons Gallery
201 S Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL
Weaving Ambiguity is a solo exhibition by CSI member and interdisciplinary artist Bethany Cordero who works primarily with clay, metal, and fiber. Her practice explores how these materials undergo shifts and adaptations, reflecting the fluid nature of identity and the passage of time. Her process-driven approach, whether through welding or weaving, highlights the material's capacity for change, while drawing connections between personal experience and collective narratives.
On the Count: An Installation by Gina Lee Robbins
August 11 - October 5, 2025
Reception: August 22, 5-8 PM
Panel Discussion: TBD
On the Count is a meditation on the US carceral system. This project consisted of the creation of 2,000 ceramic torso-shaped forms that were each hand-formed and individually pierced 1,000 times by artist Gina Lee Robbins, representing the almost 2 million people currently incarcerated in all 50 states. The exhibition also includes photo documentation of temporary installations in view of several detention sites throughout Indiana.
On the Count was made possible through the Power Plant Grant Program of Big Car Collaborative funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts. The project will be exhibited at the Indianapolis Art Center alongside Prison Reimagined, an exhibition conceived of by Caddell Kivett and coordinated by the Justice Arts Coalition, featuring presidential portraits by 46 incarcerated artists and poets.
Indianapolis Art Center
820 East 62nd Street
Indianapolis, IN
Entangled Expressions:
Exploring the Labyrinth of Linearity
Featuring works by Victoria Fuller, Spencer Gale, and Deborah Newmark
July 12 - September 14, 2025
Artist Talk and Q&A: Saturday, August 16, 1 - 2 p.m.
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is honored to present a new exhibition titled Entanged Expressions: Exploring the Labyrinth of Linearity, which brings together the distinctive visions of CSI members Victoria Fuller and Spencer Gale, along with Chicago-based artist Deborah Newmark.
Entangled Expressions is an immersive journey into the realm of meandering and undulating lines, where art converges with the intricate patterns of nature, mathematics, and human expression. This exhibition features the captivating works of three visionary artists who navigate the complexities of lines, knots, and entanglements, each employing a unique medium to articulate their profound explorations.
Within this curated space, viewers encounter a myriad of forms and textures, woven together by the common thread of meandering lines. The interplay of light and shadow dances upon the surfaces, inviting contemplation and engagement.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA)
2320 W Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773 227-5522
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday
12:00PM – 4:00PM
$10 suggested donation
Image (clockwise): Victoria Fuller, Deborah Newmark, and Spencer Gale
Ray Katz Joins ISC Board
International Sculpture Center recently welcome former CSI Outdoor Exhibits Co-Chair and current member Ray Katz to the ISC Board of Trustees. Ray was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and earned a B.S. from Eastern Michigan University and an M.F.A. in sculpture from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Ray is best known for his large-scale metal sculptures in new and repurposed materials. He continues to exhibit sculpture, publicly and privately, throughout the United States, as well as previous exhibitions in Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan.
He has large public sculpture at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ and Sculpture Fields in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in other private and public collections. In addition to serving as Outdoor Exhibits Co-Chair for Chicago Sculpture International, Ray has served on the Board of Mid-South Sculpture Alliance. "Ray is not only a sculptor who is an educator, he is also a road warrior sculptor, the type that has traveled across the United States to exhibit and show support for other sculptors,” says Isaac Duncan III, fellow ISC board member.
Newcity Spotlight: CSI Artists Help Transform Beaubien Woods with “Prairie Boat” Gathering Space
A recent Newcity magazine feature highlights the transformation of Beaubien Woods into a cultural and ecological destination through the “Prairie Boat” project—a community-designed gathering space blending public art with environmental restoration. Initiated by the Field Museum with support from the Walder Foundation and organizations like Imani Village, the project drew inspiration from successful South Lakefront models but was distinctly shaped by local voices and artists.
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) members Christine Perri and Roman Villareal played pivotal roles in the project’s artistic vision. Perri contributed sculptural elements grounded in the imagery of altered books, weaving together literary and ecological themes that reflect the layered histories of the site. Villareal added carved limestone animal forms—a turtle, frog, and fish—that double as seating and symbolize the surrounding forest preserve’s native wildlife.
As reported in Newcity, additional contributions from local artists, college students, and environmental advocates honored African American historical figures and the legacy of the Underground Railroad, which once passed through the area. The “Prairie Boat” has become a centerpiece of renewed community engagement, anchoring Beaubien Woods as a vital public space on Chicago’s South Side.
[Click here to read the full article.]
Photo caption: Prairie Boat at Beaubien Woods by Christine Perri (lead artist), with contributions from Osei Agyeman-Badu, Kadija Stallings, Patrick Thompson, and Roman Villareal.
The following are not CSI sponsored projects
But may be of interest to our members
Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition
Applications due: Monday, August 25, 2025 (11:59 p.m. PT)
Notification of Acceptance: Monday, October 13, 2026
Installation: January 12 – 21, 2026
Opening Reception and Tuscawilla Sculpture Stroll with awards: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Deinstallation: January 31 – February 4, 2028
The Biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition occurs every other year featuring nationally recognized sculptors. A jury comprised of local community stake holders, art organization representatives, and artists select ten sculptures each cycle for a two-year exhibition at Tuscawilla Park and Art Park (829 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala, FL 34470).
Applications are now open for the 8th Biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition.
For additional selection and application requirements and apply online with Café/Call for Entry here.
Selected artists will receive a $4,000 honorarium to help offset transportation and installation costs. Applicants must be United States residents with experience designing, fabricating, and installing large outdoor public art (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
The Tuscawilla Sculpture Stroll will celebrate these newly installed works on Saturday, February 21, 2026. An awards jury will select Best in Show, Second Place, and Honorable Mention and present the respective awards of $2,000, $1,000, and $500. Attendees of the event will also vote for their favorite work and grant the People’s Choice Award of $1,000.
Photo credit: Kirk Seese, The Feathers Three
Call for Entries: Public Art Honoring the Legacy of Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2025
The Nathaniel Morgan Memorial Committee (NMMC), in partnership with the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA), invites qualified artists to submit proposals for a public artwork honoring Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan. This memorial will be installed by September 6, 2028, on DuMA’s new campus, located on historically significant land that was once the heart of Dubuque’s early Black community. The artwork aims to confront past racial injustices, educate the public, and promote an inclusive, equitable community through artistic expression.
Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan were pioneers in Iowa’s first Black community, homeowners, and active contributors to the city’s early development. Nathaniel was lynched in 1840 under unjust circumstances, which led to a dramatic decline in the local Black population. The memorial seeks to acknowledge this history and encourage open dialogue about racial violence and its lasting effects, serving as a symbol of resilience and hope for a more integrated future. The project welcomes all artistic forms, emphasizing durable materials suited for outdoor display.
Artists eligible to apply must be U.S. residents over 18 with experience in comparable public commissions. The selected artist will receive a $100,000 budget covering all project expenses, including fabrication and installation. The site is within the Education Garden at DuMA’s new campus, opening in late 2027. Submissions are due by September 15, 2025, with finalists selected to present proposals and awarded an honorarium. The process concludes with a final artist selection announced in March 2026, followed by the memorial’s unveiling in 2028.
[Click here to download the full RFP]
Dubuque Museum of Art
Voices Dupaco Building
1000 Jackson St.
Suite 105
Dubuque, IA 52001
Submit Your News
Have any news to share?
Shows, awards, residencies etc? Submit here and we'll include them in an upcoming newsletter.
While you're at it, your profile and images on CSI’s website are important. When CSI applies for grants and upcoming shows, images are solely chosen from those you have uploaded to our website. Please take a minute to look over what you have posted and make sure you are presenting the best work. Member Shelley Gilchrist sgilchristart@gmail.com has volunteered to help you if you need it, so feel free to contact her.
CSI projects are partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for CSI programming including exhibitions and funding for Project Space Gallery.
CSI is a proud recipient of the Driehaus Foundation Arts and Culture Grant to help support funding and programming.
Above: (right) Ron Gard’s sculpture The Struggle Against Death; (right) Ron in 2014 working in Lincoln Park on one of three tree sculptures, Dying to Survive Nos. #3, #6 & #9.
In Memory of Ron Gard
Chicago Sculpture International acknowledges Ivy Gard, who in 2020 graciously donated ongoing exhibition space (CSI Project Space) to CSI and its members in memory of Ron Gard and his achievements in sculpture and dedicated service for several years as treasurer of the organization.
Ron’s exquisite and exacting craftsmanship, along with his vast knowledge of materials and methods, is widely regarded and revered by CSI and his circle of peers.
Land Acknowledgement
The City of Chicago, and its surrounding areas, have always been and always will be, home to numerous Native American communities. As a team dedicated to the uplifting of Indigenous People's sovereignty everywhere, we recognize that each program and exhibition associated with this project is taking place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa - as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations. Further, we acknowledge that Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native American communities in the US. We therefore invite each of our non-Indigenous colleagues to learn more about the forced removal of many of the communities listed above from the state of Illinois and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their line of work. To provide immediate assistance to Native American Communities in Chicago, you can send donations to the city's American Indian Center here
Cover image: Sculpture detail by Gina Lee Robbins
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