Artist | Muralist | Teaching Artist
PLATFORM 63
Group Exhibition Details
Opening Saturday, April 5th - Closing September
Viewing Hrs: Fridays 12p-6p and Saturdays 11p-5p
Location: Marie|Wesley, 1122 W. 63rd St, 2nd fl, Chicago, IL 60621
Exhibition Schedule
OPENING NIGHT
Date: Saturday, April 5th
Time: 5p - 9p
ARTIST TALK
Date: Sunday, May 4th
Time: TBA
FORGED & REIMAGINED - A live metalwork demonstration by Namora Joy
Date: Saturday, May 24th
Details Coming Soon!
CREATIVE VIBRATIONS - An Open Mic Experience with the artist WeirdGirlNextDoor
Date: Sunday, June 8th
Details Coming Soon!
A LOOK INTO JENKO’S ALLEY - A discussion with artist Jenko about her stop motion series project
Date: Sunday, July 27th
Details Coming Soon!
FRAMES & FLOW - A visual & musical experience with Jes Jazzy
Date: Saturday, August 30th
Details Coming Soon!
We asked the artists in the show what comes to mind when they think of the show's theme, We Are All Artists:
Photo Credit: Kai Brown
WeirdGirlNextDoor
Mixed Media
“Over the past year or two I've been learning to let go of perfectionism. I would believe that if the style of art wasn't realism it wasn't consider art or I felt that the artist wasn't really putting in effort. I felt the more realistic the piece the more the artist has perfected their skills. Without anyone to really open my mind from these perspective was horrible for looking back. Creating exactly what you see is amazing, but realism isn't the only thing for me to enjoy. After working with the youth, adults and meeting amazing free minded artist over the past 4 years, they taught me to have fun creating. Not everyone I came across believed they were creative or artistic until they were encouraged to have fun. While encouraging adults to have fun creating something simple like a heart or circles or whatever I realized some advice I can genuinely take myself. Also seeing the fun in just letting art be whatever comes to mind looked so freeing with the youth, mistakes and all. I used art as a coping mechanism, I had a distractive kind of fun or peace of mind from my environment when creating. On top of that, the only fun I had was after my pieces were done and I was told it was reassured that it looked exactly like the image I referenced. I was never having full genuine fun in the process of creating until 2023. Now all my pieces consist of me using paint unconventionally, doodling patterns, and little realism. I love to just create swirls while I sing when creating a piece. Even some of the swirls or patterns aren't the neatest, but they look so good together. It's so freeing to just move on from the imperfections and see where my mind wonders. I overthink less and just do which is my duty as an artist first, just do it and have fun. Art is so much more which in turn naturally means everyone is an artist in some way. If they're a chef, website designer, writer, curator, doctor, or personal assistant they are creative which makes them ARTIST.”
Photo Credit: Kai Brown
Doodle May Jenkins
Multi-media Artist
“I believe every thought, everything, every decision, every action is art. Art isn’t the word I want to use. Creation is. Everyone does it and, in my eyes, it’s the most powerful thing I can do. I’ve experienced and witnessed powerlessness. I refuse to remain that way. Creating helps me discover who I am as an artist and as a person.”
Photo Credit: Kai Brown
Jes Jazzy
Photographer
“Everyone is an artist with something to contribute to the world. Every gift has purpose and meaning. We Are All Artists. My work explores the dynamic between The Greatest Artist, GOD, and creation. GOD created life and inserted value into every human being—value that has nothing to do with what we produce but who we are. We are GOD’S ART, one-of-ones, uniquely displaying HIS GLORY. It is through knowing HIM that we come to know ourselves. My photos express what I’m learning through HIS LENS.”
Photo Credit: Kai Brown
Namora Joy
Metalwork / Wearable Art
“Impostor syndrome is something many artists struggle with including myself. Today I'm embracing the title of artist. Perfectionism often holds me back, and I'm using this opportunity to embrace the title of artist and allow myself to play and be free. No pieces are perfect, but they are perfect for me.”
Photo Credit: Kai Brown
Jea Jots
Calligrapher/Hand Lettering Artist
“Calligraphy is art. It combines technical skill with creative expression. It transforms writing into visually beautiful forms, using careful control of tools and materials. We can infuse our unique style into the work just like any other artist. The curvature of each stroke, the spacing between letters, and the flow of the words can convey emotion or a sense of rhythm, much like music or visual art. It’s not just about legibility but about creating aesthetic, emotional, and cultural value through each stroke. I am an artist.”