Discipline: Visual Arts

K-6th grade students enjoyed the first-ever visual arts program at the Islamic Community Center of Illinois Elementary School, completing abstract art projects and learning about math along the way with teaching artist James Jankowiak.

This Pilsen-based program utilized soft sculpture and installation art to encourage connections between local schools, and to spark dialogue about the neighborhood’s identity.

West Englewood students stepped out of their comfort zones to gain new creative skills in summer 2015, exploring the Caribbean Carnival festival through four different artistic disciplines and a field trip experience.

Urban Gateways’ first creative aging initiative in summer 2015 partnered with Montgomery Place in Hyde Park, linking local teens with senior residents for cross-generational, collaborative art-making.

The second annual World Weavers Project at Stone Academy engaged 6th grade students with the fine art of rug design. Selected student designs will be woven into reality in Afghanistan.

James Jankowiak was born and raised in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Mostly self taught (he studied at Columbia and then SAIC for …

Jeff Maldonado lives and works in Pilsen. He has maintained his studio for the past 20 years. He studied under Mario Castillo, professor at Columbia College, who is credited with …

Montserrat Alsina, born in Venezuela, is a multidisciplinary artist, teacher, and cultural worker. She received a B.A. from Rhodes College in Visual Arts and Education, and an M.F.A. from the …

Nicole has worked as a professional Lead Artist with nonprofits in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods since ’97. She specializes in creating permanent public art projects with her apprentice artists that …

Sonja Henderson received her B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied painting and drawing; she recevied her M.F.A. from the University of California at …