PUBLIC WORKS’ “THE FAN CLUB” OPENS OCTOBER 9th

Public art exhibition benefits Chicago Independent Venue League

Someoddpilot and its gallery Public Works announce their latest exhibition The Fan Club, a group show featuring artwork that pays tribute to some of Chicago’s most beloved independent music venues, opening on Friday, October 9. True to Public Works’ mission of accessibility and in consideration of the COVID pandemic, The Fan Club will take place entirely in the streets of Chicago, with wheat-pasted original art prints plastered in the Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Avondale, Pilsen, and Bronzeville neighborhoods for easy, socially-distanced public viewing.

In addition to serving as a love letter to the spaces so many Chicagoans miss, the exhibition will also raise funds to benefit the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL), which acts to secure the long-term future of venues for the benefit of the community and emerging artists. For every photo of the exhibition posted to social media with the hashtag #thefanclubchicago, Someoddpilot and Public Works will donate $1 to CIVL and the featured venues. Additionally, select works from The Fan Club will be available for sale as limited-run prints (50 prints per design) and shirts at Public Works’ gallery space at 2141 W. North Avenue in Wicker Park or at thefanclubchicago.com; proceeds from poster and t-shirt sales will also benefit the venues and CIVL.

“We felt we had to do something to support these independent venues, and we heard the same from artists,” said Chris Eichenseer, co-founder of Someoddpilot & Public Works. “Public Works is traditionally this beautiful community space, but with the pandemic, we had to reimagine what that space means. The answer became obvious: take the show to the streets and support a city in need. That’s what we can do as fans and artists. We can make some noise...and a much-needed art exhibition.”

The eight featured artists, all of whom are local to Chicago, and the venues that inspired their work are as follows: Whitney Colley for The Whistler, Ashley King for Hungry Brain, Alexa Viscius for The Hideout, Charlotte Croy Hudson for Thalia Hall, Bill Connors for Empty Bottle, Joi Fulton for Sleeping Village, Julio Ruiz-Santana for Subterranean and Nathan Hanley for The Promontory.

“The Hideout is at the top of so many Chicagoans’ list of favorite venues. It’s a place of real community that I am proud to be a part of. The void I feel right now is vast,” said Alexa Viscius. “This poster tries to illustrate that feeling. The experience of sharing space and listening to the same notes all at once is something I really miss. The idea that spaces like The Hideout and other small local venues won’t make it through the pandemic is really painful to imagine. We need these spaces, these communities. They make Chicago what it is.”

“We are so lucky that Chicago has places like The Hideout, where strangers meet for a common cause, a favorite band, to support each other. We are physical structures where fans-friends gather. It's the fans that fill our rooms and make magic. Without each other we are empty physically and spiritually,” said Tim Tuten, co-owner of The Hideout and co-founder of CIVL, along with his wife, Katie. “Our purpose, our art, depends on the people who fill our spaces. You are inseparable in our mission. Our mission has always been to come together. We will be empty this winter, but let’s stay virtually connected through art, music, posters and projects. With your continued support we will make it through this.”

“The message is simple: we have to fight for the spaces we love,” added Annika Welander, co-founder of Public Works. “These venues made incredible memories for so many of us. We met our friends there. We met our partners there. We started businesses because of the people we met there. Now’s the time to reflect on these moments and give back.”

A map of the exact locations of the outdoor exhibition can be found at thefanclubchicago.com. More information about the featured artists can be found on their websites or Instagram accounts: