Comments on: Are Apartment Galleries Illegal?

By: Some Thoughts on Apartment Galleries by William Dolan — neotericart

Some Thoughts on Apartment Galleries by William Dolan — neotericart — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:14:40 +0000

[...] few weeks ago, Chicago Art Magazine ran an article asking the question, “Are apartment galleries illegal?” The article summarized the troubles The [...]

By: Bill Scanlon

Bill Scanlon — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:05:07 +0000

This ridiculous, disgusting situation is not surprising in today’s Chicago. Daley and his minions are threatened by anything they can’t control, including art and people who create or appreciate art. So they want to wipe the city clean of art – whether on the streets, in living spaces or in galleries.

By: Kathryn Born

Kathryn Born — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:51:10 +0000

Oy. With the grassroots, I can never do anything right. I’m glad as of 5/31 we will editorially (including reviews) be staying away from the entire scene. Hopefully that will appease everyone.

Eveyone who doesn’t want the apartment galleries to get press just won. The category was taken off the map last week, and we’ll keep making changes from there.

By: Fashion Bath

Fashion Bath — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:27:47 +0000

Erik’s right. Quit outting people.

By: Dominic Paul Moore

Dominic Paul Moore — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:26:12 +0000

look for the Large Front page A1 Tribune(Vera) article to be in print this coming week..

from what i can gather it will try to look into the zoning problems the city has, possible loop holes for temporary events ie. an opening night.

I agree with Erik. none of this direct press naming names will generate any good attention to this issue. it’s all tentative. wait until you have the meat

By: Jeffrey Grauel

Jeffrey Grauel — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:33:28 +0000

This article is mixing two separate things, galleries and apartment shows. Apartment shows started as a response to artists’ frustration with curators, collectors and an elite gallery scene. They installed their work in their living spaces and invited people to respond to it. If you are going to act like a gallery in every way (sandwich boards, non-profit status) can you really be surprised when the City figures out and expects you to follow its regulations? One of the great things about art in Chicago is that it never has conformed to art goes in a gallery and there aren’t just a few people driving it. Galleries come and go. They always have. If they are supporting good work they find other ways to operate.

By: Apartment Galleries and their Legality « The Green Lantern Press

Apartment Galleries and their Legality « The Green Lantern Press — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:59:11 +0000

[...] any case, here is some of the article. you can read the whole bit by going here. Marina City Plan with Apartment [...]

By: Whutch

Whutch — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:36:18 +0000

Here are your options:
It is not illegal to have a party in your home, drink, show your art -or a friends art or even sell it. When you turn your home into a gallery or a space that is open to the public, with regular hours, and advertisements to the general public, then you are in a grey area that is going into a business environment and may need a license.
If you are drawing crowds of people,and you live in a residential area, you may end up with people complaining to the city and then have an inspector or police at your door responding to the complaint-

Be reasonable people and stop freaking out. Are you just having a party and inviting friends-family to show your art? Or do you want to be in the business of running a gallery? If you want that, then find the right space.

The city allows home based galleries that are in a zone that permits Artist/Live Work Space- definition: A dwelling unit in which 50% of the floor area is used for the production, showing or sale of art.

There is a license for that – its called a Limited Business License, and you can get one if your home is on the second floor and you are in a B1,B2,B3,C1,C2 zone- you also need a 1 parking space. If you are on the ground floor you can be in a B2- otherwise its a big process to get approved. The cost is $250 per year.
Also, the city does not issue fines to businesses anymore if it your first offense, they issue a notice.

By: Kathryn Born

Kathryn Born — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:52:05 +0000

Hi Erik,

I respectfully disagree. First, it’s already happening. Green Lantern is closed, Ebersmoore was visited, and now 65 Grand was cited, along with several others getting a visit.

So the wheels are already in motion – and without any additional press about the situation, the apartment galleries will already quietly close or go further underground.

What I’d like to cover is:
Options – information about how to you either become legal, or truly a private party, would be very useful right now. It’s a free country, you can have some people over, drink some beer and look at art on the wall. There’s nothing illegal about that. And with a few tweaks, any apartment can do that.

Second, SoHo was built based on illegal use of the buildings in the area. And there were shut down and evictions – but eventually the public support was so strong that they changed the zoning so the artists could remain. So the city does cave.

Third, my issue is that this department, which is so quick to issue citations, is incredibly short on information as to what, exactly, the rules are. They’re a Prussian miliatary unit in their organizational skills required to hassle a venue, yet appear mystified and confused as we ask basic questions.

By: S. Burrows

S. Burrows — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:51:42 +0000

Anyone know of any apartment galleries in the suburbs?