Reporting and analysis of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Just west of the Democratic National Convention is the temporary exhibition Into Action, a curated gallery and festival aimed at highlighting art, ideas and the power of choice.
“This is the voice of the people against the backdrop of the Democratic National Convention,” said Yosi Sergant, co-producer and co-curator of the pop-up near the United Center, where the convention is taking place this week.
The pop-up gallery is open through Thursday and features over 240 artists and dozens of performers and speakers, including singer-songwriter Jamila Woods and actress Rosario Dawson. At least half of the works on display are by Chicago-based artists, with the rest coming from across the country.
Yosi Sergant is co-producer and co-curator of the “Into Action” pop-up near the United Center, where the convention is taking place this week.
Andrea Flores/For the Sun-Times
Sergant, who commissioned former President Barack Obama’s “Hope” poster in 2008, said that politics can only do so much. It is art, culture and artists that help society understand the world.
“Our democracy desperately needs art and artists to help us understand the world around us, to help us dream beyond the obstacles that lie before us, and to help us make sense of life,” he said.
Whether it’s Native American portraits on worn luggage or womb-shaped coat hangers, each piece tells the story of a hard struggle.
“No matter where we are, we all struggle with credit card debt, with hunger, with poverty, with the health care industry and health care challenges, we have to take care of our elders, we have to take care of our children,” Sergant said.
“These are the things that challenge all of us, and they all need to be represented,” Sergant said.
Joe Ivacic, who creates objects out of glass, is one of the featured artists in the pop-up exhibition “Into Action.”
Andrea Flores/For the Sun-Times
One of the featured artists is Joe Ivacic, who makes objects out of glass. Some of his featured works include a painting of a protest placed broadly over a police shield (made of glass) and another depicting a bullet-riddled school bag (also made of glass) in a messy classroom.
With the microphone turned off, he admits that many people hate this work, but that it is necessary.
“Whether you look at political cartoons or large-scale paintings, art has multiple purposes. It can beautify, it can provide information, it can make you think, like good literature or a piece of music. It offers two sides,” Ivacic said.
“My job as an artist is to make people question their point of view and say, ‘You know what? Maybe my world isn’t compatible with everyone else’s world.'”
Tony WHLGN, a visiting artist from Detroit, has been a community leader and artist for the past decade.
“And what I learn helps me form a better opinion about the direction I want to take in my life,” WHLGN said.
He calls the presentation “thought-provoking.”
“I think if you don’t know the political climate in this country, by looking at many of these pieces and reading some of the statements from these artists, you can get an idea of what it feels like,” WHLGN said.
Although Sergant could not officially announce which major political figures will attend the events, he insists that the public will not want to miss the next few days.
“I hope people see the truth that is on the wall: who we are and who we were and what we need to do to get there,” Sergant said.
The Into Action gallery is located at 2226 W. Walnut St., a short walk from the new Damen stop on the Near West Side. The event is free, but registration is required.
