Creative Conversation with Artist Gwen Pruitt Arts Engagement 04/04 by Phantom Gallery Chicago Network | Visual Arts Podcasts

Creative Conversation with Artist Gwen Pruitt Arts Engagement 04/04 by Phantom Gallery Chicago Network | Visual Arts Podcasts:

Gwen Pruitt is a fine artist who has had several solo exhibitions and commission of her large paint on canvas pieces. Pruitt is well-known for her versatility with mixed media from clay to glass and probably more so throughout the community as an Art Teacher. She serves as the director of the Art Department for Prologue Schools and has designed a curriculum that harnesses the power of art and creative expression as a tool to empower at-risk youth.

Pruitt plans to engage her art students in the various stages of installation from site preparation to ongoing programming and maintenance. She has been a driving force in the movement in teaching neighborhood youth art production. Pruitt is a retail gallery owner for a new retail venue in the called Tangible Things that features affordable work of many neighborhood artists. Tangible Things will serve as a hybrid cafe, art store and community center.

Pop-up shops were opening in University of Chicago storefronts along 53rd Street,Nancy Jackson and Gwen Pruit swooped into a retail space on the other end of the neighborhood.4856 S. Cottage Grove Ave. The small shop, wedged in between a convenience store and nail salon, grew out of the past experiences and expertise of the two non-profit veterans – Jackson, executive director of youth job training and educational organization Prologue Inc., and Pruitt, a former employee of the Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center. Investivation: How Arts and Cultural Strategies Enhance Community Engagement and Participation Tactical Urbanism, public participatory art projects allows the public to collaborate.

"Art is Business"