Chicago-based artist John Preus, a really fantastic maker of objects, installations, collaborations, and all manner of pretty wonderful things and experiences has a kickstarter campaign going to assist him in essential costs going toward his upcoming exhibition at the Hyde Park Art Center entitled "The Beast." As the press material states:
"Intertwining spectacle and site, John Preus’ “The Beast,” becomes a new space for cultural inquiry, public dialogue and creative production within the Hyde Park Art Center, April 13 – August 3. Fabricating a large structure from harvested materials including upholstery leather and discarded wood and furniture from recently closed Chicago Public Schools, Preus will transform the gallery’s interior with a complex architectural framework inspired by the form of a dead steer, emblematic of violence and sacrifice. The gallery will exist as an artist-run space throughout the span of the exhibition, and will be activated through corresponding performances, discussions and educational offerings programmed by Preus and various collaborators.
Best known for his work as the lead fabricator for Theaster Gates, and as the principal designer and builder of the Dorchester Projects’ Archive House, Preus founded Dilettante Studios in 2010, which designs and builds cabinets, furniture, and residential and commercial spaces, relying almost exclusively on second-hand materials. He also co-founded SHOP (Southside Hub of Production), a collective of artists, educators, and local civic organizations with curator Laura Schaeffer, and has collaborated with countless others on projects that make up his multifaceted practice as an artist, builder, writer, and musician. “The Beast” is the culmination of Preus’ yearlong participation in the Jackman Goldwasser Residency at Hyde Park Art Center, and is his first major solo exhibition."
John is a really terrific artist who has contributed a lot to the ongoing vitality of the arts community in Chicago and elsewhere. Please do consider helping to support this ambitious project!
