At the Hop: A Virtual Gallery Spotlight on 65GRAND
In response to temporary business closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak, DFA presents “At the Hop,” a series highlighting local art galleries we miss hopping to. Our aim is to keep a spotlight on our community and stay engaged with one another. Each feature includes an overview of the gallery’s current show and some remote insights from the gallerists. Answers may be lightly edited for length and clarity.
Featuring: 65GRAND
Location: Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL
65GRAND is a contemporary art gallery run by owner and founder Bill Gross. Now located in Humboldt Park, the program has roots as an apartment gallery formerly located in West Town. Currently on view is an extended solo exhibition by Heather Mekkelson titled Reverse Prophecies. Mekkelson is a Chicago-based sculptor and installation artist that utilizes both found and fabricated objects.
Could you tell us a bit about your program at 65GRAND? When did you open your new space on North Avenue?
65GRAND moved into the space at 3252 West North Avenue in September 2016. Since 2005, we have slowly evolved from our third-floor apartment space at Grand & Noble to a storefront in that same neighborhood and then to our current space which we split with ADDS DONNA gallery. We have always had the straightforward intention to exhibit art that we feel strongly about and to expand its audience. It has been our goal to provide opportunities for artists to present their work in a space that respects their vision. For the past decade, we have represented ten artists with just a few modifications to the list as artists have changed their goals. We primarily present solo exhibitions with the occasional two-person or group exhibition mixed in. Though our focus is on the artists we represent, we regularly mix in other artists in an attempt to keep our schedule lively. I am proud that the ethos and spirit of commitment to the artists and their art that has guided the gallery from the beginning remains true today and as we look ahead to the future.
How are you keeping connected with the art community during this time of physical distancing?
This is a very hard question! Unfortunately, we (Dahlia and I), have been focussing our efforts on family and as it turns out teaching a seven-year-old can be a pretty all-consuming effort. When the virus caused us to close our doors to visitors, I immediately started to think about how to organize our resources to ensure that we would be able to reopen after a pause. Happily, we have support from some dedicated collectors that have the ability to continue to acquire work so that helps. We have also found creative ways to trim our budget temporarily. Mostly, we are desperately looking forward to the time when we can get back to presenting the artwork of the artists we love to people who share our enthusiasm for spending time with art in person!
What are some of your favorite local restaurants or coffee shops?
Roeser's Bakery, Café Colao, ArePA George, Jimmy's Red Hots, Zoku Sushi, Spinning J, Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar, Café Marie-Jeanne, and Birria Huentitan. Ugh... now I'm hungry.
. . .