Anniversary Celebration of Chicago's 1st Artist's Co-Op

It’s a reunion that probably won’t be
repeated.

In July 1957, a group of 24 artists formed Chicago’s first artist’s
cooperative

called Exhibit A.  

Now for the first time, seven of those artists have
put together a reunion showing at the Chicago Cultural Arts
Center, 77 W. Randolph Street, from
October 25th – December 8th.  

The public is invited to the opening reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on
Oct. 25, which features a reunion of artists Janet Satz of Lawrence,
KS, Morris Barazani of Chicago, Carl Schwarz
of Florida, Joan Taxay Weinger of Lake Forest, and Leopold Segedin of Evanston.

“This is a wonderful opportunity
to share our history and see the new direction that our art has taken us.”
said artist Janet Satz, one of the original founders. 

Exhibiting artists include Morris Barazani, Bebe Krimmer, Regina
Kirshner Rosenzweig, Janet Satz, Carl Schwarz, Leopold Segedin, and Joan Taxay
Weinger.  Their art will range from the
late 1950’s to the present. 

    “During its time, it was the only
successful response to the lack of professional art galleries in Chicago,”
said Segedin, Exhibit A’s first President. 
“In 1957, there were six
professional galleries in Chicago,
and only four exhibited local artists.” 

  
According to Alternative Spaces: A History of Chicago, published
by the Museum of Contemporary
Art, Exhibit A’s Cooperative Gallery proved to be fundamental
to the beginnings and importance of Chicago
art.  Established in July, 1957, Exhibit
A was located at 47 Pearson Street
in Chicago.