Something wicked is coming to Ziegler Court.
Side Street Studio Arts annual “Something Wicked …” exhibit, meant to “instill a combined sense of wonder, awe and perhaps a little dread,” returns this year with two gallery spaces full of unusual and unexpected art.
“We have two floors of art,” said curator Tanner Melvin, who is also co-founder/executive director of Side Street.
The exhibit runs Oct. 1-30 at Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, with an opening reception from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 1 at the gallery, which coincides with First Friday and the Farmers Market.
Now in its ninth year, “Something Wicked …” is the annual exhibition started by Side Street Studio Arts. That first year Side Street worked with artists Dave Metzger and John LaFleur.
“They both have a background in the macabre and comics and toys,” Melvin said. “We wanted to do a Halloween exhibit in one way shape or form. We sat down when we really started talking and they helped curate that first year of artists.
“We really wanted to do something that was Halloween theme. We decided to run with it, and it’s turned into a monthlong exhibit.”
First held to coincide with Nightmare on Chicago Street, the exhibit has grown in popularity with gallery visitors and artists alike.
“This is one that is really well received,” Melvin said. “We might not work with the artist for the rest of the year, but come August, September, they get their submissions in for this show and they keep coming back for it.”
The juried exhibit received 65 submissions this year, and accepted by work by 54 artists.
“It ended up being one of our largest ‘Something Wicked’ exhibits,” Melvin said. “We have artists from all over the Fox Valley, as well as many from different states as well. In the past we’ve had artists nationally send us stuff for the exhibit.”
Mediums featured in the exhibit this year include painting, photography, projection, and sculpture.
“There’s beautiful, large scale 3D resin sculptures that are just really something out of a sci-fi movie,” Melvin said. “They’re really engaging and great fun to look at.”
In addition, found-object art from Horror Floral uses donated funeral flowers and vintage or found items to create works.
“They make these very, almost Victorian style mirrors and clocks and snow globes even,” he said. “They’re oddities and very beautiful.”
While some pieces might address a more serious issue or topic, there are also works that have a lot of humor to them.
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“We didn’t want to get into having it being strictly the macabre or super dark or where we would dissuade people from coming. It’s still fun,” Melvin said. “It’s a fun exhibit. It’s not just for the dark arts or anything like that. It is family oriented, typically. There might be artwork that is adult in nature, and we let everyone know that. But we keep it as well rounded as possible.”
Those who are afraid that the “Something Wicked …” exhibit might be extreme need not fear.
“It’s not a gross-out factor or anything like that,” he said. “We’re really trying to showcase the artistry in this vein of the world.”
The exhibit is free to visit, although a $5 donation is suggested.
“Starting in 2020, we take zero commission on our exhibits,” Melvin sad. “So we give 100% of the sales of the artwork back to the artists. We’re very proud of that and work very hard to be able to do that. percent “
That change, he said, has made a huge difference in the amount of art sold at the gallery.
“Artists come in, they know that most galleries take 30, 40, 50%, so they have to increase their pricing for their artwork, and sometimes that artwork doesn’t get sold because it’s priced so high,” Melvin said.
“So if we leave out that commission, we can lower the pricing and we can actually have more art getting into the hands of the public. And that’s been demonstrated from day one when we did that … We sell a lot more because of that now.”
‘Something Wicked … 2021′
When: Oct. 1-30
Where: Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin
Tickets: $5 suggested donation
Information: 847-429-2276, sidestreetstudioarts.org
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.