Armed with just acrylic paint and their brushes, artists will transform blank canvases into works of art live in front of an audience.
It’s the return of Art Clash, the live painting competition at Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin.
“We’re really excited to have these back,” said Erin Rehberg, founder and executive director at Side Street. “It’s loud music and painting. People just kind of walk in a circle keeping track of where all these artists are for those 20 minutes and falling in love with the pieces and watching the creative process move quickly right before their eyes.”
The first of four monthly competitions will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2022, at Side Street. Additional competitions are slated for Feb. 12, March 12 and April 9, with the finals to be held in May.
Eight artists will compete each month, with two rounds of four artists competing at each event.
“The first four artists will have only 20 minutes to paint whatever they want. We provide the paint and the canvas and those supplies. They can bring their brushes but no other tools,” Rehberg said. “So it’s just kind of a really minimal set up for what the artists can create in a minimum amount of time.”
At the end of each round, the audience votes on their favorites from that round.
“The top four artists compete in a third round. This time they get 30 minutes, which is new this year,” Rehberg said. “We’re giving that last round a little more time (for artists) to dive into their work.”
The audience will then vote on the final winner for the night, with the winning artist moving on to the city final in May.
All of the paintings that are made during the completion immediately go up for on-site auction, she said. Prices start at $50 and go up from there.
“Over the years we’ve seen so many great art collections begin,” Rehberg said. “It’s so fun to see the artist make the work right in front of your eyes and then be able to potentially buy that and have that.”
Works that don’t sell that night are available for sale through MADE, Side Street’s retail store featuring the work of local artists, or other events. Sales are split 50/50 between the artist and Side Street, to cover supply costs, Rehberg said.
More Top Picks Best Wearable Migraine Devices For Relief
“The winner from each battle will get a cut of the door at the end of the night as well,” she said. “We’re really trying to dish some of the money right back out to these artists who are participating.”
For each of the monthly competitions, the artists will be set up in the middle of a big room, giving audience members the ability to walk in laps around the painters as they create.
“For capacity and current COVID reasons, we’re going to have it in our theater, which is our biggest open space, but also have all of our second floor open so people can spread out a little more,” Rehberg said.
Starting in January, larger events at Side Street will require proof of vaccination or a negative test.
“Based on everything going on, for our larger events — which this will be — we will be requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test at the door,” she said.
Masks will still be required, and events will still be at slightly reduced capacity, she said.
“We’re just going to try to cover all our bases while still being able to create and hold and produce these kinds of events,” Rehberg said.
Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets early to not only take advantage of the presale discount — tickets are $10 online but will be $15 at the door — but also to ensure they have their tickets in case the event reaches capacity.
While all of the artists competing are adults, the competition is a family-friendly event, Rehberg said.
“Traditionally at the city final we’ve done a kid’s Art Clash too,” she said. “It is an all ages event and really fun to come to with family and friends.”
The lineup of artists competing in the Jan. 8 event includes Kathy Fredrickson, John French, Karl Jahnke, Adrian Mesino, Hallie Morrison, Natalie Pivoney, Ken Simonsen and Sierra Tuazon.
Side Street is still accepting artists for the remaining months’ competitions.
“We have three more, and the application is on the Facebook page and will be up on our website,” Rehberg said.
Artists who don’t win the monthly competition are allowed to compete again in remaining events. In May the winners from the four monthly battles will compete a short round followed by a long round before the final audience vote. Cash prizes and a lab membership at Side Street Studio Arts will be awarded.
Rehberg said it’s fun to be part of the moment that art is created at the competitions and to know that artists are being paid when the painting is auctioned. With bids starting at $50, it’s an affordable way to purchase art.
“Fifty dollars is a nice jumping off point, especially for a new collection or someone who just really falls in love with something. It’s not the biggest risk in the world to take,” Rehberg said. “It’s fun to see people walking out with artwork that they’re really excited about at these shows because work always sells.”
Art Clash
When: 7-9:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2022
Where: Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin
Tickets: $10 online presale; $15 at the door
Information: 847-429-2276; sidestreetstudioarts.org
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.