{{infobox Museum | name = Lillstreet Art Center | image = 2013SummerClassCatalogue.jpg | caption = Lillstreet's 2013 Summer Class Catalogue Cover | former_name = Lill Street Studios | established = {{Start date|1975}} | location = Chicago, Illinois, US | type = Art Center | director = Bruce Robbins | public_transit = Montrose and Ravenswood stop, Chicago Transit Authority | website = {{URL|www.lillstreet.com}} }}
'''Lillstreet Art Center''' is an arts center in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is one of the oldest and most successful multi-faceted art centers{{Citation needed|date=December 2023|reason=How do we know it is being run as a co-op, or what that means in this context}} in the Chicago area<ref name =Hawkins2011>{{cite web|last=Hawkins|first=Margaret|url=http://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/hands-chicago| title=Hangs-On Chicago | publisher=American Craft Council | accessdate=August 7, 2016}}</ref> and its facilities include classrooms for arts education, a gallery, an artist residency program, studio spaces, a cafe, and a community outreach program.
==History== The center began as a ceramics studio in a renovated horse barn in Chicago on Lill Street in 1975, Founded by Bruce Robbins, owner of Robbins Clay Co and his partner, potter Martin Cohen,.<ref name=stoepel2010>{{cite web |url=http://gapersblock.com/ac/2010/03/02/empty-bowls-at-lillstreet-art-center-a-tour/ |title=Empty Bowls At Lillstreet Art Center: A Tour |newspaper=Gapersblock.com |date=March 20, 2010 |author=Whitney Stoepel |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> it started as a ceramics studio known as "Lill Street Studios" with 11 members. After 28 years, "Lillstreet Art Center" relocated to a former gear factory on Ravenswood Avenue in 2003, increasing its space from 17,000 to {{cvt|40,000|sqft}}.<ref name=enyart2015>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiachronicle.com/arts_and_culture/article_6903b3f8-7f7b-11e5-b226-a7453eaca8d8.html |title=Lillstreet Art Center celebrates 40 years |newspaper=Columbiachronicle.com |date=November 2, 2015 |author=Frank EnYart |accessdate=August 7, 2016}}</ref> The new facility added metalsmithing & jewelry, painting & drawing, printmaking, textiles, glass, and digital arts & photography -- as well as a small coffee shop.<ref name="enyart2015" /> Lillstreet hosts studios for more than 50 artists, serves more than 1000 students, and has a summer day camp for kids 6-16.
In 2012, a {{convert|400|sqft|adj=mid}} green roof was installed at the center. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1613 |title=Greenroofs.com Projects - Lillstreet Art Center Green Roof Project |website=Greenroofs.com |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> Also on the roof are about 20 beehives, with honey for sale in the gallery. In 2025, Lillstreet is celebrating 50 years in business.<ref name="enyart2015" />
==Gallery exhibitions== Exhibitions at the Lillstreet Art Center have included: * ''Reformat: Digital Fabrication in Clay'' combined traditional ceramic techniques with digital fabrication such as 3D printing and computer-controlled routers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.psu.edu/story/359898/2015/06/08/arts-and-entertainment/chicago-art-exhibit-features-school-visual-arts |title=Chicago art exhibit features School of Visual Arts' Lauerman |newspaper=News.psu.edu |date=June 8, 2015 |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> * ''Neat: The Art of the Whiskey Vessel''was an exhibit of ceramic bottles, cups, flasks, jugs, and whiskey buckets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thiel|first=Julia|title= Whiskey, art, and art that holds whiskey at Lillstreet Art Center |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2013/02/06/whiskey-art-and-art-that-holds-whiskey-at-lillstreet-art-center|publisher=Chicago Reader| accessdate=August 7, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cavanaugh|first=Amy|title=Neat: The Art Of The Whiskey Vessel Opens Friday|url=http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/26/neat_the_art_of_the_whiskey_vessel.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106015233/http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/26/neat_the_art_of_the_whiskey_vessel.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2017|publisher=The Chicagoist|accessdate=August 7, 2016}}</ref> * ''100 Acts of Sewing'', an exhibit of the fiber artist, Sonya Phillip.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pierson - Cox|first=Haley|title= Crafty Events: 100 Acts of Sewing at the Lillstreet Gallery in Chicago |url=http://makezine.com/craft/crafty-events-100-acts-of-sewing-at-the-lillstreet-gallery-in-chicago/|publisher=MAKE Magazine}}</ref> * ''Graphic Noise: Gig Posters from the Chicago Printers Guild'', an exhibit of Chicago-based printmakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artreachchicago.org/blog/a-talk-with-tracey-morrison |title=A talk with Tracey Morrison |newspaper=Artreachchicago.org |date=December 2014 |author=Cristiana Troli |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> * ''Cairn & Cloud: A Collective Expression of Trauma and Hope'' was created by Corinne Peterson, and composed of clay and porcelain objects made by workshops members dealing with trauma and grief.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gapersblock.com/ac/2015/12/11/an-interview-with-corinne-peterson-healing-the-split/ |title=An Interview with Corinne Peterson: Healing the Split |newspaper=Gapersblock.com |date=December 11, 2015 |author=S. Nicole Lane |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> * ''Before I Die…'', was an outdoor, chalkboard-based, art exhibit that encouraged passers-by to fill in the open-ended sentence. Originally conceived by artist Candy Chang.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/before-i-die-the-ultimate-to-do-list |title=Before I Die…, the Ultimate To-Do List |newspaper=Centersquarejournal.com |date=May 3, 2012 |author=Patty Wetli |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref> * ''In the Penal Colony'' was Philip Glass' adaptation of Kafka's short story, staged by the Chicago Fringe Opera. The chamber opera was performed in the painting and drawing studio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/vonrhein/ct-fringe-opera-penal-colony-review-ent-0517-20160516-column.html |title=Chicago Fringe Opera plunges into 'Penal Colony,' Kafka's dystopian nightmare |newspaper=Chicagotribune.com |date=May 16, 2016 |author=John von Rhein |accessdate=August 8, 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{Museums in Chicago}}
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Category:1975 establishments in Illinois Category:Art museums and galleries in Chicago Category:Arts centers in Illinois