Dan Devening/devening projects + editions

February 18th, 2011

40 Over 40: Artist-Run Spaces

By Chicago Art Magazine on Feb 11, 2011 in Featured

Chicago has been host to an amazing array of artist-run spaces since at least the 1970’s. Many of these spaces originally emerged as venues working counter to the predominately commercial (and early on, predominantly male) gallery culture in Chicago. Starting with Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago’s artist-run spaces have continued to evolve along the lines of commerce and culture. A common earmark of the contemporary artist-run space is that of transience. These spaces tend to erupt, flame, sizzle, and enter the final stage of transformation or destruction. This final stage is not absolutely inevitable, however, the unique stresses of running a self-funded artist space act often as a pressure to organize, be it into a commercial venture or a legitimate non-profit, or to disband. Alternative spaces have also tended to be the arena of the young; there are, however, some successful, established, mid-career artists who choose to remain in the mode of space keeper. As part of our 40 Over 40 Project, we’ve chosen to highlight these Chicago artists, 40 and over, who maintain both a thriving art practice and a contemporary art space.

Dan Devening (b. 1958) attended school at the University of Nebraska, receiving his BFA there in 1980, before coming to Chicago. Over the next couple years he attended the University of Chicago, where he received his MFA in Painting and Drawing in 1983. He has exhibited throughout the Midwest, as well as nationally and internationally, and is currently represented by Roy Boyd Gallery here in Chicago. Devening Projects + Editions, run by Dan, is located 3039 West Carroll, in a neighborhood filled with artists’ studios in west Chicago. Dan’s space host’s exhibitions as well as making artists’ editioned work available. The current exhibition, Kabinett 5: Andreas Fischer + Melissa Pokorny, will be up until March 19th, 2011. http://deveningprojects.com/