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A message from our Executive Director, Nancy Gomez: Whitney Oliver, our beloved friend, studio manager, and integral member of the Project Onward family along with her unborn son Felix, have passed away suddenly. I know that I speak for our staff, board members, volunteers, and interns, when I say that our hearts are broken over this tragic news.⁠ ⁠ Whitney began volunteering at Project Onward in 2016 and quickly rose to the manager’s position. She loved her job working closely with our artists and had a unique knack for inspiring them to create extraordinary art. She was kind, patient, compassionate, opinionated, and stubborn as hell when she believed in something and fought like a mama bear for her artists. She loved having karaoke parties and really, really wanted to have a baby. She loved dessert and relished every last crumb. She cracked us up with her mimicry. We called her Whit and Whinnie.⁠ There’s so much more to tell you about her - and we will. Our hearts go out to her husband and fellow Project Onward friend and volunteer Alex, her mother Jan, father Blaine and her three brothers. Funeral and memorial arrangements will be forthcoming - you'll be hearing more from us soon. With Deepest Sympathy, Nancy

Our just-opened Ceramics Studio, located on the sunny fifth floor of the Bridgeport Arts Center, is making a splash thanks to three different news stories that covered it! WGN9: "Bridgeport non-profit expands facilities to support inclusive artistry" NBC5: "Bridgeport Art Gallery Opens New Ceramic Studio to Help Adults With Disabilities" WBBM Newsradio: "Project Onward opens new ceramics studio to help artists with disabilities create, sell work" Our studio is looking for ceramicists with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses to join our studio! If you or someone you know would like more information about the requirements to join the program, check out our eligibility page and write to us at info@projectonward.org.

Ceramists Invited to Join the Program Project Onward celebrates an exciting event in October! The non-profit studio, a leader in disability arts, is opening a new ceramic studio on the fifth floor of the Bridgeport Art Center. The additional workspace will provide ceramists who have developmental disabilities or mental illness with workspaces and creative tools at no cost. This opportunity is made possible by the generous three-year grant contribution from the Virginia A. Groot Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates artists in the field of sculptural and three-dimensional art. The ceramic studio marks a momentous shift for Project Onward. From new pottery wheels and kilns to supplies and materials, the studio is built from the ground up to enable artists to create three-dimensional ceramic pieces. The design also lets artists express their creativity in a safe environment. Project Onward faithfully works to give artists with developmental disabilities and mental illness a "visual voice" to tell their stories and change the world's perceptions. “Ceramic art is a way of taking objects out of my inner world and making them into a physical reality” - Project Onward Ceramic Artist, Cherylle Booker Due to the sustained commitment of The Virginia A. Groot Foundation, Project Onward will expand its program to exceed more than sixty artists who can continue to create art without limitations. The organization is excited about the possibilities that lay ahead. The addition of the ceramic studio opens the door for new artists, staff, and volunteers. Ceramists Invited to Join the Program The ceramic studio opens in October. Project Onward is seeking talented artists with developmental disabilities or mental illness to participate in the ceramics program. Our non- profit studio is inclusive, and we embrace artists with a wide range of experiences. If you or someone you know would like more information about the requirements to join the program, please visit our eligibility page and contact Email: info@projectonward.org About Virginia A. Groot Foundation: The Virginia A. Groot Foundation was established in 1988 and has since provided the financial means for three-dimensional artists worldwide to bring their vision to life. Fostering creative development in the sculptural space, the Foundation celebrates unique art forms, narratives, and mediums by providing annual grants so artists can continue to create without limitations. The Foundation has advocated for the art community by creating connections and freedom of artistic expression. The Virginia A. Groot Foundation was created with the belief that it has the potential to change artists’ lives. For more information, please visit: www.virginiaagrootfoundation.org

From our executive director, Nancy Gomez: I wish to announce with deep sadness the passing of our beloved friend and fellow artist, Michael Hopkins. Michael was very ill, had surgery, and unfortunately was unable to recover. Michael was 65 and leaves behind his wife Lessie, and a family of sisters and a brother. Michael was an artist at Project Onward since 2008 and will always be remembered for his gentle demeanor and winning smile. He loved and knew every musician in any genre. He loved music so much that he was compelled to create artwork with the likenesses of his musicians. Michael was born in Chicago and said that he always had a knack for drawing, but it wasn’t until later in life that he took up art making in earnest. As a self-taught artist, Michael created breezy, colorful portraits of jazz, rock & roll, blues, and lately, hip hop artists. Michael’s small watercolor paintings, that were sometimes “bling’d” with glitter or rhinestones, were very popular with collectors. He was very proud of his collage of art in a permanent space at the Marriot McCormick Place hotel in Chicago. I personally will always remember Michael as an affable, patient, true gentle man with a quick wit. He was an integral member of our Project Onward community and he will be greatly missed. Please join us in wishing his family our sincerest condolences and remember him in your prayers and thoughts. Michael’s funeral is on January 3rd at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home 10501 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154 708 562-5900. Sadly, Nancy Michael was a friend to all of us at Project Onward... He had a smile that could light up the whole studio... And he was an incredible, one of a kind artist! We will always remember you, Michael!

We had 14 artists with original pieces in IFAW's Art to Roam global auction event! Below, we've captured some short videos of two of artists explaining the reasons and thought processes behind their work! Above: a video of Fernando Ramirez explaining his piece, "Sunset by the Stream". Above: Video of Michael Hopkins explaining his piece, "Eyes on You". For more information about this event and our participation, please click here!

Our very own Louis DeMarco is the featured musician on CD Wallet ep. 02 with Project Onward friend and volunteer Alex Oliver! You're probably familiar with his incredible visual art, and now you can learn more about his music!

Artist Molly McGrath has been invited to participate in the outdoor exhibit, Hello Helios: The warming suns of Chicago's Greektown. Her piece for the show is entitled "Helios and the Sun Shining in the Sky," and showcases a different side of Molly's signature painting style. Her painted statue, along with those of the other participating artists, will be on display along Halsted Street in Greektown now through Spring of 2022. Above: Pictures of Molly McGrath standing next to her piece, installed on Halsted Street. You can learn more about the exhibit, including Molly's inspiration, HERE.

Welcome! After a long 14 months, the day has finally arrived. I wish to announce that Project Onward has officially re-opened! In order to comply with the City of Chicago indoor guidelines, social distancing and mask wearing will continue until the foreseeable future for all artists, staff, interns, volunteers, and guests. Our open gallery hours for all guests will be: Staff: Monday through Saturday 10am – 5pm Artists: Wednesday through Saturday 11am to 5pm We will also resume our 3rd Friday gallery exhibitions, the first of which will be GARDEN PARTY opening on May 21st from 6-9 PM. It will be absolutely lovely to see our artists back in the studio, as we get back to work creating art, connecting socially, and inspiring our audience with powerful works of art. Our future is bright and busy as we plan more outdoor events and exhibitions this summer! You will see us at the Millenium Park Art Fair, Gold Coast Art Fair, and Printers Row Art Fair. We will continue to show you all new artworks on a monthly basis through our in-house gallery exhibit space as well as our online platform. All are welcome to visit at any time, and tours can be arranged with a prior reservation. The 2020 pandemic year slowed us up but did not take us down. In fact, our artists, staff, and volunteers showed remarkable resiliency and everyone worked extra hard to accomplish our mission from home. Looking back, I am absolutely amazed at what we were able to accomplish within the constraints of the pandemic. Here’s a look back: One of the most powerful ideas we had during the pandemic was to showcase our artists from home with an interview series via Instagram called Artists at Home. Interviews were hosted by Alex Oliver, our very own Auxiliary Board Member, Lightning Speed band leader, musician, and interviewer extraordinaire. Alex’s gift is to make our artists extremely comfortable talking about their lives, art, work ethics, and inspirations while giving you a bird’s eye view of the process of making art. He interviewed 22 of our artists with the promise of more to come. Alex is a true friend and inimitable member of our team. We held two virtual panel discussions: Outsider Connections featuring our founder Rob Lentz, artist Faheem Majeed, and retired SAIC Professor of Art Therapy Randy Vick, and Voices Amplified, a discussion featuring Laura Johnson of Zebedee Management, Dr. Sharon Malley, and Sandra Murillo of The Chicago Lighthouse. You may have seen that Project Onward’s art and mission were plastered on billboards all over Chicagoland and suburbs. We extend our thanks to PO friend Bill Boeker of ClearChannel, we appeared on 100 billboards! You may have heard our mission on IHeart Radio over 2000x during the month of February 2021! And did you watch us on tv’s NBC 5 Chicago News? The topic was Chicago’s Digital Divide featuring Michael Hopkins and Ricky Willis. Also on tv, our amazing Kareem Davis with his exhibit at Western Exhibitions was featured on Windy City Live. Our artists were interviewed in print as well. You may have read all about Bill Douglas and his art process on The Hardscrabbler Bridgeport Blog or Tony “Bright” Davis’s feature in Raw Vision Magazine. Our fabulous volunteers, Maureen McCabe, Dave Lindstrom, and artist Bill Douglas were featured in a very nice article in The Beverly Review as well. SouthSide Weekly had a great write up that featured Project Onward and included almost all of our artists. Just two weeks ago, The Daily Northwestern ran an article featuring John Behnke, Luke Shemroske, and Cherylle Booker. Our Project Onward artists created new artwork for 15 online exhibitions, five of which were for outside exhibitors. This included the exhibit Fresh Air, for which we won our very first award. The Best of the Best Art in the Park that we created for Brushwood Center- Forest Preserves of Cook County was presented by the Illinois Association of Park Districts in November 2020. Very cool! We participated for the first time at the Paris Outsider Art Fair and had a third showing at the New York Outsider Art Fair. Shin Gallery NY, Western Exhibitions, Bridgeport Art Center, Big Kids restaurant, and Ignition Project Space all accepted physical artwork from us to exhibit. Our Valentine’s Portrait Slam was a hit as well as our January Clearance sale. As previously mentioned, the our virtual fundraiser Voices Amplified included a variety show featuring our multi-talented artists singing and dancing, which was a fun time for all. Last but not least, Project Onward Founding Artist Fernando Ramirez was awarded the title, Artist in Residence, for the DCASE INVEST/SW. He is creating art for the New City neighborhood where he resides. Congratulations Fern! We are very proud of what we accomplished in the last fourteen months, and are very excited to invite both you and our artists back to the studio. Without the support of our patrons, donors, and volunteers, this would not have been possible. We hope to see you all soon! Nancy Gomez Executive Director

Big thanks to The Daily Northwestern for featuring us in this wonderful article about our program and how we have navigated the pandemic. View the article HERE: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2021/04/29/ae/the-monthly/art-and-mind/

Join us on a virtual tour of R.J. and Janno Juguilon's installation of "The Brothers Juguilon: Palaces Around the World" at Ignition Project Space in Humboldt Park Neighborhood.

Our own Kareem Davis was featured on Windy City LIVE last Friday! We are so proud! Check out his segment, which showcases his talent and promotes his solo show at Western Exhibitions, "A Draftsman's Dream."

Please enjoy episode 23 of Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews featuring Kareem Davis and your host, Alex Oliver!