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Please enjoy a retake of episode 5 of Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews featuring Jacquline Cousins Oliva and your host, Alex Oliver.

Please enjoy our sixth installment of "Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews" featuring Project Onward artist, Stephon Doby, and your host, Alex Oliver.

To our Project Onward family: Project Onward will remain closed to our artists for the summer. The date of our return will be after Labor Day, on September 9th. I had longed for the day of our return - the day that Project Onward would open its doors again to our customers, staff, volunteers, interns, Executive Board, Auxiliary Board and, most of all, artists. I had envisioned we’d all be together within a party-like atmosphere. We'd have food, chips, a welcome back sign and, best of all, cake for all of the birthdays we’d missed in the last 80 days that we’ve been locked down. I couldn’t wait to see all of your faces lit up with smiles and hear the personal stories about your lock down. Although I had planned every detail for our return and actually purchased all of the personal protection items I could think of, what I couldn’t see was our not being able to give fist bumps, side hugs, and kisses on the cheek. Last week, as this day was approaching, I took a long, hard look at our return back to the studio and have decided that the risk is too great at this time. I am not willing to risk your health to come back to the studio to make art. One of the most important aspects of Project Onward besides the making of art is our ability to socialize with one another, make friends, and get along with one another. I know that the real reason you’d like to get back into the studio is to see your friends. I know you are disappointed. I am too, but I also know that some of you are relieved because this COVID-19 pandemic is frightening. The Project Onward gallery and store will open June 18 to customers. Project Onward will be open by appointment only on Thursday through Saturday. Staff, volunteers and interns will return to maintain the gallery and sell art to customers albeit on a staggered, limited basis. Project Onward is in for the long haul. One good thing to say about this lock down is that it’s shown that we have truly dedicated supporters—not only in Chicago or even the United States, but from all around the world. Our customers and donors have continued to support our mission by purchasing art, donating money and offering to help in any way that they can. We will continue to grow, prosper, and overcome this terrible period of time. We will continue to make art from the safety of our homes. Love you all. Nancy Gomez

Project Onward stands together with our brothers and sisters against racism. We believe in a world devoid of discrimination against any race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Join us in remembering George Floyd and all of the lives lost due to discrimination. Together, we can change the world. David Hence's "Black Lives Matter" was originally created at Project Onward in 2018 as part of Feel Chicago collection, a solo show in which David used his painterly style to render Chicago's seasonal moods, the highs and lows of the environment, and its people.

Please enjoy our fourth installment of our new "Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews" series featuring Project Onward Artist Fernando Ramirez and your host, Alex Oliver.

Please enjoy our third installment of our new "Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews" series featuring Project Onward artist Luke Shemroske and your host, Alex Oliver.

By its very nature, Outsider art can be elusive and controversial. Hence, the definition of Outsider art is often the subject of passionate debates. The term refers to works by self-taught artists, and those artists with little or no contact with institutional forms of art. Outsider art is a form of expression that exists outside the realm of “fine art,” or outside the boundaries of conventional culture. The artwork tends to focus on delivering a straightforward message, which can convey a radically different worldview. The phrase “Outsider art” was first used in 1972, by the art critic Roger Cardinal. It is the English equivalent of the French term “art brut” coined by French painter and assemblage artist Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) to describe the art’s similarities to primitive art. Although Outsider art is work outside the norm, all unconventional art does not fall within this category. Outsider art and Visionary art, for example, have a very close relationship—artists in these genres both create work out of necessity and compulsion. Outsider artists at Project Onward are spontaneous, intuitive, and expressive. At times, the artists and their works seem to coexist in the inner regions of their minds. Our studio stands with them to support their artistic visions, and their need to push creative boundaries. ____ Don't miss our show, Outsider Connections. Inspired by the work of various artists in this genre, Project Onward artists look to question (if not always answer) and challenge what the next step in Outsider art will be moving forward.

Please enjoy our second installment of our new "Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews" series featuring Project Onward artist Paul Kowalewski and your host, Alex Oliver.

Hello Project Onward Friends, Thank you for being a great friend of Project Onward! Your unwavering support through art and merchandise purchases has made our online platform a success during these uncertain times. We are all sincerely grateful. I’d like you to know that Project Onward’s team of artists, staff, interns and volunteers are all doing well during this coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully, none of our artists or team members have tested positive for the virus. Project Onward will continue to adhere with Governor Pritzker’s directives and remain closed through the end of May. Up to that time, our artists and staff will continue to work from the safety of their homes. Our artists love coming to the studio to create art, interact with their fellow artists, meet customers, and talk about their work. The safety measures of social distancing and wearing masks will be somewhat of a challenge once we get back to the studio, but not insurmountable. There may be other guidelines set forth by the government, but for now, limiting the studio time that our artists work is my first course of action. Many of our artists with varying disabilities have underlying health conditions and may have to continue to work from home. Customers are welcomed to view the gallery and of course, purchase art, but close interaction with our artists is discouraged. The wearing of masks and gloves will also be mandatory. The studio and gallery will be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis with disposable masks, gloves, tissues, and sanitary wipes available for all. Our artists, staff, volunteers and interns will be checked for a fever before entering the premises to work as well. Project Onward will do all that is necessary to keep all of us safe while we navigate the new normal. Our 3rd Friday Online Art Exhibition will open on May 15 with a new show: Outsider Connections. Our artists have been working diligently at home to get it ready for the opening. You may request to have your art delivered via USPS mail or have it held at the studio until we reopen. We will send more details on it shortly; I’m positive you will love it because, as always, our artists will amaze and delight you with their creativity. These are challenging days but you can rest assured knowing that Project Onward will continue to provide you with the unparalleled art, sculpture, jewelry, and merchandise to which you’ve become accustomed. You can email me at any time—I’m happy to chat with you about our artists, artwork or any concerns you may have. I look forward to all of us happily working together to create and enjoy art in person at Project Onward. Hopefully, it’s soon! Be Safe. Nancy Gomez Executive Director nancy.gomez@projectonward.org PS. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for more in-the-moment updates.

Please enjoy our first installment of our new "Artists at Home: Live Quarantine Artist Interviews" series featuring Project Onward Artist John Behnke and your host, Alex Oliver.

Project Onward artist, Tony "Bright" Davis, featured in Raw Vision's #105 edition. Check out a selection from the article and purchase the edition here: https://rawvision.com/articles/tony-bright-davis caption: Car Wash, 2011, ink and marker on paper, 30 x 22 in. / 76 x 56 cm

The Hardscrabbler Bridgeport Blog article by Kristin Ostberg features PO artist Bill Douglas and his journey through life and his artistic practice. Read the article HERE.