This year, we got to hold our annual show at the old Utrecht Art Supply storefront in downstairs of the building.
The space has been vacant since they moved away in February. Usually we'd have our show in the Academy's gallery. But this year, due to a schedule conflict, we weren't able to hold our show there. So I searched around for a number of outside venues that might be willing to host our show, but to no avail. As a last effort, I thought I'd ask the building's leasing director if they would let us use the Utrecht space for our show…for free!

Some things that went through in my head just before I went upstairs to her office: "She'd think I am crazy, and may have the building security escort me out of her office" "She's gonna laugh at me so hard she'd have a hernia." "Heck, what do I have to lose?…nothing but my face." "You never know until you ask."

Fortunately, she responded very well to my reasoning and actually liked the idea of having the storefront filled with paintings on the wall and lit up to showcase to the potential renters (including the Academy).

So here it is. Our 4th annual show saved.
I am so glad for the students of the club and the Academy.


About Face IV Opening Reception; December 15, 2011

Poster design by Aron Gagliardo

Until now, looking only from the outside after Utrecht moved out, I didn't realize the space was this large; we ended up not using the rear area.

Final touch-up

3 days to prepare the space, get 80 paintings ready and hang them! (while continuing with daily classes during the week before the finals week) Whew!!

Long window-front along Van Buren St.

View from the mezzanine where Utrecht manager's office used to be.

The space is so large and the ceiling so high, we could've played football in here!

Adam Nowak wall

Adam Nowak wall

Lucas Bianch & Tom Urioste wall

Roberto Almanza wall

Jacob Sanders wall

Jacob couldn't make it to the show, driving back late from his trip to New York.

Jacob Sanders wall

James Wisdom wall

James Wisdom wall

Alex Velazquez wall

Alex Velazquez wall

John Zylstra wall

John Zylstra wall

Marcie Paddock column

Marcie Paddock column

Marcie Paddock column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column

Don Yang column Needed a heavy equipment to change a light bulb high up.

Don Yang column

The door opened at 5 pm.

Digging in!

Adam: "Chris, I am this much bigger than you are."
Chris : "No way!"

Rich Kryczka charming the ladies.

Adam Nowak

Lucas Bianchi

Thomas Urioste III

Roberto Almanza

Alex Velazquez (Tom Herzberg stood his ground)

John Zylstra

Marcie Paddock

Marcie turned my camera on me.

Mark Cunningham and the painting by Marcie Paddock

Sherine Azzam and the painting by Jacob Sanders.

Conrad Javier and the painting by Jacob Sanders.

Adam Nowak and the painting by me.

Danny Rico and the painting by Jacob Sanders.

Conrad Javier and the painting by me

Rich Kryczka still trying to figure our his iPhone.

Closing time (Michigan Ave.)

Closing time (Van Buren St.)

The night before

Lucas on squeegee duty
How many art students does it take to…

Adam Nowak

Thomas Urioste III

James Wisdom and Tina Qi

Alex Velazquez

Good job, guys!
So glad for you and proud of you!

At the last minute I thought having a guestbook would be nice, and sent a student to find a simple booklet from office supply. Apparently, Jen Thomas got a word of it and graciously put together a handsome hand-bound book for us!