The Co-Prosperity School is an Artist-Run School for and about the advancement and understanding of contemporary Chicago Art. Through guest speakers and class member presentations we will shine a light on the contemporary art scene of Chicago.

One of our goals is to break down the panel discussion dialogue of Chicago’s art and bring it to a more informal group discussion format in which active shapers of Chicago’s Art World themselves tell of the contemporary scene. Members can discuss their own work, or the work of others.

We meet on Mondays at the Co-Prosperity Sphere from 6:30pm to 9pm. Class size is limited to 10 people (we keep this thing intimate!). Tuition is $150 for 8 classes.

Email coprosperityschool@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us.

Past Guests Have Inculded:

Alex Lehnerer, Aron Packer, Barbara Koenen, Bert Stabler, Brian Ulrich, Caroline Picard, Carrie Gundersdorf, Claire Pentecost, Cody Hudson, Conrad Freiburg, Curtis Mann, Daniel Tucker, Dayton Castleman, Duncan MacKenzie, Hamza Walker, James Elkins, Jason Foumberg, Jim Duignan, Jim Lutes, Juan Angel Chavez, Judy Ledgerwood, Lane Relyea, Michelle Grabner, Monique Meloche, Paul Klein, Philip von Zweck, Shannon Stratton, Stephanie Brooks, Tom Burtonwood, Tom Torluemke, Tricia van Eck

Upcoming Schedule- 2011-12

Dec. 5th- Orientation

Dec. 12th- Scott Speh
http://www.westernexhibitions.com/
Scott Speh has built one of Chicago's most enticing galleries in Western Exhibitions, a gallery that showcases art that one might say would never be found on a print from Bed Bath & Beyond. He is also an Instructor in Arts Administration and Policy at S.A.I.C. His gallery brings visibility to Chicago Artist at such art fairs as The Armory Show 2009 ( New York City); NADA 2008 (Miami, FL); New York Art Book Fair 2008; Milwaukee International 2008, 2006; Volta 2008 (Basel, Switzerland), and in Chicago at NEXT 2008, and the MDW Fair (2011).

Dec. 19th- Rebecca Zorach
http://www.areachicago.org/p/authors/rebecca-zorach/
Art Historian, academic, organizer, activist, critic, artist, performer, and curator. Rebecca Zorach even found time to write a book titled Blood, Milk, Ink, Gold: Abundance and Excess in the French Renaissance.

Jan 9th- Wesley Kimler (or Jeriah Hildwine & Stephanie Burke)
http://wesleykimlerstudio.com/
Wesley Kimler's studio is invariably notable given its mammoth scale, reptiles, parrots and oversized paintings. Kimler is known for his iconoclastic view of the artworld and his paintings are frequently exhibited in Museums across the globe.

Jan 16th- Michael Workman
http://badatsports.com/2006/episode-18-michael-workman/
Michael Workman is Director of Bridge, an arts publishing and programming organization. Workman writes a column on visual art, Eye Exam, for the Chicago alternative weekly newspaper, NewCity. He is also the Chicago correspondent for the bi-monthly Italian art publication, Flash Art and works as an arts critic and commentator for Chicago's NPR affiliate, WBEZ-FM.

Jan 23rd- Edie Fake
http://www.ediefake.com/
Illustrator Edie Fake is one of the brightest stars in the gay zine scene (see “Gaylord Phoenix”). Edie Fake is at large in Chicago tattooing arms, thighs and legs and enveloping people in the colored patterns of the shuttered history of Chicago’s gay and lesbian community

Jan 30th- Louise Lincoln
http://museums.depaul.edu/
As director of the DePaul Art Museum Louise Lincoln oversees the efforts of the only local museum collecting art from Chicago in a systematic way. The museum is dedicated to collecting and supported our local community- we all should give thanks.

Feb 6th- Wesley Kimler (or Jeriah Hildwine & Stephanie Burke)
http://jeriahhildwine.com/home.html, http://stephaniedawnburke.com/home.html.
Jeriah Hildwiine & Stephanie Burke are everywhere on the Chicago Art Scene. They are artists (Painter and Photographer respectively), curators, academics, and writers. For Bad-at-Sports Stephanie writes the weekly top-5 while Jeriah writes articles. You will also see their columns on ArtTalk Chicago, Monday Morning Quaterback, and other websites. This husband and wife pair are steel-toe booted socialites who are always pulsing on the heartbeat of the local scene

The School is co-produced by Aaron Delehanty and The Public Media Institute. Members will be able to check out periodicals from the Public Media Institute Research Library.