Big is Back: Summer Markets and Fairs Return

BIG IS BACK

WHAT ONCE WAS LOST IN 2020, WE NOW HAVE FOUND IN 2022

RANDOLPH STREET MARKET DRAWS THOUSANDS TO THE WEST LOOP ON SUMMER WEEKENDS This spring and summer the City That Works will be working it, bringing back what we haven’t had in two years, and in other cases starting from scratch to deliver art fairs, markets and special events to get you out of the house.

– CGN

ALMA ART & INTERIORS

Dealer Kimberly Oliva turned lemons into lemonade last fall when Intersect Chicago (formerly SOFA CHICAGO) was cancelled. She drew on her own art history, connections and experience in the vintage market to come up with Alma, Art & Interiors, a large-scale exhibition that combined the sensibility of a living room with the prestige of new art. Bringing the spirit of the home to the gallery, Alma features artists from Chicago and around the world in dozens of mixed media vignettes. A grand opening for Threaded Together is set for May 6. Alma has been extended through at least summer 2022. • 3636 S. Iron in Bridgeport

THE OTHER ART FAIR

The Other Art Fair was one of the first and only in-person fairs to take place in Chicago in 2021 when it opened last September. With limits in place in consideration of COVID, the fair lacked some of its usual party vibrancy but they got the job done and welcomed artists and fair-goers for a weekend of in-person art viewing and buying. The fair is back again, this time taking place April 21–24 on Fulton Market. • theotherartfair.com/chicago/

RANDOLPH STREET MARKET

After an almost 3-year hiatus Randolph Street Market returns to its West Loop location this summer, taking place both outdoors and indoors. The beloved mega-treasure hunt was put on hold first in 2020 due to COVID, and then in 2021 in light of construction at Plumber’s Hall. They were able to open markets a few summer weekends in Michigan as well as host weekend Holiday PopUps downtown in Chicago on Michigan Ave. In 2022 once again the market will offer “continuous live entertainment, food, booze & BIG FUN,” says founder Sally Schwartz.

Jul 30/31, Sept 24/25, Nov 12/13, Dec 3/4, 10/11, 17/18

• randolphstreetmarket.com

57TH STREET ART FAIR

Mary Louise Womer, a silversmith artist from Kansas City, was the visionary behind Hyde Park’s 57th Street Art Fair back in 1948. Due to studio space constraints, she took advantage of local streets that weren’t busy, stringing wires from trees and along fences of 57th Street where artists could hang their works. 51 artists, many of whom were students at the Art Institute and the Institute of Design, each paid 50 cents to participate for the weekend. Today, up to 200 artists from all over North America set up shop on 57th Street the first full weekend of June, attracting over 20,000 visitors annually • June 4/5, 2022 • 57thstreetartfair.org