Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Sova.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Overlook began as an artist residency program based out of my Andersonville apartment in July 2016. I had just graduated from Columbia College and ended the LAUNCH artist residency at Chicago Artist Coalition. I was eager to start something and form a community outside of school, not only for myself but for other emerging artists.
The idea began with my spare bedroom! I invited artists to use the room as a studio for a month to make work and we would put on a Meet the Artist Potluck mid-residency as well as a pop-up exhibition at the end of their time. I felt that a mission for the residency was very important and would be able to uphold an honest and ethical approach that I felt was crucial since the nature of the residency was inviting people into my home and trusting me to create a safe space.
Our mission is to provide a platform for emerging women, queer, and artists of color through a studio residency and collaborative programming. The Overlook was something I knew needed to be fluid and ever-changing in order to continue to stay relevant to artist’s needs and the creative climate of Chicago, so being open to different modes of working has been a priority since day 1.
The residency outgrew my apartment and after 6 months we moved to Logan Square. The move was to an Autotelic Studio space which provided the residents with a shared studio with an already established arts community. We were in that space for another 6 months until we decided to find our own home to be able to host our events and programming.
We moved into our storefront location (3323 W Armitage) in July 2017 after spending two months renovating the space. The storefront location has a studio space in the back, a gallery setting in the front and plenty of sunshine and visibility to be accessible for the Logan Square and visual arts community. Since our inception, we have held 12 residencies, 11 exhibitions, 40 events, and have shown 33 local, national, and international artist’s works.
We believe in a business structure that is collaborative with artists and is constantly evaluating the artistic landscape so that we can be flexible to what artists, of all mediums, need and how we are able to best support them. We aim to dismantle the hierarchies and the borders that are embedded in the art world. In thinking of how to stay fluid and become more accessible, starting in May we are transforming from a physical space to a liminal art model.
In the past year, it felt urgent to hold space as marginalized humans, especially as artists, to fuel conversation and connections but we feel that now is the time to think about art communities in a broader sense, without borders. Through digital curatorial residencies, activist based programming, and collaborative artist projects, we’re thinking globally and viewing Chicago as our physical space for this next phase of our work.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been both a smooth road and the bumpiest road! We have encountered such amazing artists and art supporters that are so encouraging and supportive of The Overlook which has really made the experience and works smooth. We are artists working to build our own vision of what is lacking in the art world and not following traditional guidelines, so we really get to use our full imagination.
There feels like an unlimited amount of ideas and projects to be done which just excites us and continues the work. We rarely need to brainstorm on what to do next. The bumps on our road are mostly all monetary. Chicago (and Illinois) is not an easy place to start a small business and the arts are always low on the priority list of government funding.
The amount of money, energy, and commitment to run a physical space is a 5 woman job and we operate as a 2 woman team and both with other full-time jobs! Every ounce of our energy goes into space, programming, residency, planning, marketing, and researching and to really create a community of badass emerging artists and a safe space to show and make art.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Overlook – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We live and breathe our mission to support and empower emerging women, queer, and artists of color! We are a queer feminist artist-run space that really believes that the personal IS the political and vice versa. Chicago is full of such vibrant independent businesses with ethical and inclusive missions and we are proud to be amongst them.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is such a small big city. Many of our artist residents have been new to the city and have sought out an opportunity to become a part of the larger community. They soon realize that most people you meet here are willing to talk with you, share with you, recommend other artists, opportunities, restaurants with you.
Then you see that once you meet a few people, everyone knows one another and that it’s a pretty welcoming environment. The city is so beautifully diverse but it is so deeply segregated which is something artists have been making work about in Chicago for decades.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3323 W Armitage Ave Chicago, IL 60647
- Website: www.theoverlookplace.com
- Email: theoverlookplace@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoverlookplace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoverlookplace/
Image Credit:
Yesenia Bello, H. Melt, Rehumanizing the Dehumanized, Sydney Shavers, Jeremey Johnson, Blanket Statements
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
