Ten x Ten is a collaborative project between visual artists and musicians. Now in its fourth and most ambitious iteration, Ten x Ten 2015 will bring together 20 notable Chicago visual artists and musicians under the curatorial guidance of three distinct Chicago organizations: Elastic Arts, Homeroom, and Spudnik Press.
Below is a full list of collaborations and events for the project that will unfold throughout 2015. Graphic Notation 101, a free public lecture on February 8, will serve as the kick off event for the project.
Please join the Ten x Ten mailing list to hear updates as the project develops over the course of the year and visit tenxtenchicago.com for weekly blog updates.
Visual Artists
Salvador Andrade Arévalo
Jerome Bryerton
Uriel Correa
Rob Funderburk
Trevor Goosen
Andrew Holmquist
Hannah Ireland
Vesna Jovanovic
Alexander Stewart
Cynthia Weiss
Musicians
Josh Berman
Paul Giallorenzo
Anton Hatwich
Keefe Jackson
Peter Maunu
Eli Namay
Ryan Packard
Cameron Pfiffner
Jason Stein
Phil Sudderberg
The vision of Ten x Ten is to go beyond a typical call-and-response collaboration by encouraging artists and musicians to deeply investigate the creative process. Over the course of eight months, participants will stretch and explore their artistic practice in a cross-media collaboration with another artist, with the results reflected back to the public through exhibitions, performances, and a collectable compilation.
The 2015 iteration brings together visual artists and musicians that incorporate improvisation into their art practice. Elastic Arts joins the project as Guest Curator to highlight the Chicago jazz community and to investigate how artists across media interpret improvisation. Dave Rempis and Paul Giallorenzo, both well-known as musicians and organizers in the Chicago jazz scene, have hand-selected ten musicians to create an ensemble whose members will compose the new works commissioned through this project. Visual artists were invited by Homeroom Curator Colin Palombi, and represent a broad spectrum of styles and traditions, from street art to abstraction.
Ten x Ten 2015 Kick Off Event: Graphic Notation 101
Sunday, February 8, 4:00pm
Spudnik Press Cooperative, 1821 W Hubbard St. #302
At this free lecture, Jordan Martins (visual artist and curator) and Katherine Young (composer and bassoonist) address improvisation and the use of visual symbols outside the realm of traditional music notation. Ten x Ten artists and musicians will meet their collaborators and begin developing their contribution to the project.
Improvised Music Series: Ten x Ten Working Performance
Thursday, February 19, 9:00pm
Constellation, 3111 N Western Ave.
Visual artists and musicians will workshop their ideas in a collaborative performance for an audience to witness the creative and collaborative process as it happens.
Improvised Music Series: Ten x Ten Recording Performance
Thursday, March 19, 9:00pm
Elastic Arts, 3429 W Diversey Ave. #208
Final compositions will be recorded live and visual artists will present a refined iteration of the accompanying visual component. Music will be mixed, mastered, and pressed to vinyl while Spudnik Press publishes each artwork as a limited-edition print.
Ten x Ten 2015 Release Event
Saturday, September 12, 9:00pm
Constellation, 3111 N Western Ave.
Ten x Ten culminates in a live performance of final compositions and exhibition of works on paper. The final project will be released as a collectable compilation of music and artwork that documents, celebrates, and promotes Chicago’s artistic community.