Creative Projects
Creative Projects
Below are a wide variety of creative works that were made by local artists and GLAS students. Some of the artists are based in Uptown, while others take inspiration from the neighborhood’s diversity and reputation as a haven for people of all means. Some works honor specific communities, while others address themes like housing, discrimination, and collective power. Many of the artworks were created in collaboration with the Dis/Placements Projects, while others were produced independently. This space exists to showcase the work and emphasize its connection to the Uptown community and the struggles for justice that the Dis/Placements Project represents.
Students in Global Asian Studies courses taught by Professors Guevarra and Reddy at the University of Illinois Chicago produced a range of creative projects - digital stories, zines, photo essays, ceramic artwork - that narrate and represent the rich multi-racial, working-class, and migrant histories of Uptown. These creative projects represent a range of place-making engagements, capturing stories of displacement, resistance, and solidarity in the face of organized efforts for urban renewal/removal.
"large mixing board, lit up" by Dominick Guzzo is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Uptown has long been home to music of many sounds and styles. In this section we highlight some of the talented artists who work in the neighborhood and whose music has been influenced by the Uptown’s themes of struggle, survival, and empowerment.
Here we want to call attention to art in Uptown which represents the neighborhood’s communities or characteristics. Some of the art has been made in collaboration with Dis/Placements, while other artworks were created independently.