Chicago-based artist Dont Fret announces his 6th solo exhibition of new works and the release of his first book of poems and vignettes. Both are titled “This Is No Quiet City” and focus on Chicago and growing up in Wicker Park. Books, prints and original works will be available at seven locations around the city (see list below), with major exhibitions in Wicker Park at Home Away From Home, 1141 N. Damen (5-9 p.m. July 1) and Penelope’s Annex, 1917 W. Division St. Exhibitions are open to the public. For more information contact Rebecca Cabezas at Rcabeza50486c@gmail.com.
“She is a hustler, toiling away, scheming from north shore to south shore. From the back of the yards to the front of our porches. This Is No Quiet City, a place where anyone is welcome as long as you’ll swing a hammer. This is a city where no one’s welcome mat says ‘content.’ This Is No Quiet City. We’ve built some of the world’s tallest buildings, made connecting a nation through railroad and meatpacking look like a house chore, and still have to jump in the lake in the middle of winter for fun. This Is No Quiet City.” - Chicago artist Dont Fret.
The consummate wise guy Dont Fret is best known for his wheat paste characters and musings that he places on streets in cities around the world. Stylized and distinct, these figures are simultaneously witty, sardonic, and oddly charming. They generally “belong” with the street or neighborhood where they reside and unapologetically point to larger themes of the locale or culture. The humor and bluntness of the characters’ thoughts or the artist’s standalone texts reconsider the obvious and invite the viewer to laugh, feel uncomfortable, or think twice.
Dont Fret is born, raised, and currently working in Chicago. In addition to his wheat pasting, his practice includes drawing, painting, sculpture, performance, and installation-based work both on the street and in the gallery space. He has produced large scale public murals in a number of American cities including Chicago, New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Denver as well as internationally in cities like London, São Paulo, Helsinki, and Berlin. His work has been in a number of gallery exhibitions nationally and internationally, with solo exhibitions of his work in Chicago, San Francisco, Oakland, New York, and London. In 2014, he was featured in “Paint Paste Sticker” — the large Chicago Street art survey at the Chicago Cultural Center. In 2016-2019, his work was prominently featured in the Netflix original series “Easy.” In 2020, he also completed a large public wall of 55 portraits of Chicago for the city of Chicago entitled “The People In Your Neighborhood.”
“THIS IS NO QUIET CITY”
List of Locations
Books, prints and original works will be available at all of the following locations.
All dates are for the entire month of July unless otherwise noted.
Penelope’s Annex
1917 W. Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60622
Major Exhibition Site: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, July 1; OPENING RECEPTION 5-9 p.m.
12-6 p.m. Sunday, July 2, Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9; 5-9 p.m. Friday, July 14
Home Away From Home
1141 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60622
Major Exhibition Site: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, July 1
12-6 p.m. Sunday, July 2
Hours for the rest of July: 1-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
For more information visit www.homeawayfromhomechicago.com
or email homeawayfromhomechicago@gmail.com
Gemini
1911 W. Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60622
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Closed Tuesdays)
All Star Press
2775 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60647
Hours: 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Marz Brewing Taproom
3630 S. Iron St., Chicago, Ill. 60609
Hours: 4-11 p.m. (Monday-Wednesday); 4 p.m.-12 Midnight (Thursday-Friday); 12 Noon-Midnight (Saturday); 12 Noon-9 p.m.(Sunday)
Pizza Lobo (Andersonville)
5457 N. Clark St., Chicago, Ill. 60640
Hours: 12 Noon-12 Midnight (Monday-Sunday)
Pour Souls Chicago
1740 W. Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60610
Hours: 4-7 p.m. (Friday); 12 Noon-5 p.m. (Saturday); open the rest of the week by reservation
For more information visit www.poursoulschicago.com.