ShopColumbia Celebrates 10-year Anniversary

Photo: Phil Dembinski '08
South Loop storefront serves as professional outlet for emerging Columbia artists to showcase and sell art, accessories, fashion, home decor, and more.

CHICAGO—September 25, 2018. ShopColumbia, Columbia College Chicago’s professional learning laboratory for more than 1200 emerging artists, will celebrate 10 years of success with a reunion and arts exhibition in its South Loop home.

Just around the corner from Chicago’s cultural mile, ShopColumbia showcases and sells the work of emerging Columbia students, faculty, alumni, and staff, offering original art pieces, jewelry, accessories, clothing, music, and more. Over the last decade, ShopColumbia has generated nearly $350,000 in total revenue for the artists it serves.

“ShopColumbia is an incubator for small Chicago-based start-ups that’s given me the opportunity to work at Expo Chicago, get solo art exhibits, and host experimental performances inside its retail space,” said Julia Arredondo, a current student and founder of Curandera Press—a web ‘bodega’ that encourages non-denominational spiritual empowerment of emerging Latinx creatives. “ShopColumbia has encouraged and supported artists to explore entrepreneurship beyond a traditional approach.”

Tracey Drobot, store operations coordinator, added: “ShopColumbia is grateful to the campus and community for their support. We hope that people continue to experience the Shop and its one-of-a-kind, thought-provoking creations.”

As part of the weeklong celebration, ShopColumbia will host a reunion for its artists and a closing reception for the spotlight exhibition Then and Now, featuring Wabash Arts Corridor alumni artists Andrea Dunn ’16, Sam Kirk ’04, and JJ McLuckie '17. The exhibition will highlight murals on Columbia’s vibrant campus and new works by the artists. The event will coincide with Columbia Crawl, an annual walk around campus that celebrates the art, culture, and creativity of the Columbia community.

ShopColumbia’s 10-year anniversary celebrations will kick-off at 619 S. Wabash Ave., and include the following activities:

ShopColumbia Birthday Bash
Monday, Oct. 8, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
Staff will discuss how prospective artists can sell their work at ShopColumbia. Refreshments will be served.

ShopColumbia Reunion
Friday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.
A celebration of current and past artists, where ShopColumbia will launch its All-Star program to recognize artists who have made a positive impact the community. Artists will share their accomplishments through an interactive installation, and festivities will include a Photo Booth, a live DJ, special promotions, and refreshments.

ShopColumbia Anniversary Celebration and Closing Reception featuring exhibition: Then and Now
Friday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.

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About ShopColumbia at the Averill and Bernard Leviton Gallery
ShopColumbia is a year-round boutique located in the heart of Columbia's South Loop Campus. In addition to selling the best of what Columbia artists make, ShopColumbia is a learning laboratory for emerging artists. ShopColumbia supports students by providing a professional environment to hone the process of presenting, marketing, and selling work to the public. Students earn 75 percent from sales and faculty, staff, and alumni earn 50 percent. For more information, visit shop.colum.edu. Store hours: M-F: 11 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit college offering a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business for nearly 7,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Dedicated to academic excellence and long-term career success, Columbia College Chicago creates a dynamic, challenging, and collaborative space for students who experience the world through a creative lens. For more information, visit colum.edu.

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