Chicago, IL

November 9th Vernissage Opening Party 7 PM – 12 AM
November 10th and 11th: Open Hours 12 – 6 PM

Formed in spring 2011 as a collaborative project between the Public Media Institute, Document, Roots & Culture and threewalls, the MdW Fair showcases independent art initiatives, spaces, galleries and artist groups, highlighting artist-run activities and experimental culture locally, nationally and internationally. Featuring more than 75 exhibitors, publishers and performers, the MdW Fair positioned itself as the world’s premier event for grassroots and independent art culture. Utilizing Mana Contemporary Art Center’s then newly opened branch in Chicago, MdW crafted a packed schedule of performances, artist projects, and events over the course of the weekend.

The third iteration of MdW expanded its scope, bringing together artist-run spaces, publishers, and programmers from across the country demonstrating the diversity, strength and vision of the people/places making it happen in the independent arts ecology. The MdW Fair manifests the collective spirit behind the region’s most innovative visual cultural organizers, focusing on the breadth of work done here by artists and arts-facilitators alike.

Booths:
From Chicago: SiLO Art Space, ACRE, Columbia College Chicago Photography Department, Co-Prosperity Sphere / Reuben Kincaid, Courtney Blades, Defibrillator, Document, Eel Space, Elastic Arts Foundation, Eyeporium Gallery, GURL DON’T BE DUMB, Happy Collaborationists, Heaven, Hinge Gallery, Hyde Park Art Center, In Control, Johalla Projects, LVL3, Make Space, nAbr Gallery, Schlong, Octagon, Peanut Gallery, Roots & Culture, Roxaboxen Exhibitions, The Salon Series, slow gallery with Clutch, Suitable Video, Terrain Exhibitions, The Abundant Archive, The Franklin, threewalls, UIC MFA students, What it is

From Kansas City, MO: Plug Projects

From St. Louis: The Luminary Art Center

Publication Tables:
5 Star Ratings
Bootleggers Anonymous (New York/ Los Angeles)
Center for Book and Paper Arts- Columbia College Chicago (Chicago)
Chicago Artist Writers (Chicago)
EAS Columbus (Columbus, OH)
ESCAPE Group (Chicago)
Friends of Blue Dress Park (Los Angeles)
Iceberg and Sorcery (Chicago)
Arts Alliance Illinois(Chicago)
Mystery Spot Books (Minneapolis)
No Coast/Monsters and Dust (Chicago)
Publication Studio (Portland)
Regional Relationships (Chicago)
Silver Galleon Press (Chicago)
SPARE
Soberscove Press (Chicago)
Sona Books (Chicago)
TAG Zine & Pink Chairs (Chicago)
Temporary Art Review (St. Louis)
The Renaissance Society (Chicago)

Performances and Programs by:
Astro Space Party (Chicago)
Thorne Brandt (Chicago)
Mairead Case (Chicago)
Lisa Vinebaum (Chicago)
Hyperkewl (Kansas City)
Picnic (Chicago)
Performancy Forum (New York)
Hoyun Son (Chicago)
Salon (Brook Sinkinson Withrow) (Chicago)
Songs on Conceptual Art (Portland)
Jerome Baez with Theodore Darst (Chicago)

and the Casual Encounters Photo Booth (Chicago/San Francisco)