In this milestone episode of Bad at Sports, we welcome back Scott Speh, the founder and director of Western Exhibitions, to celebrate 20 years of the gallery’s existence and its significant role in shaping the Chicago art scene. It’s been 19 years since Scott’s last appearance on the show, and in this conversation, we dive deep into the journey of Western Exhibitions, its impact on the city’s art landscape, and the evolving nature of the gallery's programming.

From the early days of launching the gallery to navigating the challenges and rewards of running an independent space in Chicago, Scott offers a unique perspective on the state of contemporary art and its communities. We discuss the dynamic relationships between artists, collectors, curators, and the broader public, and reflect on how Western Exhibitions has not only supported emerging artists but also helped to foster a rich cultural dialogue in the city.

As the art world continues to change, Scott shares his thoughts on the future of galleries, the role of physical spaces, and how the local art ecosystem has evolved over the past two decades. Tune in for an insightful and engaging conversation about the intersection of art, community, and sustainability in Chicago.

Names Dropped…

Shannon Stratton, Marc Fischer, Anthony Elms, Philip von Zweck, Rhona Hoffman, Dirk Denison,  David Salkin, John Neff, Jason Pickelman, Dutes Miller, Pedro Valez, Nick Frank, Stan Shellabarger, 7/3 Split, Tim Fleming, Paul Nudd, Dan Attoe, Lisa Boyle, Rowley Kennerk, Andrew Rafacz, Lou Manilow, Robyn O’Neil, Ryan Christianson, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Edie Fake, Mark Pascalr… There were others…  

https://www.shannonraestratton.com/about

https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/39749/

https://lostandfoundlab.org/anthony-elms

https://artadia.org/artist/philip-von-zweck/

https://www.rhoffmangallery.com/

https://www.dirkdenisonarchitects.com/

https://www.davidsalkin.com/

https://artadia.org/artist/john-neff/

https://design.newcity.com/2024/04/05/one-more-day-in-the-life-of-jason-pickleman/

https://www.jmkac.org/artist/miller-dutes/

https://westernexhibitions.com/artist/stan-shellabarger/

https://velezpedro.com/home.html

http://www.thegreengallery.biz/artists/nicholas-frank

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-fleming-772a7618

https://www.artfairmag.com/art-los-angeles-contemporary/

https://www.spudnikpress.org/people/paul-nudd/

https://thehole.com/artists/dan-attoe

https://badatsports.com/2010/rowley-kennerk-gallery-closing/

https://andrewrafacz.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Manilow

https://www.robynoneil.com/

https://www.geoffreytoddsmith.com/

https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/features/edie-fake-off-the-grid/

https://www.luxcenter.org/artist/mark-pascale

https://badatsports.com/2005/episode-6-scott-speh-and-philip-von-zweck-interviewed/

Image Credit - Credit: Josh Druding for Chicago Reader https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/the-past-and-future-of-western-exhibitions/ 

In this episode of Bad at Sports, we sit down with Chicago-based artist and sculptor Betsy Odom, whose work uniquely blends high craftsmanship with intentional moments when the craft fails. Odom’s sculptures often serve as playful critiques of mass cultural phenomena, gendered objects, and sporting culture, creating pieces that are both visually stunning and conceptually layered.

With a deep fascination for sports culture and the ways it intersects with identity and gender, Odom’s work delights in crafting objects that are as charmingly imperfect as they are thoughtful. These "flawed" sculptures often act as queer-ed interpretations of familiar items, inviting us to question the norms surrounding them. We discuss Betsy’s approach to materials, her exploration of identity through sculpture, and how humor and subversion play key roles in her work.

https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/get-in-the-game/

https://www.betsyodom.com/

In this episode, we explore Ours Is The Hand That Sews Time, a two-person exhibition at M. LeBlanc featuring new work by father and son, Peter and Jake Fagundo. Both artists challenge the notion of painting as a finished product, instead embracing it as a continuous, evolving process. Peter, a longtime professor at SAIC, draws from his deep archive of past drawings and appropriated imagery, creating works that bridge abstraction and figuration. His son Jake, shaped by the digital age and a dynamic array of artistic influences, balances historical references with playful figurative work. Together, their pieces create a dialogue across generations, blending tradition with contemporary exploration. We are joined by Taylor Payton and Marc LeBlanc.

https://peterfagundo.com/home.html

https://www.artsy.net/artist/jake-michael-fagundo

https://www.sulkchicago.com/

https://mleblancchicago.com/oursisthehandthatsewstime

https://gruntsrarebooks.us/

In this episode, the Bad at Sports crew heads to the Center for MAD Culture to dive into the powerful intersection of art and mental health. They sit down with the Center’s current featured artist, Meghann Sottile, and Director Matt Bodett to explore what it means to embrace "MAD culture" and the crucial role that madness plays in shaping our broader cultural landscape. Sottile shares insights into her exquisitely crafted sculptures, discussing the influence of her personal experiences and the broader implications of creating work that navigates the boundaries of beauty and mental health. Bodett adds to the conversation, offering a glimpse into the mission of the Center for MAD Culture and the ways in which madness informs creative expression, societal perceptions, and cultural contributions.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about art, madness, and the way we think about the relationship between creativity and mental health.

https://www.madculture.org/

https://www.meghannsottile.com/

https://www.mattbodett.com/

Eric Von Haynes is a Chicago-based artist, printmaker, and community organizer. He founded Flatlands Press, a print studio that creates art objects and printed ephemera for artists worldwide, with a focus on community engagement. His work blends traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques, creating unique monoprints that invite viewers to reflect on time and memory. Haynes’ work is characterized by his use of slow media, non-repeating patterns, and an emphasis on process-driven art.

In addition to his artistic practice, Haynes is deeply involved in community-based initiatives. He co-founded The Love Fridge Chicago, a mutual aid group focused on food sovereignty, and serves as the President of the Chicago Printers Guild. His dedication to collaborative art practices extends to his residency at the Chicago Art Department, where he engages in projects that promote public participation and social connections through art.

He has exhibited works like Drawn Through Restraint, a series of lithographs exploring the intersection of design, time, and memory. This exhibition included participatory workshops to engage the public in risograph printing, highlighting his commitment to blending art with community-building.

https://www.flatlandspress.com/

https://www.thelovefridge.com/

https://www.chicagoprintersguild.org/

https://chicagoartdepartment.org/

https://www.tigerstrikesasteroid.com/chi-/-eric-von-haynes-drawn-through-restraint

This week on Bad at Sports Duncan MacKenzie and Amy Kligman check in with Sean Nash! Thanks to the glory of the Charlotte Street Foundation.

 Sean Nash is a visual artist whose work often intersects with fermentation, social practice, and ecological themes. His projects integrate fermented foods into sculptures and exhibitions, exploring the cultural and biological aspects of fermentation. Nash has exhibited at various venues including the Kniznick Gallery at Brandeis, Plug Projects in Kansas City, and Black Ball Projects in Brooklyn.

Notably, his "Lactobacillus Amongus" exhibition used sourdough starters and bacteria as a form of portraiture, blending biology with visual art. He also engages with social practice art, such as his long-term project "Trans Fermentation," where he collaborates with other transgender individuals to ferment food, creating a platform for dialogue and community building. Nash’s work challenges traditional boundaries between disciplines, bringing together art, food, and social issues​

Additionally, he recently earned the Charlotte Street Visual Art Award, and his upcoming work will be featured at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. His pieces often comment on environmental and agricultural themes, creating art that envisions a hopeful, sustainable future​

https://kcstudio.org/honors-sean-nash/

https://emerge.asu.edu/artist/sean-nash/

https://www.townsend-gallery.com/artists/seannash

https://charlottestreet.org/

https://www.amykligman.com/

https://senash.com/

In this episode our intrepid art adventure enthusist, Duncan MacKenzie, is joined but KC rockstar ED, Amy Kligman. Together they catch up with two of the next generation of Kansas City's art world grinders charting the next phase of KC contemporary art. Sam Hann and Cesar E. Lopez Mejia.

https://www.plug.gallery/team-1

https://www.artskcgo.com/organization/curiouser-curiouser/

https://lopezcesar.com/

https://www.samanthahaan.com/

https://www.amykligman.com/

https://charlottestreet.org/

In this episode of the Bad at Sports Podcast, we sit down with Ruben Castillo, and explore his two person exhibition with Amy Cousins. Few broadcast from the heart of Kansas City thanks to the glory of the Charlotte Street Foundation.

https://charlottestreet.org/

https://rubenbcastillo.com/

https://www.amycousins.com/

In this episode of the Bad at Sports Podcast, we sit down with Caleb Taylor, a dynamic artist and influential figure in Kansas City's vibrant art scene. Join us as we delve into Caleb's creative journey, his work, Plug, curating, and his deep roots and connections with the local Kansas City art scene.

https://charlottestreet.org/

https://charlottestreet.org/exhibition/site-seeing/

Corey Antis (Kansas City)-  https://cargocollective.com/coreyantis

Avantika Bawa (Portland)- https://www.avantikabawa.net/

Dan Devening (Chicago)- http://dandevening.com/

Marcie Miller Gross (Kansas City)- https://www.marciemillergross.com/

Mie Kongo (Chicago)- https://www.miekongo.com/

Cybele Lyle (Los Angeles)- https://cybelelyle.com/

Armin Mühsam (Kansas City)- https://arminmuhsam.com/

Erin O’Keefe (New York)- https://www.erinokeefe.com/

Christopher Spaw (Alma, KS)- https://www.instagram.com/christopherspaw/

Caleb Taylor (Kansas City)- https://calebtaylorstudio.com/Information

http://deveningprojects.com/

https://www.plug.gallery/

On this episode of Bad at Sports, Wisconsin artist Colin Matthes gets descriptive about his ongoing series of discursive drawings and sculptures. His unconscientious images come from a daily drawing routine made around the home with his wife and two children, portraying confabulated narratives from books and TV intertwined with imagined and lived moments.

ColinMatthes.com

Instagram

https://www.thealicewilds.com/