Last week I attended the opening of a Skokie Art Spot popup a couple blocks from my home. Hosted by Skokie’s Fine Arts Commission and juried by Skokie artist Jay Ryan, the exhibition features creations from artists who live or work in Skokie.

As I made my way around the exhibition, a small group were fixated on Bastet by Pamela Sloan. As they discussed it, they were approached by Sloan, who proceeded to answer questions about the piece and her career.

Is it a horse? Is it a bunch of rocks? Whatever you might see, it is beautiful.

Bastet is part of Sloan’s Unearthed series, in which she buries paper in soil for several months at historically significant areas. Upon unearthing, the paper has been transformed into fascinating pieces of art. Sloan might add slight touches to the piece.

Talking a bit more to Sloan, I was pleasantly surprised to learn one of her latest unearthing projects is located where I grew up on the Far Southeast Side of Chicago. I already am looking forward to seeing that piece when it is unearthed.

I also connected with Ellie Henderson, whose The Good Ole Days work fascinated me. Owner of The Ellie Bellie Sweet Shop, Henderson is an artist who works with ceramic pieces and sculptures. A thought-provoking piece, this transports the viewer to simpler, younger days.

© Ellie Henderson

© Ellie Henderson

The popup is relatively small but impactful. A first for Skokie’s Fine Arts Commission, I hope it is not the last.

— John Wroblewski, online writer