{"id":"11","title":"Not Normal: Challenging Societal Norms","starts_at":"2026-05-01 18:00:00","ends_at":"2026-06-05 21:00:00","body":"<p>Chicago Sculpture International - CSI is a non-profit organization with over 300 local, national and international members. Since 2004, CSI has been&nbsp;championing sculptors and the creation of sculpture, with local and regional exhibitions,&nbsp;large-scale public art, and educational&nbsp;outreach.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>2026 CSI Exhibits:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>12th Year of Sculpture in the Parks and The Chicago Tree Project in collaboration with the Chicago Park District</li><li>Outdoor Exhibitions at Big Marsh Park, Miller Beach, Evanston and more</li><li>Indoor Exhibitions at Indiana University (Kokomo Art Gallery), Leslie Wolfe Gallery, Chicago and more.</li><li>Ongoing exhibitions of artwork by CSI members and AALANA-BIPOC fellowship recipients at CSI Projet Space</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>We offer a broad range of programs for our members and for the public that include:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>+ <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagosculpture.org/sculpture-in-the-parks\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sculpture in the Parks:</strong></a><strong> </strong>20 large- scale sculptures by CSI members in 20 different parks throughout Chicagoland in collaboration with the Chicago Park District</p><p><br></p><p>+ <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagosculpture.org/exhibitions-events\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Project Space Group</strong> <strong>Exhibitions:</strong></a><strong> </strong>Juried CSI member&nbsp;exhibitions at CSI Project Space, Evanston Art Center, Koehnline Museum of Art, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the Beverly Arts Center, Epiphany Center for the Arts, among others.</p><p><br></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• Little, but BOLD!&nbsp;– Holiday Group Show: December 13, 2025 – January 30, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• AALANA-BIPOC Fellowship Exhibit: March 6 – 27, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• Whispers from the unfamiliar – CSI Group Exhibit: May 16 – June 18, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• Abstract Expressionism&nbsp;– CSI Summer Group Exhibit: July 18 – September 11, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• By Degree V&nbsp;– Emerging Artists: September 26 – October 23, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• Artist Spotlight&nbsp;– CSI Members: October 30 – November 30, 2026</span></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">• Little, but BOLD!&nbsp;– Holiday Group Show: December 12, 2026 – January 29, 2027</span></p><p><br></p><p>+ <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagosculpture.org/csi-project-space\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Educational Outreach with Project Space:</strong></a> Experimental art space for CSI emerging artists and community outreach programs like free public art making workshops for youth, adults and seniors</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We believe in creating community through sculpture. </strong>Become a member and exhibit your work, Support us with a Donation, or Learn more about upcoming events and workshops at <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http://chicagosculpture.org\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>chicagosculpture.org</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Image<span style=\"color: rgb(67, 67, 67);\">: (left)&nbsp;Healing HeArts&nbsp;by Michael Alfano at Berger Park;&nbsp;(left) “Pyx” by&nbsp;John Upchurch</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1763092937/dcc5itadzifpvahau7fh.jpg\"></p>","type":"EventCategory","state":"published","slug":"exhibitions","created_at":"2018-10-22 18:54:41.176231","updated_at":"2018-10-22 18:54:41.176231","excerpt":"","is_timeless":true,"organization_id":974,"highlighted":false,"opening_starts_at":null,"opening_ends_at":null,"searchable":"'20th':360B '80':328B 'abnorm':229B 'accept':57B 'adult':350B 'airplan':354B 'alli':163B 'allow':26B 'also':98B,166B,245B,261B 'anomali':218B,220B 'anoth':183B 'anto':411B 'anyth':44B 'art':33B 'artist':14B,409B 'attir':124B 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Many kinds of art may fit into this broad category. \"Not normal\" refers to anything that goes against established norms, represents an unexpected change, or deviates from accepted collective reality. For the purposes of the exhibition, depictions of ‘not normal’ are those that depart from standard norms. For example, Dada and Surrealism depict fantastical, odd, or distorted realities that differ from our collective everyday experience. \"Not normal\" can also refer to atypical or unusual occurrences—a flamboyantly dressed person or someone dressed as a superhero on a commuter train full of people in business attire, or events that interrupt daily life, such as a train derailment or hacked cellphone service. In politics, a government perceived as failing to protect its citizens is not normal. Likewise, a government that threatens to invade an otherwise allied nation is also not normal. What is considered normal in one society may not be recognized as normal in another. Norms include societal rules of established behavior; ways of being and expression; political, racial, social, gender, psychological, and physical norms; as well as conventions of etiquette. Beyond social norms, there are technological and global anomalies, climate anomalies (such as red rain or boiling lakes), biological abnormalities, and other bizarre natural or physical phenomena, including UAP sightings. In physics, a particle can also exist as a wave, further challenging our sense of reality. Physical or cognitive disabilities may also be perceived as atypical, depending on societal expectations - a sensory crossover where a person might ‘feel’ sounds in specific parts of their body or see colors while playing music—is not normal. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can involve hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present.&nbsp;What is considered normal changes as society changes.</p><p><br></p><p>Historical shifts over the past 80 years illustrate this: previous generations considered it normal for eight-year-olds to care for younger siblings for months without adult oversight. Smoking on airplanes was common in the late 20th century, but is now strictly prohibited. Homosexuality, once considered a disorder, and tattoos, jogging, and single parenthood—once deviant—are now common. Yet even today, some of these societal changes face sustained efforts by certain groups to challenge or reverse them—and that, too, is not normal.</p><p><br></p><p>Featured Artists: Jonathan Antos • Ruby Barnes • Sharon Bladholm • Donna Bliss • Margie Criner • Gary Cudworth • Jason Ferguson • Gertah • Bert Gilbert • Jill King • John Kurman • Erin LaRocque • Gina Lee Robbins • Micki LeMieux • Ellen Lustig • Russ Marr • Bobbi Meier • Jerry Monteith • Scott Mossman • Thomas Plum • Howard Russo • Dominic Sansone • Samuel Schwindt • Simone Scigousky • Marvin Shafer • Eleanor Spiess-Ferris • Rich Stewart • Yi Sun • Sishi Wang • Bruce Webber • Connor Young Juried and curated by Victoria Fuller and Spencer Gale.</p><p><br></p><p>For questions and more information: <a href=\"mailto:info@chicagosculpture.org?subject=CGN%20Inquiry\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">info@chicagosculpture.org</a></p>","name":"Exhibitions","organization_type_id":"1","district_id":"5","telephone":"+18727040057","website":"https://chicagosculpture.org/","email":"info@chicagosculpture.org","hours":"F 2-6, Sa 12-8, Su 1-5","location":"1912 N. Damen Chicago, IL 60647","display_location":"CSI Project Space, 1912 N. Damen, Chicago, IL 60647","latitude":"41.916346","longitude":"-87.677897","contact":"","sub_district_id":"12","promoted_at":"2018-10-24T19:51:55.402Z","optional_sort_name":"","paid":true,"position":2,"category_name":"Exhibitions","orgname":"Chicago Sculpture International (CSI)","orgslug":"chicago-sculpture-international-csi","image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1778879975/lik1m3ojky6neui47a8x.jpg"}