It’s officially summer in Logan Square. And the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival (MAAF)—the annual celebration of art, food and music—kicks off tonight. The festival runs through Sunday and features 34 musical acts on two stages, as well as art from almost two dozen studios, collectives and individual artists.
Amie Sell is one of the artists presenting work at MAAF 2014. Her exhibit, “Home Sweet Home,” features architectural photos printed on fleece blankets, as well as collage and found object work, she says in her artist statement.
“For the last six months, I’ve become heavily involved in organizing around the issue of affordable housing that is disappearing from our neighborhood, Logan Square,” she says. “I’ve met people who have been part of mass evictions from their homes, seen rents skyrocket and the demographics shift dramatically in certain areas. This deeply concerns me and leaves me with a heavy feeling of loss, but hopeful that action can be taken to slow this process.”
According to a news release from I AM Logan Square (@IAmLoganSquare, 2644 N. Milwaukee Ave.), which is presenting MAAF, the festival takes place on Milwaukee Avenue from its intersection with Diversey Parkway and Kimball Avenue on the north to Kedzie on the south.
“It’s only at MAAF where the city’s most talented folks in the arts congregate for one weekend,” the release says. “The one-of-a-kind street fair features: dozens of visual artists, two stages of live music, pop-up art galleries and food from the neighborhood’s finest restaurants—including Reno (@renochicago, 2607 N. Milwaukee Ave.) and sangria from Lula Cafe (@lulacafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd.). In case someone comes without an appetite, they can work one up at one of MAAF’s exciting interactive activities or walking the pop-up gallery route.”
While exploring the festival, make sure you stop by the LoganSquarist booth near Spaulding and meet some of the fantastic folks who bring you the news of your neighborhood day in and day out. You’ll also have the chance to win a snazzy, new LoganSquarist T-shirt and if you ask nicely (this means saying “please” and “thank you”), the staffers at the booth might even give you a hug. Might.
So come on down and check it out. Art, food, family fun—what more could you ask for?
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