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[BRIDGEPORT, Chicago] Terrific art is not limited to the worlds of museums and traditional galleries, thank God, and lucky for us in Chicago, we have a world-class city with visual wonders exploding all over the place, and a broad definition of what constitutes art and inspiration. While Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport has been around a while (their graffiti show was a fantastic and mad highlight of last year), it really seems to be ramping up its act, and leading the pack in what truly seems to be an organically forming arts district (versus those elsewhere in the city promoted by private business – not that there’s anything wrong with that).

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The current Co-Pro show, TYPEFORCE: The Annual Chicago Show of Emerging Typographic Allstars (extended through March 19, 2010), shows off an amazing array of beautiful and challenging lettering. Mechanically typeset, produced by hand, some barely legible but with merits galore to compensate, including one large piece (in the gallery window) of the likes I’ve not quite seen anywhere. When viewed from just about any angle, it may appear to be an abstract fabric installation or flight of fancy predicting the impending onset of spring breezes. (Let us pray, anyway.) But squint, and know what you’re looking for, and it’s a larger than life depiction of the show’s title/logo (which you can view on the Co-pro web page promoting the event.).

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Shown here and on my Flickr page are just some quick highlights of some of the pieces I enjoyed the most, during a whirlwind visit on the day after the opening on Feb. 26, 2010. (While I love a good happening as much as the next guy and love chatting up the artists and other patrons, I often find it challenging to really enjoy the art and to focus on details, and especially to try to photograph if there is something I wish to promote for you, the gentle reader.) I didn’t quite have the time to take as many detailed notes as I’d like (bad journalist!) so if you visit my Flickr page and know the names of the artists and/or titles of the pieces shown there, and whether they (the art works) are for sale, feel free to add that caption information under each photo, and web or email contact info regarding the piece.

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Congratulations to all the artists who worked on this show, including Will Miller of Firebelly Design (who were my co-conspirators on benefit group shows the past two Septembers at my within(Reason) gallery space in Pilsen. Here are fun links to Year One and Year Two of our collaboration.) Fun fact: Will is a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design (Sarasota, Fla.) where years ago I taught several courses, including typography (though a bit before Will’s time).

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For more visuals from the TypeForce show, visit my Flickr fan page. If you have other images from the show you want me to link to here, please email me and let me know, at ron (at) artwithinreason.com. Finally … why not follow me on Twitter?

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[I'm not sure what this holds, but another type/art show is coming up, TypO, at College of DuPage, March 4 to April 10, 2010. Might be worth checking out.]