Art Wed Nov 20 2013

Design Cloud Introduces MOUNT Residency

By Mina Bloom

Photo by Design Cloud

The inside of Design Cloud's West Loop office, 118 N. Peoria St #2n, is striking. That's partly because the two-year-old design firm looks like every creative professional's dream work environment, with mid-century meets industrial style custom furniture and lighting. But mostly it's because of the motorcycle parked in the middle of the space.

Chicago-based artists and former SAIC grad students Alex Gartlemann and Jonas Sebura are responsible for the motorcycle, which looks like a carriage with a wooden structure attached and a handful of books displayed inside.

It stands as a grand centerpiece for Design Cloud's workspace, and holds a greater meaning to the artists who created it: the piece represents their collaboration during a trip they took together across the Rocky Mountains and into Montana. Called "Enduro," the piece is one of several works of art that make up the exhibit "Revisiting Undomesticated" adorning the walls of Design Cloud's office.

Curators Cameron DuBois and Sarah Nodelman, or "Casa Duno," assembled the exhibit and they are the first residents under Design Cloud's newest initiative, the MOUNT curatorial residency program.

The eclectic pieces explore the relationships we have with everyday objects and what it means to feel at home. To the left of "Enduro" is an antique-looking white sculpture by Brian Bailey called "Victoria" made with cast- and folded paper. On the other side of the room is a larger-than-life green-hued oil painting of a pool called "Pools" by Ben Murray. Less obvious is Nora Maite Nieves' art installation entitled "Luxury," an assortment of little glimmering colored jewels found in the columns and floor boards. Several other pieces manage to fill the space without making the office feel the least bit cluttered.

The exhibit opened on Oct. 25 and will run through Dec 19.

Founder of Design Cloud Nick Stocking worked as a real estate developer before building his own design firm in 2011. Adding an art gallery component to the mix, Stocking says, has always been a part of their original mission.

"Ultimately, we want to help the artist take the next step," Stocking says. "These artists are in a critical place in their careers."

Under MOUNT, each resident is awarded a $1,000 stipend and allowed three months to showcase their exhibit and produce programming like artist talks and panel discussions. Casa Duno was selected from a group of 30 applicants.

Following Casa Duno is a mother and daughter resident, Noelle Allen and Christine Remy. They will set up shop beginning in January 2014. Between now and then, Stocking says they plan to use the space for other events like a design debate (Apple iOs vs. Google Android) and a pop-up dinner party.

The gallery is open weekdays 10am to 5pm, or by appointment, through Dec. 19. If you'd like to apply to be a resident, you can find more information here. For all other information about Design Cloud, visit here.