Art ON and Archer Heights Branch Celebrate Student Artists

Art ON, an exhibition of student artwork, opens Saturday, July 9 with an opening celebration from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Archer Heights Branch.

Art ON is the creation of artist and designer Katerina Pilipchik. When Pilipchik moved to the Archer Heights neighborhood, she found a community full of young artists, but very few places to share their work with the public. “I started Art ON to bring acknowledgement and exposure to high school artists by taking their work outside of the school environment and bringing it to the wider public,” Pilipchik said. “This project is about building ties and awareness in the community and adding beauty to everyday life."

Archer Heights is home to one of Chicago’s three magnet art programs: Curie Metro High School’s Performing and Visual Arts program. Students from Curie perform all over the country, and the school’s vocal ensemble group, Musicality, was featured in the current season of NBC’s America's Got Talent! Yet student work in the visual arts has usually remained in the school building, on display only to school staff, students and visitors.

Following the opening, the art will be on display throughout Archer Heights Branch until September 10. Pieces on display in the library’s community room can be viewed between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays.