Arts and Public Life

Arts and Public Life Arts + Public Life (APL) is a dynamic hub of exploration, expression, and exchange that centers peopl Learn more at artsandpubliclife.org

As a neighborhood platform for arts and culture in Washington Park, APL provides residencies for for local artists and creative entrepreneurs, arts education for youth, and artist-led programming and exhibitions. Arts + Public Life (APL) is an initiative of UChicago Arts, and thrives thanks to the support of a community of generous donors whose gifts have sustained the Arts + Public Life initiativ

e, Arts Incubator (+ Gallery and Woodshop), Green Line Performing Arts Center, L1 Creative Business Accelerator and Retail Shop, and the vibrant creativity happening every day on the Arts Block on historic Garfield Boulevard in Washington Park.

06/23/2026

HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️‍🌈✨

We are bringing the ultimate celebration of Q***r culture, community, and living out loud straight to the back patio of the L1 Retail Store this weekend! Honor our vibrant history and support those building beautiful Q***r spaces right here on the South Side. Come out to dance, shop Q***r-owned, and celebrate Black and Brown Q***r culture—because Pride on the South Side hits differently, and it’s always better when we show up together.

Shop Our Vendors: Refyned Goods, Ava's Beets, Rugs By Kei, Inspired Natural Good, Orange Tent Project, Dom Williams, and BONDED.

Featured Organization: Out Of The Closet
Live Caricatures: CreativeKev
Vibes & Beats: The legendary Duane Powell

See you on the patio!

APL Team members, Isis Ferguson and Alyssa Gregory are on the latest podcast episode of Notes from Chicago! You can list...
06/23/2026

APL Team members, Isis Ferguson and Alyssa Gregory are on the latest podcast episode of Notes from Chicago!

You can listen to them talk about why they love Chicago, the history of APL, some share details about upcoming summer programming and the more!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

June’s energy on the Arts Block has been outstanding, and we are ready to end the month strong with more community and a...
06/22/2026

June’s energy on the Arts Block has been outstanding, and we are ready to end the month strong with more community and art.

Spaces fill up fast, so click the link in our bio to check out this week's full schedule and secure your spots today!

Wednesday | Sunset Yoga
Thursday | Poetry at the Pavilion
Saturday | Pride Market
Saturday | South Side Fireflies *make sure to bring them out to South Side Fireflies before the session wraps up on July 11th.
Thursday-Saturdays | Sightlines, Ghosts, and Other Stories of the Impossible Gallery Hours

The excitement continues this Saturday as we celebrate Pride over at the L1 Retail Store. Plus, if you have little friends, make sure to bring them out to South Side Fireflies before the session wraps up on July 11th.

🌅 Sunset Yoga returns to Summer on the Arts Lawn! It was wonderful seeing so many community members come out to the Arts...
06/17/2026

🌅 Sunset Yoga returns to Summer on the Arts Lawn!

It was wonderful seeing so many community members come out to the Arts Lawn last summer, and we can't wait to connect with you all again!

Rhya will guide you through a grounding Hatha practice of slow, gratitude-focused sun salutations, longer-held postures, and intentional breathwork. Engage all five senses with Tibetan singing bowls, handmade essential oils, and herbal iced teas to root deeply into the self and the natural world.

📅 CLASS DATES + TIMES (Note the shifting sunset times!)
June 24 | July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 ➔ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 5, 12, 19, 26 ➔ 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 ➔ 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM

🔗 Spaces fill up fast—click the link in our bio to register!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the screening of BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions. The night was incredible and the e...
06/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the screening of BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions. The night was incredible and the energy on the Arts Lawn and at the Green Line Performing Arts Center was next level.

Huge shoutout to our amazing activation facilitators. You brought the evening to life with powerful conversation, movement, and community artwork that beautifully anchored the experience.

If you haven't seen BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions yet, we highly suggest finding a way to watch it. It is an important, beautiful, and necessary piece of art.

We hope you left feeling inspired, and we can’t wait for the next gathering of this type at APL!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for two incredible weeks of programming and events on the Arts Block. June's energy ...
06/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for two incredible weeks of programming and events on the Arts Block. June's energy on the Arts Block has been outstanding and we are excited to keep the vibes going-especially since the weather is going to be absolutely perfect this week!

We invite you to come hang out, catch some sun, and relax on the Arts Lawn. While you're here, make sure to stop by and check out Jess Atieno's stunning exhibition during gallery hours.

Click the link in our bio to check out what's happening and plan your visit so you do not miss out!

Saturday Mornings | South Side Fireflies
Thursday-Saturdays | Sightlines, Ghosts, and Other Stories of the Impossible Gallery Hours

Thank you to everyone who joined us last month for Spring Lounge as we gathered at Arts + Public Life to celebrate the b...
06/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last month for Spring Lounge as we gathered at Arts + Public Life to celebrate the birthday of Lorraine Hansberry. It was an absolute honor to honor a true legend who grew up right here in our Washington Park neighborhood.

Watching the screening of A Raisin in the Sun together as a community felt incredibly special and reminded us of the lasting power of her work.

We look forward to many more opportunities to uplift and celebrate our Washington Park legends alongside the incredible APL community.

June is officially here, and we are not slowing down! Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible first week f...
06/08/2026

June is officially here, and we are not slowing down!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible first week featuring First Monday Jazz and the Forever Fly Vintage Market. We've got another week of community moments for you! Check them out and click the link in out bio to register, so you do not miss out.

June 11 | Shades of Chicago: Mezcla Film Screening + Conversation
June 13 | Juneteenth with the Committed Knitters
June 13 | World Wide Knit in Public Day
Saturday Mornings | South Side Fireflies
Thursday-Saturdays | Sightlines, Ghosts, and Other Stories of the Impossible Gallery Hours

Celebrate Juneteenth and World Knit in Public Day with APL and the Committed Knitters on Saturday June 13th!We are honor...
06/05/2026

Celebrate Juneteenth and World Knit in Public Day with APL and the Committed Knitters on Saturday June 13th!

We are honoring Juneteenth and the continuous journey toward liberation by bringing the community together to connect and create. Even better because this year the gathering falls on World Knit in Public Day and we get to celebrate alongside Fiber Friends Studios!

Whether you are a seasoned stitcher or a total beginner this gathering is for you! Bring a project or just bring yourself because we have free yarn and needles waiting. Enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks plus exciting giveaways from our amazing partners!

We look forward to stitching, connecting, and celebrating with you!

Juneteenth with the Committed Knitters + World Wide Knit in Public Day
Saturday, June 13 | 11:00AM-3:00PM
Arts Lawn | 337 E. Garfield Blvd

Juneteenth with the Committed Knitters is presented with generous support from the University of Chicago Office of the Provost.

06/02/2026

Make your weekend plans NOW. The second Forever Fly Vintage Market is this Saturday, and we are absolutely thrilled to drop our official vendor lineup!

Get ready to spend the day digging through the absolute best curation of summer vintage clothing, retro home decor, streetwear, handmade goods, and hidden gems. Whether you’re looking to completely overhaul your wardrobe or just grab that one perfect piece, our vendors have got you covered.

BetterinPrint by han- Come visit the BetterinPrint Polaroid Booth and leave with a hand held self-portrait or photo of your loved one.

Christopher’s Attic/Flowers From Home- Christopher’s Attic is a Chicago-based luxury vintage house specializing in rare archival apparel, collectible vinyl records, and culturally significant pieces curated with an elevated eye for design and storytelling.

Graduate Garmentry- The finest in current and vintage, handpicked apparel. Custom created collegiate wear and urban inspired assets

Hush Hush Vintage- Hush Hush Vintage is an extension of HML Design featuring a curated selection of secondhand pieces of all varieties

M.C. Heritage by Moonstone Chandlery®- M.C. Heritage by Moonstone Chandlery® is a thoughtfully curated collection of fine vintage clothing and accessories featuring luxe fabrics, timeless silhouettes, and coveted designer pieces.

Thrift LLC- A Black owned vintage store that is as much about community building as it is shopping.

Visionary Media- A curated offering of vintage picture frames, bespoke photography, and collected home objects each with a story to tell, presented by Visionary Media. Each piece was chosen from the personal collection of JaSaun's father, Jim Buckner.

Forever Fly Vintage Market
Saturday, June 6
12:00PM-6:00PM
L1 Retail Store Patio
319 E. Garfield Blvd

Address

301 E Garfield Boulevard
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm

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