Following a successful inaugural year in 2011, Gallery Weekend Chicago founders announce the second year of Gallery Weekend Chicago to take place September 21-23, 2012. Once again, a select group of over a dozen of Chicago's premier contemporary art galleries have been invited to participate in the weekend, which is designed to attract an exclusive group of national and international clientele to experience Chicago’s dynamic contemporary art scene. Chauffeured visits to top contemporary art galleries and museums, access to hard-to-secure reservations at Chicago’s finest restaurants, and private VIP events will make up the weekend’s activities.  Participating galleries to date include: Alderman Exhibitions, Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Carrie Secrist Gallery, Corbett vs. Dempsey, devening projects + editions, Kavi Gupta Gallery, moniquemeloche, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Richard Gray Gallery, The Mission, Threewalls, Tony Wight Gallery, Valerie Carberry Gallery and Western Exhibitions.

“We are thrilled to be planning year two of Gallery Weekend Chicago,” explained Gallery Weekend Chicago founder and art dealer Monique Meloche. “We are dedicated to creating an enticing weekend featuring Chicago's world-class cultural offerings while expanding on our mission to showcase the best of Chicago's contemporary art galleries in their bricks-and-mortar homes.”

On both Friday and Saturday of Gallery Weekend Chicago, invited guests will enjoy private tours of the participating galleries led by Chicago art world luminaries and exclusive dinner reservations to Chicago’s most coveted restaurants.  “Having culinary partners like Alinea and Next on board again this year is essential for setting the bar high for the Gallery Weekend Chicago guest experience,” said Meloche.   Guests will be treated to a private cocktail party with GWC gallery owners, artists, museum curators and directors, and the Host Committee of local art collectors on Friday, September 21, at the historic Graham Foundation. The weekend will also include curator-led tours of top art institutions, a private Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tour, and other exciting events to be announced in the coming months. 

While attendance at Gallery Weekend Chicago VIP events is by invitation only, there will be many happenings that are free and open to the public at the various participating GWC galleries over the course of the weekend, including opening receptions and conversations with artists and curators.   Gallery Weekend Chicago will happen simultaneously with the new Expo Chicago Art Fair, running from September 20-23, 2012.

Gallery Weekend Chicago was founded by Monique Meloche and is organized in partnership with Scott Speh of Western Exhibitions and Andrew Rafacz of Andrew Rafacz Gallery. Gallery Weekend Chicago aims to showcase the best of the local art scene to out-of-town art enthusiasts, critics and collectors. Participating galleries are open to the public that weekend and Chicagoans are encouraged to visit and view the new exhibitions.  The James Hotel will once again be the official hotel of GWC.

To learn more about the participating galleries, restaurants, partners and public events visit www.GalleryWeekendChicago.com.