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<span style="display:none;font-size:0px;line-height:0px;max-height:0px;max-width:0px;opacity:0;overflow:hidden">Artist Megan Williamson Debuts Public Art Installation with Message of Hope</span>
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<p style="text-align:left;color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></span><br>
<span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif">Images available for download <strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s0MZzYk-UkheFkVCGxpGAUltzYjv4BDM" style="color:#007c89;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="background-color:#ffff00">HERE</span></a><span style="background-color:#ffff00">.</span></strong></span></span></span></p>
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<strong style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;text-align:right">Press Contact:</strong><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:12px;text-align:right;font-family:arial,"helvetica neue",helvetica,sans-serif"><strong> </strong>Marielle Mervau<br><a href="mailto:Mariellemervau@gmail.com?subject=Press%20Inquiry" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(0,124,137)">mariellemervau@gmail.com</a><br>(408) 568-4521</span><br>
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<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </strong>CHICAGO (August 29, 2022) - This week, <strong>Ipsento Coffee </strong>in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood debuted a new public art installation by artist <strong>Megan Williamson.</strong> <em>Falling</em>, Williamson’s dreamlike window installation, reimagines ways to experience art while aiming to inspire a sense of hope in Chicagoland residents.</span></span></p>
<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif">In the winter of 2022, Williamson began drawing acrobats mid-air, falling in space. Today, the ongoing series of gestural portraits continue to symbolize how Williamson feels—in limbo—helpless to the state of violence in the United States and uncertain of what the future holds. <em>Falling</em> transforms the series into a powerful site-specific installation for Ipsento Coffee’s window. Although the performers are falling into the unknown, their peaceful silhouettes create an atmosphere of hope within the unstable environment. Williamson explains, “suspense is what makes their performances so thrilling. There is always a chance of failure, but they always land the trick.”</span><br>
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<em><strong>Falling</strong></em> is Williamson’s first large-scale public artwork and her second collaboration with the nationwide public art initiative <strong>ART-IN-PLACE</strong>. ART-IN-PLACE invites artists to create new work in response to the current state of unprecedented violence in the United States. The project aims to unite Chicagoland residents during this challenging time and encourage viewers to take action towards justice, equity, and human rights. 20% of sales from artworks included in the project will be donated to a social justice non-profit organization of the artist’s choosing. ART-IN-PLACE is organized by CNL Projects and Terrain Exhibitions. <em>Falling,</em> and other artworks, will be on view in public spaces across Chicago from September 1 - October 15, 2022.</span></p>
<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Megan Williamson </strong>(she/her) is a Chicago-based painter. Her work has been shown in Italy, Ireland, Canada, and in dozens of venues across the United States. She was awarded an Innovation Fellowship with the National Science Foundation in 2014 and a DCASE Grant in 2015. She has taught at institutions across Italy and in the United States including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Michigan, Columbia College, University of Dallas, and more. Williamson attended the New York Studio School, Yale’s Norfolk Summer Program, and Queens College Landscape Painting Program. Her work can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the country.</span></p>
<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>For more information:</strong><br>
<em>About ART-IN-PLACE</em>: <a href="http://www.artinplace.net" style="color:#007c89;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">www.artinplace.net</a><br>
<em>About Megan Williamson:</em> <a href="http://www.meganwilliamson.com" style="color:#007c89;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">www.meganwilliamson.com</a></span></p>
<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px">Photo: Megan Williamson, <em>Falling (installation view)</em>, 2022, Sumi in on silk, 67 x 114”. Photo Credit: Liz Vitlin</span></p>
<p style="color:#222222;font-family:Arial,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ipsento Coffee is located at</strong> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/1813+N+Milwaukee+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60647/@41.9144331,-87.6854495,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x880fd2bdda92a665:0xa4036365627e4a6a!8m2!3d41.9144331!4d-87.6832555?shorturl=1" style="color:#007c89;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">1813 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.</a></span></p>
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