AIA Chicago LGBTQI+ Alliance Winter Social at eggersmann

Almost 200 art-loving AIA Chicago members and LGBTQI+ Alliance supporters turned out  February 27, 2020, at eggersmann Chicago showroom for the first annual LGBTQI+ Alliance Winter Social. The soirée featured a wide variety of queer art, Mediterranean hors d’ouerves, and mai tais from a special recipe including Clément Rhum. Clément is an award-winning agricole rum distillery that co-sponsored the AIA Winter Social. Bulley & Andrews, innovative construction company for commercial, industrial, and residential applications, also lent support by cosponsoring the event.

The Winter Social was festive from start to finish with a disco ball in the eggersmann lounge area, colorful lights throughout the showroom, and lively jazz music as guests mingled with artists and fellow architects. AIA Chicago provided a backdrop and zany props like boas and masks for fun photo ops.

Thought-Provoking Art

The clean lines of the eggersmann’s River North Design District showroom was the perfect backdrop to highlight inspired and inspiring artwork curated from Gallery Victor Armendariz located a mere 7 blocks away.

The loaned collection included oil and water colored paintings, pencil sketches, photography, sculptures, and performance art. Local Chicago artists, many of the LGBTQI+ community, were featured including Doug Birkenheuer’s evocative black-and-white photography, Rick Sindt’s expressive graphite drawings, and Brian Driscoll‘s unique wallpaper-pattern overlaid art.

Event guests were treated with the presence of several local artists including Birkenheuer, Sindt, Driscoll, Michael Van Zeyl, and Garek.

Note Van Zeyl’s art is a frequent feature at eggersmann-hosted events such as our Goddess Gala of Fine Arts exhibit at RNDD’s 5th Annual Fall Gallery Walk.

Gay Pride Living Statue

In addition to the amazing artists who share their work, a “living statue” engaged guests throughout the event. She was a popular photo op visually interpreting gay pride. The living statue was embodied by an actor from the Chicago Actors Gym and created through full body paint by Rosa Flor Designs.

Other Distinguished Guests

Other distinguished guests who addressed the party goers about elevating awareness of LGBTQI+ members among professional architects and related industries and promoting diversity in the architecture community:

• Zurich Esposito – AIA Chicago’s executive  VP and LGBTQI+ Alliance founding member
• Fred Grier – AIA Chicago LGBTQI+ Alliance cochair
• Sara Fetterolf – AIA Chicago LGBTQI+ Alliance cochair.