Art in the alleys: pop up galleries draw hundreds 

To most people, garages are simply places for parking cars, storing tools and working on weekend projects, and alleys are merely grungy passageways for trash collection and utility lines. 

But on the fourth Saturday in August over the past 12 years, Forest Park flips the script, transforming dozens of garages and blocks of alleyways from dull and unsightly urban thoroughfares into a bustling, community-driven art walk.

Since its inception, Garage Galleries has blossomed into a fan-favorite local celebration of art, transforming ordinary garages into pop-up galleries, offering area artists a community-accessible showcase and bringing neighbors together to explore a variety of artwork right up anyone’s alley.

Sponsored by the Forest Park Arts Alliance, Garage Galleries helps partner artists with residents who open their garages free of charge in exchange for the chance to sell their work and promote their small businesses. 

This year’s Garage Galleries on Saturday, Aug. 22 was arguably the largest in event history. Featuring approximately 111 juried local artists across 44 galleries, hundreds of people strolled Forest Park alleys and sidewalks chatting with friends and discovering vibrant artwork, one garage at a time. 

Lin Beribak, a Forest Park resident and vice president of the Arts Alliance, said that Garage Galleries reinforces the village’s reputation as a creative, quirky and supportive community coming together to celebrate the joy of art. 

“Garage Galleries is one of the few art walks organized by artists for artists, eliminating middlemen promoters and keeping most price points in the very affordable range,” she said. “It involves local residents who aren’t ‘artsy’ to become an integral part of the arts community by hosting artists in their garages, and offers local artists an opportunity to showcase their art in their own garages — many of which double as their studios.”

Beribak says the event’s winding route through Forest Park offers a unique chance to both bring longtime neighbors together and help newer residents discover new friends. 

“Garage Galleries invites visitors to learn more about our town, see the housing stock available and experience the restaurants, watering holes and other recreational opportunities,” she said.

Craft and art offerings featured at Garage Galleries spread across the spectrum, from paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography and woodwork to mafia-based comics, amigurumi (small crocheted or knitted stuffed dolls) and insect taxidermy.

This past Saturday marked the 10th year as a vendor for Forest Park painter Chuck Michalek, who showcased both his own paintings and the ceramic works of a neighbor artist inside his garage on the 500 block of Ferdinand Avenue. 

Michalek, a longtime painter who suffered a stroke over a decade ago, displayed elaborate oil and acrylic paintings on canvas that he now creates through the flexibility of painting using his non-dominant left hand. 

“It’s fun to meet neighbors, and you’re getting some feedback and reactions, which is nice,” he said. “It’s a fun time all the way around. There’s a lot of cool people walking around and you get to know new people.”

Fellow Forest Parker and longtime vendor Bridget Lane teamed up with Michalek inside his garage this year, selling hand-made Raku pottery teapots, tea infusers, dimple mugs and other functional pieces.

“Some people do yoga for relaxation — I do pottery,” she said. “It’s very meditative. Garage Galleries is wonderful because it’s really focused on the artists. It’s so much fun to talk about my art, and I meet a lot of potters as well as people interested in pottery.”

New to the vendor scene this year was Oak Park resident and textile artist Teri Nalbone. 

A long-time quilter, Nalbone’s offerings featured pieces from a collection from her pivot to smaller-scale quilted art pieces featuring nature, animals and landscapes made with intricate stitches and dyed fabrics.

“When I first moved here from Pennsylvania two years ago, Garage Galleries was one of the first things that I did to see what the arts were like in this area,” she said. “I walked through it and it was so great. Everybody is so happy and so friendly — it’s a crowd that appreciates art, so it’s nice to have people come in and truly take a look at things and take in the details.”

One regular patron who was enthusiastic about joining in on the fun this year was Forest Park resident Nancy Greco. This year, her purchases included a bookmark made with pressed flowers and handmade greeting cards. 

“I think Garage Galleries is wonderful,” she said. “It’s free, you see things you otherwise wouldn’t get to see, and you get to meet your neighbors and see lots of artists from the area. I like being able to buy small things that I can give as gifts and supporting shopping locally.”

New to the scene this year was Linda Gallagher of Berwyn, who was happy to finally visit after hearing about Garage Galleries in years past. 

“I think it’s a great event,” she said. “There’s a lot here — people are truly professional artists and I’ve seen some amazing work.”