Chicago Artists Coalition Charges Design Firm to Re-imagine it’s Starving Artist Event and art patrons and food lovers can expect the unexpected at this year’s CAC Annual Starving Artist fundraiser after a weetu redesign turns the already popular art event into an “art foodies” dream. The event takes place October 6th at Chicago Artist Coalition’s Fulton Market Gallery (217 N. Carpenter St).
Designed to inspire and engage, the event concept “collective participation” was created to highlight featured artists and chefs while creating an interactive environment for the evening’s attendees.
The Experience: Staged participation through layers of projection and audience interaction fueled the overall concept of the event. An overtly visual and physical element of “continuity” was envisioned to wrap the interior and exterior surfaces of the gallery. The cultural artifact that was to remain at the end of the performance[s], would be a continuous ‘drawing’ of the event itself, created by attendees.
In addition to the evening’s overall level of participation, weetu designed four key intervals of interaction to celebrate an artist and chef collaboration. The idea was to create a special moment for each pairing and to eliminate the hazard of their creations getting lost in the crowds. Also to support this concept, weetu proposed "food processionals" at these moments in time to eliminate "competitive eating", or the stressfully long lines that can build up around a banquet table with delicious cuisine. Instead, each food creation is paraded into the audience from multiple directions.
“We didn’t approach the design [for this evening] merely to provide a beautiful and successful fundraiser for CAC, but more as a way to create an experience that is authentic and impacting, celebrating invention & reinvention, while engaging the audience to participate in the most unexpected ways. The CAC is about building opportunities for artists to thrive. We wanted this event to be accessible to artists, collectors and community alike. These were the driving forces behind our concept.” said Carly Cannell, weetu founder and Chief Creative Officer.
Adding, “Our designs reflect the ‘dream big’ approach that weetu aspires to in all its projects, big and small. To be able to collaborate with a such a vital arts organization makes the work that much more fulfilling. We wanted to drive home the message that 'you’ll want to be part of this, on October 6th and beyond.'”
Special thanks to weetu collaborator Linnea Gits of Uusi for the beautiful graphic art that promotes this event.
Starving Artist is Chicago Artists' Coalition's annual benefit that pairs some of the city's most inspiring visual artists and innovative culinary talents.
Redefining the age-old concept of the "starving artist," CAC's event puts four local artists in the spotlight, pairing each with a like-minded chef. Their assignment: to inspire each other to create an edible "installation" to be enjoyed by the crowd and a new work of art, which will be auctioned off the night of the event.
For more information about the Starving Artist event or to reserve tickets, please visit
