Congruent Space x Expo Chicago: Z-Space

Z-Space is the fourth iteration of Goodbye Tomorrow's notroious GRID series. For this entry, the GRID was used as the backdrop for a curated art show in collaboration with Expo Chicago.

Z-Space is the fourth edition of a continually expanding installation by art collective Goodbye Tomorrow. Z-Space incorporates lyrical double-entendre to inform the visual elements of a grid, while exploring installation art that creates congregative spaces that simultaneously exhbits other work within it. Goodbye Tomorrow draws on its background as a music label with the various interpretations of the term “depth” manifesting itself as a literal grid, physical reality differentiating 2D from 3D, and the idea of interpersonal interaction and fellowship. Past iterations of the grid have seen it used as a backdrop for fashion retail by providing a completely altered environment evoking shoppers to question their visual perception of reality and providing a more interactive shopping experience. Goodbye Tomorrow’s use of accessible building materials, repurposed to create an expansive and, at times, disorientng space, further pushed the questions and dialogue between viewers.

This latest iteration of Z-Space in partnership with EXPO Chicago saw the grid, for the first time, as a stand alone installation addressing Goodbye Tomorrow’s more conceptual motivations and focusing on their narrative concept embracing the idea of “community” and relocating commerce to the background.    

The artists’ works featured within the installation, while being surprisingly cohesiveness visually, were curated by the partnering members of Goodbye Tomorrow and Congruent Space based on their relationships to the artists, and admiration of their works.

 

Noah Sherbin

 

Artist Catalogue

'>Jordan Ferguson

is a graduate of School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2022) working primarily in airbrush and screenprint. His work has been featured in multiple galleries in the US, including Vertical Gallery and Thinkspace.
 
Flower Study 1
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas
Flower Study 2
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas
Flower Study 3
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas
Flower Study 1
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas
Flower Study 3
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas
Flower Study 2
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas

Nick Fury 

is a Chicago native and has studied at the School of the Art Institute, American Academy of Art, Columbia College Chicago (BFA 2005). Drawing on his background in graffiti, his works commonly feature the use of corrective tape, spray paint, collage, and print as he explores imagery revolving predominantly around the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and subculture iconography. He also serves as the head gallerist for Lake Line Gallery.
 
CTA's Fantasy Life Won't Erase Graffiti.
18 x 24
Correction Tape on C Print
Tackling Graffiti by Train.
18 x 24
Correction Tape on C Print
CTA's Fantasy Life Won't Erase Graffiti.
18 x 24
Correction Tape on C Print
Tackling Graffiti by Train.
18 x 24
Correction Tape on C Print

JJ Hammond

is a recent high school graduate from Miami, FL. She works primarily with found objects and acrylic.
 
Memory Lane
24 x 24
Found Objects, Wood, Acrylic Paint
Memory Lane
24 x 24
Found Objects, Wood, Acrylic

Andrew Harlan

is a graduate of the University of Illinois (BFA 2020) working primarily in acrylic and screenprinting.
 
Womb
24 x 18
Acrylic on Wood Panel
s
If I could read your mind love
18 x 24
Acrylic and Collage on Wood Panel
At the crossroads of your senses
18 x 24
Acrylic on Wood Panel
Womb
24 x 18
Acrylic on Wood Panel
At the crossroads of your senses
18 x 24
Acrylic on Wood Panel
If I could read your mind love
18 x 24
Acrylic and Collage on Wood Panel

iickmoique

is a Trinidadian born artist working primarily with used and non-traditional materials such as tea, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, inks + other materials on new and used paper.
 
comet dust and compost help you ride in hoopties to Pluto
18 x 24
Mixed medium on used paper
tsunamis and Pluto's polar caps dissipate in winter
 
18 x 24
Mixed medium on used paper
comet dust and compost help you ride in hoopties to Pluto
18 x 24
Mixed Medium on Used Paper
tsunamis and Pluto's polar caps dissipate in winter
18 x 24
Mixed Medium on Used Paper

Jarno Ketunnen

is a Finland born, Cincinatti based artist primarily focusing on high fashion illustrations. He has collaborated with many global fashion designers and has been featured in international galleries such as Joyce Gallery (Paris) and Fashion Space (London).
 
Mr. Quin Lewis, #1
22 x 30
gouache, crayon, oil pastel, lead, gold paint marker, and spray paint
on paper
Rick Owens Spring 2023 Runway Look
22 x 30
pencil and spraypaint on paper
Mr. Quin Lewis, #1
22 x 30
gouache, crayon, oil pastel, lead, gold paint marker, and spray paint on paper
Rick Owens Spring 2023 Runway Look
22 x 30
pencil and spraypaint on paper
Noah Sherbin is a graduate of the School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2022) working primarily in screenprint and other experimental mediums.
 
A City Scene
72 x 37
Found Objects on foam, wood. Screenprint on cardboard.
A City Scene
72 x 37
Found Objects on foam, wood. Screenprint on cardboard.
Coming Soon
16 x 20
Screen print on paper
Coming Soon
16 x 20
Screenprint on paper

Ali Six

is a prominent Chicago street artist whose original characters, most notably "Richie" the Racoon, can be seen on public murals, wheatpastes, toys and brand collaborations throughtout the city.
 
Radial
36 x 38
Acrylic and Spraypaint on Wood
Radial
36 x 38
Acrylic and Spraypaint on wood

Dimithry Victor

is a Miami based artist primarily working in acrylic.
 
The World Is Yours
18 x 24
Acrylic on paper mounted on wood panel
Tinfoil Dreams
12 x 12
Acrylic on paper mounted on wood panel
The World Is Yours
18 x 24
Acrylic on paper mounted on wood panel
Tinfoil Dreams
12 x 12
Acrylic on paper mounted on wood panel

Midwest Wasteland

is an artist duo made up of Anthony Lagori and Jeffrey Kaya (BFA 2021 Scool of The Art Institute of Chicago). Beginning its life as a clothing brand, the studio quickly pivoted to fine art works focused in screen-printing and sculpture.
 
Smiles/Gallon
12 x 15
Screenprint on paper
Taste the Rainbo...x
12 x 15
Screenprint on paper
Smiles/Gallon
12 x 15
Screenprint on paper
Taste the Rainbo...x
12 x 15
Screenprint on paper

Zachary Weber

is a School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate (BFA 2021) primarily focused in cermaics. Recently, he has begun experimenting with painting incorporating raw lumber and discared remnants of his ceramic work.
 
Opium
48 x 52
Mixed Medium on canvas
Elementary
53.5 x 45
Mixed Medium on canvas
Dusk to Dawn
24 x 24
Mixed Medium on canvas
Opium
48 x 52
Mixed Medium on canvas
Dusk to Dawn
24 x 24
Mixed medium on canvas
Elementary
53.5 x 45
Mixed Medium on canvas

{{click ⇪ 4 head ass artist statement}}

< head ass artist statement >

2 Preme -> don’t disappear (yet!)

There’s more work__

Since its inception goodbye tomorrow was not a music group or a multimedia art collective or anything else it’s been described as - but has been a practice of distancing from the illusion of SELF or individuality (we instead of i). U can’t stop until you have built the platform, the people will add the depth.

Its a grid. Get it? All 3 axis XYZ, the fundamental system of what reality is built on. Z don’t come for free, u gotta make it real. u can’t disappear before it’s real - create the system to cultivate depth (mind deep like a mine) mine’s explode outward, we can explode inward 2

4 Everyone - >

“goodbye tomorrow IS EVERYONE”, is always the phrase we use… The grid, on a surface level, is a physical embodiment of this idea! It’s a lot easier to understand physically than through music or visual art, right? XY is the “symbol” for GT bc it is all encompassing (x & y coordinates, xy chromosomes, etc, it even kind of sounds like “ask why”).

We called it “Z-space” bc in 3D rendering or measurement, the X and Y axes control left/right and up/down on the monitor. The Z axis, controls back and forward - the depth, in other words. The grid is “z-space,” in that whatever is inside of the space becomes that depth. Automatically becomes the focus of the conversation, whether our earlier iterations where it was more of a photo opportunity or a fashion brand on showcase, to this newest version with the focus more on the artwork itself. An art installation, itself, that is not quite complete until there are other artists or works within it. “Everyone.” The work, the creator, the observer, the identities and conversations amongst those identities start to converge. In one’s opinion, true art creates a conversation with one’s self more so than with the artist or object.

Making it by hand out of electric tape gives it a tangibility that vinyl graphics or paint would fail to convey, because the imperfections and temporality this method brings into the grid speaks highly to the “nowness“ and urgency to the physical space as compared to the works housed with it.


From a more meta-conceptual standpoint, viewed from outside the grid takes on more of a spatial design role, speaking to the building blocks we all see without seeing. Viewed from within, it takes on new meaning because it always extends beyond the possible field of vision, turning the observer into the observation, or the creator into the creation. Consciousness, conscious of itself. That’s what take human consciousness from concept to concrete from an idea to a planet and it’s acted out in micro-scale any type you

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via preme__XY (creative director 4 goodbye tomorrow)