Looking to some fun free things to do in Chicago? Join one of the River North or West Loop Saturday free art gallery tours organized by Chicago Gallery News and these free tours occur every Saturday morning (except major holiday weekends) and meet at 11:00 am at the Starbucks located at 750 N. Franklin (for River North tours) or at the Walsh gallery at 118 N. Peoria St., by 1:30pm (for West Loop tours). The free tours lasts 
until about 90 minutes, and take you on a different journey to some of Chicago’s finest art galleries each week. Maps will be provided and the gallery owners will be delighted to answer questions and offer insights into the latest exhibits. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.This month, the public is invited to take a tour of galleries in River North + West Loop.
River North: Meet at Starbucks at 750 N, Franklin, by 11am
January 23
Jean Albano Gallery
Ann Nathan Gallery
ArchiTech Gallery
Schneider Gallery
January 30
Byron Roche Gallery
*Roche is hosting a reception this date prior to closing the gallery at the end of February
Ken Saunders Gallery
Jennifer Norback Fine Art, Inc.
Addington Gallery
West Loop: Meet at Walsh Gallery, 118 N. Peoria St., by 1:30pm
January 30
Walsh Gallery
Dubhe Carreno Gallery
Western Exhibitions
McCormick Gallery
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While not on these gallery tours (he lives in Pilsen), be sure to check out Mat Barber Kennedy’s work at his website and view his Chicago Artists bio here or his Professor / Faculty Bio here. Born in London, he studied architecture in England at Sheffield University and at the Royal College of Art in London where he use to paint to explore the subject. He has a passion for the stuff of architecture; bricks and mortar, plaster, concrete and steel, built up in layers, decaying in pieces, and uses a mixture of water-based media and collaged papers to achieve the rich textures of urban landscapes which celebrate the beauty of our everyday environment. Mat was a finalist to provide his paintings as gifts from the Obama’s for the G20 summit in Pittsburgh.
In 1994, Mat became one of only 58 members elected to Britain’s Royal Institute of Painters in WaterColours. His work sells in galleries in London and throughout England and in Charleston, SC and Aspen, CO here in the USA. In 2007, Mat Barber Kennedy won the Turner Medal in Watercolour bestowed by the Royal Academy of Arts in London. This award and medal honors the most distinguished work in watercolor including pen, ink or gouache, on paper. What makes this honor even more exciting is that even though this is an annual competition, the Turner Medal has not been awarded to an artist since 2000.
Tours are free and run every weekend of the year, except for major holiday weekends. No reservations are required. Send an email to info@chicagogallerynews.com for future schedules and information about tours in the West Loop gallery district.
When and were is the free art gallery?
During June(Pride Month) and August 13, I am having a Exhibit at the Gage Gallery at 18 S. Michigan Avenue. It is called Jerry Pritikin’s “San Francisco in the 1970s”. It features images of the early gay rights movement, including photos of Harvey Milk, Mayor Moscone and the evolution a S.F. neighborhood known as the Castro District. If you have a group, I’ll be glad to make sure that I am there for your visit.
http://www.roosevelt.edu/gagegallery