Special Guest Joins Artists for Beverly Summer Solstice Art Festival

The most critical year of Juan Carlos Silva’s life was celebrated last month, one year after a grueling passage landed him in Beverly/Morgan Park on May 16, 2023.

When the asylum seeker left his native Venezuela in 2020, he earned money on the road by sketching the likeness of tourists in the South American nations he passed through, after escaping the clutches of corruption at home.

“I survived on my art,” said Silva, who sketched wherever a subject would pose - in common spaces, markets and public squares.

Hardly the excursion of a tourist, Silva’s journey lasted several months in Colombia and Ecuador, and later through Brazil and Chile, all the time he was carting art supplies on his back.

All of his works for sale became the keepsakes of strangers.

So, celebrations were in order last month as he marked one year of a dramatic turnaround due to some luck, open-minded community members and on-going support still on display.

The opportunities continue for the ever-grateful artist.

The Beverly Area Arts Alliance has invited Silva to present at its 11th annual Uprising Summer Solstice Market and Art Festival Saturday, June 8th, from noon until 5 p.m. at the Bethany Union parking lot, 103rd and Wood Street.

Last month, nearly all the major players in Silva’s rapid transition were in attendance at Taqueria Durango Restaurant in Blue Island. Each was there to congratulate Silva on using every single one of his 365 days to establish a self-sustained life he now realizes in the Chatham neighborhood. He has a furnished flat that converts to a studio, where 50 paintings hang after 50 were sold, some portraits and depictions of asylum seekers crossing polluted water with children on their shoulders. Sometimes the travel meant going without drinking water and food for four days.

Shiela O’Gorman first spotted Silva one year ago sketching at the Grand Crossing police station and engaged the artist with her Spanish-speaking companion she brought for help.

Kathy Figel, director of the Edna White Garden, offered Silva an outdoor job painting badly worn wooden benches exposed to the elements. Silva captured the setting sun on the face boards and seat, far exceeding anyone’s expectations with his unique flair and vibrant color choices. Figel awarded Silva, suggesting he use the garden space as his studio. When he was transferred to living arrangements at Gage Park, he would return daily to the garden, his version of a pop-up studio.

Marty Gleason served as an early “guide” for Silva, bringing the artist and his supplies to places like the 95th Street Farmer’s Market on Sundays to draw and sell. Gleason and his wife Patty have been on-going supporters locally of those in need of English language skills.

The two were companions to Silva throughout last year’s Beverly Arts Alliance’s 10th annual Summer Solstice Uprising Market, where Silva sold art, including postcards donated by Accurate Printing in Crestwood and Pete Breakey, who was more than happy to see Silva collect seed money for supplies and bigger projects.

Gleason directed Silva to Truman College where he has advanced his English but not necessarily for the glare of a Chicago camera crew covering his inspirational story. Gleason was on hand to translate for the restaurant crowd and a viewing audience throughout the Chicagoland area.

Following Silva’s heartfelt remarks in Spanish, Gleason translated: “He wants to thank all of Chicago, especially Gage Park and all the people who were nice to him at the police station and especially at the garden (Edna White Garden).”

The event last month was the inspiration of Beverly Bakery’s crack staff and owners, the Quigley family: Jim, Megan, Jean Marie and Sharon who reached out to Blue Island restaurant owner Alejandra Durangos and his family to host a party for Silva and to showcase his art.

That the hosts chose the monthly Taco Tuesday and Open Mic Night added to the festivities, especially for a television cameraman seeking visuals, strong audio and artwork to display. The restaurant staff gave the video photographer tacos “to go” as he hustled to relay his footage back to the Ch. 7 studio for reporter/anchor Karen Jordan’s “Chicago Proud” piece.

While the goodwill of others swirled around Silva, he and his brother sat in awe as others who arrived to buy completed works in support of an artist raising money to support a nephew here in Chicago and bring his sons to Chicago from Venezuela.

Silva calls Chicago home “for life” now and works at downtown’s Highline Bar and Lounge, known for its weekend brunches, private parties and team building events during the week.

“People have treated me well,” said Silva, who heard from a Chicago police detective after his appearance on television.

“She congratulated me. I met her a year ago and she saw me drawing and asked for a portrait. She liked it a lot and gave me fifty dollars. It was my first dollars here.”

O’Gorman can take some ownership of Silva’s triumphs but acknowledges this is but one story from our corner of the city.

“I want people to get the message that over the past 18 months, thousands of Chicago volunteers have done exactly what we are doing, thousands,” said O’Gorman.

SATURDAY IN BEVERLY

The Beverly Area Arts Alliance invited Silva to join its 11th annual Uprising Summer Solstice Market and Art Festival Saturday, June 8th, from noon until 5 p.m. at the Bethany Union parking lot, 103rd and Wood Street.

The free, family-friendly event will showcase more than 30 artists featuring paintings, prints, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, textile art, music, food, and more.

The Beverly Area Arts Alliance collaborates with artists, community members and business and civic stakeholders to create art-focused and inclusive events and projects that foster creativity, community, and economic opportunity on Chicago’s far Southside.

The Alliance is driven by a love for art and the people who make it, like Juan Carlos Silva, who calls Chicago home.