By Ross Forman
Dr. Nancy Jackson has long collected African art, as well as antiques, Black memorabilia and more. In fact, she's saved so much over the years, the relics were overtaking her South Side home, she admitted with a smile.
Gwen Pruitt, meanwhile, has been an artist locally for more than 15 years.
Jackson and Pruitt have been partners for five years, and now also are teaming up in business. They are the co-owners of Tangible Things, Chicago's newest destination for original art, beverages and more. The store held its grand opening Nov. 8, and more than 200 attended.
The gallery and art center is located at 4856 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in the Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood, in a space transformed to satisfy art enthusiasts who are interested in collectible furnishings, African art and those who prefer more traditional media, Pruitt said. It also will serve the community with special programs on holistic health, special projects and more. The retail and café venue will be open Thursdays—Saturdays.
"This will be a unique space with special programming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the art of life and addressing the whole self, including holistic health for seniors and others in the community," Pruitt said. "Tangible Things is a place we want people to come, collaborate with others and find holistic things to enhance their personal selves, a place to come for healthy choices as well as [items to] beautify their living and work spaces."
Jackson will be selling art and artifacts she has saved over the years.
Pruitt's artwork also will be spotlighted.
"As an artist, it's great to be able to sit down and create, but you need a venue. So this is a place for me to display my work, too," said Pruitt, who has done murals around city of Chicago. She specializes in ceramics, paintings, stained glass, and more.
"It is extra special opening this store with my art [featured]; it's really sinking in now and gives me a great opportunity to collaborate with co-artists."
The store also will be selling scarfs, pillows, incense, waxes and soaps, among other things. Tangible Things fills a 2,000-square-foot location, "and we're trying to have things from and for every age-group, from 20- to 80-year-olds," Pruitt said.
Items range in price from $2 to $2,000 at Tangible Things and, so far, the most well-received items are the selections of moderately priced glass work.
"It's a multicultural, multiethnic, spiritually diverse, LGBTQ-friendly space," said Jackson, who is originally from Detroit and is the CEO of the non-profit Prologue schools.
Tangible Things also will sell bicycles.
Call 773-891-1345.
