Narrow Bridge Arts Club at Open House Chicago

Narrow Bridge Arts Club is a collective making space that trains in the habits of abundant futures. The 1923 building has been a site of worship for a century. Founded as a synagogue, Congregation B’nai Bezalel, it was later home to important Chicago churches. It has thus been a space for community gathering, celebration, and song for over a century. To build relationships on the block, Narrow Bridge planted a Food-For-All garden and hosted public exhibitions on the front facade during the carbon neutral renovation work. Since opening, the Club has been focused on connecting art making, food production, and building practices to our collective survival. By centering earth systems, such as upcycling tools and supplies, or burying offcuts from the woodshop to provide nutrients for edible plants, sustainable modes of production are made visible. Narrow Bridge Arts Club will be open for self-guided tours. Visitors are invited to explore, learn, and create alongside artists, activating the building and engage with a new exhibition by Architecture for Public Benefit. To celebrate the skills, creativity, and generosity of Narrow Bridge Art Club, members will lead activities. On Saturday, there will be painting to live jazz with Arthur Wright from 2-4pm. On Sunday, multiple artists will host consecutive hands-on activities in the fiber arts studio, the mark making studio, and the woodshop from 12-5pm. And both days, there will be a 1pm tour of carbon neutral design features.