About Art Loop Open 2010
October 15-29, Art Loop Open—Chicago’s new art competition—transformed ten venues throughout Chicago’s Loop into interactive public art exhibits.
You Be the Judge! Your Votes Decide Who Wins
200 local artists,selected by an esteemed jury from a pool of 750 entries,will be vying for more than $60,000 in prizes, as judged by the public.
Venues
Block 37, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, Hotel Burnham, Macy's, Merchandise Mart, Chicago French Market/MetraMarket, Palmer House, Hotel Allegro, theWit Hotel, W Chicago-City Center

RICHARD SHIPPS - ABOUT THE ARTIST: 
My work looks at shadow as light, light as shadow, revealing imagery in both positive and negative space in a framework of changing orientations. Forms and patterns, creating visual rhythms, are informed by shape-memories and emotional references. They are defined by their adjacent counter-forms, creating a constant meditative conversion of rhythmic balance. I work with paper, steel and plastics in 2 and 3 dimensions, I like paper for it's immediacy. Paper's role in society has changed with the advancement of digital technology. It is simultaneously precious and disposable, obsolete and new. We see paper and it's applications in new ways.

ARTIST STATEMENT: 
I find no straight lines in organic nature. Paperika plays with natural shapes and patterns. Never species-specific, but always organic, the forms and counter-forms all mimic the natural world we often ignore. Positioned in a sterile white room, Paperika interrupts the architectural lines that try to confine it and encourages the viewer to explore negative and positive form, shadow and light.

Ever since we crawled out of the forest or the jungle or wherever we came from, we have sought to create straight lines to box ourselves in. At an early age we are taught "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line." This is an intellectual construct contrary to our nature. I find it interesting that we humans prefer to surround ourselves with horizontal and vertical architecture, parallel and right angle constructions that somehow make us comfortable.