FEATURED GUESTS

  • “I’m inspired by Latinidad and the older I've gotten the more I've been interested in dissecting my own personal experiences as a Latina woman operating in this world. The connections that culture brings and legacy. How things change generation to generation. Honestly I'm just trying to understand my life through art and express that in an honest way, and hopefully the art resonates with someone.” 

    “I love Chicago and could not picture myself anywhere else. In the 9 years of being an artist I’ve gotten the question of when are you moving to NYC or LA and I have never felt called to another city. The community that comes with Chicago is what makes it so special.  It's a big city, with a local feel. I have always felt supported here, and that if you are authentic and true Chicago will reward you.”

    “Also the food scene here is everything. Whether it's a michelin star experience or a more local place, Chicago has it. When asked about some favorite Chicago spots I regret that my brain forgot anywhere I have ever eaten because when I got home I was like girl Recobenes. When I had my studio in the West Loop that place became a staple for me especially working late.”

LIZ FLORES (Chicago, IL)

  • “I’m constantly inspired by the city I grew up in and the unique energy of Chicago. The diverse food scene, the different walks of life, the specificity and diversity of its neighborhoods, and everything in between. I’ve really come to love — as I’ve come to find my own — tight-knit community of artists, both local and those who have come to live here. While I’ve lived and worked in other cities across North America, Chicago’s pace and energy have always pulled me back.”

B. CHAN (Chicago, IL)

  • “I’ve been thinking a lot about the conditions required to combat the sense that I, and we, are alone - in a field of work that feels undermined by systems of isolation, I ask myself how art can remain a reciprocal, caring practice?” 

    “Chicago has been my home for my whole life and is a witness and mirror to all parts of myself. I think back to every moment I jumped in the lake and felt the expanse of its water, only to return back to my apartment still holding a bit of that expanse and freedom inside of me. It is moments like these which have urged me to understand that that conditions of care I create for myself and to care for my community can be a reciprocal loop, perhaps one and the same.”

FRANCINE ALMEDA (Chicago, IL)

  • “Originally from Grove Hill, Alabama, my love for people, woodworking and flowers began with my innately creative parents. I learned the basics of design in my father’s woodshop and the power of imagination from my mother’s ability to craft at home, church, and the preschool she co-directed.  This artistic heritage is my foundation for exploring what was once a seed - wood and flowers - and creating something new.”

JOHN PENDLETON (Chicago, IL)

  • Viviana is known for her intricate metalwork, modern bridal styles, and one-of-a-kind pieces featuring unexpected hues, antique stones, and historical reference. Borrowing from the worlds of fine art, cultural adornment, and design, her custom work appeals to the expressive and open-minded individual— those who value individuality, creative collaboration, and are unafraid to stand out.

    Beyond jewelry design,Viviana's work includes object design, fine art and interiors.

VIVIANA LANGHOFF (Chicago, IL)

GENIE KWON & TIM FLORES (CHICAGO, IL)

  • Tim Flores grew up just outside of Chicago with his parents, who immigrated from the Philippines in 1975. His first experience in professional kitchens was polishing dishes at GT Fish & Oyster between college semesters in Iowa. Flores returned to Chicago and transitioned to GT’s kitchen, where he met his future partner, Genie Kwon. In 2016 they helped open Oriole, a fine dining restaurant in the West Loop. In July of 2020, Flores and Kwon opened Kasama, a bakery and restaurant that serves modern Filipino food inspired by the dishes Flores grew up eating. Meaning “together” in Tagalog, Kasama is a reflection of both Kwon’s and Flores’ culinary backgrounds. In 2022, Kasama earned the first ever Michelin star for a Filipino restaurant. Also in 2022, Flores and Kwon were listed among Food & Wine Best New Chefs.