“In the wintertime there will be flowers,” sang Angel Bat Dawid, moving through the gallery at Third City Studio as layers of music filled the space, bringing Third City Studio’s first 2026 exhibit Winter Florals to life with color, sound and energy.
Exhibiting artists include Jessica Du Preez, Aquarius E. Alegria, Rebecca Grant, Caleb Guider, Naomi Johnson, Jennifer Hoeft Nagle, Hailey Rodden, Brent Showalter and Jayla Trenyce.
The exhibit opened Feb. 6 and runs through March 7 at the gallery at 5538 W. North Ave.
Chicago-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid visited Third City Studio on opening night to explore the space and its community programs, emphasizing the importance of giving back as a Black woman in the arts.
“’I’ve had a lot of success playing music nationally and internationally, but as a Black woman artist, it’s important that whenever we succeed, we make sure to give back to our community. I was very interested in the initiatives here, like bringing the arts to areas where you don’t usually see them, which is a sign of systemic inequity. There’s this misconception that people on the West and South Sides don’t want arts, galleries, orchestras, or jazz, but of course we do, every human does,” Dawid said.
Dawid describes her shows not as performances, but as services. For her, music is about connection, not just performing or recording.
“The theme for tonight, with the beautiful show up here right now, is called Winter Florals. The idea is that even in winter, there are these beautiful blooming florals,” Dawid said.
Guider is a Chicago based photographer and filmmaker who grew up in East Garfield Park and now lives in Austin, using self-portraiture and experimental techniques to document moments of stress, growth, and creative exploration.
“I actually just saw Third City Studio one day while walking, because I live in the neighborhood. I’m about a three-minute walk away,” Guider said.
Guider was in London and attending school outside the city when Third City Studio opened.
“So I didn’t see the development of Third City Studio at all. When I came back, I thought, ‘Oh, look!’ Whenever I would leave, it felt like something brand new was always popping up in the area, and that was something I loved,” Guider said.
In one of his pictures, Guider showcased a self-portrait of him holding flowers, taken on film that had expired in 2001, turned out unexpectedly beautiful, with colors he loved.
“It’s very, very brown and has a kind of robotic, dramatic feel to it,” Guider said.
The second self-portrait, taken in a basement with a bright disco light, features rich hues of blue and purple.
“We had this super bright disco light that was meant for a disco ball, and I grabbed a garland from our door to use as a prop. It was just random pieces I pulled together around 11 o’clock at night in my basement,” Guider said.
Rodden is a multifaceted artist and educator from Austin, creating work that spans floral design, photography, and fashion, while teaching preschool through eighth-grade students at Nash Elementary School.
“The first pair I designed at Fleurotica at Garfield Park Conservatory and my model actually wore them in the show in October. I wanted to create something for that outfit using real flowers, so all the flowers are hand-pressed, dried, and applied to the shoe,” Rodden said. “After I shared that pair, I received interest from people who wanted their own. The rose pair was a custom order I made for someone, and they’ll receive them after the show.”
Rodden became involved with Third City Studios shortly after it opened in October, as she was looking for a space where her students could showcase their work.
“I hope (Winter Florals) lightens things up. It’s been so cold and wintry that maybe it can lift the mood a little, inspire people and just feel a bit warmer and brighter,” Rodden said.
