CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — For the second time this year, West Town’s ARC Gallery is dealing with a shattered window — this time, it came from a stray bullet.
In surveillance video from a neighboring business, a man can be seen shooting at a truck driving down West Chicago Avenue. The president of ARC Gallery, Stacey Lee Gee, said the bullet went through their front display window and struck a piece of artwork.
“It was a testament to our moving walls, which were obviously built really well, that the bullet just went in and stayed there,” she said.
When Gee arrived, she said the gallery was cordoned off with police tape.
“There was glass everywhere,” she said. “There was a police car sitting in front of the gallery, and we did a walk-through together.”
The gallery is celebrating its 50th anniversary of being a women-run cooperative gallery in Chicago, Gee said.
“It’s one of the few alternative galleries that is left in the Chicago area, and I think that makes it a little more tragic to have something like this happen and have a window boarded up when we only have one month to celebrate 50 years.”
Gee said she expects the new window to be installed on the last day of the 50th anniversary, but she added that nothing will stop the gallery from celebrating.
If anyone would like to donate in support of the gallery, Gee said helping out is as easy as taking out your phone.
“There’s a QR code on the side of the building, so if you want to donate, you can donate through that QR,” she said. “You can always check us out at arcgallery.org.”
The anniversary exhibition runs through Oct. 20 during normal gallery hours, from 2 – 6 p.m. Thursday through Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
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