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Abby is a cultural producer who builds initiatives sitting at the nexus of the creative economy and civic engagement, and the founder of Gertie! What is Gertie? Great question! Gertie is a civic and cultural agency that convenes and educates Chicago's culturally curious through in-person gatherings and digital storytelling to develop, amplify, and expand the reach of the city's creative ecosystem. Gertie exemplifies Abby's interest in leveraging the collective power and resources of this next generation of wealth and creative talent to find more sustainable solutions to building a just and equitable creative economy.
Most recently, she produced Skin in the Game Chicago in April 2022 and released her first book under Gertie Enterprises Publishing. (A)Part Chicago is a cookbook and guidebook to the city through the lens of 26 civic leaders who have helped build the arts and culture ecosystem in Chicago. Prior to producing under the Gertie banner, Pucker produced and launched Madison Wells' Chicago-based immersive art experience, Nevermore Park, based on Hebru Brantley's Flyboy.
She is currently the Creative Producer in Residence for a new Mass MoCA initiative that aims to leverage the institutions’ resources to spur economic development in North Adams and the surrounding areas.
Additionally, she is a board member of The Marshall Project, Pioneer Works, Ghetto Film School, and the progressive American political organization, Run for Something.
Chanelle Lacy is a curator, cultural producer and Reiki Master. She is also the Director of Art Initiatives at Gertie and the fearless leader of EarlyWork! Passionate about bringing ambitious, rigorous, and challenging projects to life, Chanelle works closely with artists both emerging and established to expand not only their creative practices, but the art historical canon at large. Her passion for art and her commitment to amplifying underrepresented and marginalized voices makes her a true champion of the arts.
Most recently she produced SKIN + MASKS, a blockbuster exhibition crafted in collaboration with musician and activist Vic Mensa, centering works by contemporary artists exploring the elusive essence of identity. Originally presented in a classic gallery setting, SKIN + MASKS traveled to Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile for a six-month pop-up exhibition presented in partnership with EXPO Chicago and the City of Chicago. In 2021 she curated Realms of Refuge, a group exhibition focused on the alchemical processes that enable us to transcend our earthly entanglements to reach higher states of consciousness, embodiment, and expression.
Chanelle forged her path in the arts working at a contemporary gallery where she lent her vision to the program for six years. During three years of her tenure, she held the position of Director. Chanelle continues to be a force, serving as a trusted advisor to artists, collectors and institutions across the globe.
Chanelle is also the founder of On Ancestral Wings, a creative healing platform that seeks to remind marginalized communities of their innate power through energetic modalities and inner exploration. With a strong desire to bring together the worlds of art and healing, she is dedicated to cultivating community and spearheading ambitious curatorial initiatives that create space for worlds to collide.
With their collective experience and mutual passion for arts and culture, Abby and Chanelle aim to create an inviting nomadic third space through EarlyWork where people with all levels of art experience can connect and dive deeper into the arts in a judgement free environment. If you see them at events, please introduce yourself–they want to get to know you and are certainly happy that you are there!
