🎨🍷 Art After Dark: Open Studios + Marz Brewery — 3rd Fridays Bridgeport! 🖼️🌙

🎨🍷 Art After Dark: Open Studios + Marz Brewery — 3rd Fridays Bridgeport! 🖼️🌙

Join us for Third Friday Open Studios — a FREE monthly art walk celebrating Chicago's vibrant Bridgeport creative community! Explore working studios, meet artists, and view exhibitions across three incredible venues with over 10,000+ sq ft of art to explore!

📅 Friday, October 16, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
📍 Marz Community Brewing Company — 3630 S Iron St, Bridgeport
🎟️ FREE | Registration preferred at BAC (walk-ins welcome everywhere!)

🗺️ OUR ITINERARY
🍻 5:00–6:30 PM — Pre-game at Marz Brewery (drinks & food!)
🎨 6:30–7:30 PM — ALMA Gallery + IRON Gallery
🖼️ 7:40–10:00 PM — Bridgeport Art Center (open 7:00–10:00 PM)
Can't make it at 5 PM? Come when you can! Call/text 312-835-4259 to find the group.

🍺 MARZ COMMUNITY BREWING — OUR HOME BASE!
📍 3630 S Iron St
🌐 https://marz.beer/
⏰ Open Fridays 11 AM – midnight
🍽️They do offer food at this location!

Founded on the premise that art, culture, food, and drink should be shared and enjoyed in community, Marz is a beloved Bridgeport institution known for experimental craft beers, kombucha, seltzers, and tavern-inspired food. The taproom features a circular bar in a transformed warehouse space — surreal paintings on the walls, local artists mingling with beer lovers, and a genuinely creative neighborhood vibe that fits perfectly with a night of art! 🍻✨

We'll kick off the evening here before heading to the galleries — and it's the perfect spot to wind down after too!

🖼️ BRIDGEPORT ART CENTER
📍 1200 W 35th St (35th & Racine)
⏰ 7:00–10:00 PM
🌐 https://www.bridgeportart.com/
One of Chicago's most spectacular creative spaces — over 500,000 sq ft of raw industrial beauty featuring exposed brick, timber beams, and soaring windows. Home to 120+ working artists, three curated galleries, a Fashion Design Center, Chicago Ceramic Center, Chicago Maritime Museum, and more!
🎨 Current Exhibitions — all on view October 16:
🌟 Decadence Deux (Sept 18 – Nov 6)
A lush, maximalist follow-up to the beloved Decadence exhibition — expect indulgent, bold, and visually stunning works across multiple media.
🏫 Art Connection: Past Meets Present (Sept 18 – Nov 6)
An Art Educator Alumni Exhibition exploring the connection between past and present artistic practice — works by former art educators reflecting on a lifetime of creative influence.
🌎 Una Vuelta a Mis Raíces / A Return to My Roots (Sept 18 – Nov 6)
Monochromatic pigment paintings by Robert Lipton — a deeply personal and visually striking exploration of cultural identity and roots through a beautifully restricted palette.
🌿 Return to Nature (Ongoing — 5th Floor & Chicago Ceramic Center)
Works exploring themes of nature, environment, and the natural world, showcased alongside the stunning Chicago Ceramic Center on the 5th floor.
🎨 Corridor Gallery (Ongoing — 4th Floor)
A rotating showcase of works by BAC's own resident artists — always something new to discover as you move through the building!

What to explore floor by floor:
🚢 River Level — Chicago Maritime Museum & Woodworking Artists
🛍️ 1st Floor — Gallery Shops & BASE Café
🎨 3rd Floor — Artist Studios
🖼️ 4th Floor — Gallery Artist Studios & Corridor Gallery
✂️ 5th Floor — Chicago Ceramic Center, Fashion Design Center & Return to Nature
🅿️ Free parking in the north lot | Enter from the Atrium off Racine St
🍷 Beer & wine available | 21+ | No BYOB | No pets
🎟️ Register for October 16: bridgeportart.com/exhibitions/open-studios
Registration not required & walk-ins allowed

🎨 ALMA GALLERY
📍 3636 S Iron St (in the historic 36Squared building)
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
🌐https://www.almaart.com/
Located in a stunning industrial loft, ALMA Gallery boasts over 10,000 sq ft of space showcasing works from over 70 artists every Third Friday. Stroll through at your own pace, connect with artists, and discover some of the region's most talented creators. After exploring, pop next door to Marz for a well-earned drink! 🍺
🎟️ Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-fridays-at-alma-gallery-tickets-1478668038909
Registration not required & walk-ins allowed

🔨 IRON Gallery
📍 3636 S Iron St (next to ALMA)
⏰ Open during Third Fridays
🌐https://irongallerychicago.com/
🎟️ No registration required — just show up!

🍽️ OPTIONAL FOOD OPTIONS NEARBY
🍺 Marz Brewery (our home base!)
🥩 Bold Mongol
🌮 Antique Taco
🍕 Phil's Pizza (cash only)

🚇 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA Red Line — 35th St/White Sox stop (easy walk!)
🚗 Free parking available in the area
🌐 transitchicago.com/planatrip

⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
😬 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event freeze
⏰ Update RSVP by start time — running late? Message the host directly
✅ Check in with host when you arrive

🎨 Come explore Bridgeport's incredible creative community — art, beer, great company, and hidden gems all in one unforgettable Friday night! 🖼️🌙🍷