:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/FZFZTFMV6NHMJCQOCNHBU3T2CY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/2WBNPYBNUJEYLBU24AF3YAUPLQ.JPG)
An art experience inside Water Tower Place was inspired by emotions Janine Williams of Bolingbrook has dealt with for decades.
She officially opened The Exhibit House in April on the 4th Floor of the seven-story mall in downtown Chicago.
“I went through a lot of different emotions during high school,” said Williams, a 2003 graduate of Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills.
“I was a teen mom so my depression actually started when I was in high school. I was sad and depressed my senior year of high school.”
She channeled her mental health experiences to create The Exhibit House, a 5,000-square-foot venue featuring interactive art installations.
“Art has always been a passion of mine. However, I focused my last 21 years on raising my children. Once my children became older, I decided to follow my passion and my dreams,” said Williams, who was born and raised in Country Club Hills.
“We are excited to provide a platform that encourages open conversations about mental health within the African American community,” Williams stated in a news release.
“Our goal is to create a safe and immersive experience that fosters understanding, self-reflection and ultimately positive mental health outcomes. Through art and self-expression, we aim to break down barriers, reduce stigma and create a supportive space for all.
“(People) feel they don’t have anyone or they don’t have a space where people understand whatever it is they are battling so it was important for me to create a safe space for those individuals.”
Exhibits include the pop-up Kites Ice Diner highlighting artist-in-residence Kristopher Kites, a native of Chicago’s South Side who now lives in Los Angeles and has become known for custom jewelry and Popsicles.
“I wanted to be able to sell his ice pops within the diner because we sell snacks like soft drinks, chips, candy and the Popsicles,” Williams said.
“He is popular out in Los Angeles with celebrities. He sells his Popsicles and merchandise to them. I wanted to create a space for him in his hometown where I can give him an opportunity to showcase what he does out in Los Angeles.
“I would often visit restaurants and diners alone. I wanted to put that experience in there. I wanted people to feel like they’re in a diner and be able to take photo ops in there.”
Other installations at The Exhibit House, which is also available for private bookings and special events, include Disco Ball Dreamland with a 360 photo booth, Mood Room with guided activities and Secret Garden with earthly environments.
“I was in a deep depression and I would journal my thoughts so the Disco Ball room represents me looking forward and the celebration to a new start,” Williams said.
“The Mood Room are all of the emotions I went through in my depression. There’s activities to tap into your emotions. I explain how color affects your emotions and the psychology behind it.
“I would travel a lot when I was in that depression so the Secret Garden is basically my traveling journey.”
Some of The Exhibit House’s employees are young students from alternative schools.
“The goal is to continue to help change lives and I look forward to starting a not-for-profit for the youth,” Williams said.
“I’m training, mentoring, coaching and developing them to prepare them for the workforce.”
Daily Southtown
The Exhibit House
When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays
Where: Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago
Tickets: $30; free ages younger than 5
Information: 312-285-2840; theexhibit-house.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.