Chait Galleries has been a staple of downtown Iowa City for nearly 15 years. -- photo by Alan Light
Chait Galleries has been a staple of downtown Iowa City for nearly 15 years. — photo by Alan Light

Chait Galleries Downtown (218 E. Washington St.) announced today that it will be shuttering on June 15, when owner Benjamin Chait retires.

A Gallery Retrospective-themed series will be held on six Fridays in the lead-up to the gallery’s closing.

The Mar. 18 event, Our Go-To Artists, will include work by Sarah Slee Brown, Nancy Lindsay, John Klopp, Marcia Wegman, Louise Rauh and Dale Divoky.

Apr. 1’s Work We Can’t Live Without will show Brad Krieger, Cathy Patterson, James Bearden, Corrine Smith, Steve Mitchell and Linda Lewis.

On Apr. 15, Tam Bryk, Matt Lyvers, John Chehak, Elizabeth Shriver and Cory Christiansen will be part of Amazing Progression.

Touched by Fame, on Apr. 29, will include Steve Maxon, Doris Park, Sylvia Schuster, Ulfert Wilke, Tom Wegman and Mary Merkel-Hess.

Steve Barker, Alicia Brown, Doug Russell, Kevin Kurka Jensen and Gorden Kellenberger will take part in May 13’s Unique Among Artists.

The finale on June 3 will feature Chait himself. Each event will run from 5 p.m. to 7 pm.

In addition, from now until June 15, Chait Galleries will offer a 30% off closing sale.

Founded in 2003, Chait Galleries Downtown exhibits local, national and international visual artists. It represents artists working in painting, jewelry, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics and more. The gallery is located in a historic 19th century building and in addition to taking part in events like the Downtown Gallery Walk, the space has offered a home to other arts, such as the InterDance festival.

Lucy Morris is the News & Culture Editor of Little Village. You can reach her at lucy@littlevillagemag.com.

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