By: Elizabeth Balsavich

For many of the graduate students active with the Chaddick Institute, the city’s famous “Loop” district is their preferred place to work, recreate, and socialize.

When we think of the factors that make this area so inviting, we usually don’t think of cardboard boxes, dumpsters, narrow alleyways.  Yet the Chicago Loop Alliance has combined all three to make an interesting and memorable series of events called ACTIVATE.

I had the opportunity to check out the last ACTIVATE event of the year with a group from Chaddick.  “Simple, strange, chaotic, and eccentric” are all the words I’d use to describe the atmosphere. Being from a rural town in Michigan, I must admit I was a bit out of my element.  At one point, we were quite literally dancing next to a row of empty garbage bins!  Although I was a fish out of my pond, I almost instantly found an appreciation for why these types of events are all the rage in many major cities.

These event series turn alleys into creative spaces to exhibit the vast array of art that this city has to offer; they also bring together people to interact with this home-grown art face-to-face. The theme on this night was waste; hence, the dumpsters and cardboard boxes were everywhere.

Our group – all graduate students from the School of Public Service and Sustainable Urban Development programs– took advantage of the towers of cardboard boxes. With teamwork and creativity, we created a rather large transformer who loves to give free hugs! We amazed bystanders who even asked for a coveted photo-op with our giant cardboard creation. We study policies, public service, and urban planning, but we can harness our inner child and build things too!

Amidst the chaos and business of the city there is a rare and underappreciated beauty—people of all ethnicities, cultures, ages, orientations, and interests can come together in an alley and simply enjoy the oddity and excitement of socializing among strangers…and, well, dumpsters.  This event brought it back to its most beautiful state of simplicity.

What were some key takeaways?

• Chicago has some impressively creative artists, not to mention some surprisingly clean alleys.
• Somehow, the Chicago Loop Alliance was able to transform an ally – dumpsters and all – into a museum, a dance floor, a bar and a playground all in one.
• Our School of Public Service students’ innovation was on full display, using cardboard boxes to build our own creation.

In the bigger picture, the event provided me new insights into how these events can give cities a new dimension.  Buildings can only be built so high and new parks can only achieve so much.  Who would have ever thought that an alley could be used as an art exhibit, a bar, and a creative space? I applaud CLA for thinking “out of the box”.

Cheers to the Chicago Loop Alliance for identifying and capitalizing on such hidden potential – check out their website to find out more, and keep an eye peeled for next summer’s events!

Can’t wait for next year!

-Liz