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March 2024 by Wednesday Quansah
I enjoyed my visit to Urban Art Retreat. It was different than any other art gallery I have visited. It's an in-home gallery, so the setting is cozy. The proprietress, Dianna Long, led thought-provoking and interesting discussions about each piece. It was nice to have a guide through the pieces instead of just wandering and looking at them on my own. I enjoyed the conversations I had with the other patrons of the opening. Also, the owner's dogs were so cute and friendly!
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March 2024 by Linda Christianson
Very, very enjoyable. Dianna very welcoming, art in a variety of media, vivid and creative. The Retreat a center of support and renewal for urban artists.
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July 2023 by ngrinbarg91
I first became involved with the Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center in North Lawndale when searching for activities to keep myself busy during a bout of depression while I took a break from school. I was kept busy through home repair and tidying the women’s residence, yard work for volunteers to enjoy and the evolution of the Peace Parks, and art projects as I shared my creativity (and enthusiasm) with volunteers and locals.The Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center served as a safe haven and provided me with purpose at a time I was lost. While I can speak on a personal level of how wonderful of a place it is, the true brilliance of CUARC is its community outreach. The Urban Art Retreat, led by Dianna Long, brings locals and volunteers from all over together to work for a safer, cleaner, and more colorful Chicago. This occurs through many of its programs and especially impacts the neighborhood in which it is located, North Lawndale.While in recent years my participation at the Urban Art Retreat has decreased due to work and family responsibilities, I continue to hear of the wonderful difference it makes in the North Lawndale community through the head and heart of CUARC, someone I am glad to call my friend, Dianna.I always look forward to my next visit.
