Episode 146: Exploring Hyde Park Through the 57th Street Art Fair
In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, Aaron Masliansky sits down with Cate Sleighton, longtime volunteer and leader of the 57th Street Art Fair, for a conversation about Hyde Park, neighborhood identity, public space, art, history, and one of Chicago’s most enduring cultural traditions.
As the 57th Street Art Fair approaches its 79th year, Cate shares how the fair began in 1948 as a small gathering of local artists and evolved into the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. The discussion expands into the broader story of Hyde Park, from the World’s Columbian Exposition and the growth of the University of Chicago to urban renewal, community activism, and the neighborhood’s continued cultural influence.
Topics discussed include:
• The origins and evolution of the 57th Street Art Fair
• Mary Louise Vollmer and the artists who helped launch the fair
• Why the fair remains volunteer-run and free to attend
• Hyde Park’s early artist colonies and creative communities
• The impact of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
• The University of Chicago’s role in shaping Hyde Park
• Urban renewal and neighborhood transformation
• The Obama Presidential Center and the future of the South Side
• Why public gathering spaces and cultural events matter
• The changing landscape of art fairs and independent artists
• What makes Hyde Park one of Chicago’s most distinctive neighborhoods
Learn more about the 57th Street Art Fair:
https://www.57thstreetartfair.com/
The 79th Annual 57th Street Art Fair takes place June 6-7 in Hyde Park and features nearly 200 artists from across the country. The fair is free and open to the public.
Book Mentioned in This Episode:
From Clotheslines to Canopies: A History of Outdoor Art Fairs in America by Kathleen Eaton
https://artfairhistory.com/about-the-book
Learn more about The Chicagoland Guide:
https://www.thechicagolandguide.com/
Connect with Aaron Masliansky:
https://www.aaronmasliansky.com/
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