--- title: 'Lure of the Local 5: Love Letters' description: >- Annual curated exhibition in Mundelein, IL on the theme "Love Letters", free to apply for artists of all mediums, plus a call for participatory community installation proposals. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/073dfc1b-1752-41f3-9ec4-860e2684a75c' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-09-04' updatedAt: '2026-09-30' programType: Exhibition organization: Mundelein Arts Commission organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/mundelein-arts-commission' location: 'Archer Business Center, Mundelein, IL, United States' isOnline: false compensationRange: >- Community artwork proposals may include a requested funding budget; no fixed compensation is stated for general exhibition entries. disciplines: - installation --- # Lure of the Local 5: Love Letters **Hosted by:** Mundelein Arts Commission **Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Archer Business Center, Mundelein, IL, United States ## About This Program > "Love Letters" **Lure of the Local 5 is on the horizon!** This year's theme is "**Love Letters**". Whether it inspires a brand-new piece, helps you see existing work in a new light, or simply gets ideas flowing, we invite artists to begin exploring what Love Letters might mean through their own creative lens. Lure of the Local is an annual, curated art exhibition hosted by the Mundelein Arts Commission (MAC) that highlights the creative practices of artists who live and work among us – our teachers, neighbors, friends, and fellow community members. It is free to apply and participate, and artists of all mediums and skill levels are encouraged to apply. More details: - **Dates:** The exhibition will open on Friday, October 16, 2026 - November 22, 2026 - **Hours:** Free & Open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. with programming every weekend, such as art workshops and live music. - **Location:** Archer Business Center (175 N. Archer Avenue, Mundelein) - Located near the Metra Station and in the same building as Tighthead Brewing Company - **Opening Reception:** There is an opening reception on Friday, October 16, 2026 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Artist attendance is highly encouraged but is not mandatory. The reception features a ribbon cutting, live music, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres. Typical attendance at the reception is around 400-500 visitors. ### About the theme > From the quiet anticipation of writing a **love letter** to the joy of receiving one, this simple act captures something deeply human. Few things express longing, connection, and vulnerability quite like it; art offers a powerful way to explore those emotions. > > Let this theme be a springboard for your own interpretation of what Love Letters mean to you. Your subject might be a person, a pet, a garden, a season, a favorite meal, or even a fleeting moment. What you love—and how you choose to honor it—is each artist's unique vision. > In this fast-paced age of texting, the idea of a love letter is nostalgic and tactile, present. What makes you pause in awe? What image or thing can truly embody love? Is love a fairy tale or fantasy? What artistic process do you lose yourself in like falling in love? > > We look forward to seeing where this theme takes you! ### Artist Residencies The Mundelein Arts Commission (MAC) will be hosting artist residents again this year. The application for artist residencies will be posted separately by June 26th, the application deadline will be July 26, artist will be notified by Aug 7th. This residency will provide free art studios to those accepted from Sept 1 - Feb 1 and be part of the **Love Letters** Programming. ### Proposals for Community Artworks For our 10th Anniversary Year we are looking for community focused and interactive artworks to engage our visitors of all ages. Projects that consider the theme of love letters meaningfully will be prioritized. Artworks must follow an installation format, be participatory, and be on view for the full duration of Love Letters. **Please send a PDF Document with the Format:** **Project Title** Concept: Your idea and meaning Execution: How will it work? Budget: Please request appropriate funding for your proposal! Pertinent image/examples Send your project proposal to the curator @**skalmanovsky.arts@outlook.com** ### Contact For questions, please contact either: - **Stacee Kalmanovsky** - Lure of the Local Curator and Mundelein Arts Commissioner (skalmanovsky.arts@outlook.com, (847) 767-7827) - **Colleen Malec** - Village of Mundelein Staff Liaison (cmalec@mundelein.org, (847) 949-3289) ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Career Stage:** Open to all - **Geographic Eligibility:** Local - **Disciplines:** installation - **Note:** Highlights the creative practices of artists who live and work among us – our teachers, neighbors, friends, and fellow community members. Artists of all mediums and skill levels are encouraged to apply. For the community artwork proposals: artworks must follow an installation format, be participatory, and be on view for the full duration of Love Letters. ### Additional Requirements For Proposals for Community Artworks: send a PDF document with the format — Project Title; Concept: Your idea and meaning; Execution: How will it work?; Budget: Please request appropriate funding for your proposal!; Pertinent image/examples. Send your project proposal to the curator at skalmanovsky.arts@outlook.com. ## Compensation & Benefits Community artwork proposals may include a requested funding budget; no fixed compensation is stated for general exhibition entries. **Includes:** Commission fee, Materials budget Applicants proposing a Community Artwork installation should include a budget in their proposal requesting appropriate funding for the project; no compensation is described for general exhibition participation. ## What's Provided - **Materials Support:** Available - Community Artwork proposals should include a requested budget; appropriate funding is considered based on the proposal. ## Timeline - **Opens:** September 4, 2026 - **Program Start:** October 16, 2026 - **Program End:** November 22, 2026 ## Contact **Contact:** Stacee Kalmanovsky **Email:** skalmanovsky.arts@outlook.com **Phone:** (847) 767-7827 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.mundelein.org/589/Mundelein-Arts-Commission