Gallery Exhibitions

Conspicuous Whorl

9.28.2024 - 10.27.24

LVL3  proudly presents Conspicuous Whorl, a group show featuring Palestinian artists from across the country. Held in dedication to platforming and amplifying the voices of Palestinian artists, Conspicuous Whorl focuses on themes surrounding culture, community, and identity. The whorl of the poppy, an anchoring center point surrounded by a swirling cluster; with the poppy as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, resilience, and heritage, Conspicuous Whorl acts as an anchoring point for our contributing artists to celebrate and share their inner lives.

In addition to displayed works, Conspicuous Whorl will be host to film screenings held during open hours on Sundays starting at 2:30 with a suggested donation going towards select causes. Proceeds from the sale of works and screenings will be donated to benefits of the participating artists’ choice.

Press Release

Opening: Saturday, September 28th, 6-9PM

Chicago Exhibition Weekend extended hours: Friday, October 4th, 5-8PM;  Saturday, October 5th, 1-4PM

Screening hours: Sundays from 2:30-4PM

  • Sept. 29th: Tale of the Three Jewels (1995) dir. by Michel Khleifi — Arabic w/ English subtitles
    • Tale of the Three Jewels is an allegorical tale about the twelve-year-old Palestinian boy, Yussef, who falls in love with the girl Aïda. Aïda takes Yussef into her fantasy world and tells him about the three missing jewels from her grandmother’s necklace. The story takes place against the backdrop of the Palestinian uprising in Gaza in the early 90s.
  • Oct. 6th: Israelism (2023) dir. by Erin Axelman and Sam Eilertsen — English
    • When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns. They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.
  • Oct. 13th: 5 Broken Cameras (2012) dir. by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi — English
    • A documentary on a Palestinian farmer’s chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army.
  • Oct. 20th: Gaza Surf Club (2016) dir. by Philip Gnadt — English
    • Trapped in “the world’s largest open-air prison” and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the beaches. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the Mediterranean – they are the surfers of Gaza
  • Oct. 27th: Jenin Jenin (2002) dir. by Mohammad Bakri — Arabic w/ English Subtitles
    • Jenin, Jenin denounces, through the immediate stories of Palestinian witnesses, the crimes committed by the Israeli army during the attack on the Jenin refugee camp. During Operation “Defensive Shield”, in April 2002, the Israeli Defense Forces invaded the Jenin Palestinian refugee camp for 12 days due to the alleged presence of Palestinian terrorists. Since the Israeli army did not allow journalists and international organizations to access the camp for security reasons, the Arab countries thought that a massacre was taking place. Bakri participated in a nonviolent demonstration held at the Jenin checkpoint. On this occasion he declared that he saw Israeli soldiers shoot at the crowd, wounding a friend of his who was next to him. After this he decided to infiltrate the camp to interview the residents and ask them what had happened. The result was Jenin Jenin.

Closing: October 27th

Gallery hours are Sundays 1-4 pm and can also be made by appointment. Email team@lvl3official.com or call/text 312-469-0333 to reserve a time outside of gallery hours.