M.F.A., was Founder and Artistic Director of Core Project Chicago, a dance-based, interdisciplinary performing arts collective and is...

Co- Founder and Executive Director of Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, IL. Tanner Melvin is a dynamic leader and creative visionary, blending an eclectic professional background with a passion for community engagement and the arts. With a B.A. in Theater (specializing in acting and design) and an M.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (focusing on experiential education and interpretive programming) from Western Illinois University (WIU), Tanner's journey has

Jess Rocha is Managing Director of the Elgin Fringe Festival, Committee member of Going Dutch, and the Director of Operations for Side...

B.F.A. Nick is a former high school Alternative Education and Graphic Design teacher, the Founder and Executive Director of Memoriam...

SSSA’s Visual Art Coordinator Chris Arrecis is an Illinois-based artist working primarily in photography and drawing. His studio practice...

Andrew Vo graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2017. He was the Artist In Residence at Side Street in 2021. He...

Trish LaFleur is the Marketing Coordinator at Side Street Studio Arts, bringing a background in graphic design and a long-standing love for the organization. Her kids were among Side Street’s first students, so she’s especially proud to help tell the story of a place she believes is vital to the community.

The Community Moves Coordinator, as part of the Art Education department at Side Street Studio Arts, organizes offsite art programs and...

Luiza Moraes is a performance and movement artist who has recently relocated to Elgin, IL. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from UFRGS. Following extensive training in Contemporary Dance with a special focus on somatic practices, she obtained an MA in Performance and Dance from CNDC/Angers and the University Paris 8. She is a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner by the Feldenkais Institut Wien in Vienna, Austria. She lived and worked in Eu

Sugey Mondragon is a Latina illustrator based in Chicago,IL. She mainly works in children’s book illustration, she utilizes digital brushes to create variety of textures in her pieces, alongside using a myriad of vibrant colors to create more lovable work.

Ivette is an interdisciplinary artist focused on exploring stories through video, photography, and installations. In 2016 she graduated from the University of Florida with a BFA in Art and Technology and a minor in Art History. She was the recipient of the 2022 YWCA Elgin Margaret Hillis Arts Award. Ivette often picks up hobbies that lead her to explore a new medium that then gets entwined into her art practice. Ivette hopes to continue working on large scale installations an

Nick Jostes is an artist from Elgin originally from Fort Collins, Colorado. He specializes in customer success / account management with...

2026 Artist In Residence

September 2-11, 2022

August 5 - August 21, 2022

May 27 - June 25, 2022

Erin Rehberg, M.F.A., was Founder and Artistic Director of Core Project Chicago, a dance-based, interdisciplinary performing arts...

Tanner Melvin, M.S., is Founder and Director of Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, IL. Tanner comes back to Elgin and to Side Street from...

Nick Mataragas - After ten years of teaching High School Graphic Design, Art, and Yearbook, Nick Mataragas became a director, actor,...

I am a multimedia artist focused on exploring stories through video, photography, and installation. I received a BFA from the University...