Arts + Public Life presents Summer on the Arts Lawn 2025

Arts + Public Life invites you to spend another summer with us on the Arts Lawn—where community, creativity, and good vibes grow strong. This summer, prepare to be captivated by a lineup of programs that builds upon the energy and excitement of our first two years on the Lawn. Whether it’s live jazz with legendary big bands, the creative designs of South Side makers, the peace of sunset yoga or the simple pleasure of an outdoor film screening on a warm summer night, the Arts Lawn offers programs designed to inspire, connect, and showcase the rich artistic tapestry of Chicago’s South Side.

Join us and immerse yourself in a summer where artistic excellence meets community spirit:

Vends + Vibes

Explore unique arts & crafts from local artists and makers at our lively summer marketplace

Vends + Vibes is Arts + Public Life’s annual summer arts marketplace celebrating South Side creative entrepreneurs. What started as a cozy winter arts market inside the Arts Incubator has grown into a sunny summer tradition on the Arts Lawn—bringing artists, makers, and neighbors together to shop, connect, and ease into the season. With DJs, live bands, and curated outdoor activities, the vibe is always lively, right in the heart of Washington Park.

From bold jewelry and fashion-forward fits to standout home décor and one-of-a-kind art—you’ll find pieces that speak your style. Treat yourself to luxe apothecary goods, self-care must-haves, vintage gems, good reads, and seriously tasty eats. Best of all, vendors keep 100% of their sales–your purchase directly contributes to the thriving South Side arts and crafts ecosystem.

Vends + Vibes returns to the Arts Lawn on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 1:00 to 7:00 PM. This summer’s edition features a special performance of First Monday Jazz with Theo Reed and his Jazz Friends—bringing the bold, brassy sounds of big band jazz to kick off the season. There will be something for everyone—hands-on art activities, kid-friendly music fun with South Side Fireflies, and a chance to stretch out to the sounds and moves of House Yoga. Shop one-of-a-kind pieces from South Side artists and makers, find something special for yourself or a loved one, and ease into summer with style at Arts + Public Life.

Launched in 2013, First Monday Jazz is APL's longest-running program, featuring emerging and established Chicago musicians and vocalists on the first Monday of every month. This year, First Monday Jazz 2025: Big Band Summer takes us on a journey back to the golden age of big band jazz in Chicago. As the 1920s exploded with musical energy from the South mixed with a growing nightlife culture, our city became an epicenter where the raw spirit of early jazz blossomed into the power of larger ensembles. Imagine the scene: bustling cabarets, elegant ballrooms like the Savoy (on 47th and King Drive), and grand theaters such as the Regal hosting musical forces that would define an era. In this electric atmosphere, bandleaders like the legendary Earl Hines helped shape the big band sound, known for its tight arrangements, bold horn sections, and driving rhythm perfect for dancing.

SUNSET YOGA

Unwind with a gentle Hatha yoga flow as the sun dips below the horizon This slower-paced take on the classic sun salutation is designed to ease you into the summer night and is open to all experience levels. The experience includes offerings to engage all your senses: herbal iced teas and fruit waters to support hydration and the immune system, essential oil blends informed by herbalism and Ayurveda to calm the nervous system, and Tibetan singing bowls to transition you out of śavāsana and back into a peaceful evening. Led by yoga instructor Rhya Moffitt, with special guest offerings in alignment with the themes of each month. 

Sunset Yoga will be offered for three months, each with a specific focus:

• July: “Root” will focus on grounding and creating home and stability within the body and mind 

• August: “Express” meditates on the power of the voice and its necessary connection to the heart to communicate truth authentically and courageously

• September: “Imagine” explores the importance of the imagination within a world that strives toward oppressive conformity, emphasizing the freeing power of seeing the world anew as a necessary first step to worldbuilding and collective transformation

Drawing on connections between yoga and Black liberation struggles (ex. Rose Parks’ and Angela Davis’ yoga practices in prison), artistic practice (Alice Coltrane), and personal sustenance (Harriet Jacobs’ movement and meditative practices during her seven years in the garret while enslaved), this unique program supports self care by invoking Black radical ancestors and contemporaries (ex. Cole Arthur Riley of Black Liturgies).