• COMPOUND YELLOW is an autonomous site for learning, researching and making. It consists of multiple spaces for experimental exhibitions, public art, classes and workshops, film screenings, recording, and events.

    COMPOUND YELLOW is an autonomous site for learning, researching and making. It consists of multiple spaces for experimental exhibitions, public art, classes and workshops, film screenings, recording, and events.


    Lora Lode (Chicago) received an MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and currently teaches at the School of the Art Institute. Her background is sculpture with an emphasis in collaboration and social practices.

    She has experience working in museums, commercial and non-profit galleries, and as a member of several artist collectives, including co-managing and curating experimental art spaces and organizing public projects. She has worked with Temporary Services (1999-2003), People Powered (2006-2012) and Mess Hall (2007-2013), an experimental cultural center in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood.

    In 2014-15 Lode co-facilitated a multi-disciplinary research and design program at Archeworks for their Postgraduate Certificate in Public Interest Design. She is inspired by and engaged in community-driven, imaginative uses of public space and has managed a NeighborSpace community garden in Chicago since 2008 and is the co-leader for the Chicago Chapter of the Bionutrient Food Association.

    Lode is currently co-curating an exhibition for the Sullivan Galleries at the School of the Art Institute and collaborating on an initiative to start an artist cooperative in the Chicago area, called Compound Yellow.

    More on Mess Hall
    From About Mess Hall

    Q: What is Mess Hall?

    A: Mess Hall is an experimental cultural center. It is a place where visual art, radical politics, creative urban planning, applied ecological design and other things intersect and inform each other. We host exhibitions, discussions, film screenings, brunchlucks (brunch + potluck), workshops, concerts, campaigns, meetings (both closed and open) and more

  • Bionutrient Food Association

    Bionutrient Food Association

    The Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) is a national organization whose mission is to increase quality in the food supply. The BFA is at the at the forefront of the conversation to transform agriculture by recognizing the critical role soil health plays in a healthy crops to increase their nutritive value, flavor and aroma, and in simultaneously sequestering carbon, eliminating the need for fertilizers and agrochemicals. Connecting soil health to human/animal health! The Chicago Chapter meets monthly to discuss explore ways to build soil health and welcomes everyone to join us at our free meetings/workshops. Contact bfachicagochapter@gmail.com for more info.