Cheri basak
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Anne-Katrin ellioTt
Written by: Bailee Penski
Edited by: Tyra Bosnic
Cheri Basak (left) and Anne-Katrin Elliott (right)
On Friday, Oct. 13, patrons crowd into a storefront in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood to browse an array of oddities on one of the spookiest days of the year. At Sideshow Gallery, items such as deer head taxidermy, vibrant crystals and abstract images depicting iconic horror film characters like Pennywise, Jack Torrance and Chucky line the shelves. The shop’s owners, Anne-Katrin Elliott and Cheri Basak, stand behind a glass counter displaying a deck of tarot cards and intricate beaded jewelry.
As fitting as the gallery’s oddities are for the Halloween season, Elliott and Basak work year-round to build curiosity and bring awareness to the community around them. Sideshow works as a platform for independent artists, a classroom to learn unconventional crafts such as tarot card reading and an activist space where the owners can share their political views.
Elliott and Basak both have full-time day jobs aside from the gallery. Basak co-owns Revolution Tattoo with her husband, Omar Gutierrez, and Elliott is an elementary school teacher. They both work about 16 hours a day, six days a week.
The women’s journey as best friends and entrepreneurs began after working at Urban Outfitters together more than 20 years ago and discovering their shared love for art and oddities. Starting their own business has allowed them to connect with other women entrepreneurs, such as artists and jewelry makers, and has created an outlet to voice their political views and sense of outrage.
Sideshow Gallery started when Basak and her husband began holding art shows in their tattoo parlor. Her background in art curation and visual merchandising became an asset in expanding the gallery, and the steady emergence of more art prompted them to purchase a storefront about 15 steps away from Revolution Tattoo.
"we are challenging people to be curious, to open up their minds, have fun and to take some time to enjoy the world around them."
Basak says the women are open-minded and like to push the edge with what they sell. The pair believes it is important to remain genuine because that is the reason customers gravitate to their store.
“We don’t really compromise what we are into just because that’s a hot item that everyone’s going to love. No, we want to stay true to the aesthetic and what we like,” Basak says.
Basak and her husband’s travels to New Orleans, New York and Paris have a major influence on how the shop is curated.
Emma Johnson, 25 and a first-time shopper at Sideshow Gallery, pauses to study the small jewelry pieces displayed on the wooden tables.
“[Sideshow Gallery] has its own flair to it which makes you want to come in. Everything inside has a story behind it,” Johnson says. “Obviously, the owners are passionate about what they are showing here, which makes other people want to learn more about what they have to offer.”
For Elliott, the store is a reflection of the passions she holds as an artist, activist and teacher. The gallery offers classes on tarot card reading and taxidermy about twice a month.
Elliott has also used the gallery as a political platform. She has hosted political groups where different speakers discuss issues such as women’s reproductive health, immigration and donations to the local food depository. The owners plan to host a group to help foster kids receive school supplies in the future.
“As soon as Trump came into office, I felt like I really had to become more active politically. No more excuses,” Elliott says.
The women are in a transitional period as they plan to work at the gallery full-time and put all of their focus into the art. For the first time, Elliott and Basak will be able to pay themselves for the work that goes into the shop and have regular business hours.
For Elliott and Basak, the most rewarding part of owning a curiosity shop is teaching shoppers about intriguing art and hearing from customers that the gallery is different from anywhere else they have been.
“Through this shop,” Elliott says, “we are challenging people to be curious, to open up their minds, have fun and to take some time to enjoy the world around them.”
Photos by: Rifdi Bin Rosly
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