#Hashtag | Nov. 2023
#HASHTAG: ESTHER GRIMM
By Dustin O’Regan
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
The city’s most beloved champion of the arts, 3Arts Executive Director ESTHER GRIMM, has dedicated her life’s work to uplifting Chicago artists. A master fundraiser, Grimm grew up in Evanston and attended Lake Forest College. With a career-long focus in philanthropy, museum education, and life coaching, Grimm is a bright light who inspires others to follow her lead. The 3Arts organization has supported more than 2,000 artists, including 70 percent women artists, 70 percent artists of color, and 20 percent deaf and disabled artists—all while working in the six-county metropolitan area, distributing more than $6.6 million in grants. When she’s not reveling in the city’s beautiful arts and culture scene, Grimm spends her free time volunteering at Lake Forest’s Equestrian Connection.
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
I’ve been reading a lot about horses. Since June 2022, I have served as a volunteer at Equestrian Connection, an equine therapy center in Lake Forest, by assisting the dedicated occupational and physical therapists as they work with clients of all ages on horseback during hippotherapy sessions. My latest great horse book is Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. I’ve also just started re reading Golem Girl: A Memoir, by visual artist, teacher, and author Riva Lehrer.
#ON MY MOBILE
During the past few weeks, I followed a lot of Taiko drumming performances online in preparation for (nervously) taking my first beginner Taiko workshop at Asian Improv aRts Midwest (AIRW), at its lovely new space on Elston Avenue in Chicago. The class was led by Tatsu Aoki, a 2010 3Arts awardee who is internationally known for his expertise in both traditional and experimental music and for being an inspiring composer, bassist, Shamisen lute player, and an advocate for the Asian American community.
#IN MY EARBUDS
I have been diving into the music of some of the performers who recently graced the stage at the Harris Theater at the 2023 3Arts Awards Celebration: For the Love of Artists, when we announced 25 new award recipients and a new program providing $50,000 awards to teaching artists. Will Liverman, a Grammy Award-winning operative baritone and 2017 3Arts awardee, opened the event with a traditional spiritual, so his CD, Dreams of a New Day—Songs by Black Composers (produced by Cedille Records) is on repeat.
