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MEMBERS' SHOW 2026
Call for entry is now open! Click here for more information and to apply through our
new VibrantCast
exhibition application! 
Deadline to enter: Feb. 17, 2026

CAVA is a volunteer not-for-profit organization founded in 1988 to serve artists aged 50+. We're dedicated to giving our over 300 members throughout Chicagoland the opportunity to exhibit artwork in at least three exhibits annually in such notable venues as the Chicago Cultural Center, Evanston Art Center, Bridgeport Art Center, Beverly Arts Center, and the Leslie Wolfe Gallery in Old Town.
Creating art can be a solitary occupation—CAVA organizes and presents events for older artists to come together through its exhibitions, salons, member luncheons, workshops, annual Symposium, and special events. For more information, visit our CONTACT page, and sign up for our e-newsletter.

CAVA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:

  • Exhibit in the Annual Members Show;

  • Enter the juried Later Impressions exhibition;

  • Engage in various group and media-focused exhibitions
    we organize throughout the Chicago area;

  • Participate in membership social and educational programs, including our Salon/Critique Events; CAVA's Intergenerational Projects; Artist Studio Visits; and the annual CAVA Symposium.

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FEATURED CAVA ARTIST
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MIGUEL CANO's artistic journey began in childhood. His early dreams of becoming a cartoonist shifted towards investigating architecture in high school. Throughout his career in mechanical engineering and industrial design, the need to draw ideas has been a consistent thread in his life. "Drawing allows me to connect with the creative inner voice— it's always there, patiently waiting for me to listen," says Miguel. 

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Spacious Awareness, iPad painting and acrylics 
giclée on canvas

As a professional designer he became accustomed to drawing and painting digitally. "I draw and paint with my iPad daily," says Miguel. "My approach with iPad painting is to treat mark-making the same as I would working on a canvas: I paint over 'mistakes' rather than 'undo' what I've put down, preferring to use all those moments of adjustment as opportunities to add character to the work, and keep the history visual." In his recent work he's also been experimenting with acrylics to support the narrative of a piece. "This new way of working is challenging, but also a lot of fun—I think it’s important to be open and stay curious."

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Mirada de Leona/Lion's Gaze, digital sketch
giclée on paper

As part of his artistic process, Miguel strives to give a visual voice to ideas he finds complex and nuanced. His most recent projects are centered around the themes of awareness in the context of meditation. "I’m a long-time meditator. In 2022, I became familiar with the Dzogchen tradition of meditation, and was very intrigued with the distinction between attention and awareness. My sketchbooks from that time contain a wealth of ideas to paint."

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Shift to Awareness, iPad painting and acrylics giclée on canvas

To learn more about Miguel and see more of his work, CLICK HERE to visit his website.

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