Arts advocate, critic, performance artist, director and educator Craig Harshaw died Feb. 10 at his home in Coldwater, Michigan. He was 59.
Harshaw was born Sept. 15, 1965, in Pennsylvania and then spent his youth in Coldwater. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton and his MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
While Harshaw was a student at Wright State, he co-founded and was the artistic director of the performance ensemble The Snowball Group. He also wrote and directed several pieces— the original play Forever Young, exploring the juvenile death penalty; A Radical’s Guide to Compromise: Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Survival, which focused on the depoliticization of the University in the ‘80s; and The Minola Sister’s Guide to Compromise.
Shortly after Harshaw graduated from college, he co-founded and became the sole executive director of the contemporary arts organization Insight Arts (1991-2016), whose focus was to expand “access to cultural work that supported social justice movement building.”
At Insight Arts, Harshaw also took part in The End of The Ladder Ensemble, directed Black and White Night: My Sister’s New Baby Cries that took place in the United Church of Rogers Park sanctuary, co-directed with Aislinn Pulley A Lovely Hybrid, ensemble created The Fear of Freedom and Lies Will Flow From My Lips. He also curated the Nights of Insight monthly performance art series from 1994-2014 at Insight Arts.
While Harshaw was leading Insight Arts he also served as the Randolph Street Gallery interim executive director (1996-1997) and The Youth Justice Funding Collaborative program director (2007-2010).
Other work endeavors included Harshaw’s role as the Divisive Podcast co-creator and co-host with Leah Gipson, from 2017 until his death; P-Form contributing editor and writer from 1993-1998; and contributor to the publications The Public Eye and Underground Philosophy. Harshaw reviewed the film Nosferatu (2024) for his The American Psychoanalyst blog just a month before his death. He also reviewed a film about Freud for his blog. Harshaw and Gipson also co-edited a book called Critical Art Therapy Education: Race, Culture and the Future of a Profession.
Harshaw described himself as a “performance artist, theater director, actor, educator, curator and cultural critic” in his website biography. He was also a prolific writer, cultural critic and activist.
His curatorial work was featured at the Evanston Arts Center, Riverside Arts Center and the Rumble Arts Center. He also created many performance works with youth members over the years. Harshaw showed off his range with solo performances of Incoherent Text; Not Present; Critical, Meaningful, Terminated; and Captured by Your Eyes. He also directed Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba; Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector; Bertolt Brecht’s Lux En Tenebris and Baal; Edward Bond’s The Sea; Mark Gillespie’s Immaculate Reception; and Lanford Wilson’s The Great Nebula in Orion.
In addition to Harshaw’s artistic endeavors, he also taught at both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College, as well as several community-based settings and art centers.
Harshaw was preceded in death by his father Charles Harshaw. He is survived by his mother Eva Jean Harshaw and countless chosen family members and friends.
Longtime friends and work colleagues remember Harshaw
Tara Betts said, “When I came to Chicago as a student at Loyola University Chicago, Rogers Park was one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. In fact, sociologists came to study the neighborhood. I have memories of meeting people who were part of that neighborhood and who changed my life. One of the main people was Craig. He was the Director of Insight Arts, and he touched so many people’s lives. He was funny and brilliant, and he knew almost any artist, movie or book you could think of. He was kind and radical, and he opened the doors for me to be a part of a community with so many people I still connect with today. I cannot believe he’s gone.”
Anita Stenger Dacanay said, “Craig was a provocative artist, performer, director, educator, activist, cultural worker and critic. He was also my friend, and someone whose brilliant mind and big heart influenced me greatly. Those of us who knew him are reeling to process his death. I think that part of our process should be, must be, will be, to create a strong community with one another, and also to resist whole-heartedly the authoritarian regime that is now overtaking our government. Resist by any creative, sincere, direct or indirect, conventional or unconventional means we can find. Craig always encouraged and supported his friends, colleagues, collaborators and students to find and raise our voices. Craig spoke truth to power and encouraged others to do the same. I feel he is continuing to do so even now.
Joan Dickinson said, “I knew Craig briefly when we both worked for Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago. He came in towards the end and was such a force really. Craig was somewhat intimidating but also hilarious and intelligent. I think the chaos of the gallery going under blocked me from truly appreciating him. Later, several students presented work at Insight Arts, and I attended and began to understand better the scope of him and everything he brought into the world. Truly incredible and on point always. Kind. Compassionate. Such a beautiful human being. I know you and many many others will miss him deeply.”
Bess Gerth said, “Craig wasn’t just a friend but a wonderful teacher, philosopher and the kindest person you could ever hope to meet. His knowledge of the arts and politics was endless. There are so many things I want to say about this amazing guy…but my heart is broken. Craig, I will always love you and think of you as my brother. You literally were the best.”
Davida Ingram said, “Craig, you are on my mind and heart. You taught me so much about imagination. How can I imagine this world without your ferocious intelligence? The categorical ways you read power. Your encyclopedic index of art, film, theater, literature, psychology and history? And of course, your marvelous heart? You taught so many of us how to love deeply by thinking critically. I really love you and always will, friend. Thanks for knowing me and being a superb human.”
Aislinn Pulley said, “I’ve known Craig since I was about eight years old, along with so many of you all. He was actually family and introduced me and so many of us to so many great and life changing things (bell hooks, Paolo Freire, so many films and books!) … He really changed and deeply impacted so many lives. Love you all and thank you Craig for everything. I hope you are finally at peace.”
Penny Collins said, “I told Craig if he went before me that I’d eulogize that he was the best lover I ever had. We never were—as you know. But it made him laugh. I think I will start saying this whenever I talk about Craig.”
Maritza Bautista said, “Craig’s multidisciplinary practice was rooted in love and liberation, and so honestly. I was 29 when I met Craig, and he changed ‘my world’ as I knew it—he challenged me to seek truth through knowledge, philosophy and art in a way that no one else had ever done so. He introduced me to the writings of Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Edward Said, Chela Sandoval, David Harvey, Antonio Gramsci, Amilcar Cabral, Andrea Smith, James Baldwin… the list goes on! That was the moment I truly understood the power of the artist and art, and the importance of cultural work.
“…Craig, Cregorio (as I would often call him), wherever you are, know that your light will live on because I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Thank you so very much for everything. I will make sure to order that extra dirty martini in your honor. Con cariño.”
A celebration of life will take place in Chicago. Details are forthcoming.