A trio of Chicago-Latino students with multi-cultural dreams spearheaded a magazine-turned-ultramodern-zine that would come to feature international submissions of free-form poetry, short stories and essays intertwined with visual art. The three, Miguel Cortez, Elvia Rodriguez and Jesus Macarena, expanded their co-op from a biannual publication into a Pilsen-placed studio. There, they feature mixed media exhibits ranging from the comedic to the visceral, with an emphasis on the political.

The roughly 600-square-foot space marks the fourth move the gallery has made within Pilsen. For the past two years it has showcased a pro-bono collection every month (pieces purchased don't see a Polvo cut), kicking-off with wine- and art buff-filled Friday night openings. Past exhibitions have incorporated professional-caliber emerging and established painters, sculptors, photographers and graphic and video artists who utilize every inch of the 12-foot-high ceilings. Expect to see avant-garde flat-screen productions along with abstract paintings and drawings taken to refreshing levels.

Although Cortez, the appointed curator of the Latino-three, goes out of his way to fit in scheduled, private viewings, his day-job constricts the studio's hours to a five-hour block on Saturday afternoons. Should you not be able to squeeze in a time to check out the latest, every exhibit ever hosted and magazine published is archived on the Polvo website.

Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul