Everybody Loves Sade: A Chicago Visual Artist Pays Homage to Sade during Her Birthday Week
For artist Ivan Vazquez, Sade’s music was a mainstay alongside the hip-hop music he was listening to as a young dancer in the Chicago breaking scene. It was common for him to hear hip-hop artists mention the Nigerian-born British singer in lyrics or sample her music. And he remembers purchasing her 1984 debut album, "Diamond Life," for just 99 cents at a local thrift store.
"She’s amazing," said Vazquez, 42, of the North Side, who painted a mural of Sade last year at West Fullerton and North Hamlin Avenues in Logan Square. "Her talent is amazing. Personally, I think it’s a natural talent. It almost seems like she just talk-sings. She’s just unapologetically herself and doesn’t care what anybody else thinks."
Vazquez isn’t the only one inspired. In celebration of the singer’s 66th birthday on January 16, two Hyde Park businesses hosted "Sade Day" on January 18. At the Silver Room shop, fans purchased Sade-themed shirts, coasters, buttons, hats, prints, and more from multiple vendors. Down the street, at Connect Gallery, Vazquez showcased acrylic paintings and digital prints from his Sade collection, "Queen of Diamonds."
At both locations, Sade and her namesake band’s soothing blend of soul, jazz, and pop flowed from the sound system. Vazquez and others were united in their appreciation for the singer’s musicianship, beauty, and message of love.
"You listen to her sultry voice, and then she just penetrates your soul," said Naila Berry, 33, of Bronzeville, who purchased a coaster from the Silver Room. "My parents would play her consistently. Probably by the time I was 5, I was super familiar with her sound."
Shon Dorn, of Hyde Park, associates the singer with a "core memory" from early motherhood: she had her son a day before Sade’s song "No Ordinary Love" was released.
"I think you have to give people their flowers while they’re still here," Dorn said, explaining her appreciation for "Sade Day." "I just believe there’s not enough love in the world anymore. And I feel like this unites us. Music transcends time and cultures."
The Silver Room in Hyde Park became a Sade boutique for the "Sade Day" celebration, while Connect Gallery showcased Vazquez’s artwork. The gallery’s co-owner, Rob McKay, praised Vazquez’s art for its "serene" quality.
"The work feels like it was produced in a calm state," he said. "McKay also said he didn’t hesitate when Silver Room owner Eric Williams suggested they host "Sade Day."
"Sade is an icon," he said. "Everybody loves Sade. I don’t think you can find somebody who said they don’t like at least a song."
Vazquez’s digital art and paintings inspired by Sade are on display at Connect Gallery. "Her talent is amazing," Vazquez says of Sade. "Personally, I think it’s a natural talent. It almost seems like she just talk-sings. She’s just unapologetically herself and doesn’t care what anybody else thinks."
Vazquez also hosts an annual Sade dance party at different locations in the city. Though he gravitated toward art at an early age, he took a long break when his friend Luis Trueba was fatally shot.
"From 17 to 30, I didn’t really believe in anything," Vazquez said. "I didn’t really process what happened. I just locked it away and pretended it didn’t happen."
But discovering an old picture of his friend inspired him to return to his passion, which he said has allowed him to heal and talk to others about trauma. His Sade work aside, he specializes in contemporary Mexican American art, some of which features characters in masks associated with the Aztecs and other indigenous cultures.
"It’s a really amazing feeling to turn something so horrible into something so beautiful," he said. "Art really helps. It worked for me. I think it will work for others."
Ivan Vazquez’s mural dedicated to Sade is on a wall outside Omarcito’s Latino Cafe in Logan Square. Vazquez also hosts an annual Sade dance party at different locations in the city.
FAQs
- What is "Sade Day"?
"Sade Day" is a celebration of the singer Sade’s birthday, which took place on January 16. - What is the purpose of "Sade Day"?
The purpose of "Sade Day" is to pay homage to Sade and her music, as well as to bring people together to appreciate her talent and message of love. - What kind of events took place during "Sade Day"?
During "Sade Day," fans purchased Sade-themed merchandise at the Silver Room, while Connect Gallery showcased Ivan Vazquez’s artwork inspired by Sade. - Who is Ivan Vazquez?
Ivan Vazquez is a Chicago visual artist who painted a mural of Sade last year and is also a fan of her music. He hosts an annual Sade dance party at different locations in the city.
