Can You Define Syncretism?
Why India’s Design Future Looks a Lot Like Its Past (And why it works so well) Walking through this year’s India Design (ID) Expo in Delhi, one idea kept surfacing in booth after booth: syncretism. It’s a word that sounds overly intellectual, maybe even a little dusty, but here it felt completely alive. Syncretism is […]
NMHC: The Golden Nuggets Beneath the Noise
Torque spent three days at NMHC, meeting owners, investors, architects, vendors, brokers and more. We learned a lot, reinforced what we’re doing and met some amazing people. Here is a summary What the Multifamily Industry Is Really Being Told Right Now Every NMHC conference has its buzzwords, its shiny booths, its hopeful forecasts, and its […]
Material Witness – When Ordinary Things Become Extraordinarily Interesting
There’s something quietly magical that happens when you slow down long enough to really look. That’s the spirit behind Material Witness, a one-night exhibition taking over the TQ Experience art and event space on Saturday, January 24, and a perfect example of why we believe art is one of the most powerful tools for creating […]
Light Up the Night and Join Illumination: Casting a Light on Rare Disease!
We’re proud to advocate for another creative-placemaking / good-cause event. Torque believes in the arts, especially when they support a purpose. On Saturday, October 25, 2025, Moonlight Studios is turning into a glowfest for good…and everyone’s invited. It’s the annual fundraising ILLUMINATION party. illuminatechicago.com Glowing installations, luminous costumes, fiery parades, interactive art, dazzling characters — […]
When Concrete Gets a Soul: Reflections on Imagine. Create. Activate!
What Cities Really Run On: Culture. Last week, we came back from Imagine. Create. Activate! in Chicago, and my brain and heart are still buzzing. Three days of conversation, creativity, and collaboration left me convinced that art and culture aren’t “extras” for our cities, they’re infrastructure. As Developer Michael McLean so brilliantly reminded us, budgeting […]
JOIN US! (and Avoid Having The FOMO Art Gods Haunt You)
Synergetic: A Group Art Show | August 1 | 6–9 PM | TQ Experience We’re lighting up Wicker Park’s First Friday with a group show that promises to hit every sense. Synergetic brings together some of the city’s most electric talent—from urban photographers, sculptors, and muralists in addition to painters and illustrators—for one epic evening […]
Why Cities Can’t Afford to Cut Art and Culture: A Conference On The Richness of Creative Placemaking
Join Us September 22-24, 2025 For A Transformative Conversation As cities face deepening funding cuts to the arts, culture, and community programs, the question is no longer why we need creative placemaking—it’s why aren’t we doing more of it, faster? This September 22–24, 2025, Imagine. Create. Activate! Is launching in Chicago, and it couldn’t be more […]
Creative Placemaking in Commercial and Multi-Unit Properties: Elevating Branding Through Art & Accessories
In the highly competitive world of commercial real estate, branding extends far beyond a logo or website. The physical spaces we create and inhabit play a crucial role in defining the identity of a property, shaping tenant and visitor experiences, and fostering long-term engagement. As more developers and property owners invest in amenity spaces to […]
Imagine. Create. Activate!: Building Impact, Shaping Communities, and Activating Spaces Through the Power of Real Estate, Space, Place and Art
Join Us September 22-24, 2025 For A Transformative Conversation At Torque, we believe real estate and spaces are more than just structures or points on a map—it’s about shaping communities, igniting creativity, and driving meaningful impact. That’s why we are proud to support Creative Placemaking Communities and Ann Dickson in launching Imagine. Create. Activate!!, a groundbreaking […]
A Kitschmas Story: A Fun Look Back at the Holidays
It’s the New Year’s, and it’s time to reflect on the holiday we just had. For some, it may have been a little less mainstream and a little more kitsch—with suspicious, disheveled felt Santas; plump yet strangely melancholy snowmen; and doves that look like they’ve had a few too many. Welcome to the wonderful, wacky […]