ESCAPADE Presents:
Casino Chaos - An Immersive Art Experience
Help fund a lush, cinematic, immersive, casino-inspired art exhibition while supporting the expansion of a small business.
CASINO CHAOS $3,500 Goal
TOTAL RAISED: $75
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CASINO CHAOS
The Rush Without The Risk
Hello! My name is Raven Smith and I am a fine artist, and the founder of ESCAPADE | Exhibitions, a contemporary pop-up, located in the Chicagoland area. I am here to ask for your support of my next upcoming ESCAPADE Exhibition titled CASINO CHAOS that is due to debut December 2025.
Casino Chaos is my second programing event under ESCAPADE | Exhibitions and my first event presented for crowdfunding. Though Casino Chaos is the main event that I am requesting support for, I also aim to allow this fundraising to be support for the overall continuation of events like these under the ESCAPADE| Exhibitions brand. I believe with your help, my goal to create unique immersive events that collaborates and employs other creatives can become a reality!
WHAT IS ESCAPADE | EXHIBITIONS?
ESCAPADE| Exhibitions is a contemporary art pop-up that allows people to escape into the world of artistic collaboration. Our goal is to host unique and immersive experiences for people to enjoy and remember. We want to give emerging and established creatives a platform to experiment and exhibit. ESCAPADE creates a space aims to push boundaries. Normally the various art mediums exist in their own categories. Here at ESCAPADE we are interested in blurring and merging that line
CASINO CHAOS: CONCEPT + VISION
THE RUSH WITHOUT THE RISK
Casino Chaos" is an immersive, interactive solo art exhibition inviting guests to step into the chaotic beauty of a cinematic vintage casino. The event combines fine art, performance, design, and interactivity, offering a whimsical escape from the demands of reality.
Central to the event are 20+ varied-sized oil paintings depicting fictional yet emotionally resonant casino scenes, accompanied by a room-sized installation that extends the narrative into real space. The exhibition continues Raven Smith's "Distractions" series, inspired by the escapist allure of cinema and the need to find refuge through creativity.
This experience invites attendees to become part of the story, questioning their own realities and crafting new personal narratives, all within a lush, retro-casino-inspired world. The audience will get the chance to play games, win prizes, eat whimsical food, and enter into a fabricated casino inspired installation to create the feeling and aesthetic of a casino without the risk of real gambling.
In addition to the main "Casino Chaos" experience, I plan on featuring additional programming events to attend throughout the exhibition duration that are aligned within the overall theme. These additional programming events include, cabaret performances, whiskey tastings + jazz sessions, Casino game lessons, and an Artist talk.
🎲 Why Your Donation Matters
Casino Chaos isn't just another event—it's the next chapter in a movement I’m building through ESCAPADE Exhibitions, a platform designed to transform art into immersive, unforgettable experiences while creating real economic opportunities for artists in Chicago.
My first event in 2023 was a labor of love. It cost over $13,000, which I fully funded through personal savings and ticket sales. I just barely broke even—but the impact was undeniable. The energy, the excitement, the magic we created together proved that this concept has real power. What I didn’t have at the time were the resources to sustain that momentum.
That’s why this fundraiser is so important.
For Casino Chaos, I’m building smarter. I’m seeking sponsorships, cutting costs where I can, and for the first time, opening the door for community support. My goal isn’t just to break even this time—it’s to build a profitable, sustainable model that allows ESCAPADE to grow, thrive, and uplift more creatives.
Here’s what your donation supports:
Fair compensation for Chicago-based artists, performers, designers, and collaborators
A platform where creatives can build their résumés, gain visibility, and get paid for their talent
An event designed to give audiences a much-needed escape through art, color, story, and play
The continuation of ESCAPADE Exhibitions as a creative engine that brings magic, meaning, and leisure back into community spaces
This isn’t just about one night—it’s about building something lasting. A cultural experience. A new model for how art can be immersive, inclusive, and economically empowering.
If you believe in the power of creativity, in supporting artists, and in bringing joy to people in ways they didn’t know they needed—this is your chance to help make that happen.
DONATION TIERS + REWARDS
If you are interested in supporting the Casino Chaos Experience and the continuation of ESCAPADE| Exhibitions, we have donation tiers with rewards at various levels. Please note that all physical rewards will be delivered January 2026 directly after the completion of Casino Chaos! Thank you for your consideration and continuous support! I look forward to creating something special with your help!
PROCESS OF CREATION
Research
My overall process of creation involves many steps. I start with the overall concept development. That requires thorough research about the theme at hand and in this case it is vintage casinos through the lens of owners, participants, workers, and cinema. From there I was inspired by the overall grandeur, and allure of casino culture. I then planned Casino Chaos and its sub-series Showgirls to paint.
Costume Planning
Once the painting concepts were finalized, I reached out to models that were willing to participate in both shoots and started the process of costume planning.
Photoshoot
Photoshoots are conducted to create original reference material for the paintings
Painting
Once photos are condensed, I edit them to the color grading or design that I want. Then those photos are used as the references that I paint from.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Once again, my name is Raven Smith is an award winning artist, and creative director currently located in Chicago, IL that has been fascinated by the human consciousness, cinematography, emotions, curiosity, and immersive experiences. I've been professionally exhibiting my artwork for almost a decade in venues like Navy Pier (Expo Chicago), The Museum of Science and Industry ( Black Creativity), Trolley Barn Gallery (Poughkeepsie, New York), and the New York Academy of Art (AXA Art Prize exhibition). Currently my work explores the escapist nature of cinematography and analyzes color psychology relationships through oil paintings. With such a love for the many art forms that exist, I've created ESCAPADE| Exhibitions that allow for me to explore merging them together. Through the visual, culinary, cinematic, sensory arts.
PLAN + PROCESS
During this time I will be preparing the paintings for the upcoming Casino Chaos exhibition, developing marketing, and coordinating the event. Once my campaign ends I will use the funds to directly pay the companies I will be collaborating with to make this event a success! That includes, videographers, photographers, performers. I also will be putting the down payment on the venue, decor materials, additional staffing, culinary delights, etc.
The Casino Chaos Experience is due to debut December 13, 2025 in Chicago with two sessions that day.
PRODUCT EXPECTATIONS
Tickets: People who support ticket wise will receive their ticket vouchers for the event November 2025.
Physical Product: Other physical items will be produced and ready for delievery by January 2026. This includes the story book, fragrance oil, giclee prints framed/ unframed, post cards, and playing cards.
Digital Product: Digital product will be sent out directly after the campaign ends. This includes the digital thank you's, Behind the scenes content, and the cocktail recipes. Name/ logo on video recap and artist led virtual tour video will be available January 2026.
International: International shipping will be sent via USPS First Class International with tracking information. As of now, the shipping speed could take up to 2-8 weeks for arrival. A clear and triple checked address is crucial to getting your rewards to you safely. Please contact me is you have any extra questions about shipping.
Thank you for your consideration and support of this project! I can't wait to produce "Casino Chaos" and many other ESCAPADE Exhibitions that can give more opportunities to creatives and provide unique experiences for the public to immerse themself in!
Why give?
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Empower Diverse Voices: By supporting an African American artist like Raven Smith, you contribute to diversifying the artistic landscape and help amplify underrepresented voices in the art world.
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Foster Artistic Growth: Donations help fund residencies and research opportunities, such as the DCDG Residency, allowing Raven to develop new skills, expand networks, and bring fresh perspectives to their art and community projects.
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Invest in Community Enrichment: Raven's art programming, creative events, and exhibitions like Casino Chaos enrich the community by offering unique, thought-provoking experiences that inspire and engage audiences of all backgrounds.
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Invest in Community Enrichment: Raven's art programming, creative events, and exhibitions like Casino Chaos enrich the community by offering unique, thought-provoking experiences that inspire and engage audiences of all backgrounds.
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Support Innovative Art: Fine Art by Raven pushes the boundaries of traditional art through immersive experiences that blend color psychology, emotion, and identity. Your donation fuels creativity and innovation in the arts.
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Supporting Fine Art by Raven means you're investing in a vision that transforms art into a powerful tool for connection, healing, and societal change.
Risks and challenges
My biggest risks and challenges that I face for this project is, the execution of the full body of artwork while simultaneously coordinating the event, and the funding of the project. I am a single employee company working to execute the creation of art, marketing strategies, installation design, and hosting of the event. I wear many hats and sometimes that can be overwhelming. Though it is primarily me creating this project, I plan on working from a throughout calendar that helps me meet the proper deadlines for the execution of this project and I plan on relying on the physical support I have around me like friends, family, and volunteers.
My past ESCAPADE | Exhibitions event was funded by my personal practice and the sales of tickets. Though it is a risk to take on a project like this with a $6,500 budget, I plan on continuously pushing to sell work, sell tickets, and ask for support on crowdfunding platforms like kickstarter to make my dream happen. I'm so grateful for the support I already have and even more thankful for the new supporters I may gain from this platform. Thank you for your consideration and thank you for your support of my dream!
Make an
impact today
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Art has the power to transport us—to inspire, to challenge, to connect. ESCAPADE | Exhibitions was created with a mission: to push beyond the typical art experience and craft immersive worlds where creativity knows no bounds.
Through curated events and exhibitions, ESCAPADE provides a platform for artists across all disciplines—visual arts, creative writing, music, theatre, dance, fashion, and culinary arts—giving them opportunities to showcase their work in ways that spark curiosity, conversation, and connection. We are building a space where audiences can step outside the routines of everyday life and into something extraordinary—a place where art isn't just seen but fully experienced.
As a small business, our vision is to continue creating these unique experiences while fostering job opportunities for artists and giving the community something fresh and inspiring to engage with. But to do this, we need your support.
Your donation will directly contribute to the continuation of our exhibitions, artist collaborations, and event productions—ensuring that ESCAPADE remains a haven for creativity and exploration. Whether large or small, your generosity fuels our ability to dream bigger, create more, and bring people together through unforgettable artistic experiences.
Join us in shaping the future of art. Donate today and be part of the ESCAPADE movement. Through ESCAPADE Exhibitions, I hope to create an experience filled with art, energy, and engaging moments that push the boundaries of creativity.
If you feel inspired to contribute in any way, your support would mean so much to me. Your generous contributions will not only help me fully embrace this residency but will also bring the Casino Chaos exhibition to life in a way that captivates and immerses everyone involved. By donating, you are playing a vital role in nurturing art that inspires and connects us all, leaving a lasting impact on our community and beyond.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such an essential part of this creative journey. Your support means the world to me!
With warmest gratitude,
Raven Smith
