>>> SUMMER IS HERE FOR NOW.

THIS WEEK KICKS OFF EXPO CHICAGO .

BEFORE NAVY PIER OFFICIALLY OPENS TO THE PUBLIC , ARTISTS ARE PULLING OUT THEIR FINEST PAINTBRUSHES FOR ART WEEK.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL JOINS US LIVE.

ANGEL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT!

ART WEEK IS UNDERWAY.

THE EXPO STARTS THIS THURSDAY.

IT FEATURES INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES AS WELL AS AN EXPOSURE SECTION.

A NEW INITIATIVE AT EXPO THIS YEAR IS TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

>> FOR YEARS OUR MODEL WAS MORE, MORE, MORE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION.

WITH PIECES FROM 36 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED, CHICAGO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ART REMAINS UNTURNED.

>> THAT IS REALLY WHERE IT STARTS.

THIS ALLOWS US TO CONNECT LOCAL AND INTERNATIONALLY REPRESENTED ARTISTS TO GALLERIES ACROSS THE CITY.

>> Reporter: INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST ERROL HARRIS WILL ALSO BE SHOWING AN EXHIBITION IN THE WEST LOOP.

>> I HAVE THIS CATHARTIC MOMENT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TURNED INTO THIS WINDOW THAT WAS KIND OF EXCAVATED.

IT HAS BEEN VERY MAGICAL.

IT IS GOOD TO KEEP THESE THINGS OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER NEW EXPANSION AT THE EXPO IS SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO NIGHTS.

>> I WANTED TO BUILD A STRUCTURE TO HELP THEM HAVE A PLATFORM.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

I SEE THIS IN A REAL WAY.

IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.

>> THEY WILL OFFER ADDITIONAL HOURS IN REGARDS TO SPECIAL PROGRAMMING.

>> THERE ARE NO LIMITS .

THEY ARE MORE WILLING TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION.

THEY SAY YOU CAN FLY, OR YOU CAN GET CRUSHED BY A BOULDER AND COME BACK UP.

IT IS ALL ABOUT STORYTELLING.

IT CAPTIVATES A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: WHETHER YOU ARE HEADING TO NAVY PIER, THE SOUTHSIDE OR ELSEWHERE, THE EXPO OVERARCHING GOAL IS GEARED TOWARD CONNECT -- >> IT ALLOWS THEM TO BE ELEVATED.

HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL CREATOR COME AND HELP TO CONNECT ALL THE CURATORS TO ARTISTS, IT REALLY BRINGS THEM TO A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM.

>> Reporter: SO SOUTHSIDE KNIGHTS KICKS OFF THIS EVENING AT THE HYDE PARK MUSEUM.

THIS TAKES PLACE ALL WEEK AND IS KICKING OFF HERE AT NAVY PIER.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANGEL.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, YOU WERE JUST TELLING US ABOUT -- >> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.

THE PUPPETEERS -- THIS WILL BE A GREAT EXHIBIT FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT.

ALSO, WE HAVE ART FROM A BEAUTIFUL PERSONAL COLLECTION.

YOU WANT TO GO AND CHECK THAT OUT.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE A PUBLIC ART OR MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES THAT WILL BE