Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Coconut Bill uploaded this photo of The Grocer's local street art. Maybe it's a pumpkin dressed as an orange for Halloween? Or maybe it's just an orange. Anyway, stay safe and have a Happy Halloween!
— Jamie Smith
Broadway in Chicago will announce today the world premiere of "The Addams Family," a new musical based on the original Addams Family cartoons. Check out the suitably creepy photo of Mr. Addams himself below for a taste of what's in store. It opens on November 13, 2009. For more information, check out Broadway in Chicago's website.
— David Schalliol
If you're a dedicated shower-singer, karaoke enthusiast, or recall fondly your star turn as "Tree #4" in your 3rd grade play, Victory Gardens is offering a chance to show the whole world your stellar talent. Grab your checkbook and and buy your way to stardom at Victory Gardens Theater's 27th Annual Casting Auction, Saturday, November 15th at 6 pm at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. This year, Mame is the classic musical up for bid, with more than 50 roles up for grabs to the highest bidder. After all, isn't buying your way to stardom the American Way? You won't even have to visit the Casting Couch. For more information or to purchase tickets visit Victory Gardens' website.
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Wesley Willis' Joyrides, new documentary on the legendary outsider artist and musician, is part of the Chicago International Film Festival; there's one more screening today (Monday) at 4pm at the AMC River East 21.
It's not the first documentary on Willis. In 1994, Jeff Kilpatrick produced a half-hour documentary, which he recently posted it on YouTube in three parts. Video after the jump.
— Andrew Huff / Comments (1)
John Pierson writes, directs and performs original work for The Neo-Futurists, a twenty-year-old theater company that's most well-known for its late-night show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, 30 Plays in 60 Minutes. Here he talks about taking risks, embracing flaws, prioritizing process over product, and recognizing the allure of live performance.
— Lindsay Muscato / Comments (1)
There's a cool video about the Busy Beaver Button Company on a Sun-Times blog this month. Busy Beaver makes custom buttons on demand and also places gumball-style button vending machines around town at places like Atomix Cafe and The Neo-Futurists theater. Their headquarters, tucked away in the basement of a Logan Square walk-up, is a button-lover's paradise, and the video gives a quick tour of all its indie glory.
— Lindsay Muscato
Harry S Truman, as depicted by former GB staffer Lauri Apple, reminds you to vote.
— Jamie Smith
One night in the winter of 2006, musician Matthew Golombisky had just finished playing a show with The Other Planets at Sylvie's Lounge. Golombisky is a composer and a jazz bassist, with dual clef tattoos spanning the length of both of his forearms. As he and his band mates, all natives of New Orleans transplanted to Chicago when Hurricane Katrina tore through their city, packed their equipment into their van, one of his musician friends was casually drinking a can of beer on the street outside of the lounge.
In New Orleans, the city of Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras beads, laws concerning open alcohol containers aren't quite as strict, but Chicago police don't take kindly to such activity. Accordingly, a police officer slapped Golombisky's unsuspecting band mate with a $250 ticket that landed all of the musicians in a financial pickle. Thanks to quick thinking and an offer from Sylvie's to play a fundraiser show on December 10th to recoup the fine, Golombisky's annual ears&eyes Festival was inadvertently born.
With two and a half weeks to plan and an ambitious mixed-media goal in mind, Golombisky slapped the festival of friends, musicians, and artists together. In the process, he cemented an artists' community that had rotated around the eyes&ears record collective. Musicians from all over the nation play in a lineup that increases each year; meanwhile, visual art is projected on the walls throughout the venue. In bringing together musicians who know one another and play together in varying arrangements, while also meshing aural art with visual art, the eyes&ears Festival's themes of convergence and connectivity set the tone for the festival -- not to mention the eyes&ears recording collective.
— Laura Mayer
A fter eight years, Stage Left Theatre's Artistic Director Kevin Heckman is now the Managing Director for Evanston's Next Theatre. Taking Heckman's place at Stage Left are "Interim Co-Artistic Directors" Drew Martin and David Alan Moore. Martin held the position for eight years prior to Heckman, who remains an active member of the Stage Left ensemble. At the same time, John Sanders, who served as Director of New Play Development, has moved on to focus on his own acting career, and Laura Blegen has been hired as the theatre's new full-time Managing Director in charge of all business operations. As Stage Left gears up for its 27th season with the Chicago premiere of After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo on October 14, Moore and "After Ashley" director Greg Werstler spoke with Joe Stead of the website Theatre in Chicago about the artistic shakeup, the challenges and rewards of collaboration, and the mission of producing new and exciting work in Chicago. For the full scoop and other Chicago theatre news, add Theatre in Chicago to your daily web jaunts.
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Trying to find a new way to get your derriere in gear this fall/winter? Or maybe you've always wondered how those ladies in the '20s got their legs to flip around like that. Shake things up with some shakin', shimmyin' dance classes at The Galaxie. Choose from tap, swing, "dance fitness," honky tonk two-step, "Girl Power" Charleston, and ... you'll never guess ... okay, I'll tell you ... GO-GO dancing!! I'm not kidding.
Many of these classes (including go-go) start next week, so check out the website and get yourself signed up. The Galaxie is at 2603 W. Barry. 773-267-6010
— Rachel Zanders
The wonderful vernacular photography blog Square America recently posted a couple new galleries: double exposures, reading people and "Everything You Already Knew About Sex (But Kind Of Wish You Didn't)." (That last bunch is NSFW, obviously.)
— Andrew Huff
Okay, that was a sorry attempt at a Frank Lloyd Wright architecture joke.
Like any professional organization, the American Institute of Architects can't help but get involved in the election issue business. To encourage more of its members to see an architect as an advocate for sustainable architecture, land use, and social policy, the AIA has initiated its DesignVote08 program. The "Government Advocacy" section of the AIA website links to a varied of different statements and positions including the AIA's 2008 Federal Advocacy Agenda where the headlined issues read, "Designing a sustainable future, Promoting healthy and safe communities, and Helping architects practice their profession."
Locally, questionnaires were sent out to Congressional candidates and their responses can be found here.
Sadly, few Illinois candidates took the time to respond which seems to correspond to the dearth of responses nationwide. Perhaps as the AIA grows into their role of public advocacy regarding all aspects of the building profession, politicians will begin to see architects and designers as a valuable ally.
— Carl Giometti
This news just crossed our desk:
Broadway In Chicago is encouraging all Chicagoans to vote and celebrate the election of the 44th President by offering theater patrons an opportunity to purchase any seat for $44 on Election Day, November 4, 2008, by using the code VOTE. The special ticket price applies to the international stage hits Dirty Dancing, Jersey Boys and Wicked. Theater goers will be able to hear election returns during intermission and at the close of the show. Performances for all shows on Tuesday, November 4th begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at Broadway In Chicago box offices (18 W. Monroe St., 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at 312-902-1400, and via Ticketmaster. More details here.
— Andrew Huff
The 2007-2008 Jeff Awards ceremony, held last night at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, honored the best of the best from the 07-08 theatre seasons. Awards were presented in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards acknowledged the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements. For a full list of nominees and winners, visit the Jeff Awards website.
— Julianna Mendelsohn
When I asked Joey D. about interviewing in Gaper's Block, he warned me that, though he'd try to answer my questions as best he could, he wasn't "so great with words." Silver-tongued or not, Joey's skills are undeniable as he incorporates everything from acrylics to stop signs in his eye-popping art. One of Chicago's most prolific 'urban' artists, Joey's work has been seen everywhere from State Street's You Are Beautiful mural to Juxtapoz magazine. His latest show, the group effort We Need Each Other, opened last week and runs through November. Joey was gracious enough to set his descriptive doubts aside and share with us his thoughts on process, labels, and his plans for Halloween.
— Jaime Calder
Lost At E Minor interviews photographer Dave Jordano about his recent work in Chicago's storefront African American churches.
— David Schalliol
This Obama portrait is available for just $10 from ex-GB staffer Lauri Apple.
— Andrew Huff
Earlier this week, Rachel told you about some of the amazing dance events taking place this month. Hopefully this photo will inspire you to partake. For more stunning dance photography, check out contributor lucy.na's flickr stream.
— Jamie Smith
In the last few days, a photograph by Amir Normandi that was located in the window of the Pilsen Together Chamber of Commerce became involved in a controversy that included threats of violence. It was consequently removed from the exhibit but ultimately reinstalled, albeit in a less visible location.
— David Schalliol
If there's such a thing as a "Dance Season" in Chicago, we're in the thick of it. So pull out your calendars and start planning the rest of your October around some of these incredible dance viewing opportunities. And this isn't even to mention (yet) the dozens of shows coming up in November!
— Rachel Zanders
With the green movement diversifying everyday, aesthetic definitions of what a green project looks like are changing everyday. The two projects below, while not as spectacularly designed as the bank-busting Chicago Spire, are extraordinary for the way in which they represent the growth of the green building movement. Both projects are seeking LEED Certification, yet the aesthetics employed by each architect differ greatly.
The first project, the Ecologic Lofts in Bucktown chooses the sleek, modern aesthetic that has accompanied other green projects such as Helmut Jahn's SRO project. Wind turbines and a glossy facade help complete motif. Contrast this with the Eco18 project under construction in the South Loop. Ornamented cornices and a base designed for street level shops sets this building firmly in classical genre. One green feature of note is that this building includes both geothermal to provide heated air and solar power for heating water.
As the green movement matures, vernacular development should continue to expand approaches to design.
(Left: The Ecologic Lofts, Right: Eco18)
— Carl Giometti
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) kicked off its 2008-2009 season with its Fall Series this past weekend. HSDC is providing Chicago four opportunities to see them at their home at the Harris Theater, so even if you missed the Fall Series, you have plenty more chances, and you really must see how these dancers move their bodies.
I imagine working with HSDC dancers must be a choreographer's dream. Refreshingly, there is no unifying body type in this company, no unifying personality; clearly, these dancers are permitted to be themselves. But there is an aesthetic of strength -- the kind of strength that allows for the appearance of physical abandon while maintaining complete control -- that runs through every dancer and every bit of choreography I've seen from Hubbard.
— Rachel Zanders
Victory Gardens Theatre's Family Saturday series aims to solve the age-old dilemma of finding a sitter for your kids so you can get out to see some theatre. The Family Saturday series kicks off Saturday, October 18 at 5 pm with Victory Gardens' season opener, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. VGT education professionals will keep children 4 and up entertained, while their parents watch the show and have some much needed grown-up time .
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Apple Tree Theatre's Eileen Boevers will be receiving a special Jeff Award in recognition of her dedication to fostering Apple Tree's educational outreach program. Boevers, who recently retired as Apple Tree's Executive Artistic Director, will be honored for her work at the Jeff Awards' ceremony at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on October 20th. For more information about the Jeff Awards or to purchase tickets to the ceremony, visit the Jeff Awards' website . Stay tuned to A/C for a full roundup of the Jeff Awards' the day after the ceremony.
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Brilliant fall colors and amazing textures. Thanks to Tiffany Gholar for uploading this photo of her work.
— Jamie Smith / Comments (1)
On October 15 at UIC's Gallery 400, art puts biology under the microscope. As part of a group exhibition called Biological Agents: Artistic Engagements in Our Growing Bioculture, three artists--Brandon Ballangée, Caitlin Berrigan, and Natalie Jeremijenko--take a closer look at what it means to be human, to be animal in an increasingly complex world.
Curated by Christa Donner and Andrew Yang, these works explore biological agency in a time of genetic modification and climate change. But the curators assure that the creative approaches to these issues aren't all serious. Rather than (according to a press release) "simply reinforcing the fear and fetishization of biology found in many popular conceptions of science," the works are playful and constructive.
Biological Agents opens October 14 and runs through November 22. An opening reception will be held on October 15 from 5-8 p.m.
Gallery 400 / College of Architecture and the Arts @ UIC 400 S. Peoria St.
— Laura Pearson
On October 10, an exhibition called You Rule Me: A Show of Power opens at Scott Projects, a new art space adjacent to Heaven Gallery in Wicker Park. Curated by Brieanne Hauger, this show features work that questions authority (or at least the concept of authority), namely: Who or what rules whom?
Artists speaking truth to power include: Kelly Allen, Lucas Blair, Scott Cowan, Melissa Damasauskas, Christa Donner, Rob Duarte, Grant Ernhart, Maggie Haas, Michael Hunter, Katy Keefe and Frank Van Duerm, Thomas Macker, Todd Mattei, Mollie McKinley, Tristan Perich and Kunal Gupta, Montgomery Perry Smith, Robert Snowden, Margaret Taylor, Andreas Warisz, Sarah Beth Woods, and Nicholas Wylie.
The opening for You Rule Me happens Friday, October 10 from 7-10 p.m. Hauger gives a gallery talk at 6 p.m. The show will close on October 30 with a reception (also from 7-10) featuring performances by Margaret Taylor and Doug Rosenberg.
You Rule Me / October 10-30
Heaven Gallery, 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave, 2nd Floor
— Laura Pearson
The Bridgeport art scene has been called many things--e.g., "fledging," "emerging," and "the community of the future." In 2006, the New York Times Travel section described the scene as "art where you least expect it." But regardless of how developers and residents and journalists depict it, the neighborhood is home to plenty of new and established art spaces worth checking out.
In celebration of Chicago Artists Month, Bridgeport is showcasing some of these venues as part of a free, self-guided art walk. On October 24-26, a variety of galleries and artist studios will be open to the public, including: Zhou B Art Center, 32nd & Urban, The Co-Prosperity Sphere, MN Gallery and Studio, East Bank Artist Lofts, 33 Collective Gallery, Mutherland Gallery, and Bridgeport Coffee House. These spaces will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day of the art walk, and on Friday, DeLaTorre Fine Arts will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
— Laura Pearson
The Chicago Actors' Studio, one of the Midwest's most prestigious actor training institutions, understands that starving artists don't always have the money in their budget to improve their craft. That's why the organization gave away dozens of classes last year and hopes to offer even more freebies for performing arts students this year.
On Sunday, November 16th, the CAS will hold a fundraiser to support those scholarship efforts. In addition to fundraiser staples of raffles and silent auctions, you'll have the opportunity to do some performing of your own on the karaoke stage. There will also be free beer for all attendees, starving or not.
Admission is $15 at the door, $12 in advance, and $10 for performers with headshots and resumes. All of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the scholarship program.
— Jamie Smith
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must begin this review with a troubling admission: I have never seen any of the Halloween movies. Not a one. That being said, I went into the performance of Scooty and JoJo's Carpenters Halloween hoping that my lack of knowledge of the films wouldn't hamper my enjoyment of the show. You see, Carpenters Halloween is the story of the original Halloween film, set to the music of The Carpenters. As in, Karen and Richard Carpenter. If that isn't enough to pique your curiosity, here's a few other facts about this show: there are puppets, men in drag, and the show takes place in Mary's Attic, the small space above Hamburger Mary's in Andersonville, on Clark. That means, that while you are watching a man in drag singing "Rainy Days and Mondays" to a puppet, while being leered at by a dude in a hockey mask, you can also have a drink, or two. And order off the appetizer menu. During the show. Need I go on?
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Sell the lemons at a discount!
Collaboraction, a Chicago theatre institution known best for their annual Sketchbook short play festival, has clearly been watching their CNN recently. In light of the current economic conditions, which can be best described as sucky, they are offering $50 "Bail Out" tickets to their upcoming annual fundraiser Beggar's Banquet on October 11th, which offers a good portion of the night's excitement for a more "budget friendly" price. After all, did any of you all get checks from that $700 Billion Dollar bailout? I sure didn't--and neither did any Chicago theatre companies.
One part fundraiser, and several parts gloriously debaucherous bacchanalia, this year's Beggar's Banquet at Park West features "The Greatest Rock Songs of All Times performed by Prairie Cartel and Scott Lucas of Local H, Over 40 interactive groupies and rock stylists treating you like the rock star you are! As well as an Open Bar and Trolley service to Rednofive for After party of debauchery!!!!!", according to their website. The $50 tix get you in the door at 9:00 for the booze and groupies, and into the afterparty as well. Hit up their website for tickets and more information.
— Julianna Mendelsohn
Johnny Szymanski, 28, calls Chicago home -- and it's a place where all his creative pursuits can simultaneously collide and live in harmony. He's a recording engineer, DVD editor/producer, musician and fringe theater performer who finds his way from one gig to the next, like a lot of Chicagoans searching for a life in the arts.
— David Schalliol
Mixed media on paper by local artist Andrew St. Lawrence.
— Jamie Smith
Chicago is home to so many modern dance companies that it can sometimes get overwhelming. Thank goodness for Chicago Moving Company's OTHER Dance Festival. CMC has both the artist and the audience in mind in providing a venue for local modern dancers, and a one-stop-shop for dance lovers to see 16 companies on one stage over three weekends. Forgive the late notice, but tonight and tomorrow are your last chance this year, so be sure to get on out there and take a look at some local artists. Who knows, maybe you'll find your favorite little Chicago company!
Thursday (10/2) and Friday (10/3), 7:30 p.m., $15 ($12 students/seniors), Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater, 3035 N. Hoyne. Click here for tickets or call BrownPaperTickets at 800.838.3006.
— Rachel Zanders
Looking for some fun Halloween-y theatre? The Incurable Theater is staging the world premier of In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea at Studio Theater Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph St., tonight through Oct. 25.
The play, inspired by F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film Nosferatu, was written by Jill Summers. Follow the struggles of Count Orlock as he travels by sea, stowed away on the Russian schooner "The Demeter." As he travels to a foreign land to begin life anew, his debilitating insomnia brings to life his insecurities and nightmares. The show combines puppetry, masks, live actors, shadowplay and projections to tell its darkly comic tale.
Tonight's preview performance is just $10. Friday and Saturday performances Oct. 3 through Oct. 25 are $15 (students and seniors are $10). All shows are at 7:30pm. Purchase tickets here.
— Andrew Huff
Rotofugi has one of the cooler things I've seen in awhile: Frank Kozik's "Ludwig Van" bust. They've got the fluorescent yellow version (only 50 of each colorway have been produced) for $200.
The store is in the midst of a warehouse clearance sale; stock up now.
— Andrew Huff
As part of GB's continuing coverage of the 100 year anniversary of Daniel Burnham's plan for Chicago, Metropolis 2020 has announced dates for several of the main events surrounding the year-long celebration.
Most notably, it was announced that the two new pavilions, one by Zaha Hadid and the other by Ben Van Berkel, will be unveiled in Millennium Park on June 19th, 2009.
— Carl Giometti
If you've ever wanted to run your own non-profit arts organization, check out the Q&A with Seth Boustead, co-founder of Accessible Contemporary Music, posted at Chicago Artists Resource. It briefly lays out the basics (planning, staffing, fundraising, promoting) and gives a glimpse of the red tape labyrinths, champagne-popping good times, growing pains and high-five-inducing successes that could be in your future.
— Lindsay Muscato
Architecture critic Paul Goldberger talks about Frank Gehry's life and work in a new book.
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A/C is the arts and culture section of Gapers Block, covering the many forms of expression on display in Chicago. More...
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