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A/C

Art Mon Nov 30 2009

Last Chance to Submit Proposals for Round One of Studio Chicago

Studio Chicago is a year-long Chicago art community project beginning in January, designed to build and strengthen networks between artists and arts organizations. The deadline for applying for the first round of Featured Programs (Jan - Mar 2010) is tomorrow, December 1.

Featured Programs pose new ways of thinking about the artist's studio, serve as forums for exchanging solutions, or reflect on the practical realities of working in the studio. All programs must address any or all of these questions:

  • How and why does the studio matter to art and artists today?
  • What is the artist's studio today?
  • What infrastructures are needed to sustain thriving art practice, and what role does the artist studio play within this infrastructure?

Visit Studio Chicago's website for more information about the guidelines for proposals.

Kelly Reaves

Feature Mon Nov 30 2009

Photo Essay: Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home

Local publishing house CityFiles Press's newest volume is Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home: Chicago's Forgotten Renaissance Man, by Richard Cahan and Michael Williams, with more than 400 beautifully reproduced photographs by Alexander Vertikoff.

The book is the first major monograph about Edgar Miller (1899-1993), who was internationally heralded for his organically modern reinterpretations of Victorian-era Chicago buildings beginning in the 1920s. In his transformations, Miller used painting, glasswork, woodwork and other fine art techniques to construct wholly new environments.

Continue reading this entry »

David Schalliol / Comments (3)

Review Sun Nov 29 2009

Review: The D-Cup Diatribes @ Gorilla Tango Theatre

The strongest character in Melody Swink's play, a series of monologues performed by Sara Tode, is Penny -- an 11 year old who relates the embarrassing tale of misplacing a set of falsies on a bench during gym class where they are mistaken by her coach to be ice packs; he then puts them in a freezer and uses them to soothe a headache.

Swink uses captivating black and white footage of women being fitted for and modeling bras as an introduction to her piece, accompanied by "The D-Cups Theme Song," written and performed by Swink; the audience is then introduced to the first of seven characters portrayed by Tode.

Continue reading this entry »

J.H. Palmer / Comments (1)

Stand-up Sat Nov 28 2009

Go On the Record With Cameron Esposito

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Cameron Esposito, whose flair for joke telling is bested only by her charm, is recording her first live comedy album, Grab Them Aghast, a title that she says illustrates her comedy style: a slow-burn punctuated by firecrackers.

A cornerstone of Chicago's comedy scene, Esposito was nominated for Best Female Comic at the 2008 Chicago Comedy Awards and was picked to appear at the 2009 Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival. She's also a sort of a Yoda for bourgeoning female comics as the brains behind The Feminine Comique, a five-week course to help ladies discover and develop their standup skills.

Her live album recording will be hosted by Adam Burke, an agreeable jester in his own right and Esposito's regular co-host each Wednesday at Cole's Open Mic. Also coming to the table is Dizzy Lizzy Delicious, a delightful young woman who jumps around on a pile of razor-sharp broken glass.

Check out the live recording of Grab Them Aghast, produced by Rooftop Comedy Records, at 9pm Thursday and Friday at the Lincoln Lodge, 4008 N. Lincoln. Tickets are $10 for each night. Call 773-251-1539 or click here for more.

Michelle Peterson

Television Fri Nov 27 2009

This Chicago Gal Will Be on Bravo TV

debra_coltune.jpg This week I met Debra (Deb) Coltune-Mendez, who is going to host the show "Dig In! America" on Bravo TV. She'll be talking to renowned chefs about their restaurants and neighborhoods, then they'll show where the food came from, and how people can cook a meal featured in the show in their own kitchens.

When I first met Debra, I thought I'd seen her before, and she said that people think she looks like Eva Longoria. But Debra has none of the Beverly Hills attitude. She's really easy to talk to and has had an interesting life, including working in TV in Las Vegas and Florida.

The director is another Chicagoan, Marc Shaykin, who's worked all over the city for every TV station, and also teaches at the City Colleges of Chicago. And Anzour Jallouqa, a tech guy in Chicago, is also helping out with production.

I'll post more details about the show when it premieres, but I just wanted to give folks a heads-up.

Margaret Larkin

Theatre Wed Nov 25 2009

Review: South Pacific @ Rosemont Theatre

Last night's opening of South Pacific at the Rosemont Theatre was a tribute to American nostalgia; the costuming and set design were as striking as Carmen Cusak and David Pittsinger's portrayals of Ensign Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque. If you like vintage clothes and choreographed musicals, this one's for you.

The last time I saw South Pacific onstage was at my sister's 1985 high school production, where I sat at rapt attention as the story of an army nurse from Little Rock and a mysterious Frenchman who met on an exotic island during Word War II unfolded before me, and has stayed with me ever since. The 1949 musical deals with race relations in a remarkably frank manner, as detailed in the song "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught," with lyrics like:

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

Continue reading this entry »

J.H. Palmer

Column Wed Nov 25 2009

The Road, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ninja Assassin, Red Cliff, Old Dogs and La Bell Personne

The Road

What is it with all of these end-of-days movies? A couple weeks ago, it was 2012, and early into next year, we have Legion (which I guess technically counts as pre-apocalypse) with Paul Bettany, and The Book of Eli, starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. And while 2012 is about hope and action in the face of near-certain death, author Cormac (No Country for Old Men) McCarthy's The Road is about something much more serious and believable — the final existence of life on Earth. Existing in a world set afire by unnamed forces (the biblical undercurrent runs very close to the surface here), this story is about the lengths people would go to when they are starving, when all the planet's animals are dead, water is poison, and the only meat available to them is that of other human beings. The Road is certainly the grimmest movie of 2009, but there's an elegance and dignity to this telling of the novel (directed by The Proposition helmer John Hillcoat and adapted by Joe Penhall) that also makes it a work of great beauty in its own grey and haunting manner.

Continue reading this entry »

Steve Prokopy / Comments (2)

Television Tue Nov 24 2009

Like a Tacky Wrigleyville Bar

I guess I'm the only person who doesn't like "My Boys" because it's going on its fourth year, which means it has lots of viewers. This is not to diss the actors--they seem talented, but the show is not funny and reminds me of the shallow interactions you see in tacky Wrigleyville bars, which is probably what this show is based on. I could barely get through one episode, and I don't want to give it another shot.

The only thing I find entertaining about the show is [are] all the Chicago references and seeing if they got the details right, such as our glee about balmy days within harsh winters. But I have to disagree with the TBS slogan ("very funny"): not very funny. Not funny at all.

Margaret Larkin / Comments (3)

Media Tue Nov 24 2009

Steve Harvey's Holiday Tour

steveharvey.jpgComedian Steve Harvey is good at making people laugh, but he's also good at something else: giving back.

On Monday, the radio host, actor and best-selling author came to Chicago to spread some holiday cheer. "Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart," said Harvey. For the Thanksgiving holiday, Harvey and his wife, Marjorie, handed out turkeys and turkey sausage to families on Chicago's West Side and in south suburban Markham.

Continue reading this entry »

LaShawn Williams / Comments (12)

Art Mon Nov 23 2009

AREA Chicago Won a MacArthur Grant

2757607464_474d795324.jpgI want to make sure that everyone knows how awesome AREA Chicago is. AREA is a local art/research/education/activism organization that is manifested in both a biannual magazine and a series of sponsored events. For the past four years, since AREA was created in 2005, they have focused on producing and strengthening networks among grassroots practitioners and given a voice to underrepresented Chicagoans and Chicago issues.

I got an email from them on Friday, letting me know that they've just received a $6,000 MacArthur grant for being so awesome. Check out their website, read some articles, go to some meetings if you want, and bathe in the awesomeness yourself. In such a segregated city, it is important that we reach out and stay connected with fellow Chicagoans so we know what's going on around us and so we can network with and support each other.

Kelly Reaves / Comments (1)

Art Mon Nov 23 2009

Italics Gets Us Cultured at the MCA

A little over a week ago I went to the press opening for the new Italics: Italian Art Between Tradition and Revolution show at the MCA. The guest curator, Francesco Bonami, who is also a curator of the 2010 Whitney Biennial, led a tour through the show, displaying an almost maternal pride. Italics presents the work of over 80 Italian artists who were active during the past four decades. The work is varied, some the art on display pays homage to Italian tradition while other work breaks entirely away from it. To someone who is not familiar with Italian identity politics, the show can be enjoyed simply as a display of contemporary art that most of us have never seen before, by artists who many of us have never heard of before.


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Cattelan's All


Continue reading this entry »

Kelly Reaves

Theatre Sun Nov 22 2009

The Mystery of Irma Vep, the Funniest Horror on Stage

IrmaVep.jpgA quite ambitious play has taken residence at the University of Chicago's Court Theatre. Loaded with traitorous cover-ups, secret identities and murder, The Mystery of Irma Vep takes the audience into a whirlwind of calamity -- while introducing them to one of the funniest plays in American theater.

Director, Sean Graney (founder of The Hypocrites) fruitfully takes on the eccentric playwright and actor Charles Ludlam's satirical cult classic, originally performed in 1984's Greenwich Village. The campy spoof of the Victorian era gothic novel is a commentary of sorts, parodying literary references from William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Emily Bronte, Edgar Allan Poe, Euripides and the Bible, to name a few (without being too literarily obscure, but more Monty Pythonesque).

Continue reading this entry »

John Lendman

Performance Sat Nov 21 2009

Fat Bitch!

Erica Watson.jpg

Overweight people face many challenges; however, for overweight women, especially African-American women, the challenges tend to not only be greater, but also come with historical baggage.

Chicago native Erica Watson knows this all too well; a self-proclaimed "big, bold and beautiful" woman, this funny and fearless comedian and actress boldly tackles this issue in her hilarious one-woman show, Fat Bitch!

Acknowledging that "life is hard for fat girls with pretty faces," Watson doesn't deny her awareness about what people think or how they react when they see women who are overweight. She even shares various "insults disguised as compliments" that have been thrown her way; e.g., "You have such a pretty face" or "Can you cook?", which typically implies that people somehow feel obligated to say something nice to fat women. Watson is simply too confident to let this affect her and doesn't allow any limits to be placed on her because of her size.

Continue reading this entry »

LaShawn Williams / Comments (7)

Television Fri Nov 20 2009

Oprah Ending Her Show: Bad for Chicago

I said before that if Oprah leaves Chicago, it won't be good for us. Well, now that she's announced the end of her CBS-syndicated show, my opinion remains unchanged. Since Discovery Communications, the company that's going to partner with her for her OWN cable network, isn't located in Chicago (except for a sales office), that means that a lot of resources and opportunities are going to disappear from our fair city.

Let's hope that another innovative, successful person in Chicago steps up to the plate to keep our city prosperous and dynamic.

Margaret Larkin / Comments (4)

Performance Fri Nov 20 2009

World Premiere: The Knock Knock Hot Spot

Saturday night, director and performer Mae Phillips gathers her friends in the burlesque community for a night billed as "bizarre, theatrical, empowering burlesque". The event is queer-friendly, involves a wide variety of bodies and definitions of "sexy", and lots of crystal-covered tease. Plus it offers a few departures from the genre. Phillips has been around the burlesque block long enough to know what she wants in a good show, so there's no emcee, and instead between acts the stage will pop with snippets of vaudevillian performance or informative sex talk from the likes of Early 2 Bed.

Details in Slowdown.

Lindsay Muscato

Film Fri Nov 20 2009

Review: Eye of the Sandman, Split Pillow Productions

Local production house Split Pillow is releasing their latest, a locally-produced horror flick that tries to pay homage to the types of psychological/metaphysical thrillers that gave birth to the best of the horror genre. Complete with creaky mansion! Eye of the Sandman felt a bit like Gaslight + Frankenstein's monster + a Misfits song / Tongue-In-Cheek References to Convention. The premiere tonight at the Gene Siskel Film Center is sold out, but a third show was added for Saturday at 8pm.

It's difficult to write reviews of movies like Eye of the Sandman. Done on a low budget with local actors, obviously the job is not to judge it against the types of movies that Steve at the Movies over there in your right-hand column tackles. Yet having been subjected to the vanity projects of any number of aspiring musicians/filmmakers/artists, I don't have much patience for something that doesn't grab and hold my attention, and provide entertainment value worth the time I'm sacrificing. So before I popped the press screener of Eye of the Sandman into the DVD player, I decided my rubric would be: if I was standing outside the theater where the movie was playing, and the people in line asked me if they should be forking over cash or time to see the movie, what would I say?

Here's what I would say: It'll actually entertain you, one way or another. And it looks good.

Continue reading this entry »

Ramsin Canon / Comments (1)

Column Fri Nov 20 2009

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, The Messenger, The Blind Side, Planet 51 and La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The first time we see vampire Edward Cullen (still pale with ruby red lips, and hair slightly less crazy than in Twilight), he's walking through a high school parking lot in slow motion, looking like he just stepped out of a goth band's music video. For about 90 percent of New Moon, Jacob Black (a beefed up Taylor Lautner) is walking around shirtless, wearing only tattered sweatpants, looking like he just stepped off a gay porn set. Never having read any of Stephenie Meyer's novels about the tortured romance between Edward (Robert Pettinson) and human heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), I may be a little late to this revelation, but seeing Edward and Jacob at their best and worst in New Moon made me realize that this is a film about the classic female dilemma — does she allow herself to fall for the more stable but still temperamental, hunky jock (he's also good with machines), or does she stray to the dark gothy side of life, possibly even becoming a vampire herself (which she seems more than willing to do)?

Continue reading this entry »

Steve Prokopy / Comments (4)

Art Thu Nov 19 2009

SAIC 21st Annual Holiday Art Sale

holiday_artsale_09.jpgIt's that time of year again: when holiday lists, coupons and gift ideas jotted down on post-its fill your desk. But sometimes, shopping at department stores just doesn't cut it for your more eclectic, arty friends. So, for those unconventional one-of-a-kind gifts, you may want to hit up the School of the Art Institute this weekend.

Photographs, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, drawings, jewelry, fashion accessories and handmade paper designs crafted by students from one of the most influential independent art schools in the country will be sold on Friday Nov. 20 (11am- 7pm) and Saturday Nov. 21 (10am - 5pm) at the MacLean Center Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave.

Who knows, you could be investing in a piece by the next Walt Disney, Grant Wood, Edward Gorey or Jeff Koons. Visitors will also have the opportunity to chat with some of the art students before taking home a piece of their work.

The school's 21st Annual Holiday Art Sale is also a chance for the starving art students to luck out as well: 85 percent of the individual art sales' proceeds go directly to the artist -so think of it as a gift that keeps on giving.

For more information on the event contact SAIC Campus Life at (312) 629-6880 or student_life@saic.edu.

John Lendman / Comments (1)

Art Thu Nov 19 2009

Tipping Observation

5.jpgIf you are reading this I can assume you go to art shows often enough to warrant reading an arts blog. Whether that is true or not, I am sure Tipping Observation at the Mars Gallery would be one of the most shiny show you would come across in, and for, quite some time.

6syn.jpgSyndy Ziegenfuss' work consists of painting, collage, I am sure some printmaking as well as other sorts of mark making. What seems to separate Syndy's work from other collage/mixed medium works is partly their size, all of these works are 50" X 50". In their presence you are almost enveloped, an illustration that was once only 3 inches now looms, life size, in front of you, kind of both creepy and kitschy.

Now on to the shiny part. These large collages are covered by a thick blanket of resin, poured by Syndy's wife, it is like the tables at Lazo's on Western. This resin covers everything, and at first being in front of these works is fun and playful. That doesn't last however mainly because of the standard quality of each piece.

0.jpgWe often find ourselves in front of paintings or prints or even collages and the surface quality changes. Maybe not within the same piece but between works there are usually some changes in the surface, but not in this case. There are numerous studies about how when you eat something, with a distinct texture, your mouth gets tired and bored quickly. I would use that same analogy about my eyes in an art show that utilizes the same exact surface quality throughout. Individually, or part of a group show these works would stand out because of their approachability and surface, unfortunately those qualities do not stand up in this case.

MartinJon

Literary Wed Nov 18 2009

Jonathan Safran Foer at Harold Washington Library

"Jonathan Safran Foer's book Eating Animals changed me from a twenty-year vegetarian to a vegan activist," Natalie Portman wrote for the Huffington Post. Tonight Foer spoke about his new book, Eating Animals, at Harold Washington Library in the packed Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.

Famous for his novels Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, this is Foer's first venture into non-fiction. Wavering back and forth as a vegetarian since he was nine, Foer felt with the birth of his son a sense of urgency about decisions: his own and the one's he would make for his son.

He read a short excerpt from his book about his grandma and used the bulk of the time to facilitate audience questions and discussion. He answered every question thoughtfully and respectfully making sure the audience understood he wasn't there to persuade anyone.

His strongest and most enlightening thought was the idea of a vegetarian spectrum. Foer dismissed the notion that one is either a vegetarian or they're not. He told a story many people are familiar with in which someone says they are vegetarian for so many years. Then one day they ate meat and that was the end of it. This binary ideal is detrimental because people feel they either need to do be a vegan activist or be completely careless. He counteracted with the point that if everyone replaced just one meal a week with a vegetarian one, it would be like taking 5 million cars off the road.

Listen for the talk on Chicago Amplified on Chicago Public Radio.

Whitney Stoepel / Comments (1)

Craft Wed Nov 18 2009

Not Your Grandma's Stitching: Embroidery at Renegade

mandy mcgee moxiedoll etsy.jpg
Embroidery, once a craft embraced by grandmothers and the perpetually pregnant, is getting a contemporary facelift this Saturday thanks to the ladies at Renegade Handmade, 1924 W. Division.

Embroidery empress Jenny Hart will host a workshop and sign copies of her latest how-to book, Embroidered Effects: Projects and Patterns to Inspire Your Stitching, on November 21st from 4:30 to 8pm. The event kicks off the third in Renegade's Spotlight Series, the In Stitches Showcase, which features the handiwork of 15 fabric artists adept at stitching slightly sardonic designs into overly precious mediums. (Ironic sayings prettily sewn into lacy pillows, anyone?)

The first 15 buyers of Hart's new book will get a sit-down course on how to amp-up their stitchery. Everyone else is privy to a book signing and reception with purchasable work from all artists in the exhibition. And free wine and beer.

Pictured artwork available from Chicago-based crafter Mandy McGee, via Etsy.com
.

Katherine Raz / Comments (1)

Film Wed Nov 18 2009

Cinema 16 Comes to Chicago

Cinema 16, a touring film program that brings the feeling of silent 20s film viewing to the modern age, is making their final stop here in Chicago November 25th at the Chopin Theatre. Cinema 16 picks three short films and finds one local act to make an original score to accompany the films, letting audience have an old movie house experience complete with cocktails. Chandelier will provide a live score to the three films with DJ Hunter Husar playing between screenings. Each film brings something different to the mix from the strange story-writing of William S. Burroughs in Junky's Xmas (1993), the dance-driven Oramunde (1933), or the first and final film by Wallace Berman Aleph (1966).

The event is sponsored by Drambuie, who will be providing free cocktails throughout the night. Because of the free drinks provided this event is 21+. The screening starts at 7:30 pm and admission is free with RSVP.

Amy Dittmeier / Comments (2)

Improv Tue Nov 17 2009

The Hot Karl's Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis

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World War II is going poorly for Hitler and the Nazi party. So the Fueher decides the best way to turn the tide in the war is to kidnap Santa Claus and take control of Christmas and all of Santa's magical secrets. The only thing standing in the way of their evil plot is a misunderstood elf, a misfit toy and a couple of hit men reindeer. Will that be enough to save Christmas? Find out when The Hot Karl presents, "Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis: The Musical."

"People expect us to do a dirty funny show, so that's nothing new. But thanks to musical director Steph McCullough and a cast of thousands -- actually a nine-person chorus -- it's a real holiday musical with real songs," said Hot Karl member Zach Thompson. "You should really come see it." It's only going up five times, every Saturday from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19. Shows start at 11:59pm at Comedy Sportz, 929 West Belmont. Tickets are $10, and you can get 'em here or call 312-559-1212.

Michelle Peterson

Performance Tue Nov 17 2009

G.I.F.T. Falls Short of its Big Idea

I really wanted to like Collaboraction's latest performance G.I.F.T.

It's such a cool idea: examine and evaluate "gift," from the action of giving, the circumstances in which we give, the feelings and motivations behind gift-giving and the impact a gift makes on the gift receiver.

G.I.F.T. brings audiences through a four-part interactive performance where you are the ensemble's client and the actors - "giftistas" - compile and evaluate your dreams, memories and hopes. The presentation of that analysis unravels into the many scenarios and outcomes (wanted and unwanted) of gift-giving.

See? It sounds cool. But I couldn't get behind it.

The audience involvement was at times awkward with these other-worldy giftistas. The actors certainly played each mini-scene well, portraying the emotions and the baggage that goes along with gifts. But the underlying dynamic of one young giftista being "ready" was lost on me. Whether it was because the beings were so other-wordly or because we never got a chance to empathize with them, I didn't find myself caring one way or another what happened to these giftistas or what I was supposed to get from them. The performance didn't bring me in and that is disappointing because, like I said, it is such a good idea.

Dress warmly. Much of the performance is outside, and the space inside is chilly.

G.I.F.T. runs through Nov. 29 on Fridays and Saturdays at Collaboraction's performance space at 1850 W. Hubbard. Tikets are $15-$25. Visit www.collaboraction.org or call 312-226-9633

Margo O'Hara

Dance Mon Nov 16 2009

Step Afrika

STEP AFRIKA.JPG

Stepping is an art form that has long been a tradition of African-American fraternities and sororities on college campuses across the country. Brian Williams, founder and executive director of Step Afrika explains the history of stepping and its ties to Africa, as well as its impact on today's dance culture.

Step Afrika is the world's first professional dance company dedicated to stepping, how did the company get started?
We are celebrating our 15th year performing and teaching stepping all over the world. The company was founded in December 1994 as a way of connecting art form and culture. We also conduct outreach to children in the community.

The company is based in Washington, DC -- is there any significance to that?
I attended Howard University and am a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The university can be considered as the cradle of black Greek organizations especially since many of them were founded there. It is simply a place that holds a special spot in terms of black Greek life, so Step Afrika is based there.

Continue reading this entry »

LaShawn Williams / Comments (3)

Television Mon Nov 16 2009

Having Kurtis and Jacobson Anchor Channel 2 News was Weird

I am old enough to remember when Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis hosted, I mean read, the news on Channel 2. The newsroom was behind them and had a realistic, gritty, serious feel to it. But we're in the 21st century now--news has changed. So it was weird to see them together on Friday (you can see the video here). And I wonder if younger viewers were puzzled about what all the hype was about, and if they cared. What demographic did they think they were appealing to?

Continue reading this entry »

Margaret Larkin / Comments (2)

Stand-up Mon Nov 16 2009

Wool-y Bully

UK-by-way-of-Vancouver comedian Glenn Wool will be coming to the Lakeshore Theater November 20th and 21st. A popular name among the up and coming English comedy circuit, Wool is doing a rare US tour after a string of overseas engagements, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow.

Wool will be playing the Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway) on Nov 20 & 21, showtimes 7:30 & 10:30 each night. Tickets are $15 and available online or at the door.

Here is a clip of Wool, musing on the ineffectiveness of swearing.

Dyan Flores

Theatre Mon Nov 16 2009

It's (Not) Better to Disappear Than to Fade Away

Doctor-Charlie.jpgFin Kennedy came up with the idea for How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found after stumbling across the UK missing persons website, which features a gallery of faces with brief descriptions of what they were last seen doing. Curious, he contacted the people behind the site, and they told him that most of these cases are not the products of abductions or murders. Instead, most of these people wanted to disappear. They wanted to start over. When he asked what sorts of people do this, they told him that a lot of them are young professionals--usually men in their late twenties, early thirties, with good jobs. Sure, maybe a little depressed, but they seemed to live relatively charmed lives. Kennedy based the protagonist of his play on this model. Charlie, (played by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia,) is an average man with short brown hair who wears a suit to work at an ad agency.

Continue reading this entry »

Kelly Reaves

Art Mon Nov 16 2009

Opportunity for the Arts

The directors of Home Gallery, in Hyde Park, have an exciting and interesting pilot event coming up called the Op Shop. The name refers to Opportunity Shop, and the idea here is to open a temporary space where artists can bring their work, as well as services and ideas, in order to barter, sell and openly exchange. I don't want to give the impression that this is a just retail space, although that is one aspect of what will happen within this space. Artists are being encouraged to be a part of this event organically, utilizing the space to create a dynamic and evolving installation. All mediums are welcome, so artists may host a workshop, lessons, or performances as well as sell paintings or sculptures.

Another aspect of this pilot project, which, if all goes well there will be more of, is to work in conjunction with property owners, bringing attention to their vacant spaces while helping to keep the Op Shop's costs down. This will also attract new consumers to an area and will aid in revitalizing neighborhood shops that may have seen a drop in sales over the past few months. This Op Shop will be located in a vacant space currently owned by Mac Properties in Hyde Park at 1613 E. 55th St.

If you are interested in participating in The Op Shop, you should contact the Laura Shaeffer immediately. They are also looking for people to donate time to help run the space during its open hours.

laura.shaeffer@gmail.com
www.thelarch.org

The planned timed and days for this event are as follows

Dates: 11/27 Fri - 12/31 Thu
Visitor hours: 11am-7pm, Thu-Sun,
Evenings, coinciding with events.

Opening reception: 11/27 Fri, from 6-10 p.m.
Silent Auction: 12/5 Sat from 6-10 p.m
Closing party: 12/31 Thu from 6-10 p.m.

MartinJon / Comments (2)

Dance Sun Nov 15 2009

Chicago Human Rhythm Project

In the American cultural landscape, tap dancing has fought hard to be regarded the same as other dance forms. Lane Alexander, founder and director of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), explains tap's global impact, and why it is finally being recognized as an equally integral part of American dance culture.

Why was CHRP founded?
I went to a tap dance festival in Portland, Oregon, but before that, I was in a tap repertory company. At this festival, there was a different kind of tap dance, taught by the masters like Charles "Honi" Cole and Eddie Brown. What they were doing was what I know now is "rhythm tap," which is more African-based. It had lots of syncopation and rhythmic complexity, as opposed to the more European tradition, (e.g., Rockettes) which was more about presentation rather than rhythmic complexity. I fell in love with these masters and this art form and said, "Why doesn't Chicago have something like this?" Now I was aware of both the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre and Mayfair Academy on the south side, but I realized that most of the tap dancers in Chicago didn't know each other. For reasons like this, the Chicago Human Rhythm Project was founded to bring people together, using tap to create relationships.

Continue reading this entry »

LaShawn Williams

Television Fri Nov 13 2009

Dirty Jobs Came to West Chicago

In case you missed it, you can see a bit of this week's episode of "Dirty Jobs" when they were in West Chicago at the Sims Recycling Solutions facility. What's sort of annoying is that the Discover Channel doesn't let folks embed their videos elsewhere, which is why I've only provided the link.

Margaret Larkin / Comments (1)

Theatre Fri Nov 13 2009

Hopera: A Fallen Hero

When I first witnessed the union of hip-hop and opera years ago through violinist Miri Ben Ari, I remember being amazed at how beautifully the two genres of music blended together. In Hopera: A Fallen Hero, the magic of hip-hop and opera exists to tell the tale of the challenges faced by many inner-city youth.

HOPERA PIC.jpg

Hopera (hip hop and opera) is set in Chicago and centers around many of the struggles young inner-city families deal with on a regular basis. The story chiefly follows Obadiah (Donald Manuel) and the relationship he has with his single mother, Erica (Amanda Renee Davis). Theirs is a story that confronts the issues a single woman contends with trying to raise a teenage son. She frequently discourages and insults him ("You're lazy just like your daddy" and "You need to get a job to help out around here") but on the other hand laments, through a beautiful operatic number (that could only be heard intermittently due to the awesome live band playing a bit too loudly), "I can't raise him and teach him to be a man."

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LaShawn Williams / Comments (2)

Neighborhood Fri Nov 13 2009

DuSable's Dollar Days

DUSABLEThe DuSable Museum of African-American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., is commemorating its 48th anniversary; to celebrate, admission for everyone this weekend is only $1.

For your dollar, you can visit the Chicago Blues Museum exhibit, "The Soul of Bronzeville," participate in a treasure hunt (one for adults, one for children), renew membership (or join museum) to qualify for a chance to win roundtrip airline tickets, and meet Chicago media personalities.

Not bad for a buck, eh?

The special admission price is for Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 only. Museum hours: Saturdays, 10am-5pm; Sundays, 12pm-5pm. Call 773.947.0600 for more information.

LaShawn Williams

Column Fri Nov 13 2009

2012, Pirate Radio, Gentlemen Broncos, Skin, Ong Bak 2 and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

2012

Be honest. When you first saw the trailer for or clips from 2012, you got a little sexually excited, didn't you? It's OK, I won't tell anyone. At Comic-Con in July, when director and co-writer Roland Emmerich showed an extended clip of California essentially dying from the earthquake to end all earthquakes (literally), I voided my bowls, ran to the men's room, changed my adult Huggies, and voided them a second time. And as much as Emmerich has made some colossal missteps over the years (Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow and the worst of all, 10,000 B.C.), the man also knows how to make some interesting if not entirely engaging works, such as Universal Soldier, Stargate, Independence Day and The Patriot. The guy also knows how to blow stuff up on a spectacular scale; what he has failed to do time and time again is draw even somewhat believable characters that seem like anything more than gameboard pieces to be moved around, screaming, running, looking terrified, and occasionally die.

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Steve Prokopy / Comments (1)

Comics Thu Nov 12 2009

God's Pottery Advises, 'Get Stupid Drunk On Christ'

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Chicago's sinner concentration isn't any higher than say, San Francisco's, but God's Pottery will do their best to -- satirically -- save some souls when they hit The Lakeshore Theater on Thursday.

"It would be nice if we could say honestly that all the heathens were located in one place, but unfortunately, there are desperate souls spread out across the land," said Gideon Lamb, half of the screwball duo that spreads their God-fearing message through music and motivational spoofs.

"The truth is, there are people sprinkled all over this country who need our help and that's why we're on the road," said duo's other Christian caricature, Jeremiah Smallchild. "Really, our work is never done."

The real truth is that God's Pottery is promoting their new book, What Would God's Pottery Do? released on the heels of their attention-grabbing run on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." They've also been busy making "Christ'd" episodes, sort of like "Punk'd" but with good-natured pranks, and hitting audiences over the head with their twisted theology.

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Michelle Peterson

Art Thu Nov 12 2009

Ork Posters to Open Mini Shop for Holidays

OrkPoster.jpgMaker of those now-iconic neighborhood typographic prints, Ork Posters will be opening an exclusive holiday shop which will feature their own typographic t-shirts, prints, postcards and posters as well as artwork from other various artists.

Ork World Headquarters is hosting a grand opening for their shop on Nov. 14, set to run through Dec. 23, in West Lakeview, 3759 N. Ravenswood Ave, Suite 133.

What started out as Chicago-import Jenny Beorkrem's search for a neighborhood poster with clean typographical design in 2007, has led to a print design sensation sold in a growing number of framing and print shops, such as Lakeview's Foursided, 2939 N. Broadway St., among other locations. Today, there are more than a dozen different designs featuring many cities or locations (Boston, Brooklyn, the Great Lakes, and even a map of the human heart and brain).

Artists being featured include Yellena James, Andy Pratt (who creates colorful watercolor prints of city skylines from Manhattan to Hong Kong), Frank Chimero, local printer/designer Starshaped Press (who can be commissioned to create stationary, invites or custom illustrations), The Little Friends of Printmaking, and many other spectacular prints begging to be hung in your apartment.

John Lendman / Comments (1)

Art Thu Nov 12 2009

Kevin Sonmor at Addington Gallery

highstreet.jpgRoadworthy, paintings by Kevin Sonmor, opened on Friday Nov 6th at Addington Gallery, luckily for everyone who didn't get to the opening night it will be up through Christmas. Kevin's work is a delight to behold, and I mean that. These paintings are breathtaking, Kevin is hinting at landscape while utilizing abstract expressionistic movements to create meditative spaces. His use of space allows the viewer to search the painting and study his technique.

His ability to render is obvious, but his exploration of the paint is what is incredible. Thick passages of rich red paint, cover the majority of the paintings. So much so that it may be surprising that the show demonstrates an overall feeling of calm. Kevin has been painting, and has been recognized for doing so, for a long time now, this show proves why and really should not be missed.

MartinJon

Architecture Thu Nov 12 2009

The U of C's Logan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts

Logan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, University of Chicago

The U of C has publicly announced Tod Williams and Billie Tsien's design for the 170,000 square-foot Logan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. The building will be the new home for most of the U of C's arts activities when it opens in 2012.

David Schalliol / Comments (1)

Art Wed Nov 11 2009

Art is Everywhere All the Time (Today)

dubi-something-new-229x250.jpgI'll be honest with you. I don't exactly know what the hell is going on. I just found out about this. It sounds pretty darn awesome, though. Apparently what is happening, right now, is a 24-hour decentralized art show all over our wonderful city, ending at midnight tonight.

The show is called "Something New." It was organized and curated by Nikola Tosic (an internet artist and poet based in Serbia) and Sarah Weis (multi-media artist, performer and creative director of i^3 hypermedia.) Check out this webpage to find out exactly what artwork is being shown today and where. The idea is basically to turn the whole city of Chicago into an art viewing space for one day, a sort of choose-your-own-adventure concept, relying heavily on the participation of the audience.

Continue reading this entry »

Kelly Reaves

Television Wed Nov 11 2009

I Met Gene Honda

I was at a Blackhawks game on Monday (they won, btw) and I met Gene Honda, who's the public address announcer for them and other teams in town. I think he does voice work for Me-TV, and I've seen him on WTTW during pledge drives, but what's weird is that he's not listed at their site, and he doesn't have his own site either. So I'm not clear what he exactly does at Channel 11, but he has a great voice.

He seemed friendly, though I probably annoyed him because I asked him for advice about some stuff, and he gave me some obtuse answers. He probably thought, "Great, another wannabe asking me about the dwindling competitive voice business," so perhaps he didn't want to be specific because there was no point. I did get a chance to ask him if he speaks Japanese, because I lived there and can speak it ok, but he said "no." After he disappeared into the announcer's booth, I thought I would never see him again, but I later ran past him in a hall downstairs. So I said it was nice to meet him and he smiled, and I haven't emailed him yet to follow up (he doesn't know I write for this site and I seriously wonder if he's glad to be rid of me).

If you like him, you can join the "Gene Honda is awesome" Facebook page, and post something on the wall there.

And before I go back into my blogging booth, I'd like to offer him some specific advice: get a website and post your audio and bio so that we can know more about you.

Margaret Larkin

Feature Wed Nov 11 2009

Making Stencils

Making your own stencils for artwork and decoration is a relatively easy thing to do -- it just takes a bit of time and patience. A stencil is a form of template used to draw or paint identical shapes and patterns and is usually made of a thin sheet of material such as wax-coated paper, cardboard, vinyl or mylar. What is perhaps most important about the material is it does not allow moisture to pass through.

There are several ways to make stencils, as well as different uses for each. Here, I'll cover how to make my favorite one-time-use and reusable stencils.

Continue reading this entry »

Christian Scheuer

Literary Tue Nov 10 2009

Chicago's New Literary Community

Wednesday, November 11 at 4:30 in the Sullivan Galleries (7th floor, 33 S. State St.), F Newsmagazine and the Art Institutes's MFA Writing Department are hosting a roundtable discussion about Chicago's burgeoning new literary community. Featuring novelist Kyle Beachy, playwright Chris Bower, blogger Jac Jemc, Assistant Director of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance Mairead Case, Quickies! founder Lindsay Hunter and Featherproof Books founder Zach Dodson. Moderated by MFAW Department head Sara Levine.

Whitney Stoepel

Dance Tue Nov 10 2009

Deeply Rooted in the Community

DRDT 1

The impact of arts in the community is undeniable; without it, we would be devoid of the beautiful contributions that dancers, artists and poets bring to the world. Iega, a native New Yorker now "deeply rooted" in Chicago understands this; here, he talks about why the arts must continue to be an integral part of our society.

You have over 20 years of experience in every aspect of the arts, how did you get started?
I started out in the theatre at an early age; I always loved the arts. I was exposed mostly to dance, though. My first [formal] exposure came from my days in New York, performing in talent shows. Broadway professionals would set up workshops in the community where I grew up--high quality workshops with top notch sets, costumes, venues, etc. These workshops were available to kids from all socio-economic backgrounds.

What brought you to Chicago?
I had a dance company in New York for about 13 years but decided to discontinue it and freelance. While freelancing, I was asked to come to Chicago to be a director at the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater. I did that for a year and then decided I needed to do something fresh. That's when I co-founded Deeply Rooted Productions/Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre. I am also the artistic director.

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LaShawn Williams

Film Mon Nov 09 2009

Hannah Free Returns to Chicago

Local film Hannah Free is returning to Chicago for another engagement at the Gene Siskel Center November 27th through December 3rd. Hannah Free, which was shot in Chicago last year, has had a great reception elsewhere in the U.S. since it left Chicago after it's official debut. It won the "Best Feature Film" award in Philidelphia's Q Fest and "Best Narrative Feature Film" at Austin's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and has been screened at other film festivals across the country with great reception. The film is also currently nominated for five Midwest Independent Film Festival awards.
The film has been a huge hit in the lesbian community, mainly because of one of it's lead actresses Sharon Gless (of "Queer as Folk" fame). Hannah Free, based on the play of the same name, follows the love story of Hannah and Rachel from their first meeting at age ten to their later years.
Tickets are now on sale for the screenings via Ticketmaster and the Gene Siskel box office. General admission is $10, students are $7 and Film Center members are $5.

Amy Dittmeier

Performance Mon Nov 09 2009

Cheap Thrills

El Circo Cheapo is almost a year old and last Saturday, they performed two sold out shows in their Humbodlt Park performance space that doubles as their teaching space, the Aloft Loft. El Circo Cheapo is marketed as the poor man's Cirque de Soleil but that description does it no justice. It is a brazen and hilarious variety show with real heart for ten bucks a ticket. The founder, Shayna Swanson, explains why her life rules.

Where did the name come from?

The name was originally going to be The Narcissistic Circus Artist's Video Cabaret. El Circo Cheapo has a better ring. It's sort of tongue in cheek because there's this really pretentious trend towards using a foreign word for "circus". It's stupid and I wanted a really stupid name, but it ended up being awesome. What can you do?

Are there bigger things you hope to convey or accomplish with ECC?
Yeah, for sure. I want to have a super fancy circus dinner cabaret. I'm just waiting for millions of dollars to land in my lap--or a rich investor. But aside from that, I want to help people see circus as something real, rather than a freakish illusion.

Continue reading this entry »

Whitney Stoepel

Art Mon Nov 09 2009

Fresh Paint

Last Friday, SAIC opened its doors to the public for their annual graduate open studio night-- an opportunity for every single MFA student to display their newest work amidst their personal collections of sketches, magazine clippings, sofas, mini fridges, and wacky ephemera for all to see. Hundreds of people weaved like ants through endless corridors of little white studios, armed with little plastic cups of soda and fistfuls of leftover Halloween candy, creating some pretty epic gaper's blocks. I went alone this year, a good move, I think, so I was able to efficiently weave through the crowds, spending at least a few seconds with every single piece of art on view.

The experience of seeing that much new work in so little time is mindnumbingly stimulating and inspiring. Even if some of the work is a little lame, there is plenty of amazing work to make up for it-- too much, actually. Which is why, for today, I am only going to share with you some highlights from the painting and drawing studios. Sculpture, photography, performance, etc, will come soon. Upon viewing these images and the accompanying artist's websites I think you'll find that painting is alive and well, and abstraction, either gooey or op-arty, is super hot right now.

Continue reading this entry »

Kelly Reaves

Art Mon Nov 09 2009

Broke-adelic

Today's front page of the Sun-Times features a story about Pedro Bell. He wrote many of the liner notes and drawings for George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic. Sadly, he has never received any compensation for his work. Living in the "shabby" Hyde Park Arms, he is practically blind, living with a wound on his ankle that won't heal, receiving dialysis three times a week, and battling eviction orders.

His work was featured in the Museum of Contemporary Art's traveling exhibit, "Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock 'n' Roll since 1967," but other than that has received little recognition and no money for this art. His younger brother, Maillo Tsuru says, "We're just looking for collectors at this point. There's no reason a world-class artist shouldn't have patrons."

Whitney Stoepel / Comments (5)

Theatre Sun Nov 08 2009

A Cure for the Bears Blues

The way the current season is going, Chicago Bears fans could certainly use a laugh right now, and the players at The Pub Theater Company have something in store that is sure to tackle the blues.

Bear Down! is a comedy based on super Bears fans (and some fairweather ones, too) and their faith in new quarterback Jay Cutler to take the team all the way; in fact, their faith is so strong they ask, "Have you accepted Jay Cutler as your personal savior?" JAY CUTLER

So, if you want to laugh with other diehard Bears fans who share your pain, rush to see Bear Down! when it opens at 8pm this Wednesday, Nov. 11 (through Wednesday, Dec. 16) at The Pub Theater, 3220 N. Lincoln. Tickets are $8-$10 and can be purchased through the box office or by calling 773.904.8777.

LaShawn Williams

Art Sun Nov 08 2009

Video Artist, Musicians Team up for MCA Exhibit

Chicago experimental musicians Haptic have paired up with video artist Lisa Slodki to present the Museum of Contemporary Art's latest exhibit that is part of the monthly UBS 12x12 New Artist/ New Work series.

The exhibit runs until Nov. 29 and features a live performance as part of the MCA's Free Tuesdays. The exhibit, and in particular the live performance, explores the relationship between sounds and images. Slodki manipulates these images in response to Haptic's audio. Haptic, in turn, changes, adjusts and manipulates their audio contribution to the exhibit.

Live performances start at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10, 17 and 24. The artists will also lead a gallery talk at 6 p.m. prior to the Nov. 10 performance.

Margo O'Hara

Art Sun Nov 08 2009

Torn Pages Needs Whole Bills

The Torn Pages Show is a Chicago collaboration of artists and writers teaming up to write and draw "pages torn from our most favorite imaginary books": eleven children's stories of their own invention. Artist-writer pairs include Joe Meno & Cody Hudson, Amy Guth & Pea-Be, Zach Dodson & Allison Dunn Burque, and more.

The show is set to open at OhNo!Doom Collective in early 2010, but curator Josh Lucas hopes to immortalize the original tales in a small, full-color book. Like many other creative types, he's using Kickstarter. Help the Torn Pages show reach their $2,100 goal by December 5th -- they're currently a little under halfway there.

Donate here. Preview images and excerpts from the show after the jump.

Continue reading this entry »

Rose Lannin

Art Sat Nov 07 2009

Barbara Crane: Challenging Vision

Age 81 and still taking pictures every day, Barbara Crane's career retrospective, Challenging Vision, at the Chicago Cultural Center (CCC), hardly scratches the surface of her incredible body of work. She has shown in 170 group exhibitions, 75 solo exhibitions, and her work is included in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography. Crane also taught at the School of the Art Institute for 28 years, making Chicago a central player in her canon of work.

The historical CCC, "The People's Palace," is an excellent home for this show. Nestled among Chicago skyscrapers is the most fulfilling way to view Crane's graphic explorations in her Chicago Loop Series, 1976-78 or her photos of Chicago commuters pummeling the viewer in her Commuter Discourse, 1978. Chicago Beaches and Parks, 1972-78 captures Windy City summers with glossy, bikini-clad bodies that look like stills from a multi-racial version Beach Blanket Bingo.

Crane never stopped exploring images or how to capture them.

The key to viewing this exhibit is time. This is Crane's life's work in which her constant curiosity is deeply evident. Viewers should explore this retrospective the way Crane would--contemplate each photo and allow every to subject reveal its individual narrative.

The show is up until January 10 with gallery talks held November 19th with Crane essayist Abagail Foerstner, December 17th with curator Whitney Bradshaw, and on January 7th with the artist herself.

Whitney Stoepel / Comments (1)

Television Fri Nov 06 2009

If Oprah Leaves Chicago, We're Screwed

There's been a question posted in Fuel that asks what you think of Oprah leaving Chicago. Well I think that Chicago will definitely suffer if she leaves.

Not only will hundreds of people lose their jobs, but all the residuals that go along with her presence here will be affected as well. Remember what the West Loop used to look like? It was a bunch of emptying warehouses and decrepit buildings, a kind of no-man's land where parking was plentiful, but restaurants weren't.

Not only did her studio bring about urban revitalization, but it's also increased tourism and enhanced Chicago's exposure. Before, Chicago was known more for the mafia and Al Capone than Oprah. Now we get all sorts of people here who want to see what her "hometown" looks like, and even if their friends and family aren't fans of hers, they at least become curious to see what type of place they've been to.

So as a non-fan of her show (though if I got an invite, I'd gladly go), I'd like to publicly plea that she not leave Chicago because we need her. Otherwise, we might slip back to the Chicago of the 70's, when the city was grim and people stayed away.

Margaret Larkin / Comments (3)

Art Fri Nov 06 2009

Beauty in Everyday Craft at Art Institute

One would not usually consider a silver teapot or a reclining chair to be art. A wooden wine cabinet seems more appropriate in a furniture store than an art museum. But what if it's a teapot from acclaimed manufacturer Christopher Dresser, or a chair designed by Frank Lloyd Wright? Now that is art.

Arts and Crafts are daily labors that integrate art with everyday life. This idea is what the newest exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago attempts to show. Apostles of Beauty: Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago features nearly two hundred objects in a wide expanse of media, from ceramics to stained glass, woodwork to embroidery.

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Vanessa Day

Column Fri Nov 06 2009

The Men Who Stare at Goats, A Christmas Carol, The Fourth Kind, Precious and (Untitled)

The Men Who Stare at Goats

You can file this under "story so utterly ridiculous that it has to be true." This is one of those tales you may have heard your favorite neighborhood conspiracy theorist mutter about over the years. The idea that the U.S. Army had a small unit of men singled out because they possessed even a hint of psychic abilities seems preposterous, yet if even one such soldier proved to have such abilities, the military immediately attempting to somehow capture and weaponize these powers seems all too believable. And according to newspaper man Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor presumably standing in for source material author Jon Ronson), that's exactly what happened.

Continue reading this entry »

Steve Prokopy / Comments (3)

Media Thu Nov 05 2009

Gapers Block Among Recipients of Chicago News Matters Grants

Gapers Block is one of 12 recipients of Community News Matters grants from the Chicago Community Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, as part of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Knight Community Information Challenge. The Chicago News Matters grant initiative awarded $500,000 in grants to non-profit and for-profit organizations to spur innovation and growth of new sources of quality local news in Chicago. Gapers Block is receiving $35,000 to expand our original local reporting, with a priority on stories about underserved communities and issues that affect them.

We're extremely honored to have been chosen to receive this award, which will allow us to begin paying staff members to write feature articles and pay the editorial staff a bit more than we do right now. While we're still far from paying everyone for everything they contribute to the site -- with around 100 contributors producing thousands of posts a year, we'd need a lot more than $35,000 to do that -- it's a great first step toward that eventual goal.

We'll be sharing details of our plans for the grant with our staff and the public soon. In the meantime, we'd like to thank the Chicago Community Trust, the MacArthur Foundation and the Knight Foundation -- and congratulate the other award recipients. This is a very positive day for the future of Chicago journalism.

Read the full news release after the jump.

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Andrew Huff / Comments (1)

Theatre Thu Nov 05 2009

Not Your Average Teddy Bear

Typically, a mere mention of a teddy bear evokes smiles and happy childhood memories; however, this is not the case for everyone. In Reinaldo Povod's Cuba and His Teddy Bear, we learn the "bear" isn't always cuddly; sometimes, it can be downright grizzly.

"Cuba," a family drama with themes of "redemption, accountability and forgiveness," is the story of the relationship between a son and his drug-dealing father and the challenges they face with keeping their family together.

Although this story is being told via a theatrical performance, it is a harsh reality that exists for many families.

Cuba and His Teddy Bear opens Friday, Nov. 6 and runs through Dec. 13 at The Batey Urbano Performance Space, 2620 W. Division St. Show times are Thursday through Saturday, 7:30pm; Sundays, 6pm. No performance is scheduled Thanksgiving Day; instead, a performance will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10-$20 and can be purchased at the box office or by calling 773.347.1203.

LaShawn Williams

Art Wed Nov 04 2009

Deborah Maris Lader at Uncommon Ground

Chaniofevents.jpgOn Thursday November 5th the Uncommon Ground at 1401 W Devon, in Edgewater, will officially unveil their new exhibit. On display until February 1st, this exhibit features the work of the director of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Deborah Maris Lader. Don't be fooled by the whole printmaking thing, the actual amount of prints in the show are fairly scarce, the bulk of the work are described as mixed media photographic paintings, this just means she uses an array of mediums which involves photography to create the work.

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MartinJon

Film Wed Nov 04 2009

Indie Incubator Film Festival Goes for 9

With Hollywood movies based on board games and ridiculous love premises in production, audience seem to be turning more and more to local independent cinema for their entertainment. The Indie Incubator Film Festival is ready to show Chicago's best short films in it's ninth year and promises to be better than ever. The festival shows anything (within appropriate means of course) from comedy, horror, sci-fi, you name it. The Chicago Film Office and the PBS show "Image Union" both have supported the festival in the past, most likely because of it's unique nature. Unlike a typical film festival, the Indie Incubator's selection is shown in a bar which breaks down the exclusive atmosphere that some of Chicago's other festivals can impress on the common movie goer. There's nothing like booze and movies to make a normal night turn into a great one. Every filmmaker takes home something, but the "Best of the Fest" winner is decided by a judges panel made up of professionals in the film industry.
The Indie Incubator Film Festival takes place at the Original Mother's on November 17th. Doors are at 7 pm and cover is free. This year's festival is hosted by filmmakers and comic book creators Matt Kubinski and Charles Klein. A dance party follows the screenings and awards ceremony.

Amy Dittmeier / Comments (1)

Film Wed Nov 04 2009

Reeling in this year's LGBT International Film Festival

Reeling28.jpgReeling, Chicago's 28th annual Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, part of Chicago Filmmakers, begins Thursday, November 5 with more than 150 films showcasing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender films from all over the world from social documentaries and introspective featurettes to fusions of musicals, drama and horror flicks.

There'll be 59 different screenings, 33 narrative feature films, 10 documentaries, 16 screenings of short films and about seven after-parties at venues including Lincoln Park's Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St., the South Loop's Film Row Cinema at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., and Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark St.

Here are a few prime events not to be missed:

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John Lendman

Theatre Wed Nov 04 2009

A Glimpse of Isadora

A distinguished member of the dancing world, Isadora Duncan has touched the lives of millions. Known as the mother of modern dance, she rejected traditional ballet and stressed improv, emotion, and human form in her dance techniques. She thought ballet was too strict and focused on form and posture, so she created her own school of dance where her loyal followers could learn from the master.

In a new play from TimeLine Theatre Company, When She Danced is the story of Isadora Duncan portrayed in early 1920s Paris. In this heartfelt and humorous production, Isadora is a struggling artist trying to stay financially stable and figure out what to do when she retires from dance: Her hope is to inspire young dancers with her art. Playwright Martin Sherman mixes the comedic presence of the characters with the importance of art and dance to create an inspiring play that reminds one how influential Isadora was "when she danced."

Previews of the play begin tonight, Nov. 4 and continue through Friday, Nov. 6. The regular run starts Saturday night, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. and ends Dec. 20. Check the theatre's website for ticket and show time information.

Vanessa Day

Improv Wed Nov 04 2009

Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon at ATC Improv

Part of me hesitated even posting this, for fear that the event would sellout and I'd be left weeping outside the ATC Theatre, but I figured it was my duty to share this crazy exciting event with the culture vultures of Chicago. Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) will be playing with Chicago improv group Pudding Thank You, TJ Jagodowski, and more this Friday night as part of the regular ATC Improv series. The show begins at 11:00 pm, and for only eight dollars you get to enjoy a night of improv and free beer.

Michael Shannon at ATC Improv. Friday November 6th at 11 pm. Tickets are available only at the door for $8 and include free beer. ATC is located at 1909 W. Byron.

Dyan Flores

Television Tue Nov 03 2009

Tabatha Finally Came to Chicago

The second season of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" opened in Chicago! The salon featured was Orbit Salon in Lakeview, within walking distance from Wrigley Field.

I love this show--I watched the entire first season and was impressed. It's not just about a salon, but about how to run a business, have pride in your work, and take responsibility for even seemingly mundane details. It's entertaining, but I've also come away from the show thinking about how to "step up" (as Tabatha often says) in my own projects and jobs.

There's a really good article in the Sun-Times that talks about some reality behind what we saw: what the stylists had to say compared to what was shown. If you watched the show with the stylists at The Stretch, feel free to talk about it here.

Margaret Larkin / Comments (2)

Dance Tue Nov 03 2009

Innervation's Stories in Dance

OurOwnDevices.jpgWhat do Adam and Eve, out-of-control goth dolls, Etta James, multiple personalities, and Metallica have in common? Innervation Dance Cooperative has brought them all together in their upcoming dance concert, Our Own Devices. IDC's roots are in theater and contemporary dance, and the many choreographers and dancers come from wildly different backgrounds. These qualities always lead to an eclectic show, and the company's mainstays of narrative dancing and a high-energy, multi-layered aesthetic bring it all together. In this concert, each of the eight choreographers presents the audience with a different struggle and shows us what happens when groups and individuals are left to their "own devices." The subjects range from a comedic and sultry reinterpretation of Eve's relationship with the Snake, to the frustration, bliss, and heartbreak involved in pursuing a man, to a portrayal of a woman whose mind created multiple personalities to deal with childhood abuse, to goth-esque dolls running amok in the dollhouse. There are eye-opening moments of intensity and belly-shaking moments of comedy, thought-provocation and good times guaranteed.

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Rachel Zanders

Theatre Mon Nov 02 2009

Happy Family Series @ The Viaduct

Family members can be the hardest to love, but the easiest to hate, and performance pieces in The Happy Family Series explore those "harmonic antagonisms." Presented by The Magpies, the pieces all take their cues from P.T. Barnum's controversial American Museum exhibit, The Happy Family, originally sold as "a miscellaneous collection of predators and prey, living together harmoniously in one large cage, each of them being mortal enemy of every other, but contentedly playing and frolicking together, without injury or discord."

Curated by Shawn Reddy and emceed by H.B. Ward (aka "The Tamer"), the lineup showcases more than 30 artists in three weeks. Performances range from multi-media monologues to cabaret and country music to good old-fashioned acting. For a detailed list, click here.

Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm, Nov. 13 through Dec. 6 (except Thanksgiving weekend). Tickets -- $12 each or three shows for $30 -- are available from The Viaduct or at 773-296-6024.  

Michelle Peterson

Feature Mon Nov 02 2009

Dreams Deferred: an Interview with Messiah Equiano

EQUIANO 1.jpgIt is no secret that Chicago has experienced a major upsurge in youth violence; recently, I sat down with Messiah Equiano, filmmaker and founder of Operation Safe Passage, to find out what he and his organization are doing to address this issue.

Tell me about Operation Safe Passage.

Messiah Equiano: Operation Safe Passage was incorporated in June 2009. I'm also a filmmaker, and I did a documentary about a little girl who was killed in the Englewood neighborhood at her own birthday party. I've been following this youth violence issue for about three years now, which obviously, is continuing to be a problem, especially with hundreds of young people having been shot in Chicago the last two years. Seeing this devastation, I wanted to be a solution to the problem. I would see marches, rallies, etc., but in my opinion, with this generation, those things weren't necessarily working.

You came up with the idea to address this ugly reality through the theatre -- how do you hope to connect to youth in ways the marches and rallies have not?

No offense to anyone, but I wanted to try to reach them differently -- through scholarships, mentoring programs, and life-changing media productions, which is what drove my decision to write a stage play, Dreams Deferred. Also, people like to be entertained, so I wanted to create a message through entertainment.

In an "infotainment" sort of way?

Exactly.

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LaShawn Williams / Comments (9)

Performance Mon Nov 02 2009

Carny Love

large2.jpgI don't think I'm the only person who has a deep philosophical interest in carny culture. Otherwise, why would the Department of Cultural Affairs organize a month of carny-related arts programming? The DCA, in conjunction with Silent Theatre Company, is putting on a play of sorts, called Carnivale Nocturne, surrealistically recreating the underground world of a traveling carnival. With a live band and physical acts of carnival performance, this original dark fable by the STC ensemble, directed by Tonika Tordova, combines the styles of Tim Burton and Edward Gorey, telling the story of a curse between a group of fire breathers, fortune tellers, bestial tamers and natural freaks.

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Kelly Reaves

Art Mon Nov 02 2009

The Calumet Region, An American Place: Photographs by Gary Cialdella

calumet cover.jpg

A collection of Gary Cialdella's photographs of an area that begins in southern Chicago, and ends somewhere in Northwest Indiana, has just been published in a new book. This book of photographs took me a long time to digest, mainly because I know the Calumet region and was not very familiar with this sort of documentary photography. I don't know the area quite as well as Gregg Hertzlieb, editor and contributing essayist for this book, but I have spent enough time in the area to be familiar with the subject matter. It isn't easy to look at photograph after photograph of things you've seen before, all taken in black and white from a six foot eye level. It becomes monotonous and tiring after a while, but I am beginning to understand that there is a lot more here than was originally able to see.

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MartinJon

Photography Mon Nov 02 2009

New CMAP Photography Contest

CMAP_photo_contest.pngThe Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning just announced a new photography contest for images of Northeastern Illinois. They're requesting images in the following categories: diversity, community vitality, natural environment, architectural/urban design and transportation, so if you want to contribute your shots, you have a chance to win photography classes, books, vegetables and walking tours, among other prizes.

David Schalliol / Comments (1)

Improv Mon Nov 02 2009

Improvised Shakespeare in NYT

A New York Times article features Lisa Leingang, a senior vice president at Comedy Central, saying great things about Chicago's own Improvised Shakespeare Company.

In case you aren't registered on the NYT site, here's how it goes down: The Q&A has turned to what Leingang looks for when she's scouting for talent:

Q. How do you keep from becoming jaded?

A. You just see one performer for every 50 who is just bizarre, irreverent, who has some sort of take that you have never seen. Not to sound Mary Sunshine, but it's rejuvenating. It reaffirms why I do it.

Q. Who was the last person who made you have that reaction?

A. The group Improvised Shakespeare; I brought them to Bumbershoot. They improvise a Shakespeare play based on a suggestion by the audience. It starts with rhyming couplet; it ends with rhyming couplet. The way they worked together is amazing. Every show had a standing ovation. It was one of those things where I'm crying laughing: just, how did they do it? That's the feeling that I like to have, and it's very validating. You can't translate that to TV. But we can try.

Michelle Peterson / Comments (1)

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Architecture Tue Nov 03 2015

Paul Goldberger Describes the "Pragmatism and Poetry" of Frank Gehry's Architecture in His New Book

By Nancy Bishop

Architecture critic Paul Goldberger talks about Frank Gehry's life and work in a new book.
Read this feature »

Steve at the Movies Fri Jan 01 2016

Best Feature Films & Documentaries of 2015

By Steve Prokopy

Read this column »

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