Art Fri May 16 2008
submitted by Leah Pietrusiak, occasional correspondent
In April, the Cool Kids from Chicago popped into the Coat of Arms vintage streetwear shop in NYC and picked up some threads for their show—including a championship Bulls sweatshirt from back when. And now the Coat of Arms shop is popping up in Bridgeport tonight armed with a table of threads for an art show and magazine release organized by The Upset, a group of graffiti artist and photographers from Chicago and New York. You know you've always wanted an (other) old-school Starter jacket. And if you don't, go there for the reason the event is really going on: The Upset is celebrating the first edition of their magazine, which they started online as a blog.
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- Ramsin |
Art Wed May 14 2008
Speaking of things being pulled, the Spertus Institute has temporarily closed the controversial exhibit Imaginary Coordinates. The Institute says the closing is due to maintenance needs, but now that the gallery is closed, they're looking at the controversy as well [wink, wink, nudge nudge].
- David Schalliol |
Art Thu May 01 2008
The International Museum of Surgical Science in the Gold Coast might seem an unlikely place to attend an art show, but on Friday you can do just that, as artist Christa Donner exhibits recent works among the giant kidney stones and antique forceps in the museum’s collection. Titled “ExtraSensory,” the show is part of the “Anatomy in the Gallery” series, a rotating exhibition program featuring medically themed art.
Lest the phrase “medically themed art” makes you think of sterile skeleton sculptures and hanging mobiles made of say, IV bags (as it sort of does for me), fear not: Donner’s work is much more imaginative and much less high school biology course. Using drawing as “both her microscope and her scalpel,” she thoughtfully fuses art and science—examining, dissecting, and re-envisioning human anatomy. In particular, “ExtraSensory” explores body image and the power of sensory experience.
The show includes new works on paper and what Donner calls a “wacky sculptural drawing on the floor,” as well as zines, photographs, and collage drawings from a collaborative project with teens from rural McHenry County, Illinois. The show opens tomorrow with a reception from 5–8 p.m. and runs through July 18.
The International Museum of Surgical Science is located at 1524 N. Lake Shore Dr. (inner drive).
- Laura Pearson |
Dance Thu May 01 2008
In keeping with the company's goals of inspiring "new perceptions of movement," Inaside Chicago Dance has created an evening of dancing inspired by the drip period of Jackson Pollock's artwork. In the Painting will be a "multimedia dance experience," beginning with a short film by Pedro Brenner (Inaside's photographer and award-winning film director) about Pollock's life and art, and continuing with choreographed works that include a multimedia element.
May 2 @ 8:00, May 3 @ 2:00 & 8:00. Ruth Page Center for the Performing Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. $20 general ($15 student/dancer/senior). Purchase tickets at the Ruth Page box office (312.337.6543).
- Rachel Zanders |
Art Wed Apr 30 2008
Jay Ryan has produced a beautiful set of posters for "The Blue Planet Live," a film/concert series in the UK. Each poster, which features animals living in or above the world's oceans, is available for $50, or you can buy the full set for $300.
- Andrew Huff |
Art Sun Apr 27 2008
If you’ve been down Michigan Avenue lately, you may have noticed the return of “Communication X9,” a work by Israeli sculptor Yaacov Agam that has been undergoing renovations for the last three years. The artist, who is less than pleased with the changes, is hinting that he may file suit against both the restorer and the management company that hired him alleging that the work done was not a restoration but rather an unauthorized reproduction.
The Tribune provided an update Friday on the conflict that has been going on since the fall. For more in-depth reporting on who did what to whose paint samples, check out the Reader article from November of last year which explains the dispute in detail.
Photo by Robert L. Segal.
- Jamie Smith |
Art Tue Apr 22 2008
The Swedish American Museum and Andersonville Chamber of Commerce are seeking artists to create original works based on pieces in the Swedish Museum's permanent collection. Pieces go on display during Andersonville Arts Weekend in the fall. More info here.
- Lindsay Muscato |
Art Mon Apr 21 2008
Check out the blog of local fiber artist Marcy Sperry, who creates eclectic and striking art from repurposed clothing, found objects and the like. Her blog, thankyouforyoursubmission.com is a peek into the mindbendingly exhausting task of making it as an artist. In one recent post, she rails against a Daily Northwestern article that calls her pieces "New Age quilting". Her work is on display at Northwestern's Dittmar Gallery, displayed with another artist in a show called Domestic Sunshine.
- Lindsay Muscato |
Art Sun Apr 20 2008
Two Hyde Park art institutions are featuring exhibitions that make use of humor and absurdity to explore African-American identity in art and culture.
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- Jamie Smith |
Art Wed Apr 16 2008
The Coffee Studio, my favorite new Andersonville coffee shop, is now accepting submissions for BIKE LOVE, a graphic celebration of the the bicycle -- a gallery of two-dimensional, cycle-inspired art that's part of Andersonville's annual Bike Week festivities. Submissions are due May 1, and accepted pieces will be displayed from May 10-June 9 at The Coffee Studio. More details.
- Lindsay Muscato |
Art Wed Apr 09 2008
If you're the kind of person who walks by municipal garbage cans piled high with empty Starbucks cups and winces at all the waste, then Monument, a new dance theater work by local multidisciplinary arts collective The Seldoms, is for you. The 50-minute work, which combines dance, music and video, addresses our culture's apparent addiction to consumption and waste, in which the landfill has become an "accidental social sculpture." Recently Monument choreographer Carrie Hanson took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about the performance, which runs April 10-12 at 8pm at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. (For more info, call 312-328-0303.)
How did the idea for Monument develop?
The Monument project has been developing for over a year. The idea began broadly: The initial choreographic, sonic and imagistic impulses emerged from a consideration of the acts of preservation, creation and destruction. We started from several points of inquiry: in balancing concerns for short-term prosperity/survival with long-term prosperity/survival, what do we preserve? What are the economic forces and cultural ethos that influence our behavior and decisions as consumers? What tensions exist between our dual identities as consumer and citizen, and between private goods and the public good? And finally, what are the personal, social, and environmental effects of our collective and individual acts of production, consumption, and disposal?
As we began our research before going into the dance studio, we easily found a lot of information relating to consumption and waste. The facts, offering mind-blowing figures about the quantity of plastic bottles and tons of refuse, were impressive and daunting, but weren’t readily imaginable. It wasn’t until Doug Stapleton, The Seldoms’ artistic associate, found an article about the immense Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island that our understanding moved from statistics to a physical reality. The article stated that the landfill is visible from space, which helped us to grasp the scale, impact and monumentality of our collective practices of consumption and waste. The work’s title – Monument – makes reference to the landfill as accidental monument.
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- Lauri Apple |
Art Mon Apr 07 2008
Through June 29, the Chicago Cultural Center hosts Dean Sharp: Photographs of the Chicago Picasso, a free exhibition of black and white photos on display at its Michigan Avenue Galleries. Curated by Assistant Curator of Exhibitions Sofia Zutautas, and organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the exhibit displays photos that Sharp took in 1967, while he was a student at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. In wrapping up his final project, Sharp paid a visit to Chicago and was struck by the facial expressions of people who passed by the then brand-spanking new Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza. Camera in tow, he began photographing the faces he saw. His work both documents human nature and serves as a commentary on the role and impact of public art. On Tuesday, April 17, at 12:15 p.m., Sharp will appear at the Center for a free talk. (Viewing hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Center is closed on holidays.)
- Lauri Apple |
Art Mon Apr 07 2008
Kt Andresky, the coordinator for Press/Play, is seeking documentarians to contribute a five-minute piece on the Chicago art scene. Check out the details at Justseeds.
- David Schalliol |
Art Wed Apr 02 2008
Wanna teach what you love while the city picks up the tab? The Department of Cultural Affairs is now accepting applications for its "Neighborhood Arts Program Teaching Artist" grant. Applications and more info are available at Chicago Artists Resource. Also, learn how to navigate the red tape of a city grant by attending the info session:
Monday, April 14, 3-5pm; Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street - 5th Floor
- Lindsay Muscato |
Art Tue Mar 25 2008
Sculptor Jason Peot has a solo show, "_____lineal," coming up at Navta Schulz Gallery.
Peot's sculptures are typically a combination of readily available construction supplies and highly machined, custom-designed aluminum and metal components. The last component is always light — the ephemeral shadows and light-play through the sculptures are integral in his work. I own one of his Installation Kit: Series 1 pieces, and although I haven't taken full advantage of the ability to reconfigure it, it remains a delight in my home.
The show opens with a reception next Friday, April 4, from 6pm to 9pm. Navta Schulz Gallery is at 1039 W. Lake St.
- Andrew Huff |
Art Wed Mar 19 2008
From now until June 1, the Museum of Contemporary Art is featuring Recent Acquisitions, an exhibition showcasing works by artists such as Dan Flavin, Gillian Wearing, and Gary Simmons. Several pieces are on display for the first time. This exhibition represents Part Two of a two-part presentation; Part One featured past and present Chicago-based artists. Remember -- Tuesdays at the MCA are free.
- Lauri Apple |
Art Wed Mar 12 2008
The Humboldt Exhibition is a collaboration of several young Chicago artists who organize all-night art shows for Chicagoland artists. Triplicate, which will take place on Saturday, May 17, is the third show to feature fine art, music, film projection, screen-printed t-shirts, beer, and more. The organizers invite all types of Chicagoland artists to submit their work for display in the show. Artists retain 100% of sales. Send your snappiest jpeg or pdf samples of whatever you do to humboldtexhibition@gmail.com by Friday, April 18. (Sending work-in-progress is fine as long as the work is completed one week before the show.)
- Lauri Apple |
Art Mon Mar 03 2008
Hopper and Homer would make fantastic names for a pair of hamsters. For now, they make an excellent combination in the halls of the Art Institute, which has been hosting a major Hopper and Homer show since February. On display are dozens of Homer's watercolors and sketches, which reveal his preoccupation with capturing light. Boats on the water, Civil War scenes, and landscapes form the subject matter of many of the exhibited works, all portrayed by Homer in a straightforward, unsentimental manner. Meanwhile, the Hopper exhibition marks the first time in 25 years that any museum outside New York has presented such a comprehensive display of works from his 70-year career. Hopper was a master of making the quotidian seem monumental and mysterious (what were those Nighthawks doing together, anyway?); his imagery will make you nostalgic for a time when you could visit a cafe without having your train of thought derailed by a ring tone. Through May 10.
- Lauri Apple |
Art Sun Mar 02 2008
The Museum of Contemporary Art's 12x12 series highlights the work of Craig Doty this month. Says Art Daily, "Doty's highly orchestrated, yet realistic tableaus are filled with stark color contrasts, visual disruptions in time, and stolen emotional experiences." He's a BFA graduate from the Art Institute, and went on to get his MFA at Yale University School of Art. The exhibit opens this Saturday, March 8.
- Andrew Huff |
Art Thu Feb 28 2008
David van Alphen, the man behind
DvA Gallery has a new venture,
Slingshot! Press, a weekly release of limited edition prints for only $50 each. The prints are gallery quality printed on 100% archival acid-free velvet cotton rag paper with archival inks, signed and numbered by some of the top underground artists around. If you've been looking for a way to start a collection of contemporary and modern artwork, this is a great and affordable way of starting. Slingshot! Press releases new editions on Wednesdays around 2pm, and each edition is limited to 50 prints, so once it's gone, it's gone.
- Christian Scheuer |
