Fotoflow

Heaven + Hell

2012-02-10T14:33:00.000-06:00

Two unique Chicago art institutions are co-presenting a pair of shows by outsider artists dealing with Heaven and Hell. Loyola University's Museum of Art (LUMA) is opening the Heaven portion while Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in West Town will show the Hell portion of the show. Both shows feature a total of 165 works of art by 54 artists. I think this is a great way to collaborate on a show of this kind.

Heaven + Hell
Heaven at LUMA: Loyola University Museum of Art
820 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL
and
Hell at Intuit: the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
756 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening receptions Friday, February 10, 2012
5 to 8:30pm with beer provided by Half Acre and a free shuttle bus running between both institutions for the reception.
On view through June 30, 2012

Jeremy Tinder and Steve Seeley at Rotofugi

2012-02-10T14:12:00.000-06:00

Rotofugi Gallery presents two solo shows opening tonight featuring new paintings by Jeremy Tinder and Steve Seeley.

Jeremy Tinder: The Living Line
and
Steve Seeley: All We Ever Do Is Fight
at Rotofugi
2780 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception Friday, February 10, 2012
7 to 10 pm
On view through March 4, 2012

Grand opening of Gala Gallery

2012-02-10T13:23:00.000-06:00

Tyrue "SLANG" Jones, a terrific artist from Chicago, is celebrating the opening of his new gallery/studio space, Gala, with a show of his own work titled, True Love. After that he's dedicating the space to presenting workshops and shows by different artists. I've known SLANG for years and I'm really happy that he's created this new space.

Tyrue "SLANG" Jones: True Love
at the new Gala Gallery
1000 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
6 to 10 pm

Reasons to Cut Into the Earth

2012-02-10T12:56:00.000-06:00

Artist Heidi Norton has an exhibition opening tonight at the always interesting Johalla Projects in West Town.

Heidi Norton: Reasons to Cut Into the Earth
at Johalla Projects
1821 W Hubbard
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
7 to 10 pm
On view through February 29, 2012

ISAZ: Ice is Bark of Rivers

2012-02-10T12:45:00.000-06:00

The Hills Esthetic Center on the near West Side presents a show of new work by Aron Gent, Nick Ostoff, and Sophia Rauch.

ISAZ: Ice is Bark of Rivers
at the Hills Esthetic Center
128 N. Campbell Ave
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
7 to 10 pm
On view through March 4, 2012

Urban Pop: Art Inspired by the Streets

2012-02-10T12:35:00.001-06:00

Yollocalli Gallery in Pilsen presents a show of political and pop culture influenced paintings and wheatpastes by NACO & ROHO.

Urban Pop: Art Inspired by the Streets - CHema Skandl, NACO & ROHO
at Yollocalli Gallery
1401 W 18th St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
6 to 8 pm

Short Court: Tropical Aesthletics

2012-02-10T12:20:00.000-06:00

Antena Gallery in Pilsen presents a show titled, Short Court: Tropical Aestletics curated by Tag Team. The group show will feature paintings relating to the tropical theme, while the opening will present sand and fun, as well as a pair of professional volleyball players that you can compete against during the evening.

There'll be work by Adam Farcus, Adam Grossi, Alberto Aguilar, Alex Bradley Cohen, Angeline Evans, Brian Wadford, Caroline Carlsmith, Cory Glick, Edra Soto, EC Brown, Irene Perez, Jeriah Hildwine, Jim Papadopoulos, Kevin Jennings, Nicole Northway, Pamela Fraser, Philip von Zweck, Thad Kellstadt, and Vincent Dermody.

Short Court: Tropical Aesthletics
at Antena
1765 S Laflin
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
6 to 10 pm
On view through March 10, 2012

Escapism's One Year Anniversary at Maya Essence

2012-02-10T12:11:00.000-06:00

Fair trade store Maya Essence hosts the one year annivesary show for Escapism, a local artists' collective that has been organizing events at this great Lincoln Square space.

Escapism's One Year Anniversary
at Maya Essence
4357 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, February 10, 2012
7 to 11pm

4th Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip-Hop Arts

2012-01-21T06:59:00.000-06:00

Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ, presents its 4th Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip-Hop Arts. A jam packed festival featuring a street art and graffiti exhibition curated by the Believe Inn, documentary films, t-shirts by Grime Time magazine, live painting, DJ sets, breakdancing, and more.

This year the festival is being held at Metro just a block north of Wrigley Field. The afternoon portion from noon to 6pm is free to attend. The evening portion is a ticketed event featuring a breakdance battle. This should be a fun afternoon. Check out the entire schedule of events here.

4th Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip-Hop Arts
at Metro
3730 N Clark St
Saturday, January 21, 2012

FREE festival from noon to 6pm
Breakdance battle ($15) from 8 to 11pm

Sticker show and Martha Cooper at Maxwell Colette Gallery

2012-01-21T06:45:00.000-06:00

Last night, Chicago's Maxwell Colette Gallery opened a show based on DB Burkeman's extensive sticker art collection in conjunction with the book Stickers: Stuck Up Piece of Crap, which he published last year containing images of thousands of stickers. Today Saturday, both Burkeman and legendary documentary photographer Martha Cooper will be signing books at the gallery from 1 to 3 pm. Martha Cooper is the co-author of the seminal graffiti book, Subway Art, as well as the author of documentary books ranging from Street Play, the Hip-Hop Files, and Going Postal.

Martha was out here in Chicago a few years ago for the release party for the 25th anniversary edition of Subway Art.

That was a lot of fun. Today's show and signing should be just as great.

DB Burkeman and Martha Cooper book signing
at Maxwell Colette Gallery
908 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL

Saturday, January 21, 2012
1 to 3 pm

The sticker show itself, Stuck Up: A Selected History of Alternative & Pop Culture Told Through Stickers will be on view today through March 3, 2012

Thor

2012-01-18T01:23:00.002-06:00

Thor, originally uploaded by fotoflow / Oscar Arriola.

I submitted this photo of my friend Thor for the You Are Beautiful show that opened this past weekend at the Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco. You Are Beautiful is a non-profit campaign that started in Chicago close to a decade ago. People around the world have been spreading this simple message in many forms including signs, stickers, street art, and large-scale installations. There'll be an opening reception tonight Wednesday, January 18, 2012. More info here... www.missionculturalcenter.org/MCCLA_New/events.html#youAr... It should be a fun time.

Merry Everything to EVERYBODY!

2011-12-24T14:09:00.001-06:00

Merry Everything to EVERYBODY!, originally uploaded by featherbed.

This artwork is by the amazing Laura Park.

Wooding Out

2011-12-16T15:02:00.000-06:00

Artist Matt Sauermilch has a show of work made with graphite, carved bones, and wood including this piece titled Highlife...

Opens tonight Friday at Heaven Gallery in Wicker Park.

Matt Sauermilch: The Process of Wooding Out
at Heaven Gallery
1550 N Milwaukee Ave
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 16, 2011
7 to 11pm
Also open this Saturday, December 17 from noon to 5
The show will be on view through Jan 15, 2011

Revenge of the Nerd...Art Show!

2011-12-15T19:58:00.000-06:00

Chicago graffiti artist, NERD, will have an art extravaganza open tomorrow night Friday at the 2612 Space in Chicago featuring artwork and an installation.

Revenge of the Nerd...Art Show!
at the 2612 Space
2612 W Nelson (at Elston)
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 15, 2011
6 to 10 pm
Music by DJ Madcap Mook

Under Monster

2011-12-15T19:48:00.000-06:00

A collective from the School of the Art Institute Chicago will have a collaborative installation open tomorrow night Friday at the Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport.

Under Monster
at the Co-Prosperity Sphere
3221 S Morgan
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 16, 2011
6 to 9 pm
On view through January 13, 2012

Register for the Chicago Zine Fest

2011-12-15T19:07:00.006-06:00

Registration opened this morning for the Chicago Zine Fest and now more than 1/2 the tables are sold out! Going on its third year, the 2012 edition will feature more zinesters than ever. In addition to the day of exhibition and sales there will also be workshops, a film festival, readers, and the Spring '12 Zine Olympics on the night before hosted by Billy da' Bunny. Fun will be had by all.

Here's the 2012 schedule...

SILVER TONGUE READING SERIES PRESENTS
Gender, Race and Sexuality: A Discussion with Women in Self-Publishing 1 - 3pm
A panel discussion to feature Cristy Road, Anne Elizabeth Moore and Mimi Nguyen
Conaway Center
Columbia College
1104 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL

YOUTH ZINE READING, 6 - 7pm
EXHIBITOR ZINE READING, 7- 9pm
826CHI
1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.
SPRING '12 ZINE OLYMPICS, 9:30 - 11pm
Hosted by Billy da Bunny!
Quimby’s Bookstore
1854 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL

SATURDAY, MARCH 10th
ZINE TABLING EXHIBITION, 11am - 6pm
Conaway Center (1st & 8th Floor)
Columbia College
1104 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL

Featuring a 150+ tablers, DIY Film Festival, Workshops, Kid's activities
and More!
KARAOKE AFTERPARTY, 8pm - 12am
Hosted by Shameless Karaoke!
Location TBA

You can register for a 1/2 table for $10 at http://www.chicagozinefest.org/. Chicago cartoonist Lilli Carré designed this year's poster as well as this t-shirt that you can pre-order here!

X-Men Crew Art Show

2011-12-03T16:11:00.001-06:00

RGB Lounge in Wicker Park is celebrating their 1-year anniversary with an art show celebrating the X-Men graffiti crew. There'll be photography documenting the crew as well as artwork by crew members.

X-Men Crew Art Show
at RGB Lounge
1420 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Saturday, December 3, 2011
Doors open at 7pm

Hold Fast to Dreams

2011-12-02T15:20:00.002-06:00

I'll be showing some photographs in a show opening tonight Friday at the Believe Inn.

Chinatown, NYC by Oscar Arriola

Erik DeBat has some mesmerizing geometric pieces that are in a different direction from other work I've seen by him. Alex Bradley Cohen has a huge, fun drawing full of characters, some of which are replicated with some handmade fabric figures. Aregentian artist Irana Douer has some beautiful mixed media drawings, David "COVE" Gonzalez is showing several canvases and drawings done in his distinctive abstracted character style that I love. Kim Hoffman has some great pieces including two that include a Ginko leaf collage that meshes excellently with her artwork. Ellen Greene has an amazing set of flash tattoo inspired imagery painted on white vintage leather gloves. Erik Harris has drawings and birdhouse-like structures made from relcaimed materials and there'll also be prints, paintings, and constructions by Mirtes Zwierzynski, Chris Silva, Lauren Feece, Andrew Schansberg, and Danny Mansmith.

I'm looking forward to this show because there's a great mix of work on the walls and I've always liked visiting this space.

There are 5 art openings (including this one) in the Bucktown/Wicker Park/West Town area opening tonight and I plan on visiting all of them. The other 4 shows are listed in the entries below.

Hold Fast to Dreams
at the Believe Inn
2043 N Winchester Ave
(1 block east of Damen, 1 block north of Armitage, look for the black gate that says Believe Inn)
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 2011
7pm to 10pm
Other viewing hours by appointment

Text and Drugs and Rock & Roll

2011-12-02T14:56:00.002-06:00

Curator Billy Craven has put together a massive show of almost 50 artists from Chicago and around the world opening tonight Friday at Maxwell Collette Gallery.

Including work by Abe Lincoln Jr, Antonio Martinez, Bask, Bill Connors, Brian Knowles, Brooks Golden, Chad Davis, Clown Soldier, Colt Bowden, Dain, Derek Erdman, Don’t Fret, El Celso, Elik, Emily Cunningham, Faust, Fred Litch, Glenn Wexler, Goons, Greg Mike, Hebru Brantley, Infinity, Instigator, Joe Padilla, Klepto, Lloyd Patterson, Mark O’Brien, Mike Murdock, Mike Perry, Nice-One, Posterboy, Priest, Ron Copeland, RP Reeson, Ryan Duggan, Scott Albrecht, Sebastian Napoli, Stikman, Telepath UK, TEWZ, Thomas Billings, Tim Pigott, Victor Kaifas, Weed Wolf, Zero, and Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff, this show will contain a great mix of text-based street art, paintings, drawings, and more.

The Chicago Reader has it listed as their Critic's Pick this week.

Text and Drugs and Rock & Roll
at Maxwell Collette Gallery
908 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 2011
6 to 9 pm
On view through January 7, 2012

Bob Jones at 65GRAND Gallery

2011-12-02T14:44:00.000-06:00

Milwaukee artist Bob Jones will have a show of new work opening tonight at 65GRAND in West Town. Exploring various materials to produce artwork that are a mixture of painting and sculpture, this show should have some interesting work to check out.

Bob Jones: Mountains and Matter
at 65GRAND
1369 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 2011
7 to 10 pm
On view through December 31, 2011

Neche Collection

2011-12-01T19:59:00.000-06:00

Wicker Park's Public Works Gallery will have a show titled Neche Collection opening tomorrow night Friday. Veronica Corzo-Duchardt will be showing a series of photo diptychs and prints illustrating the life of her grandfather Neche through images of his possessions. Public Works is conveniently located just south of the Damen Blue Line CTA station.

Veronica Corzo-Duchardt: Neche Collection
at Public Works Gallery
1539 N Damen Ave
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 2011
7 to 11 pm
On view through December

Tony Fitzpatrick: New Etchings

2011-12-01T19:47:00.000-06:00

Chicago's Tony Fitzpatrick will have a show of his distinctive etchings at Firecat Projects tomorrow night Friday in Bucktown. It should be a fun time.

Tony Fitzpatrick
Nickel History: The Nation of Heat
Firecat Projects
2124 N Damen Ave
Friday, December 2, 2011
7 to 10 pm

Grilled

2011-12-01T19:27:00.003-06:00

Grilled, originally uploaded by fotoflow / Oscar Arriola.

I just got this great zine in the mail featuring NYC doors and the tons of tags they're covered with. It's got a silkscreened cover and 72 pages of full-bleed black and white photos by Sabeth. It's really well done and I highly recommend it. It was put out in an edition of 100 and there's still a few left. Ordering info here.

2011 Eyeworks Festival

2011-11-06T10:23:00.004-06:00

Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation 2011 Poster Trailer from Eyeworks Festival on Vimeo.

Today, Sunday is part two of the 2011 Eyeworks Festival. Eyeworks is dedicated to presenting all kinds of experimental animation, both contemporary and from the past. Lille Carre and Alexander Stewart curated this year's festival and are presenting it at DePaul University's downtown campus. Here's the schedule for this afternoon...

Program Three
Sunday, November 6, 1:00 pm
65 minutes

Len Lye - Tusalava 10:00, 1929
Takashi Ito - Thunder 5:00, 1985
Eric Patrick - Ablution 13:00, 2001
Gary Beydler - Glass Face 3:00, 1975
Jesse McManus - Macavity 3:00, 2011
Eric Dyer - The Bellows March 5:30, 2009
Bendik Kaltenborn - The End 10:00, 2008
Paul Bush - While Darwin Sleeps 5:00, 2004
Johan Rijpma - Tape Generations 2:30, 2011
John Stehura - Cibernetik 5.3 8:00, 1961-65

Program Four
Sunday, November 6, 3:30 pm
70 minutes

Paul Rayment - Piano 2:00, 2010
Larry Jordan - Solar Sight 15:00, 2011
Josh Bonnetta - First Snow 2:00, 2004
Laura Heit - The Deep Dark 7:07, 2011
Scott Wolniak - Work Movie 2:40, 2001
Takashi Sawa - Mathematica 8:00, 2000
Nicolas Mahler - Mystery Music 5:00, 2009
Priit and Olga Pärn - Divers in the Rain 24:00, 2010
Dalibor Barić - Pain so light that appears as tickle 4:05, 2010

Looping program
Playing on monitors on view in the theater lobby throughout the festival

Julie Doucet - I Need An Escape Plan
Phenakistoscopes by Florent Ruppert and Jerome Mulot

Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation 2011 Preview Trailer from Eyeworks Festival on Vimeo.

Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation
at DePaul University
247 S State St
DePaul CDM Theater
Lower Level
Chicago, IL

Day 2 - Sunday, November 6, 2011
Program 3 begins at 1pm
Program 4 begins at 3:30 pm
Tickets are $6 per program and are available at the door, cash only.

Blaque Lyte and Keith Herzik

2011-10-29T09:50:00.010-05:00

Tonight's the reception for Blaque Lyte, an exhibition of work shown under black lights at the Hyde Park Art Center. Artists Chris Kerr and Paul Nudd curated this show with artwork from Chicago other parts of the world. I checked out this show earlier this month and really enjoyed it. Lilli Carre has a really nice vertical totem drawing piece. There's a huge shag carpet wall hanging that undulates with imagery. There are also a bunch of funny and raunchy pieces including work from Edie Fake, DeeDee Scaci, Leif Goldberg, David Shrigley, and Onsmith.

Chris and Paul also curated a retrospective show of concert posters and prints by printmaker Keith Herzik. I'd seen his work here and there over the years but I had never really known who it was by until now. The amount of work on display is insane. There are over 200 prints in this show featuring his distinctive drawing style. I was also blown away by the vitrine filled with many zines and handmade books by Keith. I had never seen any of these before and I ended up going to Quimby's Bookstore a few days later and bought these two...

I'm glad this show was put together because it's interesting to see Keith's prints together as a body of work. I also think it adds to the great and visually varied printing reputation that Chicago has.

Blaque Lyte
Keith Herzik: There Are Still Lofty Dreams, Meager Desires, and Still Silliness
at the Hyde Park Art Center
5020 S Cornell
Chicago, IL

Reception: Saturday, October 29, 2011
5 to 8pm
Both exhibitions will be on view through January 9, 2012

Skin Deep

2011-10-28T12:46:00.000-05:00

River North's Carl Hammer Gallery will have a show of new drawings by CJ Pyle opening tonight. I really loved the ballpoint pen drawings on vintage record covers he had on display there a few years ago. There's more info on Pyle and images from the show at the link below....

CJ Pyle: Skin Deep
at Carl Hammer Gallery
740 N Wells
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, October 28, 2011
6 to 8pm
On view through December 30, 2011

Dia de los Muertos at Maya Essence

2011-10-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Art collective Escapism, in conjunction with fair trade store Maya Essence, will open a Dia de los Muertos show tonight in Lincoln Square.

Dia de Los Muertos with Escapism
at Maya Essence
4357 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

*Free*
Opening reception: Friday, October 28, 2011
8pm to midnight
The show will also be on view on Saturday, October 29th from 2 to 6pm

CelebrARTE

2011-10-28T09:01:00.000-05:00

Curator Sergio Gomez put together this show of art by Latino artists, including the excellent photographer Joe Compean, multidisciplinary artist Saul Aguirre, Diana Solis, and painter Marcos Raya. The full list of artists is in the link below. The opening is tonight at the Zhou B. Art Center in Bridgeport.

CelebARTE

at the Zhou B. Art Center

1029 W 35th St

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, October 28, 2011

7 to 10 pm

On view through November 12, 2011

Save Chicago Public Libraries!

2011-10-21T12:19:00.001-05:00

On a personal note, Chicago's Mayor Emanuel released his proposed 2012 budget last week and wants to fire over 1/4 of the entire staff of the Chicago Public Library in a few months. He also wants to cut hours on Mondays and Fridays. This would affect service to the public tremendously especially since the library system laid off 120 Library Pages 2 years ago. Pages put the books back on the shelves and have many other duties including working as clerical staff at the circulation desks.

This morning they announced that the rest of the Library Pages (146 of them) would be fired, as well as 24 Librarians, and 112 Clerks. If you live in Chicago please contact your local alderman to put pressure on the mayor and to vote against this cut.

You can find the contact info for your local alderman here.
Info for the Mayor's office is listed here.

Don't Fret at Maxwell Colette

2011-10-21T11:29:00.001-05:00

Don't Fret, a Chicago street artist whose drawings and work have also graced the walls of Brazil and beyond, will have a large solo show opening tomorrow night Saturday at the Maxwell Colette Gallery. This exhibition also inaugurates the brand new West Town space for Maxwell Colette at a much more pedestrian friendly spot on Ashland Ave a block south of Augusta. Maxwell Colette specializes in street art and has been instrumental in bringing several artists out to Chicago in the past year to share their work.

Here are some recent installation shots from their site, as well as new work on the streets of Chicago...

This should be a fun show and I highly recommend it.

Don't Fret: Man... the times... man
at Maxwell Colette Gallery
908 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, October 22, 2011
6pm to 9pm

Madison Zine Fest

2011-10-21T11:14:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow Saturday is the Madison Zine Fest in Madison, WI. A contingent of Chicago zinemakers including Erik of Junk Drawer will be out there. There'll also be people from the Chicago Zine Fest present (I'm on the organizing committee). This fest will be held as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival and is free to attend. Full schedule and information in the link below.

Madison Zine Fest
Varsity Hall
Union South
1308 W Dayton St.
Madison, Wisconsin

Saturday, October 22, 2011
10am to 6pm

SUBP-A-ROHT #2

2011-10-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

SUBP-A-ROHT has just released issue #2 of their drawing-oriented art zine. Printed on oversize newsprint, this free publication based in Thailand is dedicated to showcasing artwork by contemporary Southeast Asian artists and designers. SUBP-A-ROHT is the brainchild of Logan Bay and Sandy Voratanitkitkul, who moved to Thailand from Chicago a few years ago. Logan and Sandy began meeting many in the Thai art and design community and also started a site called Sook Yawd! to feature interviews with artists. The title of the magazine is the English phonetic spelling of the word "pineapple" in Thai.

Issue #1 featured work by Thai artists. Here are some pictures I shot at the local release at the Chicago Printers' Ball a few months ago...

The new monster/Halloween-themed issue #2 has expanded to also include contributors from Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Cambodia.

SUBP-A-ROHT will be available free tonight Friday at the MDW Fair in Bridgeport as well as a few other locations in Chicago. It'll also be available in Miami, NYC, and San Francisco.

20 Years of Lumpen Magazine

2011-10-21T10:22:00.002-05:00

I remember first exploring Wicker Park in the early 90's. Back when the whole neighborhood was an interesting and slightly dangerous adventure. I'd see people openly dealing drugs in the park, I witnessed a drive-by shooting around the corner by the Double Door, and the neighborhood was just starting to become a locus for the art scene in Chicago. Within a few years, the Around the Coyote art festival was bringing thousands of people into the neighborhood to check out artists and their studios, which in turn sped up the gentrification of the neighborhood and its transformation into Lincoln Park West.

But in that period 20 years ago a lot of excellent independent galleries and organizations opened up in Wicker Park including Quimby's Bookstore, Myopic Books, Billy "Upski" Wimsatt's Vision Village (a hip-hop oriented activist center), The A-Zone (an anarchist community center) , the activist black bookstore Lit-X (in the basement where Starbucks and Flash Taco are now located), and galleries like Beret International and Ten-in-One.

Another well curated and low budget art space that opened during that period was Buddy, which was the precursor to the vast Lumpen/Co-Prosperity Sphere/Public Media Institute/Version Fest/Select Fest/and Proximity magazine media and art empire that Edmar (Ed Marzewski) and friends currently run. They also began Lumpen Magazine at that time.

This was a period when new computer programs were allowing people to design and publish interesting magazines themselves. Magazines would come and go, lasting only a few issues. I'd pick up Lumpen with its mix of politics, art, and music coverage and then find another issue months later that was magically several issue numbers after the one I had last seen. I started keeping an eye out for it every time I went to Wicker Park because I liked it and the drastically different cover designs that they had.

Well, 117 issues later they've now reached their 20th anniversary. This is an amazing run for any kind of publication and I'd just like to say congratulations! They've carried articles on timely topics that I first read about there, they've been a source of independent comics, and their pages have also functioned as a diary of the Chicago art scene, including the infamous Party Steve columns.

The special all-color 20th anniverary edition of Lumpen will be released free at the MDW Fair tonight (which I wrote about below) as well as other spots in Bridgeport.

In addition to the 80-page issue there'll also be a 24-page bonus publication inside featuring highlights from previous issues...

Click on the covers to view all the image madness.

More info here on the Proximity magazine site. You can also catch some of the old issues at Lumpen's former site.

Pop-UPtown

2011-10-21T09:16:00.000-05:00

Pop-UPtown is a new pop-up art event opening tonight in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. An area full of creative people but low on art exhibition spaces, this event will highlight local artists and DJ's. It's free and runs from 6 to 11pm.

Pop-UPtown
4664 N Broadway
Chicago, IL
In three storefronts across the street from the main entrance of the Red Line Wilson station

Friday, October 21, 2011
6 to 11pm

MDW Fair

2011-10-20T23:56:00.002-05:00

Fresh off the success of their inaugural edition this past spring, the Midway Fair (MDW) is back again at the Geolofts in Bridgeport. Featuring several floors of exhibitions and publications, this fall edition will focus more on solo and duo art shows curated by various collectives, curators, artists, and independent galleries from around the country. There'll also be a publishers' area on the 3rd floor. Check out this link for the floorplans, schedules, and map to the Geolofts.

List of participants includes:

2612 Space
65GRAND
ACRE
Alderman Exhibitions
antena
ANTIDOTE
Bad at Sports
Chicago Artists Coalition
BOLT Residency
Chicago Urban Arts Society
DEFIBRILLATOR
Devening Projects + Editions
Document
Drawn Lots
Green Gallery
Happy Collaborationists
Harold Arts
High Concept Lab
The Hills
Hinge Gallery
Hungryman
Iceberg Projects
Itsa_pony
LVL3
Trevor Martin n
Abr Gallery
North Branch Projects
Nudashank
Old Seoul
Packer Schopf Gallery
Peanut Gallery
Pentagon
portage ARTspace
Reference
Reuben Kincaid
Roots & Culture
Sixty Inches From Center
Small Space
Spudnik Press
threewalls
Uncle Freddy’s Treats
Linda Warren
Western Exhibitions
What It Is
Propeller Fund grantees 2010

Publishers and other organizations:
Alternative Press Center
AREA Magazine
CHI_art
Golden Age
Green Lantern Press
Klein Art works
Make Magazine
Neoteric Art
Proximity, Lumpen, Materiél
Quimbys
Soberscove Press

MDW Fair

at the Geolofts

3636 S Iron St

Chicago, IL

Friday, October 21, 2011

from 8 to 11pm

Saturday & Sunday, October 22 & 23, 2011

from noon to 6pm

$5 admission

If you're taking public transportation an easy way to get there is to take the CTA Red Line to 35th St and then take the #35 35th st bus west to Iron St. Or take the #8 Halsted bus to 35th st and walk several blocks west as well. You can also get there from the Orange Line and from the Ashland bus.

There's free parking in the lot just south of the building.

Def Jam 25: A Conversation with Bill Adler and Cey Adams

2011-10-20T23:08:00.001-05:00

Pilsen's Chicago Urban Art Society will be the first stop after the new Def Jam 25 record label book comes out in NYC this week. Cey Adams and Bill Adler, Def Jam Records' original creative director and publicist respectively, wrote this book about the long and influential history of Def Jam.

The book features numerous interviews with perfomers and the people behind the scenes at the label, as well as photography by some great photographers including Glen E Friedman and Annie Leibovitz.

Cey Adams will have a slide presentation/talk about the book and there'll be a Q&A afterwards.

Def Jam 25: A Conversation with Bill Adler and Cey Adams
at the Chicago Urban Art Society
2229 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

Friday, October 21, 2011
6 to 10 pm
*Free*

3 Man Weave

2011-10-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

Uriel Correa, Revise CMW, and Sam Alcarez will have a pop-up show opening tomorrow night Friday in a beautiful historic space on Chicago's West Side. I'm a fan of Uriel's drawings and Revise's paintings. I'm not familiar with Sam's work but if they invited him then it must be good. There's going to be a tamale truck stationed outside as well as some craft beer. It should be a fun time!

3 Man Weave: Uriel Correa, Revise CMW, and Sam Alcarez

2620 W Washington Blvd (corner of Talman & Washington)

Chicago, IL

Friday, October 21, 2011

6pm to 9:30pm

OpenhouseChicago 2011

2011-10-15T11:54:00.003-05:00

This weekend is OpenhouseChicago, where over 130 buildings, studios, houses, and other normally private locations will be open to the public for free tours. Check out the link for the full list of locations. There will also be shuttle buses to take you to places within the different featured neighborhoods.

Highlights include the Emil Bach house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Rogers Park, backstage areas of the Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park, the art deco murals at the former Chicago Motor Club building, and the former offices of the Chicago Tribune's publisher on the 24th floor of their building.

OpenhouseChicago 2011
Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16, 2011

Annual 18th St Open Studios

2011-10-15T08:51:00.004-05:00

It's time once again for one my favorite art walks in Chicago. Pilsen contains many more artists than the ones with studios in the Halsted St area. This particular open studio weekend covers the entirety of Pilsen between 16th St and 24th St area and between Western and Halsted. There's a lot of unusual spaces to explore and great artwork to discover. There's a map and list of the over 40 participating locations in the link below.

18th St Open Studios
throughout the neighborhood of Pilsen
Chicago, IL

You can pick up maps at the studios and at Colibri Studio Gallery at 2032 W 18th St. This is also where free buses will start their route to take you to different parts of the neighborhood.

Saturday & Sunday, October 15 and 16, 2011
Noon to 6pm
*Free*

Le Petit Monstres

2011-10-15T07:24:00.001-05:00

OhNo!Doom Gallery in Wicker Park opens a show tonight Saturday featuring work by artists/toy designers Abe Lincoln Jr, Scott Tolleson, and Patricio Oliver. All three will have tiny monsteriffic work on display. It should be a fun show.

Le Petit Monstres: Abe Lincoln Jr, Scott Tolleson, and Patricio Oliver
at OhNo!Doom Gallery
1800 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, October 15, 2011
6 to 10 pm
On view through November 5, 2011

There is a Wanderlust Growing in Your Bones

2011-10-14T13:54:00.001-05:00

Daniel Danger will present new paintings and prints tonight Friday at Rotofugi Gallery in Lincoln Park. Rotofugi will also unveil this new paper lantern featuring a design by Daniel...

Daniel Danger: There is a Wanderlust Growing in Your Bones
at Rotofugi
2780 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

Snacks by Fritz Bakery and music by DJ Carrie Weston

Opening reception: Friday, October 14, 2011
7 to 10 pm
On view through November 6, 2011

Yesterday's Losers

2011-10-14T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hebru Brantley will open a huge show of his paintings tonight Friday. There will also be an installation by Chicago graffiti artists honoring graffiti writer DARE, who was killed several weeks ago. I've heard good things about this show from several people who've had a sneak peak. Here's a video shot during the install...

Yesterdays Losers from Bradley Murray on Vimeo.

Hebru Brantley

Hebru Brantley: Yesterday's Losers
at 2150 S Canalport (between Chinatown and Pilsen)
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, October 14, 2011
6 to 9pm

Alberto Aguilar & Michelle Harris at Roots & Culture

2011-10-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

Chicago artist Alberto Aguilar and Michelle Harris will have video work on display at Roots & Culture in West Town. There's an opening reception tonight Friday.

Alberto Aguilar & Michelle Harris
at Roots & Culture
1034 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, October 14, 2011
6-9pm
On view through November 12, 2011

James Gallagher at Pawn Works

2011-10-08T05:50:00.001-05:00

Pawn Works in Ukrainian Village presents a collage show tonight Saturday by NYC-based artist James Gallagher. James curated a traveling group show titled, "Cutters Edges" earlier this year featuring collage artists from around the globe. Gestalten published a corresponding catalog for that show as well. Tonight's show at Pawn Works should have some interesting work.

James also recently made some t-shirts for Stussy. In this video he explains how he started working with collage....

Stussy - James Gallagher from Stussy on Vimeo.

James Gallagher: Frequent Fits
at Pawn Works
1050 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, October 8, 2011
7 to 10 pm

Tigers, Totems, and Tamales

2011-10-08T05:32:00.001-05:00

Tonight Saturday is the closing party for the Tigers, Totems, and Tamales show at Oxala Gallery in Pilsen. Featuring paintings and illustrative work by Chema Skandal, Diana Solis, and Eric Garcia. Chema Skandal moved here to Chicago from Mexico a few years ago and I've enjoyed seeing his work popping up here and there.

Tigers, Totems, and Tamales
at Oxala Gallery
1653 W 18th. St
Chicago, IL

Closing reception: Saturday, October 8, 2011
6 to 9 pm

Verma and Radar Eyes at Favorite Records Chicago

2011-09-30T16:11:00.000-05:00

I don't know anything about these two bands but I wanted to post this great flyer design by Joe Tallarico for in-store sets by Verma and Radar Eyes at Favorite Records in Chicago. Favorite Records specializes in 45's and just opened a few months ago in Wicker Park near the CTA Division Blue Line station.

Verma and Radar Eyes
at Favorite Records
1535 W Division
Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 1, 2011
6pm
*free*

Sam Valenti & Michael Cina at Public Works 3

2011-09-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

Public Works and Someodd Pilot present the final event in their month-long Public Works 3 speaker series tonight Friday. Sam Valenti of Ghostly International Records and designer Michael Cina will speak from 7 to 9 pm tonight about their work and record label. And then there'll be a dance party from 9 to 11 pm along with a bar hosted by Finch Beer Co and AIGA Chicago.

You'll also have the opportunity to check out the Public Works 3 art exhibition featuring work by Evan Hecox, Michael Cina, Andy Jenkins, and Chris Strong.

Public Works 3 Speaker Series
at Public Works Gallery
1539 N Damen Ave, 2nd floor (next to the CTA Damen Blue Line Station)
Chicago, IL

Friday, September 30, 2011
Talk by Michael Cina and Sam Valenti from 7 to 9 pm
Dance party from 9 to 11 pm
*free*

Out Of Line

2011-09-30T08:57:00.001-05:00

Jane George curated this show of 27 artists around the idea of lines. Disrupting lines, using them as a graphic element, and more.

Out of Line
at Prak-Sis Gallery
1721 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, October 1, 2011
7 to 11pm
There will also be music by Onetwokno and Release

Write Now: Artists & Letterforms

2011-09-28T02:47:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Cultural Center has organized an exhibition dedicated to text and letterforms that will open this Friday evening. There's a tremendous cross section of over 60 up and coming and established artists in this show including Bernard Williams, Michael Genovese, Christine Tarkowski, Nick Adam, Erik DeBat, Tom Burtonwood, Buzz Spector, Kathleen Judge, Harold Mendez, Cody Hudson, Matthew Hoffman, Aron Gent, Mario Gonzalez, Jr, Ray Noland, Tom Torluemke, Rick Valicenti, Rahmaan "Statik" Barnes, Dzine, Doug Fogelson, Dan Grzeca, and Chad Kouri.

Write Now: Artists & Letterforms

at the Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Rooms

78 E Washington

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 30, 2011

5:30 to 7:30 pm

On view through April 29, 2012

In conjunction with this exhibition there will also be a talk with artists Mike Genovese, Bernard Williams, and Christine Tarkowski on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 6pm in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Ballad of the Tattooed Lady

2011-09-14T23:23:00.000-05:00

Artist Ellen Greene will show vintage leather gloves painted with tattoo flash designs at Firecat Projects in Bucktown this Friday evening.

Ellen Greene: Ballad of the Tattooed Lady
at Firecat Projects
2124 N Damen Ave

Opening reception: Friday, September 16, 2011
7 to 10 pm

Uplift

2011-09-14T22:29:00.001-05:00

Holy moly the Believe Inn is back in business after a two year hiatus. Nestled in a side street in Bucktown this cozy gallery will present a group show this coming Friday. There'll be an array of work by an excellent roster of artists including: Matthew Hoffman, Tom Torluemke, Lauren Feece, Chris Silva, Kim Frieders, Jourdon Gullett, Renee Robbins, Ruben Aguirre, Liza Berkoff, Doug Fogelson, Beth Pearlman, Anthony Lewellen, Eric Mecum, and Robert Stevenson.

With their front yard (and uh, picnic table) this will be the end of summer art blowout you've been waiting for.

Uplift
at the Believe Inn
2043 N Winchester
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 16, 2011
7 to 10 pm

The Year of Edie Fake

2011-09-12T02:02:00.003-05:00

I was happy to hear that Chicago artist and Quimby's Books comic sommelier Edie Fake just won a 2011 Ignatz award for Outstanding Graphic Novel. Honored for the mind blowing, Gaylord Phoenix, Edie was also nominated in several other categories. Gaylord Phoenix is an intriguing and beautifully drawn story of a creature going on a journey and figuring itself out.

Edie has had a lot of amazing work out this year including cover work for Mildred Pierce magazine and the Gay Genius Anthology edited by Annie Murphy.

Edie was also featured in shows at UIC's Gallery 400, the NEXT Art Fair, and Columbia College's Center for Book and Paper in the past few months. I'm pretty obsessed with the building drawing series that Edie's been working on recently.

Here's the poster that Edie designed for this year's 2011 Chicago Zine Fest....

And thus ends our proclamation that this is the Year of Edie Fake. Congrats Edie!

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts

2011-09-09T15:41:00.002-05:00

This weekend is the 7th edition of the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts. This year Anna Cerniglia of Johalla Projects was invited to curate a section of the festival at Broadway and Roscoe. I'm glad to be taking part in it this year. I'll be working with the Chicago Zine Fest and Grime Time Magazine. There'll be a lot of things to see and do in our part of the fair including live art by Brooks Golden and Drastic, new t-shirts and prints by Grime Time, zine workshops, brand new things at the ITSOKLANDIA booth by Matthew Hoffman, Steff Bomb and her amazing handmade plush creations and music by DJ's British Knights.

The rest of the fair will feature work by over 150 more artists. It should be a fun time.

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
Broadway between Belmont and Roscoe
Saturday & Sunday September 10 & 11, 2011
10am to 6pm Saturday
10am to 5pm Sunday

Renegade Chicago

2011-09-09T15:40:00.000-05:00

Fall brings us the latest edition of the grandpappy of craft fairs, Renegade. I always find great screenprints here. There'll be over 300 artists on hand and lots of great work to check out.

Chicago Renegade Craft Fair
Division St at Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Saturday and Sunday September 10 and 11, 2011
11am to 7pm
Free

Alex Webb at Stephen Daiter Gallery

2011-09-09T12:29:00.000-05:00

Photojournalist Alex Webb, a member of the Magnum photo agency, will have a show opening tonight Friday at Stephen Daiter Gallery in River North.

Alex Webb: The Suffering of Light
at Stephen Daiter Gallery
230 W Superior St
4th Floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
Exhibition on view through October 29, 2011

Cody Hudson Jason Lazarus at Andrew Rafacz Gallery

2011-09-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Chicago artists Cody Hudson and Jason Lazarus will both have solo shows opening at Andrew Rafacz tonight Friday in the West Loop

Cody Hudson: They Both Ride Horses
Jason Lazarus: The Search
at Andrew Rafacz Gallery
835 W Washington
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
4 to 7pm
On view through October 15, 2011

Public Works 3

2011-09-09T01:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight's the opening of the third iteration of the art and design show, Public Works. Being shown in the new Public Works space located in a large vintage loft next to the Damen Blue Line station in Wicker Park, Public Works 3 will contain work by Evan Hecox, Chris Strong, Andy Jenkins, and Michael Cina.

Public Works 3
at Public Works Gallery
1539 N Damen Ave
2nd Floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
7 to 11 pm
On view through October 15, 2011

William Stapes at 65Grand

2011-09-09T01:29:00.000-05:00

Williams Staples explores the structural framework behind canvases by opening up the surface of his paintings in this show opening tonight Friday at 65Grand in West Town.

Williams Staples: Picture Framing
at 65Grand
1369 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
7 to 10 pm
On view through October 8, 2011

Mystical Outlaw Rebel Baaddaasss Drawings

2011-09-09T01:00:00.004-05:00

The Prince of the Power of the Air or Lucifer G. Carmichael, 2011

ink, salt, watercolor, metallic pigments, spray, and crayon on Bristol paper, 14 x 17

Boasting the best title of any show this weekend, Thomas Robertello Gallery in the West Loop will present a drawing show by Jason Robert Bell. Jason will have autobiographical mixed media work and drawings on display.

Jason Robert Bell: Mystical Outlaw Rebel Baaddaasss Drawings
at Thomas Robertello Gallery
27 N Morgan St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
6 to 8 pm
On view through October 15, 2011

Ed Paschke: Early Paintings and Drawings

2011-09-09T00:46:00.000-05:00

Ed Paschke
Untitled, ca. 1960s
Graphite and ink wash on paper
21 1/2 x 16 1/4 inches

Russell Bowman Art Advisory in River North will open a show of early paintings, drawings, and a fabric piece by the late Ed Paschke from the late 60's and early 70's. This space always manages to find rare pieces by Chicago and outsider artists that you probably won't see again for many years. There's always something interesting in their shows.

Ed Paschke
Cleon, 1974
Pencil on Paper
24 x 17 1/2 inches

Ed Paschke: Early Paintings and Drawings
at Russell Bowman Art Advisory
311 W Superior
Suite 115
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
5:30 to 8pm
On view through October 29, 2011

Maria Gaspar at Woman Made Gallery

2011-09-09T00:35:00.000-05:00

Versatile Chicago artist, Maria Gaspar, has a solo show opening tonight at Woman Made Gallery in West Town. She'll show a series of sculptures, drawings, and a site-specific work.

Maria Gaspar: All That Also Means to See
at Woman Made Gallery
685 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
6 to 9 pm
On view through October 27, 2011

Cartoon Ink!

2011-09-08T02:47:00.000-05:00

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago presents a huge show of artwork by comic artists opening this Friday. Curated by Jeremy Tinder, Christa Donner, and Surabhi Ghosh, this show will feature an extensive selection of work by artists like Chris Ware, Lilli Carre, Jeffrey Brown, and Anders Nilsen.

Cartoon Ink!: Emerging Comics in Context
at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Betty Rymer Gallery
280 S Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
4:30 to 7pm
On view through October 15, 2011

Dia de Muertos XXV

2011-09-07T01:45:00.001-05:00

Chicago's National Museum of Mexican Art is presenting their 25th year of celebrating Day of the Dead in their Pilsen exhibition space. In addition to work like this ceramic piece by Francisco Flores
and this linocut lithograph by Cesar A. Martinez this Friday's opening will also feature a new installation piece by Juan Angel Chavez titled, Neptuno.

Dia De Muertos XXV
and Neptuno by Juan Angel Chavez
at the National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th St
Chicago, IL

Free opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011
6pm to 8:30pm
Dia de Muertos will be on view through December 11, 2011
Neptuno will be on view through January 8, 2012

Get busy with Busy Beaver Button Company

2011-09-06T23:58:00.004-05:00

Join Chicago's Busy Beaver Button Co this Friday as they unleash their newest series of Button-O-Matic artist designed buttons. Titled, "Superhero!", this series will feature buttons designed by some of my favorite artists in the city including Laura Park, Jay Ryan, Lilli Carre, Shawnimals, Jeffrey Brown, Anders Nilsen, and the people behind OhNo!Doom. There'll also be buttons by some people that are new to me like Box Brown, Cakespy, and Wolf Gnards.

Superhero! Button-O-Matic button release party

at Busy Beaver Button Co

3279 W Armitage

Chicago, IL

Friday, September 9, 2011

6 to 9pm

*Free!*

Mask and cape are optional

First 50 guests get a super gift bag!

Free beer courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery and Revolution Brewing, snacks from Pepperoni King and Nice Cream, and a free photo booth by Magnolia Photo Booth Co.

It should be a fun time.

High & Tight

2011-09-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

Ted Boggs will have a solo show of new work opening this Friday at Casualiving in the West Loop. Will he show photography? Paintings? A popsicle stick sculpture? Who knows but whatever it is I'm sure it'll be great!

Ted Boggs: High & Tight

at Casualiving

119 N Peoria

#3B

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, September 9, 2011

5 to 10 pm

It's time for more art!

2011-09-05T22:25:00.000-05:00

I'm back on here after a short break. Chicago is always fun in the summer but the beginning of September is when every gallery and art space in town kicks off their exhibition schedules. The majority of shows will all open this Friday, September 9th. I'll be posting shows for this weekend all week....

Rave and Club Flyer show at The Storefront

2011-08-13T12:59:00.001-05:00

Logan Square's The Storefront presents a show tonight Saturday featuring a collection of rave and club flyers from the collection of Bridgette Buckley. She began collecting flyers in Boulder, Colorado in the early 90's when she attended her first rave. The collection on display spans the years 1992 to 2001. Bridgette will also be spinning music from that period for tonight's reception.

This show was facilitated by Public Collectors, a group founded by artist Marc Fisher dedicated to sharing people's collections of books, records, and ephemera with broader audiences.

Eternity: The Rave and Club Flyer Collection of Bridgette Buckley
at The Storefront
2606 N California
Chicago, IL

Saturday, August, 13, 2011
5 to 9pm
*Free*
On display for the following week by appointment at alvendia1 at gmail.com

Pizza Dog & Pooper at Andrew Rafacz Gallery

2011-08-13T12:24:00.000-05:00

Andrew Rafacz Gallery in the West Loop will have a closing party today for their video art show with a performance by Pizza Dog and Pooper. Videos include work by Young Joon Kwak, Jen Stark, Ben Russell, and Jessie Maclean.

Pizza Dog & Pooper
at Andrew Rafacz Gallery
835 W Washington
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 13, 2011
4pm

Lowrider Invasion

2011-08-13T04:16:00.001-05:00

This Sunday the Chicago Urban Art Society in Pilsen hosts, Slow and Low: A Lowrider Show and Community Festival. This event will feature 25 lowrider cars and more than 20 custom bicycles, as well as music by Impala Sound and other DJ's.

Check out some preview profiles on three of the featured cars and their owners in Time Out Chicago here.

Slow and Low: A Lowrider Show and Community Festival
at the Chicago Urban Art Society
2229 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

Sunday, August 14, 2011
11am to 8pm
Car cruise from 8 to 9pm
$10 for adults
$2 for children 12 and under

We Are Hip Hop Festival

2011-08-13T03:51:00.000-05:00

The 6th annual We Are Hip Hop Festival kicks off today Saturday in Pilsen. Growing bigger by the year, this free event will feature breakdancing, graffiti, and performances by Chicago MC's and DJ's including...

Jam One
Mass Hysteria
Scheme
Seel Fresh
Phero
Phillip Morris
Kuumbalynx
Ghetto Division
DJ Greedy
Mattboy White
West
Phunk One
Sour Apples Crew
Gums
Struggle Academy
Hood Huntaz
FA the Squad
Fidelity
Lorgio
and Chri'Auna

Chicago-based graffiti magazine Grime Time will also have a booth there with photographs, issues of the magazine, and a new t-shirt design.

Check out the beautifully designed video flier by Nem Perez here...

WE ARE HIP HOP Festival from Nem Perez on Vimeo.

This video by Phero for "The Foundation" features a lot of great images of Pilsen.

The Foundation from Immaculate Entertainment, Inc. on Vimeo.

The 6th Annual We Are Hip Hop Festival
Back fields of Dvorak Park
1119 W Cullerton (in the vicinity of May St & Cermak Rd in Pilsen)
Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 13, 2011
Noon to 6pm
*Free* and all ages

Mad Decent Block Party Chicago 2011

2011-08-13T03:14:00.000-05:00

Today Saturday is going to be the Mad Decent Block Party curated by record label Mad Decent. Featuring an eclectic mix of artists from their label and Chicago, if this party is anything like the concert they threw here last year it should be a fun time. Full schedule and list of artists here.

Mad Decent Block Party 2011
On Milwaukee Ave between Western and Oakley
Chicago
(around the corner from the Western Blue Line CTA station)
RSVP here for guaranteed entry
*Free* and All Ages

Saturday, August 13, 2011
Noon to 10 pm

Indie Arts Market at Schubas

2011-08-13T03:03:00.000-05:00

Today Saturday is the summer edition of the Indie Arts Market at Schubas Tavern. There'll be artwork available by Chicago crafters and artists including printmaker Jeremiah Catalano-Reilly, who also has a show of new food related prints up in the area (pictured here) ...

at Inkling at 2917 1/2 N Broadway, Chicago through the end of August.

Indie Arts Market
at Schubas Tavern
3159 N Southport (at the corner of Sheffield & Southport)
Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 13, 2011
11am to 5pm
Free

Built Festival

2011-08-13T02:24:00.001-05:00

Tristan J.M. Hummel, the curator behind the Art on Track shows presented on a moving CTA elevated train the past 3 years, has a new event this year. Built is a large-scale art installation featuring work by over 100 artists and collectives presented in and around a dozen shipping containers. The show opened last night and continues from noon to 10:30 pm today (Saturday). There'll also be music performances throughout the evening with the always fun White Mystery headlining at 9pm.

Full info and schedule of events here. And an article in the Chicago Tribune here.

Built
1767 N Milwaukee Ave (in the Aldi parking lot)
Chicago, IL
$10 admission

Saturday, August 13, 2011
Noon to 10:30 pm

Reese & Hippo Vinyl Pop-Up Shop

2011-08-13T01:56:00.000-05:00

There's going to be a great vinyl record sale today Saturday at the 5th Laboratory in Logan Square. There will also be grilled dishes available or you can bring your own food to cook as well.

Reese & Hippo Vinyl Pop-Up Shop and Grilled Delights

at the 5th Laboratory

2644 N Sawyer (by the Logan Theater near the Logan CTA Blue Line station)

Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 13, 2011

11am to 6pm

BYOB

Kollage's "They've Landed" album release party

2011-08-08T02:43:00.001-05:00

Chicago DJ and beatmaker, Kollage, is going to have a release party for his new solo album, They've Landed, this Wednesday at the Morseland in Rogers Park. In addition to a set by Kollage, there'll also be live performances by Lokua (Moment Sound), and LAGOS, consisting of producer duo Radius and Leo123. This'll be the first time LAGOS is performing live. I enjoyed Leo123's past collaborative work with Eliot Lipp in Dark Party. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's new stuff this Wednesday.

Kollage, Lokua, and LAGOS
at the Morseland
1218 W Morse (between Sheridan Rd and the Morse Red Line CTA station)
Chicago, IL

Wednesday, August 10, 2011
10pm to 2am
21+
*Free*

Britney Spears 101

2011-08-08T01:40:00.001-05:00

Chicago's roving lecture series, Homeroom, will present Britney Spears 101, a symposium on all things Britney this Tuesday night. Liz Mason and Christopher Smit have each published books recently addressing Britney Spears in the context of consumerism and consumption among other themes. While filmaker Judy Hoffman made a documentary titled, Stages: 3 Days in Mexico, which covers Britney's 2002 tour in Mexico. All three will talk about their work.

Liz's book, Caboose #7 Britney Spears 101, has just been republished and is available through Quimby's Bookstore.

Britney Spears 101
presented by Homeroom
at the Hungry Brain
2319 W Belmont
Chicago, IL

*Free*
21+
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
9pm

Public Collectors: Underground Fanzines from the 80's/90's

2011-08-06T10:06:00.001-05:00

This weekend there'll be a great opportunity to check out over 200 music fanzines from the 80's and 90's. Info from the Public Collectors site...

Marc Fischer from Public Collectors will be sharing over 200 photocopied underground music fanzines from the late 1980s and early 90s. You'll be able to read a ton of exceptionally rare 'zines (many of these were printed in runs of less than a hundred copies) while listening to a couple hundred cassettes and demo tapes of hardcore, metal and noise rock from the same period. A new publication about this period in 'zine publishing will be available for free at the event.
Public Collectors is founded upon the concern that there are many types of cultural artifacts that public libraries, museums and other institutions and archives either do not collect or do not make freely accessible. Public Collectors asks individuals that have had the luxury to amass, organize, and inventory these materials to help reverse this lack by making their collections public.

Public Collectors: Underground Fanzines from the 80's/90's
at The Storefront
2606 N California Ave
Chicago, IL

Saturday & Sunday August 6th and 7th, 2011
Noon to 5pm both days
*Free*

In addition to this weekend's event, there's still some time left to catch art collective Temporary Services' zine and independent publication show at Northwestern University's Block Museum in Evanston. Marc is one of the three members of Temporary Services. Titled, Social Mobility: Collaborative Projects with Temporary Services, this show presents many of the publications that Temporary Services has published, as well as a project where artists loaded flash drives with artwork, texts, and other projects which you can then download yourself at the exhibit.

Social Mobility: Collaborative Projects with Temporary Services
at the Block Museum
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

This show will be on view through August 14, 2011
*Free*

Assembly Line Collective

2011-08-06T01:42:00.000-05:00

OhNo!Doom Gallery in Wicker Park welcomes artwork by eleven members of the Assembly Line Collective tonight Saturday.

Assembly Line Collective
at OhNo!Doom Gallery
1800 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, August 6, 2011
6 to 10 pm
On view through August 27, 2011

You Are the Vanishing Point

2011-08-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

West Loop gallery Ebersmoore presents paintings by Matt Irie tonight Friday. Utilizing geometric patterns and opposing sets of brushstrokes to a disorienting effect, this sounds like an interesting show. More info here.

Matt Irie: You Are the Vanishing Point

at Ebersmoore

213 N Morgan

#3C

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, August 5, 2011

6 to 9pm

On view through September 3, 2011

Renovation Creep

2011-08-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

Artists Daniel Bruttig, Joe Cassan, and Erin Thurlow present Renovation Creep, opening tonight at Antena Gallery. Antena is housed in a large live-in space on the ground floor of a vintage Pilsen apartment building. This show explores the way that the spaces we live in usually bear some remnants or signs of past inhabitants and changes to the physical space itself. The artists will be making some material changes to the space. I've always liked the original tin ceiling tiles at Antena but not the kitchen cabinets so one can only hope that they mess with the kitchen for this show.

Daniel Bruttig, Joe Cassan, and Erin Thurlow: Renovation Creep
at Antena
1765 S Laflin
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, August 5, 2011
6 to 10 pm
Open by appointment through September 3, 2011

Tom Torluemke: Precious and Few

2011-08-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

Indiana artist Tom Torluemke will present a painting show opening tonight at the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago's Gallery 180 in the Loop. I'm always amazed by the variety of artwork that Tom creates. Each of his shows usually feature work in different media ranging from drawings, sculptures, and paintings that also differ in style but are all equally good. I was really engaged by the large scale daily drawings he presented at the MDW fair earlier this year. Tonight's show will feature figurative paintings in a more surrealistic vein. I'm looking forward to checking them out.

Tom Torluemke: Precious and Few
Gallery 180
180 N Wabash
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, August 5, 2011
5:30 to 7:30 pm
On view through August 31, 2011

Harley & Boss at Rotofugi

2011-08-05T03:11:00.001-05:00

Artists and designers Andrea Kang and Nathan Jurevicius have a show of new artwork opening tonight Friday at Rotofugi. For this body of work Andrea and Nathan will show work under the names Harley & Boss. Nathan is behind the Scarygirl toy/game/novel project as well.

Andrea Kang & Nathan Jurevicius aka Harley & Boss: The Tales of Bucket Town

at Rotofugi Gallery

2780 N Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, August 5, 2011

7pm to 10pm

On view through September 4, 2011

Food Prints at Inkling

2011-08-04T17:15:00.001-05:00

Chicago printmaker Jeremiah Catalano-Reilly has been working on a new series of screenprints based on vintage food product imagery. He'll have a show of them opening tomorrow night Friday at Inkling.

Jeremiah Catalano-Reilly: Food Prints
at Inkling
2917 1/2 N Broadway
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, August 5, 2011
7 to 11 pm
On view through August

Skewville at Pawn Works

2011-07-29T13:22:00.003-05:00

Brooklyn-based street art duo Skewville will have a show opening up tomorrow night Saturday at Pawn Works in Ukrainian Village. You may see some of their trademark wood sneakers hanging over wires in Chicago this week. They also do larger scale work and tomorrow's show should have a great selection.

I'm happy to see that they also completed a large text-based mural in Chicago recently.

Skewville
at Pawn Works
1050 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, July 30, 2011
6 to 10 pm

The Printers' Ball - It's Alive!

2011-07-29T10:16:00.001-05:00

Tonight's the 7th. annual Printers' Ball at Columbia College Chicago in the South Loop. The Printers' Ball is a celebration of independent printing and publishing in Chicago. Bringing together diverse groups and publications with many giveaways, workshops, and music on 3 floors, it's always a fun time.

This year my friends Logan and Sandy sent several hundred copies of their new art/comic/newspaper thingy Supb-A-Roht to the Printers' Ball straight from Thailand. Featuring illustrations and more from artists from that country, I'm looking forward to checking it out. You can read more about it here.

Here's the full schedule of events for the Printers' Ball.
The Printers' Ball - It's Alive!
Columbia College Chicago
Ludington Building
1st, 2nd, and 8th. floors
1104 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL

Friday, July 29, 2011
6pm to 11pm
*Free*

Carnaval Croquant

2011-07-21T19:56:00.000-05:00

No Coast Outre presents Carnaval Croquant, an art event featuring photography, artwork and performances at Belmont Army Surplus in Wicker Park tomorrow night Friday. Featuring a huge mural and installation by artists sponsored by RVCA and a photography show by photographers working with Analog, it should be a fun time. There'll also be a performance by Rabble Rabble.

Food and drink sponsored by Finch's, POP Chips, Red Bull, and more.

Carnaval Croquant
at Belmont Army Surplus
1318 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Friday, July 22, 2011
beginning at 7pm

July Soul Summit

2011-07-21T12:51:00.001-05:00

The monthly Soul Summit dance party at the Double Door will have a special guest tonight. DJ Tropicaza from Mexico City will be spinning tonight along with your regular Soul Summit DJ's, Dave Mata, Duke Grip, and Sloppy White. I heard Tropicaza spin when he was here last year. He brought a lot of interesting and fun rare 60's and 70's soul records from Mexico and I'm sure that tonight will feature more of the same. Tonight's set is 21+ and free.

Here are a few pictures I shot there earlier this summer...

They'll also unveil their new silkscreen poster tonight...

Soul Summit
at the Double Door
1572 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Thursday, July 21, 2011
9pm to closing
21+
*Free*

Stef Sola

2011-07-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

Chicago's STEF will have a solo show opening tonight at RGB Lounge in Wicker Park. Coming from a background in fashion, dance, and graffiti, STEF's work has a very distinctive and colorful style. You can read more about STEF and her show at the RGB Lounge blog here.

STEF Sola: Out of Darkness
at RGB Lounge
1420 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, July 21, 2011
7 to 11 pm
On view through July, 2011

Foto Expo at Casualiving

2011-07-16T04:06:00.040-05:00

I'm glad to be a part of the FOTO EXPO show opening this afternoon at Casualiving. The curator's theme for the show was, "Looking as an action. An alternate approach to photographic practice." Which led to the interactive work being shown today ranging from the American Ruins series of View-Master reels by Matt Bergstrom, slide projections by William FitzPatrick, cigar boxes converted into 3-D viewers by the Chicago Reader's Jim Newberry, an amazing set of Chicago Police Dept themed photographs by Matt Tuteur, a postal installation by Chris Milhausen, and more work by Peter Skvara, Tessa Perutz, Zebadiah Arrington, Theodore Boggs, Enzo Moscarella, Garrett Munski, and myself.

Located in the West Loop, this gallery also features an amazing built-in wood installation.

FOTO EXPO: A Group Effort

at Casualiving

119 N Peoria #3B

3rd floor

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, July 16, 2011

2 to 10 pm

Other hours by appointment at casualiving@gmail.com

Triple Crown of Yo-Yo Offical After-Party

2011-07-16T03:26:00.001-05:00

After today's Triple Crown of YoYo Midwest Classic finals in Milennium Park, Rotofugi will host the offical afterparty from 6 to 8 pm. With yo-yo demos by yo-yo players and champions, a toy release by Chris Ryniak, and live painting by Brooks Golden and Jeremy Pettis there'll be a lot of great stuff to check out.

Triple Crown of YoYo Offical Afterparty

at Rotofugi

2780 N Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL

Saturday, July 16, 2011

6 to 8 pm

*Free*

Silver Room's Annual Block Party

2011-07-16T03:05:00.001-05:00

It's time again for that summer time treat, the Silver Room's Annual Block Party. The store does a lot throughout the year to promote culture by having in-store art shows and movie screenings. This block party is their big blowout with a main stage on the street, as well as dj's spinning in-store and on their back patio. They also unveil a new mural next to the main stage each year. The event is free and family friendly. This should be a lot of fun.

Here's the full line-up from their site....

EVERGREEN STAGE
Noon Welcome by Daniel Bryant and Congo Square Theater
12:05 Life Recycled Puppetery
12:25 Dance Lab Studios
12:45 Kuumba Lynx
1:10 Magic Carpet
1:45 Urban Stomp with Toseima Jiles
2:00 Velvette
3:20 FM Supreme
3:50 Koku Gonza
4:20 O'my's
5:00 DJ Scratch
6:00 Threads and Treads Fashion Show
with Copenhagen Cyclery and Brooklyn Industries
6:30 Theaster Gates and the Mississippi Black Monks
7:30 Joi Cardwell
8:00-10 Ron Trent

IN STORE
11-12:30 Broha Onaci
12:30 - Tess Kissner
2-3:30 Redux
3:30 3:45 Cecelia Weiss Bambara
3:45 5:15 Joe Bryl
5:15 -6:45 Steve Miggedy Maestro
6:45 - 7 Belly Dancing with Pheadra Darwis
7:00 - 8:30 Mario Romay
8:30 - 10 Hollywood Holt

REAR PATIO
11-12:30 Nigel Gillet
12:30 - 2:00 Gene Hunt
2:00 - 3:30 Zebo
3:30 - 4:00 Milly Mango
4:00 - 5:30 Brian Reaves
5:30 - 6pm Prob Cause
6pm -7:30 Lego
7:30 till 8 10 ille
8 - 9 Earn Money
9 - 10 Raj Mahal

The Silver Room's 9th Annual Sound System Block Party
at the Silver Room at 1142 N Milwaukee Ave as well as the intersection of Milwaukee Ave and Evergreen Ave
Chicago, IL
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Noon to 10 pm

Grime Time Photo show & T-Shirt Release Party

2011-07-07T08:14:00.001-05:00

Chicago graffiti magazine, Grime Time, will have an exhibition of new photography opening tomorrow night Friday at Impala Gallery in Rogers Park. They will also be releasing several great new Grime Time t-shirt designs by different artists. Music by the excellent DJ's of Impala Sound as well as a record set by me. It should be a fun night!

Grime Time Magazine Photography Show & T-Shirt Release Party
at Impala Gallery
1768 W Greenleaf (between Clark St and the Rogers Park Metra station)
Chicago, IL

Friday, July 8, 2011
6pm to 4am
*Free*

Dominick Di Meo at Corbett vs Dempsey

2011-07-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

Dominick Di Meo, an artist who was part of the famed Monster Roster group of artists in the 50's, will present a selection of canveses titled, "Transfer", at Corbett vs Dempsey. Utilizing image transfers, collage, stencils, and other techniques, this series consists of work from the 60's through the present day.

Dominick Di Meo: Transfer
Corbett vs Dempsey
1120 N Ashland Ave
3rd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, July 8, 2011
5 to 8 pm
On view through August 27, 2011

The Post Family at CUAS

2011-07-07T07:47:00.000-05:00

After several years of showcasing work by other artists as well as individual members, The Post Family art and design collective is presenting their first show featuring everyone in their group. Rather than go the usual route by displaying finished artwork, they decided to delve into the personal objects and collections that inspire them and show those instead. Here's a teaser video of the installation at the Chicago Urban Art Society in Pilsen...

Chicago Urban Art Society: Collections from Nick Brazinsky on Vimeo.

The Post Family: Collections

at the Chicago Urban Art Society

2229 S Halsted

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, July 8, 2011

6pm to 11pm

On view through August 27, 2011

Our Life

2011-07-07T07:26:00.000-05:00

Nick Adam will unveil a series of artworks titled, Our Life, tonight in the Loop. Displayed in the windows of the abandoned Century Building, Nick's series is a set of words composed of cut paper and grommets. Based on a font that Nick developed, each letter has arms and legs that work to connect each letter.

Over the past several years Nick has created various sets of public work rooted in explorations of letter form and compounded with social and political commentary. I've enjoyed viewing and coming across these pieces in the streets of Chicago. This current piece is described by Nick as "...a celebration, for all that we do and all that we are."

Nick Adam: Our Life
Public display on view at the windows of
The Century Building
202 S State St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, July 7, 2011
5 to 8pm

This window installation will have an opening reception scheduled at the same time as the Worth-While art show a block east and the Go Do Good photography show a few blocks north so you can visit all three at the same time.

Worth-While

2011-07-07T06:38:00.004-05:00

The Chicago Urban Art Society and the Chicago Loop Alliance's Pop-Up Art Loop Program present a show opening tonight titled, WORTH-WHILE. Curated by Kevin Wilson, this show will feature artwork by Josh Dihle, Garret Durant, Paul Louis Nelson, and Sighn. Info below from their site...

Every individual is responsible for finding one’s own purpose in life, in whatever manner that’s best fitting, and within this subjective process questions of personal value often arise. “WORTH-WHILE” is an exhibition featuring the work of four artists who explore this area of uncertainty with an emphasis on affirmation in art and the use of one’s practice as a sort of self-help ritual. Heavily based upon text and repetition, common themes in the work arise and a balancing act is created between seemingly positive messages and existential undertones of anxiety and sarcasm.

Worth-While
208 S Wabash
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, July 7, 2011
5 to 8pm

Go Do Good

2011-07-07T06:18:00.001-05:00

Photograph by Ron Gordon

The Chicago Photography Collective is presenting a summer show on State St with work by 11 photographers including Ron Gordon, Matt Tuteur, Paul Natkin, and Marc PoKempner. Inspired by the Go Do Good good deeds campaign,

which in turn was based on this new public mural by artist Kay Rosen, this show will present socially conscious photographs.

The Chicago Photography Collective: Go Do Good
at the Block 37 Building
108 N State St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, July 7, 2011
5 to 8 pm
On view through October 1, 2011

Delicious Design League at Inkling

2011-07-01T12:02:00.000-05:00

In addition to tonight's printmaker extravaganza at Rotofugi, Delicious Design League will have a show of screenprints open tonight Friday at Inkling in Lakeview.

Delicious Design League
at Inkling
2917 1/2 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, July 1, 2011
6 to 10pm
On view through July 31, 2011

The Little Friends of Printmaking & Aesthetic Apparatus at Rotofugi

2011-07-01T10:51:00.001-05:00

Two great Midwest printing duos will have shows of new work opening tonight at Rotofugi in Chicago. The Little Friends of Printmaking produce vibrantly colored and beautifully designed posters. I've purchased some fun prints by them over the years. You can check out their work here.

Aesthetic Apparatus works out of Minneapolis and also produces screenprinted posters. I'm not familar with their work but you can catch some of it here.

The Little Friends of Printmaking & Aesthetic Apparatus
at Rotofugi
2780 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, July 1, 2011
7 pm to 10 pm
On view through July 31, 2011

Uprise Skatedeck Release Party

2011-06-25T06:11:00.000-05:00

Chicago skateshop, Uprise, will unveil their new "Sandwich Men" series of skateboard decks designed by their Brazilian friend, Felipe Motta aka Mottilaa. There'll also be a new deck release by Cliche with a design based on a vintage map of Chicago. Tonight's release party will also feature original artwork, prints, and t-shirts by Mottilaa.

In addition, there'll be music by the Record Players and DJ Jonny Fonseca. The event is free and will be held next door to the Congress Theater.

Uprise Skatedeck Release Party

at 2139 N Milwaukee Ave (in a storefront in the Congress Theater building)

Chicago, IL

Saturday, June 25, 2011

8pm to midnight

18 and over

Free