A brief video-chronicle of the Black Arts Movement alongside the writing of JeNae’ Taylor.

A look into the past and present history of Chicago’s poetry scene.

An article in three distinct yet overlapping acts that recall an absurdist exercise of First Amendment rights in the antiquated format of a soapbox speech.

Diana Gabriel and collaborator Rita Grendze reflect on making, marketing, and enjoying the labor-intensive and ephemeral art they both create.

A reflection on the bi-monthly performative comix series that recently saw the end of a three-year run.

During his recent residency at Or Gallery Berlin, Chicago-based artist Troy Briggs completed a new piece titled shutter shudder ep. 1, constructed from a retrofitted light bulb wirelessly connected to this website: http://dotdash.x1024.net/ When a user types a message into a text field online, that message is transmitted to the bulb in Berlin, where it flickers in Morse code. This text flashes only once and is not archived in any way. The bulb’s exact location isn’t disclosed, but it has been installed in a space accessible to the Berlin public: a flickering lamp in an alley, or maybe a pulsing light in a disco. I spoke with Troy about the transitory nature of his work, especially in regards to the way shutter shudder ep. 1 engages with the Internet. In an age when we know that every facet of our digital lives is susceptible to government surveillance and is constantly being mined by companies for marketing insights, Briggs’ project creates a safe place for secrets, incorporating them into an artwork that is whimsically beautiful and …