Like every weekend in Chicago, there’s so much art happening. We at Sixty Inches From Center wanted to provide you with a list of some of the events on our radar.
FRIDAY || April 29, 2011
ART CHICAGO®, the annual international fair of contemporary and modern art, brings together the world’s leading emerging and established galleries from around the world. NEXT®, is a showcase for the world’s talents and an adventure in cutting-edge culture. An opportunity to redefine the relationship between art and its public, NEXT is a portal to seeing contemporary art in new, innovative, eye-opening ways. The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair™, features an extraordinary collection of work—ranging from rare antiquities to modern design. The 14th Annual Fair will host more than 100 of the world’s top dealers of antiques and fine art.
Merchandise Mart
350 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL
Friday 11a–7p All Shows
Saturday11a–7p All Shows
Sunday11a–6p All Shows
Monday11a–3p The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, 11a–4p Art Chicago & NEXT
Lillstreet Art Center 35th Anniversary Exhibition Reception
Featuring Artists: Dan Anderson, Mary Barringer, Doug Casebeer, Sam Chung, Jim Connell, Michael Corney, David Crane, Dovetail Ceramics, Josh DeWeese, Kathryn Finnerty, Delores Fortuna, Julia Galloway, Silvie Granatelli, Jason Hess, Charles Jahn, Eric Jensen, Gail Kendall, Suze Lindsay, Maren Kloppmann, Ron Kovatch, Steve Young Lee, Andrew Martin, Matthew Metz, Ron Meyers, Emily Murphy, Jeff Oestereich, Kari Radasch, Ralph Scala, Laurie Shaman, Ellen Shankin, Mark Shapiro, Linda Sikora, Jason Trebs, Jason Walker and Michael Wisner.
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N Ravenswood
Chicago, IL
6:00pm-9:00pm
Allen Vandever’s 2nd anual Art Extravaganza Presenting Team Art!
TEAM ART! is not only participating in NEXT, but also throwing the art opening and AFTER PARTY not to be missed! ALLEN VANDEVER’S 2ND ANNUAL ART EXTRAVAGANZA kicks off Friday April 29th at Caffe Baci (225 W Wacker, just across the river from Merchandise Mart) complete with art installations, live music, DJ’s, food, drinks, and dancing! Complimentary rickshaws will be available to escort guests to and from ART CHICAGO, and beautiful, cutting edge work will be hung in the gallery. Look for work by these esteemed Chicago artists:
Cafe Baci
225 W Wacker Dr (across the river from Art Chicago)
6p-2am
The Empty Set at HPAC
What does nothing sound like? Find out on Friday, April 29 from 7 to 9 pm with “The Empty Set” at the Hyde Park Art Center. Musicians give their interpretation of The Void as part of Conrad Freiburg’s exhibition It Is What It Isn’t. Live performances by Jason Ajemian, Bill Mackay, Mississippi Gabe Carter, Academy Records, Andy Hall, Frank Van Duerm, and others.
Hyde Park Art Center
5020 South Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615-3016
7:00p-9:00p
Version 11: Materiél Magazine Release Party
Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219 S Morgan St
Chicago, Illinois
8:00p-11:00p
NAIL SALON @ Club Nutz
A group painting show + poster release party. Featuring Yoon Jae Barng, Claire Berenblum, Paul Dressen, Travis Fish, Bess Mcneill, Dhehee Lee, Nicole Mazza, Sunhwa PArk, Yangbin Park, Daniel Rizzo-Orr, Laura Rodriguez, Minji Sohn, Kevin Stuart and Brian Wadford. A special unveiling of Printed Phyllis, a poster project by Sara Greenberger Rafferty and Cool Art. Comedy DJ set by DJ Raff Out Loud & DJ Lourie Anderson.
Club Nutz
418 N Clark St, 2
Chicago, IL 60654
7:00pm—12:00am
The Unspoken Truth about Color: A Dialogue in Art Quilts about Racism
In recognition of the National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is sponsoring a month-long art exhibit from April 27 – May 22. This show, The Unspoken Truth about Color: A Dialogue in Art Quilts about Racism, includes 31 pieces from 27 diverse artists from across the country. Please join us for the opening night reception.
YWCA at ARC Gallery
832 W. Superior, #204
Chicago, IL 60622
6:00pm – 9:00pm
200 Funny Things at Flat Iron
Steven Ivcich created this “festival of bizarre behavior” with one goal in mind: to get 200 laughs from the audience in under 45 minutes. The cackles are counted by the Laugh Manager, who records them on a “now serving” board like the ones you see at delis. Kooky, uninhibited cast members riff off one another’s body language and vocalizations to create abstract, inexplicably amusing comedy. More Wild Thing than human, they may ask to be knighted by an audience member one moment and suck hungrily on a pillow the next. I wasn’t always sure why I was laughing, but I thoroughly enjoyed this improvisational rumpus. –Marissa Oberlander
Flat Iron Arts Building
1579 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
SATURDAY || April 30, 2011
R&C 5th Annual (Anniversary) Fundraiser
The best party of the art fair weekend returns again! We are turning 5 this year! Join us to kick off our anniversary year, we are doing it in style! Bigger and better than ever this year we are featuring our famous snack attack, full bar featuring Half Acre beer and Chi-town’s hottest DJs.
Roots & Culture
1034 N Milwaukee Ave.
8pm- 12am
$25 in advance (send a check to Roots & Culture 1034 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60642) or $30 at the door.
Theaster Gates : An Epitaph for Civil Rights and Other Domesticated Structures
Gate’s most recent exhibition at Kavi Gupta Gallery is a lament for the struggles of America’s Civil Rights past and the gaps that remain in the present through objects and materials that emanate from Chicago’s Black South Side. Through these objects Gates is not only paying homage to the bravery of those who faced what today can be viewed as unfathomable circumstances, but is also calling attention to the romanticized view that the fight for equality is far from over. Exhibition runs through July 2, 2011.
Kavi Gupta Gallery
835 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago IL 60607
4pm-7pm
Free
Lillstreet Art Center’s 35th Anniversary!
Come out and celebrate Lillstreet Art Center’s 35th Anniversary! All proceeds will go to benefit ArtReach at Lillstreet, helping to expand its current programming and serve an ever-widening audience across the Chicagoland area. Lillstreet, ArtReach and you: together we make a difference!
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, Illinois
6:00pm-9:00pm
Opening for “Multiplicity” @ Art Chicago
Chicago Artists’ Coalition Works on Paper Residency presents “Multiplicity” April 30 from 12-6pm in Suite 1562 of the Merchandise Mart. Multiplicity features the work of 2010-2011 works on paper resident artists: Lisa Goesling, Jaime Lynn Henderson, Alexandra Lee (ATYL), Mark Moleski, Zachary Mory, Allison Svoboda
suite 1562 @ Merchandise Mart
350 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
12:00pm-7:00pm
Community Supported Art Chicago launch event
Community-Supported Art Chicago is a yearly art subscription service of locally produced art, featuring Conrad Bakker, Sara Black, Edie Fake, Jesse Harrod, Jessica Labatte, Jason Lazarus, Laura Mackin, Eric Fleischauer, Pamela Fraser, Aay Preston-Myint, Steve Reinke, and Dan S. Wang. Each share costs $400 and subscribers receive 6 signed and numbered artworks over three months, from April to June 2011. The event will feature the first box of the season, hand-crafted cocktails by the Hornswaggler Bar, food and performances by Tamalli Space Charros Collective, live music, the 1st editions of all 12 works for auction and a chance to meet participating artists.
threewalls
119 N. Peoria St. #2c
Chicago, IL
6-9 PM
No Joke Closing Reception
The exhibition No Joke features new work by Andy Cahill, Alan & Michael Fleming, Yasi Ghanbari, Danny Greene, Joe Grimm, Marissa Perel, Aaron David Ross, and Michael Vallera.
LVL3
1542 N. Milwaukee Ave #3
Chicago, IL
5:00pm-8:00pm
Jeremy Sorese: “Visual Field” class
Come go toe-to-toe with industry maven Scott McCloud as Jeremy Sorese continues to teach from “Understanding Comics.” The Visual Field costs $10 and pencils and paper will be provided. But of course you can bring your own art supplies, too. Please RSVP to challengers@challengerscomics.com as seating is limited. UNDERSTANDING COMICS will be 20% OFF from now until class time.
Challengers Comics
1845 N. Western Ave. #2R
Chicago, IL
2pm-3:30pm
Fee: $10
Emily Jones: Take Back The Night
Artist’s reception, open to the public: 6p-9p
Gallery open 9a-5p, Sunday, May 1
DOVA Temporary
5228 S. Harper Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615
Wort Workshop Series #2: Spoke Project Residency
The Wort Workshop Series continues to the Spoke Project Residency. Workshops will demonstrate to the public home-brewing techniques. Participants are encouraged to bring an ingredient they have grown or purchased locally that they feel would be an excellent ingredient within a beer or soda. Local urban agriculturalists will also be present at each workshop to facilitate discussions on local food production.
Spoke Chicago
119 N. Peoria Street #3D
Chicago, IL
3:00p-8:00p
REENTRY ISSUES: SEASHELLS AND SUPERSTITION
ACRE and HAPPY COLLABORATIONISTS present an opening reception on Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 6-10pm at 1254 N Noble Street, Chicago Illinois. ACRE has partnered with HAPPY COLLABORATIONISTS to host MYRANDA GILLIES & ELSPETH VANCE: REENTRY ISSUES: SEASHELLS AND SUPERSTITION, the next installment in ACRE’s year-long series of solo exhibitions by 2010 ACRE summer residents.
Happy Collaborationists Exhibition Space
1254 N Noble
Chicago, Illinois
6:00pm-10:00pm
Pocket Guide to Hell’s Haymarket Affair Reenactment
A full-scale reenactment of the Haymarket Affair to commemorate its 125th Anniversary
1:30pm: Pre-show by Jamie Albert
2pm: The Illinois Labor History Society dedicates a new plaque
3pm: THE REENACTMENT
4pm: afterparty at Haymarket Pub & Brewery
FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE!
COSTUMES & PROPS WILL BE PROVIDED
Randolph St., between Desplaines and Halsted
Chicago, IL
Everlasting Banquet | The Hills Esthetic Center
The Hills Esthetic Center presents Everlasting Banquet, a group exhibition of new paintings by Matias Arganaraz, Dick Cowan, and Austin Eddy, with an opening reception on Saturday April 30th, 2011 from 7 – 11 PM. The exhibition closes on May 14th.
THE HILLS ESTHETIC CENTER
128 N Campbell, Unit G Chicago, IL
thehillsestheticcenter@gmail.com
Media Contact: 630-632-2555
Hours: By Appointment
7:00pm-11:00pm
Strange Beauty Show Gallery Event
We are thrilled to have our April gallery event, showcasing the artwork of Dmn Ology. Come check out his paintings, with complimentary beer and jello shots. Sounds by Brother El. Also this month we are having a joint celebration with our fabulous neighbors Kokorokoko and Labrabbit Optics! So come celebrate with all of us!!!
Location: 1118 N Ashland
7:00pm-10:00pm
Mural Tour Conducted by Jon Pounds of the Chicago Public Art Group
The Mural Tour is in conjunction with the Southside Community Art Center exhibition entitled, Off The Wall, which recognizes the contributions of Chicago muralists who are alumni of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC), Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Attached is a detail outline of all the events. The tour (conducted by Jon and sponsored by the Ben Schaafsma Project Grant) will highlight murals in Bronzeville, Kenwood and Hyde Park.
South Side Community Art Center
3831 South Michigan Avenue
9:00am – 1:00pm
Event Cost: Free
RSVP: Required
For reservations contact: SAIC Multicultural Affairs Department at maffai@saic.edu or 312.629.6869.
Chicago Art Department Open Studios / Gallery
At Chicago Art Department photographers, printers, painters and video artists share
space, tools and inspiration. For the first time in April, the general public will be invited to see the studios, gallery and interactive workshops where the artist collaborate. Come join the creative exchange, talk with artists, check out new work, and provide
feedback on artworks that are still in production.
Every Saturday in April
12:00 – 6:00pm
Chicago Art Department – West Town Precinct
1732 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60622
WBEZ 2011 Global Activism Expo
Derived from the “Global Activism Series” hosted by Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell, the Global Activism Expo has become WBEZ’s largest event of the year and we are thrilled to again present this remarkable celebration – complete with music & food – gathering of literally hundreds of Chicago-area global activists, each providing ways you can immediately get involved and join their efforts. Doors open at NOON on Saturday and stay open until 6 pm; it’s FREE – so bring your classes, your children, your neighbors, your friends and family.
UIC Forum
725 W Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL 60607
12:00pm – 6:00pm
SUNDAY || May 1, 2011
Version Festival 11: Bill Talsma: Things That Are Longing To Appear
“Things That Are Longing To Appear” is a storefront installation / window display by artist Bill Talsma that consists of six modified ‘open & closed’ signs presented at 244 W. 31st Street in Chicago. These signs—the kind usually displayed at small businesses—have been redesigned, rewritten and combined together to form a master sentence that spans the 6 objects. Subsequently, thoughts about the reappearance of things as reproduction are simultaneously woven across the signs (and through the master sentence) with smaller, prefabricated marquee-style letters.
Eastern Expansion
244 W 31st Street
6:00p-9:00p
Free
Marcha – March – CHICAGO MAY DAY 2011
Union Park
Corners of Lake and Ashland
Chicago, IL
2:00pm-5:00pm
Spudnik Press Open House
Recently relocated to a larger and improved studio, Spudnik Press is excited to share their new space with as many folks as possible. Spudnik’s new facilities include 4 additional presses, private studios, the ability to invite more artists and students to utilize their communal tools and equipment. Through out the day, members of Spudnik Press will demonstrate printmaking techniques, ranging from the popular screenprinting to obscure mezzotinting. The open house will highlight the resources available at the communuty studio and the wonder of being ones own printer. Free and fun Printing activities will be available for kids and adults alike.
Spudnik Press Cooperative
1821 W Hubbard, Suite 302
Chicago, IL 60622
12-6pm with demonstrations every hour
Admission Cost: FREE
Never Forgotten – The Holocaust Images of Claude Andreini
Belgian Photographer Claude Andreini, who resides and works in Venice, Italy, has been photographing the abandoned concentration camps for nearly 10 years. These haunting images of Dachau, Terzin, and other camps are breathtakingly serene and eerily still. This work has been shown extensively in Europe, but this is the first showing in the United States. Andreini’s book will be available for signing and purchase after the lecture.
Event Time: 2pm
Chicago Photography Center
3301 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657-1107
Event Cost: $5
