Check the Pulse

Chicago painter and muralist extraordinaire Jeff Zimmerman will open his studio tonight for a showing of recent work titled, Check the Pulse. He'll also be raffling off a painting to raise money for upcoming mural projects. If you haven't seen his paintings in person before this would be a great opportunity. He's got several massive photorealistic murals up in different parts of the city, including the ones facing each other at the corner of Ashland and 19th. St. in the Pilsen neighborhood. Check out his work here.

Jeff Zimmerman
Check the Pulse
Saturday, November 14, 2009
5 to 10 pm
2712 W North Ave (1 1/2 blks east of California)
Chicago, IL

Den

Humboldt Park's Garage Spaces has a show opening tonight titled, Den. Info from their site.

Garage Spaces, a temporary art space located in 2 garage spaces in a 3 car garage in Humboldt Park, will continue it's program with Den. Den was created through the collaboration of artists/curators Mike Bancroft and Evan Plummer featuring work by: Bridget Bancroft, Jeremy Scidmore, Gabrielle Carasquillo, Alex Inglizian, Jasemine K, Maria Perkovic, and Luis Sanchez. Den creates a space also known as the rec room by using performance, video, and installation. The space introduces viewers to the uncomfortably sacred domestic world of the tv room and those couch bumps that inhabit them.


Den By Mike Bancroft, co-curated by Evan Plummer November 13th – December 6, 2009.
1337 N Maplewood - In the garage at the rear
Chicago, IL

Exhibition Reception: Friday November 13th, 5pm-10pm

Gallery Hours: Saturday, November 14th, 2009 Saturday November 28th 2009 12:00pm - 5:00pm ,12:00pm - 5:00pm, Friday, December 4th, 2009 5:00pm – 10:00pm, Saturday December 5th ,Sunday December 6th Dinner performance (reservation only), and by appointment.

Jesse LeDoux + Veggiesomething

Two fun artists, Portland's Jesse LeDoux and Chicago's Veggiesomething, will have shows opening tonight at Rotofugi.

Jesse LeDoux
Exit Strategy
Veggiesomething
Hells Yeah! Let's Do It!


Opening Reception
Friday, November 13, 7-10PM
Music by Genghiswon
Both artists will be in attendance.

Rotofugi Gallery
November 13-29, 2009

Bowling for Becca

Capoeira artist, folk music enabler, and all-around good person Becca is fighting back against her colon cancer the best way she can, with a bowling party. Come join Becca and her friends at Chicago's Lincoln Square Lanes this Friday the 13th. If you haven't been to Lincoln Lanes yet you're in for a retro treat. Old man bar paired with an old school mural over original hand scoring lanes make for a fun night out.

Tickets are $20 and are available at the door.


Bowling for Becca
Friday, November 13, 2009
7 to 11 pm.
Lincoln Square Lanes
4874 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60640

The Undercolor

Curator Anna Cerniglia, of the newly opened Johalla Projects, presents a new art and film series by Elevation, titled The Undercolor. Elevation, composed of artists Brian Keller and Erik DeBat, will show work featuring burlesque artists Angela Eve and Becca Brown.

Here's a preview of the film...

The Undercolor from Elevation Productions on Vimeo.

The artwork and film installation will be on display Friday, November 13 – Tuesday, November 17 at Johalla Projects - 1561 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd Floor

Opening hours: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment during the week.

Contact: johallaprojects@gmail.com or annacerniglia@gmail.com

Opening Night Party for “The Undercolor” Artwork and Film Premier
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
9 p.m. ­- 2 a.m. (free entry)
Rodan
1530 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL

Jay Ryan and Paul Hornschemeier at Quimby's

Tonight at 7pm. I really like both of their work. Info from Quimby's site...

Chicago postermaker Jay Ryan has been busy since the 2005 release of his book 100 Posters, 134 Squirrels (in its third printing with Akashic/Punk Planet Books), a collection of his favorite prints from the first decade of his work. This debut collection of Jay’s was praised by Chicago media and publications across the globe, including:

“Not only a gorgeous catalog of the artist’s many memorable posters, but a history of sorts of the Chicago underground rock scene in the last 15 years.” –Chicago Sun-Times

“Jay Ryan takes the germ of an idea and makes it uniquely great. His genius is in knowing what matters and what doesn’t . . . His genius is in having the image matter.” –Steve Albini

Since the release of that book, he has honed his craft continuing without the use of computers, and screen-printing the work in his shop called the Bird Machine for bands such as the Melvins, the Shins, Modest Mouse, Andrew Bird, Shellac, My Morning Jacket, and hundreds of others. His new book, Animals and Objects In and Out of Water features 120 of Jay Ryan’s favorite pieces of art from the last three years, including text about each of the prints, detail photos (shot at the MCA in Chicago), and original drawings. With a foreword by Andrew Bird and an essay by best-selling novelist Joe Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned), this volume solidifies Jay’s position as one of the most unique postermakers in a thriving and exciting field.

Jay Ryan has been making screen-printed concert posters in Chicago since 1995. Known for his hand-drawn type, humorous animal subjects, and muted color selections, he has worked for thousands of rock bands, as well as clients like Patagonia clothing, Converse shoes, Burton Snowboards, and the BBC. When he’s not playing bass in his band Dianogah, Jay lectures students and shows his prints at universities and galleries across the U.S. and Europe.

Jay will be joined by fellow artist and author, Paul Hornschemeier, who will be presenting his newest book, All and Sundry: Uncollected Work, 2004-2009, which corrals Hornschemeier’s work from the last five years – work previously ungathered, and in many cases never before seen in print.


These works span the globe, from periodicals to museums, including: conceptual drawings and comics of Ulysses S. Grant created for an exhibit in Paris; an award-winning cover exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; the seventeen-part serialized tale of divine intervention, non-linearity, and social webs “Huge Suit Visits the People” created for the celebrated German newspaper Frankurter Allgemeine Zeitung; and comic strips for The Wall Street Journal and CNN featuring the unlikely cartoon protagonists of Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, and the “gray fox,” Anderson Cooper. In addition to these oddities, All and Sundry collects covers and designs from multiple foreign editions of Paul’s books, ranging from Holland to Korea; recent album art for David Byrne’s Luaka Bop record label; a collaboration with celebrated comics humorist Michael Kupperman (Tales Designed to Thrizzle); as well as short, illustrated prose (thus far seen only in the pages of the anthology Mome). The collection concludes with extensive selections from sketches and sketchbooks, providing an unusual glimpse at the chaotic world of Hornschemeier’s work, before the polishing of lines and colors of the printed page. Here we see how works have developed and what the future holds for still gestating projects. All and Sundry, perhaps more than any previous collection of Hornschemeier’s work, demonstrates the variety and depth of the artist’s interests and pursuits, and invites an examination of the entirety of his process, from first fevered scrawl to final, pristine brush line.

“Hornschemeier doesn’t simply push the panel edges of the comics medium; he designs entirely off the page, encouraging other creators to join him over the horizon.” –Chicago Tribune


Jay Ryan and Paul Hornschemeier
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
7pm
Quimby's
1854 W. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Juiceboxxx, Pooper, and Pizza Dog at Berlin

Chicago's Pooper and Pizza Dog will join forces with Milwaukee's Juiceboxxx for a free show at Berlin Wednesday night. Complimentary Colt 45 will be served.







You can practice Pooper's Ham Dance here...


Juiceboxxx, Pooper, & Pizza Dog
w/DJ's Zebo and Popstatic
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
11 pm
*FREE*
21 and over
Berlin
954 W Belmont (under the CTA Red & Brown Line Belmont Station)
Chicago, IL

Chicago Urban Art Group needs your help

The Chicago Urban Art Group is the reincarnation of the former Bridgeport gallery, 32nd&Urban. Building on the workshops they conducted for local youth and the amazing roster of artists they showed in their space, CUAG now has a new large space devoted to teaching silk screening and more. Info from their Kickstarter page...

We are an emerging arts non-profit organization offering high-quality, low cost silk screening workshops for youth and adults in ChiTown. We know this type of creative medium is costly and requires space, lots of space!

What we have to offer is just that- space, equipment and a wealth of DIY knowledge. CUAS wants to teach youth and adults’ guerrilla style tactics and do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques. Our workshops are meant to support a community of like-minded art makers and creatives in an open-minded and green-friendly space.

You can find our home in the Central Manufacturing District, now renamed the Chicago Sustainable Manufacturing Center Space in the Bridgeport community on Chicago’s south side.

What to expect? 1,000 square feet of raw space, washout sink room, dark room for burning and exposing screens, communal art community, screen printing presses, various silk screen sizes and shapes, t-shirts and papers, inks galore, drying racks, green roof observatory, and much more!

Workshops vary in level and duration. Choose between a 2, 3, or 4-week workshop with a qualified instructor(s), opportunities to meet working screen printers and other special guests, as well as open studio sessions for those who wish to use the workshop space on their own time.

CUAS hopes to diversify our DIY workshops while offering employment to artists and art makers as instructors.

Visit their Kickstarter page to donate here... and their blog for great pictures of their workshops as well as studio visits with artists Brooks Golden, Revise CMW, and Phoebe Fisher.

Matt Groening and Lynda Barry: Cartoonists in Conversation

Cartoonists Matt Groening and Lynda Barry first met as students at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington in the 1970's. He was the editor of the school paper and they both created comics for it. They kept up their close friendship over the years as they continued on with their respective comic strips in alternative newspapers. I always liked Matt's shoutouts to Lynda in the credits of his Life in Hell books.

Matt then went on to fame and fortune with The Simpsons and Lynda continued to produce the awesome Ernie Pook's Comeek for nearly two decades. She's also recently written a guide to writing called, What It Is, that's presented in her distinctive illustrated journal style.

Matt and Lynda will share the stage at this event sponsored by the Chicago Humanities Festival. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Admission is free for students and educators with a school ID.

Matt Groening and Lynda Barry: Cartoonists in Conversation
UIC Forum
725 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608

Thursday, November 5, 2009
7 to 8pm

Invasion of the Monsterboxes

Building on the awesome series of Monsterboxes TEWZ and IKILL put out on the streets of Chicago a few years ago, 30 artists were invited to create their own Monsterboxes out of reclaimed newspaper boxes.

Featuring work by the likes of Czr Prz, Joey D, Brooks Golden, Christopher Carini, Pooper, Pizza Dog, iKill, Beezilla, Heks, Das, Rhom, Decades, Eric Stenberg, Erock, Ian Bennett, Kitty & Congo, Step, Wyte, Skeam, 18andCounting, Cel, Daze, Dez, Marz, Jaz, and more.


A monsterbox by TEWZ I saw in front of Quimby's in 2007.

Opening reception Friday, October 30, 2009
6 to 11pm ~ Costumes encouraged

Monsterbox
54B Gallery
2128 S Halsted St (across from the Skylark)
Chicago, IL

Sighn hits New York

Coming off of his participation in the Artists Who Use Text To Say Nice Things show in the LES earlier this week, Chicago's Sighn has a solo show opening this Friday at Brooklyn's Possible Projects. Titled, When All Is Said & Done, he'll have a new night sky version of his ongoing series of mini wood sculptures of the phrase "IT'S OK". Sighn will also feature a series of headstones titled, We're All Gonna Die, highlighting his trademark combination of empathy and wit.

October 30 - November 16, 2009
Opening Reception Friday October 30th from 6-9 pm

Possible Projects
68 Jay St
Brooklyn, NY 11201

It's not Candy Corn...

It's Candy Kern! Handmade by Chicago's (by way of Philly) Steff Bomb, they're the perfect calorie-free Halloween treat. Available at her Etsy page here.

Loose Cannons

Tonight's the closing reception for Loose Cannons. I wasn't able to make it to the opening but the pictures I've seen of the show look great. Info from their site...

Robot House presents: Loose Cannons. The collaborative show features a full-room graffiti art installation from local artists, James Ford, Dave Valente, Jason Nonnenmann, Ken Klopack and Brandon Hanson. This marks their 2nd collaboration in the past few years.

Loose Cannons is a full room installation depicting a seaside wharf in full swing. The town is replete with buccaneers and bar wenches, all causing chaos and blowing off steam. The three-dimensional installation has some live action aspects to it as well, with some moving pieces.



Closing Reception: Saturday, October 24, 2009
7 to 11pm
$5 donation for charity is apprecitated
Loose Cannons: James Ford, Dave Valente, Jason Nonnenmann, Ken Klopack and Brandon Hanson
Connect
1330 N Milwaukee (Lower Level event space)
Chicago, IL

Thought Processor

OhNo!Doom Gallery presents this final art show at their current space before they move to new digs.

Thought Processor: Chicago Edition
Opening Saturday, October 24, 2009
6 to 10 pm
OhNo!Doom Gallery
2955 W Lyndale
Chicago, IL

Jose G Sketches Your Weekend

Jose Garibaldi draws comics and illustrations professionally, paints free murals for youth centers, and rescues puppies from floating icebergs. And yet he also finds the time to keep you up to date each weekend on upcoming DJ, club, and other events. He posts them weekly at www.josegaribaldi.com, where you can also catch his paintings and design work.

And here are his hand-drawn recommendations for this weekend...

Click here for a sharper view.