The Age Demanded

The West Loop's Golden Age has a multimedia show opening tonight by Jon Rafman featuring photography, video, and painting.

Jon Rafman: The Age Demanded
at Golden Age
119 N Peoria
Chicago, IL

Opening Friday, October 29, 2010
6 to 9 pm
On view through December 10, 2010

Dirty Eyes

The Hills Esthetic Center on the West Side is presenting a show by two artists from Le Dernier Cri tonight.  Le Dernier Cri is a French printmaking collective from Marseilles that specializes in comics, books, and screen prints.  Check out their insane looking site here.

Dirty Eyes
Le Dernier Cri
at The Hills Esthetic Center
128 N Campbell (2nd floor)
Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, October 29. 2010
8 to 11 pm
On view through November 20, 2010

It's Your Funeral

The Chicago Tattoo Factory in Uptown has a group show opening tonight titled, "It's Your Funeral" including the painting above by Mitch O'Connell.

It's Your Funeral
at the Chicago Tattoo Factory
4443 N Broadway
Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, October 29, 2010
6 to 11 pm

Community Day of the Dead Ofrenda

Pilsen's Chicago Urban Art Society will be hosting a Dia de los Muertos installation with altars honoring different people and groups.  Among them will be one dedicated to graffiti and street artists who have died as well as one featuring ghost bikes.  Ghost bikes is a movement honoring people who have died in bicycle accidents.  Bicycles are painted white and chained to a post at the site where the person died.  Information on that person is posted on the bike to both remember them and to create awareness of bicycists on the streets.

Fujifilm instant photograph by Oscar Arriola

Community Day of the Dead Ofrenda
at the Chicago Urban Art Society
2229 S Halsted
Chicago, IL
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 29-31, 2010
6 to 9 pm

Chicago Critical Mass: Halloween Edition

Rene Magritte painting personified, photo by Oscar Arriola

This Friday is the October edition of Critical Mass, the monthly mass bike ride which begins at Daley Plaza each 4th Friday of the month. I've always enjoyed checking out the October ride because that's when everyone comes out in costume.  The riders usually come up with some great ones beyond the typical sexy stewardress or sexy hobo (or whatever) :-) that usually pops up at the Halloween bar scene.

Chicago Critical Mass Ride
*Free*
Starts at 5:30 pm
Friday, October 29, 2010
at Daley Plaza (Washington & Dearborn)
Chicago, IL

Karl Wirsum talk at the Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago Imagist artist, Karl Wirsum, will be speaking at the Chicago Cultural Center tomorrow night, Thursday.  This will be part of a panel discussion featuring Karl with James Yood of the Art Institute of Chicago, Russell Bowman of Russell Bowman Art Advisory, collector Barbara Klawans, Imagist artist Gladys Nilsson, and artist Darrell Roberts.  In addition to talking about his work, Karl will also receive the 2010 Ruth Horwich Award to a Famous Chicago Artist from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.  The Department created this award last year as a tongue-in-cheek reference to honor Chicago artists who've done well.  The award is named after the seminal, "Don Baum Sez 'Chicago Needs Famous Artists'" art show curated by art critic Don Baum in 1969 and presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art at the time.

I've enjoyed viewing Karl's work over the years.  From his "Plug Bug" mural that was viewable at Block 37 for many years (and honored in this posting here on Architecture Chicago Plus) to his painting of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, which Hawkins liked enough to feature on one of his album covers, Karl's work has always taken drawing to electrifying heights.  His colors and designs radiate a fun energy.  His "Armpits" painting made me laugh when I first viewed it with its fur glued to the woman's armpits.

Karl continues to produce new work including shows at Jean Albano Gallery and a commission at Midway Airport honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.  He also just had a show of early drawings at Derek Eller Gallery in New York this past month.

Karl Wirsum Panel Discussion
at the Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
5th floor
Chicago, IL

Thursday, October 28, 2010
6pm
*Free*

Heavy Metal Harvest

Bucktown's Revolution Tattoo and Gallery will have a heavy metal art blowout this Saturday night.  They'll feature artwork by over 30 artists, as well as a costume contest, "heavy metal baked goods", and beer courtesy of Three Floyds.  There will also be a black T-shirt swap where for $5 you can exchange up to 3 band shirts you no longer want for other shirts.  Revolution Tattoo always puts on great shows, it should be a fun night.

Heavy Metal Harvest
Revolution Tattoo and Gallery
2221 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 23, 2010
8pm to midnight
This show will be on view through November 27, 2010

Pop Station

Chicago artist, Erik "RISK" Debat, will have a pop-up gallery opening tomorrow night Friday in East Garfield Park.  Staged as part of the City of Chicago's Chicago Artist Month event, and presented by Phantom Galleries, this show will feature paintings and installations by Erik in a beautiful terra cotta showroom setting...

Erik Debat: Pop Station
2620 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, October 22, 2010
4 to 8 pm
This show will also be on view Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 10 am to 2 pm and
Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 4 to 8 pm

Forever Rotten

Photograph by Josh Kurpius

Wicker Park's Johalla Projects presents a show on motorcycle culture and the riders who live life on two wheels.  There'll be artwork, video, and photographs by Adam Wright, Alex Gvojic, Brian Harlow, Chris Lindig, Chris “Turbo” Goff, Harlan Thompson, Josh Kurpius, Joe Suta, Jeff Wright, Ken Nagahara, Max Schaaf, Mitch Cotie, Slippery Pete, Tim O’Keefe, and Tim Remis.

Forever Rotten

Johalla Projects

1561 N Milwaukee Ave (2nd floor)

Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, October 22, 2010

7 to 11 pm

Also on view 7 to 11 pm on Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Level Eater

Bridgeport's Co-Prosperity Sphere and Pentagon Gallery present a huge Dungeon's and Dragons event beginning Friday night.  They will offer players the chance to play in games lasting several days involving 5 or 6 huge artist-built environments paired with original games designed by Dungeon Masters.  You can come and play or just view the installations in the space.  There will also be nearly a dozen fantasy films screened during the duration of the weekend.  Full schedule, list of participating artists, and info posted here.

The Level Eater

at the Co-Prosperity Sphere

3219 S Morgan St

Chicago, IL

Opening ceremony, Friday, October 22, 2010

*Free* from 8 to 9 pm

$5 after 9 pm

Live performance by Sunsplitter

Also open noon to 2am Saturday, October 23, 2010

and noon to midnight Sunday, October 24, 2010

Amelia Winger-Bearskin: Transformation Opera

Pilsen's Antena Gallery is presenting a sound and video art installation by performer/artist Amelia Winger-Bearskin Friday night.  Her work will combine footage of herself, as well as of public figures, "during moments of transformation", which will be slowed down and paired with sound and music from various sources like operas, ballads, and television shows.

There will also be work by J. Thomas Pallas on the Project Wall Space.

Amelia Winger-Bearskin: Transformation Opera

Opening Friday, October 22, 2010

6 to 10 pm

Antena Gallery

1765 S Laflin (just north of 18th. St)

Chicago, IL

*Free*

This show will be on view by appointment through November 20, 2010

Weirdness and Awesomeness presented by Bookworks Chicago

Lakeview neighborhood bookstore, Bookworks Chicago, has a new blog devoted to unusual books (as well as interesting things found tucked within the pages of books) from the shelves of their store. Edited by Lilli Carre, I'm really digging images like these...

Pitseolak: Pictures Out of My Life

Psychic Dominance 

Kittens on the Keys

Swimming Scientifically Taught

and a book on knitting sweaters titled, Beastly Knits.

Check out many more books and images from their store here. Or you can check it all out in person at 

Bookworks Chicago

3444 N Clark St

Chicago, IL

Lilli Carre at Saturday Cinema

Chicago cartoonist extraordinaire Lilli Carre, has had her animated work projected every Saturday night on the 2nd floor window of Saturday Cinema in West Town for the past month.  Check out her film, "The Jitters" as it loops for a couple hours beginning at sundown.

Lilli has published several beautifully drawn books in the past few years including "The Lagoon" and "Tales of Woodsman Pete".  She also has work featured in the just published 2010 editions of "The Best American Comics" and "The Best American Non-Required Reading".

Lilli Carre's "The Jitters"
projected from the 2nd floor window of Saturday Cinema
1369 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
*Free*

Saturday, October 23, 2010
at sundown
There will also be a closing reception indoors on the following Saturday, October 30, 2010 from 8 to 11pm

Luftwerk: Projecting Modern

Luftwerk (artists Sean Gallero & Petra Bachmaier) will have a light and sound installation located on the 3rd floor of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House in Hyde Park this Saturday night.  This is a great opportunity to check out this magnificent house as well as see it changed with projected images and audio recordings.

You can make a night of it with a stop at Powell's Bookstore a few blocks east of there and pizza at Medici nearby.

Luftwerk: Projecting Modern
at the Robie House
5757 S Woodlawn Ave
Chicago, IL

*Free*
R.S.V.P. at photo@gowright.org
Saturday, October 23, 2010
6 to 10 pm

Lumpen Magazine release party

Lumpen Magazine is having a release party for issue 115 tonight at the Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport.  There will be a performance by Sound of My Voice, "anti-comedy" by Nick Bahr's Blue Comedy Explosion, and a secret surprise special band.  There'll also be many free copies of back issues of the magazine.  More info listed here.

Lumpen Magazine #115 Release Party

Saturday, October 16, 2010

8:30 pm to 1 am

$7

at the Co-Prosperity Sphere

3221 S Morgan St (in Bridgeport)

Chicago, IL