New Zine Parade

Baltimore's Nudashank Gallery has a new zine out titled Heady Mugs. It includes one image from each artist in their current Heady Mugs art show which Nudashank calls, "an overwhelming show of psychedelic portraits and trippy faces". The show includes work by Matt Feyld, one of my favorite Canadian artists. Full list of artists here.

Available from Nudashank Gallery
2 Color Screenprint Cover
14 pages b&w
$5 + Shipping and tax

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Drippy Bone Books has just released a new zine by Colorado artist Mario Zoots. Titled MCMLXIX, it's b/w, 12 pgs and issued in an edition of 50 copies.



They also recently released issue #2 of Whore Eyes, which features work by Mario Zoots, Shannon Keller, David Magdaleno, Kristy Foom, Keenan Marshall Keller, and Actually Huizenga.

It comes with a music compilation titled, The FAILURE:
featuring-
STATIC STATIC (L.A.),
Wizzard Sleeve (Mobile, AL),
Modern Witch (Denver/Amsterdam), Leaders (Portland, OR),
LE Shat Noir (Seattle, WA),
Mueran Humanos (Berlin/Buenos Aires), TIREFIRE (New Orleans),
Little White Rabbits Still Bleed Red (Indianapolis, IN)
Mikki and the Mauses (L.A.),
and D.A. (L.A.)

WHORE EYES #2 flip-vid from Keenan Keller on Vimeo.

Available from Drippy Bone Books here.

Snow Globe

New Chicago gallery, Johalla Projects, has a show titled Snow Globe opening tonight. Featuring work by:
Aron Gent ∙ Chad Haldeman ∙ Garrett Jensen ∙ Johalla Projects (Caitlin Arnold, Anna Cerniglia, Jourdon Gullett, Melissa Marinaro, David Snedden) ∙ Sonia Levy ∙ Steven Karl Metzer ∙ Justus Roe ∙ Phil Schuster ∙ Momoko Seto ∙ and Nick Spiese.

Info from their site...
The snow globe has seen its popularity remain in our contemporary consciousness due to its ability to delight us with dream-like visuals that tap into our memories. Like the Romantics who invented this agreeable souvenir, we too desire a window into the quixotic and the surreal. Featuring sculpture, photography, and film, Snow Globe is a transformation of our gallery space into exactly what it sounds like – a white, wintry realm. Videos by Sonia Levy and Momoko Seto mediate on foreign ice worlds, while an installation by Johalla Projects in collaboration with Chad Haldeman, Justus Roe, and Phil Schuster set to an audio track by Nick Spiese offers another interpretation on the frigid and frozen landscape. Photographers Aron Gent and Steven Karl Metzer use their cameras to capture the season in a manner that recalls a particular time and place; the traces of winters’ past recognized within their images harkens back to the very device that has inspired our exhibition. Snow Globe offers a new way to experience this kitschy and nostalgic item; Johalla Projects invites you to consider our reflections on the snow globe and place yourself within a winter terrain fashioned by a diverse group of multi-media artists.

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 19, 2009
7-10 pm
Beer provided by Grolsch

Exhibition runs from December 19-27, 2009
Gallery hours are Saturday 1-5 pm and by appointment during the week.

Floyd From Ohio

New Chicago boutique Black Market Caviar has a show opening tonight featuring photography by Floyd From Ohio.

Music by Fess Grandiose

Black Market Caviar
Friday, December 18, 2009
7:00pm - 10:00pm
1945 W Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622

Trendbeheer Meets Proximity

My favorite Dutch peeps, Niels Post and Jeroen Kuster of Trendbeheer.com are back in town again.

Info from the Co-Prosperity Sphere site...
For the past two years Public Media Institute and Proximity magazine have been collaborating with Trendbeheer.com, a Rotterdam-based arts initiative, to bring artists and projects to each other’s cities.

This December Trendbeheer will be mounting a show at C-PS to coincide with issue 6 of Proximity magazine, themed (An)Other Worlds.
Issue 6 includes an expansive Rotterdam Section and artists interviewed in the issue will be present in Chicago for the Trendbeheer Meets Proximity exhibition.

Trendbeheer will be bringing information about the Rotterdam art scenes displayed in an ad hoc Info Kiosk. They will screen a Rotterdam VHS Film Festival program and present a performance by Jeroen Kuster.

 The exhibition features works by Niels Post, Jeroen Kuster, Jeroen Jongeleen, Petra van Noort and Charlotte Schleiffert, Olaf Mooij, Gyz LaRiviere, Marcha van den Hurk, Koen Taselaar and Villeroy & Boch.

Opening reception: 7pm-9pm December 18, 2009
free!

Performance Program – 9pm – 1am December 18, 2009
Featuring Julian Lynch, Jeroen Kuster, Michael Perkins, Mike Vallera, and Henry James Glover.
$5 admission at the door or pay $10 and take a way a new issue of Proximity (if in stock)..

Rotterdam VHS Film Festival Program: December 19 , 2009 7pm
free!

Trendbeheer Meets Proximity
December 18 and Dec 19 , 2009
Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219 S Morgan St.
Chicago, IL

Holiday time at Big Cat Press

Tony Fitzpatrick's Big Cat Press is holding a holiday sale this coming Friday. Featuring work by a lot of fun artists including Matthew Hoffman, Steff Bomb, Michael Pajon, and Renee Robbins.

Friday, December 18, 2009
6 to 10 pm
Beer by Three Floyds, Cookies by Mindy Segal.
Big Cat Press
2124 N.Damen (Big Cat Press)
773.342.5381

Tamales! Tamales!

There may be other tamales guys in Chicago but the one everyone prefers is Claudio the Tamales Guy. If you're a good boy or girl he will magically show up at the bar you're at and sell you a bag of tamales. These shots I took are from a very quick visit he made at Rainbo Club one night. You have to keep an eye out for him because he has many stops to make and hungry people to feed. You can keep track of his whereabouts with this handy dandy Tamale Guy Tracker produced by Scared Panda on Twitter.




And you can honor Claudio with this awesome new t-shirt designed by Chicago designer Kimberly McGuire.


This shirt is based on the Tamale Guy's iconic red cooler, which he uses to carry his tamales. The t-shirt is being produced by Scared Panda and 10% of the proceeds are going to Esperanza Community Services, which assists individuals with developmental disabilities.

You can read more about Claudio in these articles in the Chicago Tribune, Gaper's Block, and on the Chicago History Museum's blog.

Cabinet of Curiosities

I'll be giving a 7-minute talk of some sort, paired with pictures of another sort, on the topic, "Dystopias vs Enchanted Forests", along with a distinguished panel of distinguished panelists. Being held at Puck's Cafe at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, tomorrow Tuesday, December 15th at 6pm. This talk is curated by Quimby's Bookstore and is part of the MCA's Cabinet of Curiosities series. I may even play some records. Of some sort.



I'll actually be showing pictures of Detroit and talking about how some residents are creating new life and ventures out of parts of the city that have been forgotten or abandoned.



Presenters in the program include:
Oscar Arriola
Ed Marszewski of Proximity and Lumpen magazines
Joe Mason, Librarian of the Obscure
Kate Sheehy, Puppeteer
and Liz Mason of Quimby's Bookstore.

Cabinet of Curiosities
*Free*
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
6 to 7 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
in Puck's Cafe
220 E. Chicago Ave (1 blk east of Michigan Ave)
Chicago, IL

It's Googly Time!

I'm really digging this clock designed by Mike Mak. It's called Eye Clock and it gives you the time with its rotating pupils. The hours are noted by the left eye and minutes by the right. It's that easy!

The clock is being produced by SuckUK and is available in the US through Turntable Lab.

Jettison

Jettison Quarterly, an online arts and culture periodical, is having a release party for issue 4 tonight at Between Lounge.

Jettison Quarterly Issue 4 Release Party
Friday, December 11, 2009
8pm to 2am
Between Lounge
1342 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Picturing the Studio

Info from the SAIC site...

This exhibition explores the richly complex politically- and psychologicaly-charged notion of the artist's studio today. With works by over 30 artists spanning the past two decades, this exhibition also includes several specially designed installations undertaken by artists on site. Curated by Michelle Grabner, SAIC, and Annika Marie, Columbia College.

Artists include: Jan Bas Ader, Conrad Bakker, John Baldessari, Stephanie Brooks, Ivan Brunetti, Ann Craven, Julian Dashper, Dana DeGuilio, Susanne Doremus, Joe Fig, Dan Fischer, Julia Fish, Nicholas Frank, Alicia Frankovich, Judith Geichman, Rodney Graham, Karl Haendel, Shane Huffman, Barbara Kasten, Matt Keegan, Daniel Lavitt, Daniel; Adelheid Mers, Tom Moody, Bruce Nauman, Paul Nudd, Leland Rice, David Robbins, Kay Rosen, Amanda Ross-Ho, Carrie Schneider, Roman Signer, Amy Sillman, Frances Stark, Nicholas Steindorf, and James Welling.

This show is also part of Studio Chicago, a collaborative project that explores the artist’s studio. For more information visit: www.studiochicago.org

Opening reception Dec. 11, 2009
4:30 - 7:00pm
Sullivan Galleries
School of the Art Insitute of Chicago
33 S. State, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL

The exhibition runs through Feb. 13, 2010,

Forever Vegetal

New sculptures and paintings by Brian McNearney and Edra Soto tonight at Roots and Culture.


Opening reception Friday, December 11, 2009
6 to 9 pm
Roots and Culture
1034 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL

WAR IS OVER...

...if you want it.


Yoko Ono has reprised the famous WAR IS OVER - If You Want It poster that she and John Lennon originally conceived at the end of 1969 in response to the Vietnam War. This time it's available as a free download on her Flickr page.

It's also been translated into 46 other languages including Thai...


Armenian


Urdu


and Dutch.


Check out the entire series here.

The first 1/2 of this video contains archival footage of John and Yoko talking about their peace campaign.

LOVE/HATE

Chicago painters REVISE CMW & CZR PRZ are presenting a collaborative installation at TOJO Gallery this Friday. Both artists have put up a lot of great work around the city and beyond.

Curated by Allison Glenn
Music by DJ Once a Month

Love/Hate: Revise CMW and CZR PRZ
Friday, December 11, 2009
6 to 11 pm
TOJO Gallery
1418 W Division
Chicago, IL

Five Finger Frenzy

Chicago artist Joey Potts has a holiday sale this Saturday. HIs art will warp your brain. In a good way.

Joey Potts
Five Finger Frenzy Holiday Art Sale
Saturday December 12, 2009
12 to 6 pm
1115 N Richmond St
Chicago, IL

Long Hand

Opening tonight, info from their site...

Johalla Projects presents Long Hand, a group exhibition curated by Caitlin Arnold and Emily Green. Featuring sculpture, photography and fiber, Long Hand brings together seven artists whose conceptual work involves lengthy, manual processes. With the constant inundation of the virtual into our everyday lives, these artists return to reality and the use of their physical bodies in the creation of their art.


New work by: Jesse Avina, Melissa Damasauskas, Matt Shaw, Alise Spinella, Julia Stotz, Peter Takamori, and Casey Ann Wasniewski.

Johalla Projects
Opening Reception:
Saturday, December 5, 2009
6-9pm
Beer provided by Grolsch

Exhibition runs through December 14, 2009
open Saturdays 1-5 or by appointment

Renegade Craft Fair - Holiday Edition

This weekend is the latest edition of the Renegade Craft Fair. I had a good time at the summer one earlier this year on Division St. This one is being held at the beautiful Pulaski Park Fieldhouse a few blocks northeast of Milwaukee/Division/and Ashland Aves.

Info from their site...
Those looking to shop handmade and support small business this holiday season will surely find something for everyone – from jewelry and clothing, to ceramics and stationery, with everything from bath products, housewares, posters, comics and plush objects in between – at this large-scale, free-to-attend art, craft and design extravaganza!!

Special this year: Free Trolley Rides between the Fair and a handful of Wicker Park hot spots will help keep holiday shoppers out of the cold! Stops to catch the trolley along Division St. (between Ashland Ave. and Hoyne Ave.) include our very own Renegade Handmade, Nina, Greenheart Shop and Small Bar, who will be holding a weekend-long $3 draft drink special on PBR – sponsor of this special trolley service!

As always, the Fair is FREE TO ATTEND and other event features include free raffles of publications from Chronicle Books, items from Jenny Hart’s Sublime Stitching, papergoods from Pinball Publishing, and Faythe Levine’s Handmade Nation – both the book and the DVD documentary! Free copies of Readymade and TimeOut Chicago magazines can be found at the Renegade Craft Welcome Station and don’t forget to pop into the free-to-use photo booth provided by Magnolia Photo Booth Co. The Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) and other local DJs will be playing the jams all weekend long!

Food and beverages from Treat Restaurant and TipsyCake will be available for purchase! Alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase, including beer, wine, bubbly and mulled-wine!

Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale
December 5 & 6, 2009
11 am to 7 pm
FREE
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse
1419 W Blackhawk (map + directions here )
Chicago, IL

Cupco and Suckadelic invade Philly

Philadelphia's Metropolis Gallery has a great show opening tonight featuring work by CUPCO and Suckadelic. I've written here about NYC's Suckadelic before and his genius handmade bootlegs of Star Wars figures and his own creations. He's also got a growing media empire focusing on stop motion videos of his toys...


as well as other series like the Original Villains Network seen here...

ORIGINAL VILLAIN NETWORK TEASER TRAILER from OriginalVillains on Vimeo.

Cupco is based out of Australia and creates handmade toys based on pop culture icons and villains like Michael Jackson, Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, the god Shiva, child soldiers, and more.




Here's a video mashup of all the characters available tonight...


Opening reception
Friday, December 4, 2009
Metropolis Gallery
154 N Prince St
Lancaster, PA


The show will be up through December 30, 2009 and all the work is available online through their site here and here.

Escape of the Crazies

Chicago artist David "COVE" Gonzalez has a show opening tomorrow Friday titled, Escape of the Crazies. I've enjoyed seeing his work on canvas over the years. I also like his drawing style. He uses ball point pens for sketching and shading in a way I haven't really seen before. This should be a great show.

David "COVE" Gonzalez
Escape of the Crazies
Friday, December 4, 2009
6:30 to 9:30 pm
Sip Coffee House
1223 W Grand Ave (just east of Ogden)
Chicago, IL

Black Market Caviar

Tomorrow is the grand opening for Black Market Caviar, a boutique and screenprinting shop dedicated to showcasing work by new artists. Info from their invite...

Join us as we celebrate the Grand Opening of our first retail location. Sip on a cocktail and shop from our exclusive selections featuring:
Ends/Wealth Corp. • Plastic Party Clothing
Anna Hovet • Ashley’s Drapes • Faux Pas
Black Market Caviar ReUp • International Art Collective
and more

private cocktail reception from 6-7 pm
art exhibit at Rotofugi Gallery 6-10 pm
get a chance to print one of our exclusive designs
during our "Print Party" 8-9:30 pm
"swagger bag" giveaways

music by: DJ SKYLER



In conjunction with the opening, Rotofugi will host an art show curated by Black Market Caviar. Featuring work by D Young V, John Felix Arnold III, Elisa Harkins aka Pooper, Brandon Breaux, Chris Huban and Marco Hafid.



Friday, December 4, 2009
Black Market Caviar opening
1945 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

& art show at
Rotofugi Gallery
1955 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

Forgotten, Yet Adored

Chicago documentary photographer Matt Tuteur, will have a show of new work opening this Friday in San Francisco. He'll be showing photographs of 38 different buildings and abandoned structures at D-Structure Gallery. Check it out if you're in the area.

Forgotten, Yet Adored
Photography by Matt Tuteur
D-Structure Gallery
Opening reception Friday, December 4, 2009
Begining at 6pm Performances at 9pm
520 Haight St
San Francisco, Ca