Warehouse Junkies

Pilsen's Chicago Urban Art Society is holding a vinyl swap today featuring a wide variety of record sellers.  I just went through the selection that DJ Marloca (one of today's sellers) is bringing and she's going to have some amazing and weird stuff.

Warehouse Junkies
at the Chicago Urban Art Society
2229 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 28, 2010
1pm to 6pm
Entrance is $5
Early bird from 10am to 1pm is $10

Playboy Redux

Ukrainian Village's venerable toy store, Rotofugi, is celebrating its move to a much larger space in Lincoln Park with an art show titled Playboy Redux.  Opening tonight, this show features work by over 20 contemporary and street artists, and was put together by the Playboy Foundation and the Andy Warhol Museum.  Artists include Shag, Saya Woolfalk, Gary Baseman, Mike Giant, Jeremiah Ketner, Frank Kozic, and Travis Lampe.

Playbox Redux:  Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny

Rotofugi 

*New Location!*

2780 N Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, August 27, 2010

7 to 10 pm

On view through September 12, 2010

Irazu 20th Anniversary Block Party

Wicker Park's Irazu, the Costa Rican restaurant with the famous oatmeal shakes, is celebrating its 20th anniversary today with a block party.  I commented to the manager there one day how much I always like the music that they play in the restaurant.  He said that it was thanks to the many dope DJ's like Jesse de la Pena who eat there regularly and give Irazu mix cd's to play.  Many of those same DJ's will be playing sets for this block party along with a live samba band.  There'll also be art by Victor Montanez and an open skate jam hosted by Uprise Skateshop.

Irazu 20th Anniversary Block Party

1865 N Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Noon to 9 pm

The Mad Decent Block Party at the Hideout

This year's edition of the Hideout's annual block party is being presented in conjunction with Diplo's Mad Decent record label.  Judging from the lineup it's gonna be juke city all day Saturday.  Kid Sister is headling at 7:30 pm.  There'll also be a mix of local and national dj's and more performing.  This should be a lot of fun.

Checkout the full lineup at the Hideout's site here.

The Block Party is free and all ages but you must RSVP at the Mad Decent site here.

Mad Decent Block Party at the Hideout

1354 W Wabansia

Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 21, 2010

1:00 to 8:00 pm

Gates open at noon

No outside beverages

Water in sealed containers only

No pets

Let My People Grow

Bringing it back old school with a Chicago Rocks crew celebration.  Being held at Murphy Hill Gallery, this event will feature performances, dj's, live graffiti painting, an art show, and a slideshow of Chicago Rocks magazines from the 90's.  I worked as a photographer for Chicago Rocks back in the mid-90's and a lot of the names on the bill were performing back then as well.  The University of Hip-Hop and Alternatives put this event together and are both great groups based in Chicago that are dedicated to working with youth. 

Let My People Grow:  A Chi-Rock Celebration

at Murphy Hill Gallery

3333 W Arthington (near Polk & Kedzie)

Chicago, IL

Saturday, August 21, 2010

5 to 11 pm

$5 donation

Caras de Mexico

Documentary photographer Joe Compean, has a photography installation opening tonight at 33 Collective Gallery in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood.  Joe will be showing portraits and street photography shot over the past 20 years throughout Mexico.  I've enjoyed viewing Joe's work over the years, especially with the way he's presented it.  Tonight's installation will involve projections.

Joe Compean:  Caras de Mexico (Faces of Mexico)
33 Collective Gallery
Zhou B. Art Center
1029 W 35th St, 1st floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception Friday, August 20, 2010
7 to 10 pm
On view through September 12, 2010

Sharkula: Diarrhea of a Madman

Chicago's infamous MC Sharkula aka Thig is the subject of a new documentary by director Joshua Conro.  Being screened tonight as part of the Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video, this film promises to shed some light on Thig's life as well as showcase some of his performances.

Info from the film's site...
Free association is the modus operandi for this free-form documentary covering the artistic career of free-as-a-bird local rapper/DJ/graffiti artist/street hustler Brian Wharton, known variously as Sharkula, Thigamahjigee, Thig, Force Face, Cumberjack, Action Blackson, or by a host of other pseudonyms. Thig does his thing, as only he can, peddling his homemade recordings, break-dancing, and reciting the free-associative poetry that is his trademark, while finding an amused, rapt, and supportive fan base in Chicago’s art and music underground.





Sharkula:  Diarrhea of a Madman
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N State St
Chicago, IL
One screening only tonight, Friday, August 13, 2010
at 8:15pm
$10


Here are a few pictures I've shot of Thig over the years...

Psych Out

A show of all new work by Won Kim & Jarrett Spiegel will open tonight at the Beer Run Gallery in Pilsen.  I've seen some great collaborations by Won with other people as well as his solo work, there should be some great paintings up.  And everyone's favorite DJ, Intel will be spinning as well.

Won Kim & Jarrett Spiegel:  Psych Out

Beer Run Gallery

1104 W 18th St

Chicago, IL

Opening reception, August 13, 2010

7 to 11 pm

Music by DJ Intel

Complimentary beer provided by Goose Island Clybourn

On view through the end of August.

Field Work

Artist Doug Fogelson will have what looks to be an amazing installation opening tonight at Pilsen's Chicago Urban Arts Society.  Working with natural materials like salt and soil in sculptural form, the show will also include large scale color photograms and images mounted on lightboxes.  Check out the great installation photographs at the CUAS site here.

Doug Fogelson:  Field Work
Chicago Urban Arts Society
2229 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception Friday, August 13, 2010
6 to 11 pm
On view through September 25, 2010

Chicago Variety Show

Rotofugi is presenting the final art show in their current space with an exhibition of some of their favorite Chicago artists.  They're moving their toy store and art gallery from Ukrainian Village to the Lincoln Park/DePaul area at the end of August.  

I really like this piece by Chema Skandal...

There'll also be work by Jeremiah Ketner, Shawn Roberts, Myong Kurily, David Rettker, and Jim Pavelec.

The Chicago Variety Show

Rotofugi Gallery

1955 W Chicago Ave

Opening reception, Friday, August 13, 2010

7 to 10 pm

On view for one week only through Sunday, August 22, 2010

Who's Yr Shaman?: Magical Practice in Contemporary Art

Johalla Projects' Melissa Marinaro has curated this show centered on "artists who take inspiration from unorthodox belief systems." Featuring new work by Elijah Burgher, Sara Fagala, Terence Hannum, Chad Harrison, Ivan Lozano, Adam Ludwig, and Rebecca Walz.

Who's Yr Shaman?: Magical Practice in Contemporary Art
Johalla Projects
1561 N Milwaukee Ave
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception, Friday, August 13, 2010
7 to 11 pm
On view through September 3, 2010

Derek Erdman: Without Wax

Longtime Chicago artist Derek Erdman is leaving our fair city for parts unknown.  Could be Texas, could be the West Coast.  Regardless, I'll miss seeing him and his distinctive art around the city.  Using a mix of silkscreen and painting, Derek has produced over 4,000 paintings like these... 

over his 14 years here in Chicago.  I love the Bill Cosby portrait I bought from Derek several years ago.  He's also produced many other interesting things including zines, coloring books, rap tapes, a prank call CD, drawings, and more.

Derek Erdman:  Without Wax will be Derek's final solo show in Chicago.  Part art show and part massive moving sale, I guarantee there'll be something interesting there for everyone.  Including free buttons from Busy Beaver Button Co...

Info from his site...

On display will be every item in the artist's possession that can possibly be sold, including but not limited to: paintings (canvas, glass, wood), drawings, sculptures, CDs, DVDs, records, posters, prints, books, clothing, furniture, and more. Most items will be made by the artist, but many will be from his own personal collection--the value of which is not to be underestimated, as Erdman himself is a notoriously obsessive collector of rare and/or useful memorabilia. Items in the exhibition catalogue, which may be purchased online at the event, will amount in the hundreds with prices ranging from $0.01 to $1000. Opening Night will feature a special presentation of Erdman's collected video works (Rap Master Maurice, Juggalo Documentary Series), collected audio works (Kathy Mcginty & other prank CDs, excerpts from his Advice Masters & Free Psychic Hotline telephone conversations), live DJ sets by Odd Obsession, and hamburgers for everyone. WITHOUT WAX will be a fun, fond farewell to Chicago's most prolific artist of all time.

This exhibition is curated by Angeline Gragasin in collaboration with Derek Erdman.

Click here for a preview page of the show.

Derek Erdman:  Without Wax 

Saturday, August 14, 2010

6pm to 11pm

The event will be held in Chicago but guests must RSVP to derek@nationalheadquarters.org for location information.

RSVP hotline: (312) 834-4290

Music by the Odd Obsession DJ's

Monster Match

Chicago's Shawn Smith, aka Shawnimals, will have a show of all new drawings, paintings, and custom plush figures at OhNo!Doom in Wicker Park.  Shawn always has a different theme for each show.  I'm looking forward to see what his monsters look like.

Shawn Smith:  Monster Match

OhNo!Doom Gallery

1800 N Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL

Opening Saturday, August 7, 2010

6 to 10 pm

The exhibition runs through August 28, 2010

Seripop in Chicago

Besides the upcoming Public Works 2 exhibition (in the post below) that they're participating in, Montreal's Seripop also installed a screenprint mural at the invitation of the City of Chicago earlier this year.  Comprised of artists and musicians Yannick Desranleau and Chloe Lum, Seripop has produced an amazing array of screenprint posters for bands and as artwork.  I first encountered them here in Chicago at the former Foundation Gallery where they displayed a huge array of their distinctive posters. They've produced huge installations of their work around the world in the last several years.

Here's a video of Seripop installing their mural titled, J’AURAIS PAS ÉTÉ SI J’AVAIS SU on the banks of the Chicago River facing the Merchandise Mart.

Seripop from Chris Roberson on Vimeo.

Public Works 2

Chicago's Andrew Rafacz Gallery, located in the West Loop, will once again be hosting Public Works during the month of August.  Public Works pairs an exhibition of artwork by Montreal's Seripop, Dan Funderburgh and Mike Perry of Brooklyn, and Nadine Nakanishi and Nick Butcher of Chicago's Sonnenzimmer, with a series of lectures by other printmakers, painters, designers, and typographers.

The art show opens this Friday, August 6th with different talks and DJ's going on during the following four Fridays.  The full schedule is posted at www.thispublicworks.com.

Public Works 2
Andrew Rafacz Gallery
835 W Washington Blvd
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception
Friday, August 6, 2010
6 to 9 pm
On view through September 3, 2010

Mark McGinnis book release

 

Front Forty is releasing a new series of books profiling contemporary artists and designers.  The first in the series will have a release party in Chicago on Thursday night at Golden Age.  Featuring the work of artist/graphic designer Mark McGinnis.  You can see examples of his work here.

Mark McGinnis Chicago book release party

at Golden Age

119 N Peoria St

#2D

Chicago, IL

Thursday, August 5, 2010

5 to 9 pm

Featuring limited edition screenprints, stickers, and t-shirts.

Juggalos 101

Homeroom is presenting a lecture tomorrow night by
Derek Erdman and Jenny Benevento on Juggalo culture. Info from their 
site...

"Juggalo or Juggalette (the latter being feminine) is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics." —Wikipedia

Derek Erdman and Jenny Benevento explore the Gathering of the Juggalos, the Dark Carnival, and fucking magnets (how do they work?). Learn about Insane Clown Posse's wicked clowns Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dop e, the horrorcore maestros who reveal the spiritual forces of the Joker's Cards to their followers in order to change people's evil ways before the end consumes us all. Juggalos and Juggalettes in attendance.

PLUS SPECIAL DEREK ERDMAN SIDEWALK SALE!

PLAY to WIN a FREE PAINTED FACE by DEREK ERDMAN!!

AND FAYGO COCKTAILS!!!

WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

***

101 is a monthly lecture series organized by Homeroom in partnership with youmethemeverybody (a Chicago arts and music podcast). Each event features a different speaker who, in open dialogue with the audience, will give a short talk about not just what they do, but how and why they do it. Occasionally, 101 speakers also discuss other arts and culture makers that inspire and influence them.


Juggalos 101:  Intro to Juggalo Culture
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
9pm to 11:30 pm 
at Hungry Brain
2319 W Belmont
Chicago, IL