Uprise Skatedeck Release Party

Chicago skateshop, Uprise, will unveil their new "Sandwich Men" series of skateboard decks designed by their Brazilian friend, Felipe Motta aka Mottilaa.  There'll also be a new deck release by Cliche with a design based on a vintage map of Chicago.  Tonight's release party will also feature original artwork, prints, and t-shirts by Mottilaa.

In addition, there'll be music by the Record Players and DJ Jonny Fonseca.  The event is free and will be held next door to the Congress Theater.

Uprise Skatedeck Release Party

at 2139 N Milwaukee Ave (in a storefront in the Congress Theater building)

Chicago, IL

Saturday, June 25, 2011

8pm to midnight

18 and over 

Free

Uptown Showdown Graffiti Battle

Clarendon Park in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood will once again be the setting for the annual Uptown Showdown Graffiti Battle.  Pitting over 30 graffiti artists against each other, this live painting event will be held outdoors in the park.

Uptown Showdown Graffiti Battle
at Clarendon Park
4502 N Clarendon
Chicago, IL

Saturday, June 25, 2011
11 am to 9 pm

Poetry Foundation Building Open House

After recieving a lovely lil' gift of well over 100 million dollars from billionaire Ruth Lilly several years ago, Chicago's Poetry magazine established a foundation to administer their endownment, create an extensive website and database, and bring poetry to new audiences around the country.  This Saturday and Sunday the Poetry Foundation unveils another result of Ruth Lilly's gift, their brand new headquarters building near downtown Chicago.  Featuring a recording studio, a library for their 35,000 volume collection, a performance space, and an exhibition space, this building will help the foundation share poetry with all kinds of people.

An open house will be held both days this weekend, with poetry recitals, building tours, performances, book signings, and more.  Most of the programs are full already but you can still visit the building and attend the book signings with poets.

Poetry Foundation Building Open House
61 W Superior St (at Dearborn & Superior)
Chicago, IL

Saturday & Sunday, June 25 & 26, 2011
10 am to 7 pm
Free

Summer Meltdown

Chicago's awesome rock duo, White Mystery, will perform tonight at the Viaduct.  Tonight's performance is also a video shoot for them so come be a party of rock history!  BBU and Vamos are also on the bill.

Summer Meltdown: White Mystery, BBU, and Vamos
at The Viaduct
3111 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL

Friday, June 24, 2011
Doors open at 9:30 pm
$5 before 10:30 pm
$7 after 10:30 pm
21+

Cut, Bit, and Curious

Spudnik Press in West Town is hosting a collage show opening tonight, Friday, titled Cut, Bit, and Curious.  There'll be work by Julia Vodrey Hendrickson, Rebekka Federle, and Liz Wolf.

Cut, Bit, and Curious
Spudnik Press
1821 W Hubbard
Suite #308
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 24, 2011
On view through July 16, 2011

Clown Soldier at Pawn Works

NYC street artist, Clown Soldier, has a show of work opening tonight at Pawn Works in Ukrainian Village.  I'm not familiar with Clown Soldier's work, except for a sticker I saw recently, but I heard from some friends who previewed the show last night that it's really good.  It should be a fun opening.  Pawn Works is a new gallery that's been bringing in street artists from around the world to Chicago recently.

There's also word of a screeprint by Clown Soldier that was printed at Fugscreens Studios here in Chicago with the help of Mr. Billy Craven.

Clown Soldier: The Human Canonball
at Pawn Works
1050 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 24, 2011
7 to 11 pm

Lauren Levato at Firecat Projects

Lauren Levato will have her insanely detailed graphite drawings of insects up tonight (Friday) at Tony Fitzpatrick's gallery, Firecat Projects in Bucktown.

Lauren Levato: Lantern Fly Sex Cure
at Firecat Projects
2124 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 24, 2011
7 to 10 pm

Black Eye 1

In celebration of the release of the comic and art anthology, Black Eye 1: Graphic Transmissions to Cause Ocular Hypertension, Quimby's Bookstore will have 5 of the cartoonists represented in the book on hand to sign and talk about their work.  Ivan Brunetti, Lilli Carre, Paul Hornschemeier, Paul Nudd, and Onsmith are scheduled to appear!  More info here.

Black Eye 1
book signing at
Quimby's Bookstore
1854 W North Ave
Chicago, IL

Friday, June 24, 2011
7 to 10 pm

Devil Child

Impala Studio in Rogers Park will have a show of drawings and more by Charlie Megna opening tomorrow night Friday.

Charlie Megna: Devil Child

at Impala Studio

1768 W Greenleaf (1/2 block west of Clark St)

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 24, 2011

7 to 11 pm

The Show 'n Tell Show

A brand spanking new edition of the Show 'n Tell Show will be unveiled tonight Thursday at Lincoln Hall.  This graphic design-centered live talk show consists of interviews with Chicago artists and designers, as well as short performances and presentations where work in progress is shown.  I had a lot of fun at the previous edition and am sure this one will be entertaining as well.

Guests will include: Jim Coudal, Dawn Hancock of Firebelly Design, Veronica Corzo-Duchardt, and Ryan Duggan vs Johnny Sampson.

Tonight's show poster was designed by cartoonist and comix scholar Ivan Brunetti.

This video gives you a lil' intro to the world of the Show 'n Tell Show and its three hosts...

The live show itself is set up as a talk show with a couch on stage and each guest getting their own segment to answer questions about their work and show what they do.

The Show 'n Tell Show

at Lincoln Hall

2424 N Lincoln Ave (near Fullerton Ave)

Chicago, IL 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

8pm

21+

$5

Video for American Apparel directed by photographer Tony Kelly

Directed by Tony Kelly for American Apparel from Tony Kelly Photography on Vimeo.


I love how the one kid is just conducting his business on the phone on his tiny couch.

Brian Evan Show and Fundraiser

Brian Evan, artist, and former director of Pilsen's 54B Gallery, went through some really severe emergency medical issues with his heart recently and is just now starting to recover.  A fundraiser is being held for him featuring artwork by Brian and his friends at the new artspace that he and ZORE are running at the ZhouB Art Center in Bridgeport.  Today is also his birthday!  Come out and support a great person.  The Co-Prosperity Sphere on Morgan St also has an opening tonight so you can make it a Bridgport night.

Brian Evan Fundraiser

ZhouB Art Center

1029 W 35th St

4th floor, Suite 404

Chicago, IL

Friday, June 17, 2011

7 to 11 pm

Hang In There

Chicago photographer Jason Lazarus curates this show opening tonight dealing with "Motivation" and ways that artists address that and work through their problems and issues.

There'll be work by 45 artists on view including Greg Stimac, Industry of the Ordinary, and Deb Sokolow.

Hang In There
at the Co-Prosperity Sphere
3221 S Morgan St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 17, 2011
7 to 10 pm
with live performances by Joan of Arc, Rachel Mason, Mahjongg, Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Magic Key, and more.

Perutz Projects

A new gallery space opens in Niles, IL tonight (which is very close to the NW side of Chicago).  Primarily showing photography, tonight's show at Perutz Projects will feature work by Zebadiah Arrington and Nina Hartmann.

Perutz Projects
7420 N Lehigh Ave
Niles, IL

There's a map and directions posted at ArtSlant here.  You can also take the Pace 290 bus there and walk a few blocks north.

Opening reception is Friday, June 17, 2011
4 to 8 pm
The show will be on view through July 17th with viewing hours from 10 to 5.

Composition 2: Recent work by Tom Burtonwood

In conjunction with the publication of his new catalog of recent work, Color Studies 2010-2011, Tom Burtonwood will have a show opening tonight, Thursday at Columbia College Chicago's Book and Paper Center.  Working with interlocking structures and a complementary palette of colors, Tom explores these engaging shapes with both wood constructions and paint on paper.

Tonight's opening reception will coincide with the opening of the World as Text show that I wrote about here.

Composition 2: Recent work by Tom Burtonwood
at the Book and Paper Center
at Columbia College Chicago
1104 S Wabash Ave, 2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, June 16, 2011
5 to 8pm
On view through August 12, 2011

The World as Text: A Summer Reading Room

Columbia College Chicago's Book and Paper Center has a special exhibition/reading room opening tomorrow night Thursday.  Built out of recycled materials, this room will feature over 75 zines, artist's books, catalogues, and other printed matter.  Check out the great list of curators and participating artists including Temporary Services, Edie Fake and Joseph Grigely here.  There's also a blog here dedicated to the ongoing 2-week design and construction of the reading room.

The World as Text:  A Summer Reading Room
at the Book and Paper Center at Columbia College Chicago
1104 S Wabash Ave
2nd floor
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Thursday, June 16, 2011
5 to 8 pm
On view through August 12, 2011
with various public programs listed here.

The Uptown Photo Show

Connect Force, an art offshoot of the Alternatives Youth Center in Uptown, presents a phototography show by students in their photo darkroom program.  Admission is free and prints will be available for sale.  Come check out their amazing space as well.

The Uptown Photo Show
at Alternatives
4730 N Sheridan Rd (1/2 blk south of Lawrence)
Chicago, IL

Thursday, June 16, 2011
6 to 9 pm

Friends of the Beast: A Tribute to Metal

OhNo!Doom Gallery will open an art show tonight featuring all things metal.  The gallery "apologizes in advance if your eyes bleed from all the awesome".

Full list of artists here.

Friends of the Beast: A Tribute to Metal
at OhNo!Doom Gallery
1800 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Saturday, June 4, 2011
6 to 10 pm

Jim Newberry's Print Sale

Jim Newberry, one of the nicest and most talented photographers in Chicago, is having a photo print sale at his studio tomorrow Saturday.  You may know his work from the numerous photographs he's had published in the Chicago Reader over the years, as well as his portrait and concert photography in various magazines.

You can check out his site here and his photo blog here.

Info below from Jim's site...

Photographs! Framed, unframed, silver gelatin, archival digital, cheap, less cheap but still quite reasonable, etc.

Plus: specially marked prints (at least 10) will be discounted 20% every hour; if not sold by 5:00PM, these prints will be free! Another plus: artwork by others, including Derek Erdman and Steve Keene.

Please come by and say hello, even if you don't want to buy a print.

Some of the subjects photographed:
The Artist Sometimes Known as Prince
Sir Paul McCartney
Alex Chilton
Joanna Newsom
The Frogs
Cat Power
Bobby Conn
Fred Armisen
Frankie Knuckles
My Morning Jacket
David Yow
Tiny Tim
Wilco
Richard Linklater

Jim Newberry's Print Sale

2100 S Marshall Blvd

Suite 704

Chicago, IL

(near the California stop on the CTA's Pink Line and free parking in the lot north of the building)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

12noon to 5:30 pm

Closing party for the Chicago Street Art Show

Even though I have some photographs on display in this show, the reason I'm writing about it is that I think it's one of the most visually interesting shows I've seen in a while.  Despite complaints by some over who was or wasn't included in the show, the exhibition that is up came together very well.  A lot of positive collaboration occurred to put the show together and it shows with many of the resulting installations.

There's the two sets of You Are Beautiful walls, each composed of 15 letters each by 30 artists all together.    A huge maze like wall by Mental 312 was layered with wheatpastes and paintings by many Chicago street artists including The Viking, Goons, and Brooks Golden.  And this multi-sided work art directed by Chris Silva and including elements by 11 other artists had a lot to keep you engrossed.

Photograph by Thomas Fennell IV

There's also the introductory wall with several hundred photographs showing street art in situ outdoors in Chicago, as well as large scale works by Ray Noland/CRO, SARO, Hebru Brantley, the Grocer, Tiptoe, and Don't Fret.

A great book by Joseph Depre, the show's curator, titled "Chicago Street Art", was also released in conjunction with this show.  It's priced at $15 and will be available at the closing party and also locally at Quimby's Bookstore, Myopic, and the Museum of Contemporary Art's bookstore.

The show is up through Saturday, June 4th and the closing party will be tomorrow night Friday, June 3rd from 6 to 11pm

Chicago Street Art Show Closing Party
at the Chicago Urban Art Society
2229 S Halsted St (parking on the street and at the rear of the building)
Chicago, IL

Friday, June 3, 2011
6 to 11 pm

We Art You

Ukrainian Village space Frames Graphics Studio will have a group art show open this Friday evening.  I was happy to be invited to show some work in this show.  This exhibiton was curated by Stefan Johanson and will  feature paintings, photography, prints, and sculptures by Sarah Gonzalez, EMENFUCKOS, Stefan, Ghetto P,  Billy Danze, Matt Tuteur, NINO, Colum RDC, Tenor RTA, Flash ABC, and more.

We Art You
at Frames Graphics Studio
2110 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 3, 2011
6 to 10 pm

Chicago City Pools

Photographer Missy Weimer photographed all 47 of Chicago's public swimming pools during the summer of 2010.  She'll be presenting 17 photographs from this documentary series this Friday evening at Wright, the design auction house, in West Town.

Missy Weimer: Chicago City Pools
at Wright
1440 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 3, 2011
5 to 8pm
On view through June 17, 2011

POLYAMORY

West Town gallery Noble & Superior Projects, will open their final show this Friday, June 3rd.  Titled Polyamory, this show is an ode to apartment galleries and independent art spaces and the people who run them.  Noble & Superior Projects is one of those rare apartment galleries like Lloyd Dobler in Wicker Park or Antena in Pilsen, that have a consistent program of well and interestingly curated art shows.
I'm going to miss tramping up the stairs to their space behind a house on Superior St.

This show will feature work by Robin Juan of HungryMan Gallery, Bill Gross of 65Grand, Vincent Uribe and Allison Kilberg of LVL3, Kirk Faber of Kirk's Apartment, and Elliot Reed, Erin Nixon, and Patrick Boblin of Noble & Superior Projects.

POLYAMORY
Noble & Superior Projects
1418 W Superior St
(enter through the gangway on the left, the space is on the 2nd floor of the rear building)
Chicago, IL

This final show will be one night only
Friday, June 3, 2011
beginning at 6pm

Esta Chido Todo: The Drawings of Raul Maldonado

Intuit is one of those art spaces where it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll encounter intriguing and rarely seen art.  Considering that much of the artwork they feature is by relatively unknown outsider artists it's great that there's a gallery like this in Chicago devoted to sharing their work.  Their upcoming show was curated by Susan Matthews and will be of drawings by Raul Maldonado. Info below from Intuit...

Translated “it’s all cool,” Intuit will present the first major exhibition of the work of Raul Maldonado. A young Mexican immigrant from Hanover Park, Illinois, Maldonado creates large-scale works comprised of 22-by-28 inch poster board, completing and numbering one board at a time on his drawing table. These dozens of boards are then assembled into the completed drawing that can stretch up to 15 feet. Growing up in Guanajuato, Mexico, Maldonado began drawing at the age of 10 inspired by the cartoons he watched on television. Like many self-taught artists, Maldonado finds influence in pop culture sources such as anime and graffiti.

*During the opening reception, guests can treat themselves to a tamale as the tamalespaceship from Tamalli Space Charros will be landing outside Intuit from 6pm-8pm.


Intuit also has a gift shop with outsider art related items that you won't see anywhere else in Chicago, as well as a permanent installation in their back gallery with a recreation of Henry Darger's one-room apartment/art studio.

Esta Chido Todo: The Drawings of Raul Maldonado

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

756 N Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL

Free opening reception on Friday, June 3rd, 2011 from 5 to 8pm

The show will be on view through September 3, 2011

Admission during regular gallery hours is $5 for adults and free for children under 12

Strange But True

Carl Hammer Gallery in River North will have a great show open this Friday night linking large scale Polaroid photographs by William Wegman of his photogenic Weimarner dogs with vintage sideshow banners.  Info from the gallery....

In 1998, Carl Hammer Gallery loaned a large number of vintage sideshow banners to the renowned photographer, William Wegman.  Based on his creative interpretation, the artist photographed his favorite subjects against these banners in his inimitable style and titled the newly developed series of color Polaroid photographs Strange But True.  We are pleased to pair this remarkable body of work with select examples of vintage sideshow banners by master banner painters Fred Johnson and Snap Wyatt in offering up a summer exhibition by the same title.  The resulting effects achieved in this pairing not only portray Wegman's brilliant sense of humor, but display an aesthetic kinship with the imagism of artists uniquely outside of the mainstream and pushes beyond the constraints - formal, social, and personal - that weigh on Western art and society.

William Wegman, Snap Wyatt, and Fred Johnson: Strange But True

Carl Hammer Gallery

740 N Wells St

Chicago, IL

Opening reception: Friday, June 3, 2011

6 to 8 pm

On view through August 26, 2011

Stains Pillowcases by Andrew Jeffrey Wright

Why worry about keeping your pillowcases pure white when you can just purchase them pre-stained?  Philadelphia artist, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, has a new set of pillowcases available through Australian shop, Third Drawer Down.  Released in an edition of 1,000 and priced at $50, these pillowcases have 4 sides illustrating a fascinating array of stains including eye boogers, pizza, tire tracks, Tammy Faye Baker-style make-up, blood, and fried chicken.  

Whatever you've got going on in bed, he's got you covered.  Available through Third Drawer Down.

Get your own Goons!

30 Faces, originally uploaded by Goonskio.

Goons, one of my favorite street artists, released a set of 30 faces last week at prices ranging from $1 to $30. I ordered a few and just got them in the mail.

Check out the original selection here. He's also got some great stickers and hand drawn posters available.  It's a rare chance to pick up one of his pieces since most of his work is wheatpasted to walls.