VIEW

Sculpture Studio, Chicago, by Oscar Arriola

I've got a show of photography up right now at Uprise in Wicker Park. There's a mix of recent images as well as some old favorites involving squishy cats, vampire graffiti, and more.


THOR, Michigan, by Oscar Arriola

Oscar Arriola: VIEW
Opening reception, Monday, February 8, 2010
4 to 7 pm
Uprise
1820 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Stop by and say hello on Monday or come to the afterparty later that evening at Danny's because it's also my birthday! Danny's is at 1951 W Dickens Ave, just east of Damen Ave.

The show will be up through February 28, 2010 (minus Feb 17 & 18 for another event)
Uprise is open Mon - Sat from noon to 7 pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.

Nathaniel Russell: NOWS

Hyde Park's Home Gallery presents an exhibition of drawings by Nathaniel Russell. Info from Home's site...

Nathaniel Russell makes drawings, prints, and paintings of mysterious figures, inspirational imagery, new age posters, primitive character study, dream thoughts, and references to our common subconscious connections.

His work is closely affiliated with the group of artists and designers associated with Mollusk Surf Shop in San Francisco, California. He has been a part of numerous art shows at the Mollusk Gallery and designed many of the shirts and graphics for the shop.

Nathaniel Russell: NOWS
Opening reception Saturday, February 6, 2010
6 to 9 pm
Home Gallery
1407 E 54th Place
Chicago, IL

There will also be a closing reception and brunch on Sunday, February 28, 2010 from noon to 3 pm.

La Loteria

Revolution Tattoo in Bucktown will have a show of watercolors by tattoo artist Chito Tena. Titled, La Loteria, Chito's new work is based on the popular Mexican bingo game loteria and its iconic folk art imagery.

Chito Tena: La Loteria
Revolution Tattoo
Opening Saturday, February 6, 2010
8 to 11 pm
2221 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL

This show will be up through March 13, 2010

Greg Stimac and Scott Wolniak

Untitled (Chicago to Memphis to Little Rock)
2009
archival inkjet print
30" x 24"
edition of 5

Andrew Rafacz Gallery presents two new shows opening this Saturday. Greg Stimac drove around the country in the summer of 2009. He attached a piece of Plexiglass to the front of his car at the beginning of each leg of his trip. At the end of each drive he scanned the image of the bugs and dirt that accumulated on the Plexiglass as a document of that trip.

Scott Wolniak's show is titled, Afterimage, and will feature folded pieces of paper that he has manipulated and painted over with bleach, ink, spray paint, and collage.

Greg Stimac
Scott Wolniak
Opening Saturday, February 6, 2010
4 to 7 pm
Andrew Rafacz Gallery
835 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL

Both shows will be up through March 13, 2010

Buildings and Gestures

Kavi Gupta Gallery in the West Loop has a show opening Saturday by Susan Giles. Titled, Buildings and Gestures, this show deals with architecture and memory, specifically with how large structures and monuments affect people on an individual basis.

Susan Giles: Buildings and Gestures
Opening Saturday, February 6, 2010
4 to 7 pm
Kavi Gupta Gallery
835 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL

This exhibition will be on view through March 13, 2010

Metal vs Wood

Bucktown's 360SEE is opening a show titled, Metal vs. Wood, featuring work by Brian Mock and Matthew Hoffman. There'll also be a closing reception on the lower level for Alejandro Chavetta's Moon Men photo collage show.

From the 360SEE site...
Alejandro Chavetta's new series of analog collage pieces titled 'Moon Men' presupposes that man never really landed on the moon and that the entire charade was done in the name of national pride.
In a time where the motives of the United States are increasingly questioned in relation to money, power, and moral superiority, Chavetta readily sees parallels between his new work and current international policy.

Metal vs Wood
Moon Men
Friday, February 5, 2010
7 to 9 pm
360SEE
1924 N Damen Av
Chicago, IL

Metal vs Wood will be on view through March 11, 2010

Windy City Soul Club

Chicago's roving monthly Windy City Soul Club takes up residence at the Empty Bottle tomorrow night with special guest DJ Dante Carfagna. Dante is well known in soul record circles for his dj sets and massive record collection.


(the video says Sonotheque but now that that's closed it's going to be at the Empty Bottle)

Windy City Soul Club
Friday, February 5, 2010
10pm
$5.00 cover
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Av
Chicago, IL

Matt Tuteur solo show

Wellington Church, photograph by Matt Tuteur

Matt Tuteur presents a show of recent photographs tomorrow night in Pilsen. Fresh off a show at D-Structure in San Francisco, Matt will have work on display documenting 40 abandoned structures from the Chicago area.

Matt Tuteur
Friday, February 5, 2010
7pm
1835 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Preview photograph by Bernard Colbert.

Wicker Park's Flat Iron Building is hosting a one-night only exhibition of murals this Friday night. Invited artists have been painting the building's hallways this past month. After the opening Friday, everything will be painted over. There are lots of great artists participating including Brooks Golden, Keelan McMorrow, and Sebastian Napoli.

Friday, February 5, 2010
6 to 10 pm
$10 Donation
Flat Iron Building
1579 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

Be a beardo!

Just as I'm contemplating shaving off my beard this week comes news of SteffBomb's newest creation, the "Into It, Over It" beard. This easy to wear beard is handmade by Chicago's SteffBomb and is available through her Etsy site. Now you'll have something to wear for those special occasions.

The beard is based on Evan Thomas of Into It. Over It.

Resilience

Chicago's Instituto Cervantes opens a show of photography by 10 Latin American artists. Based on the concept of regeneration, the show displays work depicting life under various social pressures.

Resilience: Latin American Contemporary Photography
Opening Reception
Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 6pm
Instituto Cervantes of Chicago
31 W Ohio
Chicago, IL

The exhibition is free and will be on display through April 1, 2010

Production Site

Ryan Gander, A sheet of paper on which I was about to draw, as it slipped from my table and fell to the floor, 2008. Installation view of Heralded as the New Black, IKON Gallery, Birmingham. Photo by Jerry Hardman-Jones. Coutesy of the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York

Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art will open Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out this week. Organized by curator Dominic Molon, this exhibition deals with artist's studios, both real and imagined.

Next week there'll be performances in the exhibition by Nikhil Chopra. Info from the MCA site...
On Tuesday and Wednesday, February 9 and 10, Mumbai-based Nikhil Chopra performs Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing XI in the MCA galleries. Chopra brings the artist's studio into the gallery using a variety of costumes and props, and wall drawings that he creates during the performance. These will remain in the gallery as an installation for the duration of the Production Site exhibition.



During his performance, Chopra assumes the fictional persona of a Victorian-era figure named Yog Raj Chitrakar, who is based loosely on his grandfather. His last name, Chitrikar, literally translates into picture- or mask-maker in Sanskrit. Chopra inhabits this character for the two days, changing into masculine and feminine costumes that challenge assumptions about race and gender. While performing, Chopra makes drawings that reflect on Production Site, blackening the walls with his obsessive charcoal drawings to emphasize the studio as a place where an artist's internal anxieties and struggles are confronted and resolved.

Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out
February 6 - May 30, 2010
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
220 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

Free on Tuesdays from 10 to 8 pm.

MUTO

Street artist BLU and musician Metaform have joined forces on this great new video titled MUTO. BLU is known for his insanely meticulous stop-action videos where he paints on city walls and animates characters moving throughout the city.

I really enjoyed Metaform's Standing on the Shoulders of Giants album when it came out a few years ago. You can check out more of his music here.

Yeti Ninja

Chicago's Shawnimals has just unveiled Yeti Ninja, the newest Ninja in their Ninja of the Month club or "NotM" for those in the know. You can purchase a subcription to the club and receive a new ninja at the beginning of each month. Each handmade plush toy is limited to an edition of 100 and comes with extra accessories like Rawr the snowman pictured on the right. Check the series out at Ninja of the Month.com.


WGN News also just featured Shawnimals recently. Here's the video with a tour of the Shawnimals headquarters...  

Street Level

The Chicago Urban Art Society is presenting Street Level: A popUp Art Gallery in Pilsen.

Info from their site...

Street Level: A popUp art gallery project on view 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Brought to you by the Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS) and showPOD a high exposure exhibition space designed to support concepts of art experimentation and installation.

Participating artists and art makers:
Ray CRO Noland
Chad Kouri + Peter Skvara
Bridgette Buckley
Matt Teuter
Ruben Aguirre
Peter Kepha

Post Election Unveiling Event - Tuesday, February 2nd @ 7pm - 10pm

Opening Celebration Gathering - Friday, February 5th @ 7pm - 10pm

Location: Chicago Urban Art Society's Warming Center - 1843 South Halsted St.

Spaces on view through February 28th, 2010
24 hours a day / 7 days a week