Toy Karma 2 - Art Inspired by Classic Japanese Toys

Opening tomorrow at Rotofugi, Chicago. Check out the list of artists here.

Opening Reception
Saturday, September 5
7-10PM
Music by dep

Exhibit continues through September 20, 2009
Rotofugi Gallery
1955 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL

46 Million

There are still a couple of days left for this fundraiser (by way of eBay) to assist in positively influencing the current health care debate. Started by Chicago cartoonist Anders Nilson, "46 million" refers to the number of people not covered by health insurance in this country. More info from Lilli Carrre's site...

Anders Nilsen has organized an online art auction and fundraiser to promote universal health care. Money raised will be donated to Democracy for America Now, a national advocacy group that is running television ads to push the Public Option in democratic swing districts and offering support to congress members who take a stand for the policy.

contributing artists are:
John Porcellino, Genevieve Elverum, Chris Ware, Ivan Brunetti, Dan Clowes, Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie), Jeffrey Brown, Paul Hornschemeier, Todd Baxter, Sonnenzimmer Print Studio, Adam Henry, Kevin Huizenga, Jay Ryan (The Bird Machine Print Studio), Lynda Barry, Lilli Carre, David Heatley, Kyle Obriot, Stephen Eichhorn, Buenaventura Press, Sammy Harkham and the organizer, Anders Nilsen.

Print by Tony Fitzpatrick


Screenprint by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine


Drawing by Lilli Carre


Check out more of the available artwork here.

Granta visits Chicago

British literary journal, Granta, has a new issue coming out this month devoted to Chicago. I used to subscribe when I was younger because I really liked the documentary style photography that they featured in some of their issues. It was the type of photography that didn't get published very often at the time. This is only the 2nd time they've devoted an issue to a single city. The first one centered on London ten years ago.

For this issue, they're publishing new work from people like Sandra Cisneros (The House on Mango Street), Stuart Dybek (The Coast of Chicago), and Alex Kotlowitz (There Are No Children Here). There's a photo essay by Chilean photographer Camilo José Vergara, documenting the end of an era, the dismantling of one of the largest housing projects in Chicago. He's returned again and again to communities like the Bronx and Chicago's West Side to document the physical changes made by man and nature over the years.

And to top it all off there's the great cover artwork by Chris Ware.

Here's a video by Grant's acting editor, John Freeman, introducing the issue....

Introducing "Chicago" from Granta magazine on Vimeo.

There's also a series of events scheduled in a couple of weeks involving writers featured in the issue.

Coup D'etat

Mike Giant has a great new book out now titled Coup D'etat. Published by Italy's Drago in conjunction with his show at Magda Danysz Gallery in Paris, this book features his iconic black and white drawings paired with photographs of people and bikes he's encountered on his travels.

Available in Chicago at Quimby's and online through Last Gasp.

Just Not Feeling Like Myself Today

There's another opening tonight at Barbara & Barbara Gallery in Chicago. Featuring photography and drawings by Timothy Pigott, Tony Francesconi, Brian Yates, Ben Speckmann.

Just Not Feeling Like Myself Today
Opening reception, Saturday, August 29, 2009, 6 to 10 pm
Barbara & Barbara Gallery
1021 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL

Letting Go

Belgian artist, photographer, and zine maker, Ephameron has a show titled, Letting Go, opening this Saturday at Bucktown's Believe Inn.



Design collective and gallery, The Post Family, will also be special guest curating the Believe Inn's gift shop during the run of this show.

Ephameron - Letting Go
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
6 to 10 pm
Believe Inn
2043 N Winchester
Chicago, IL

The exhibition runs through September 20th and will be available for viewing by appointment.

Bucktown Arts Fest

This fest always has some nice surprises.

Saturday, August 29 & Sunday, August 30, 2009
Bucktown Arts Fest
@Senior Citizens' Memorial Park
2300 N Oakley Ave (south of Fullerton & east of Western Ave)
Chicago

Vyle at the Library

Chicago DJ and rapper Vyle, will perform a free lunchtime show this Friday at the city's main library. Cited as one of Urb magazine's "Next 100", Vyle has put on a lot of great shows both in Chicago and around the country.





Vyle
Friday, August 28, 2009
12:15 to 1:15pm
Pritzker Auditorium
Harold Washington Library Center
400 S State St
Chicago

Late summer in NYC

A couple of people I know are both heading out to New York City this coming weekend. I was suggesting a few places for them to check out this week and I thought I'd post some of them here...

I would start off by visiting the New Museum, a contemporary art museum located on Bowery between Soho and the Lower East Side. Even if you don't go inside, the building itself is worth checking out. It was designed by Japanese architecture firm SANAA and basically looks like a lopsided pile of grey boxes. The picture I shot on the left only shows the bottom four (out of seven) floors. It also includes the "HELL YES!" piece by Ugo Rondinone they have mounted on the outside.

One of their current shows is a retrospective of work by Emory Douglas, who was the chief artist and graphic designer for the Black Panthers in the 1970's. The New Museum is free on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9pm.

One of my all-time favorite galleries in New York is Deitch Projects. Now consisting of three locations in Manhattan and Queens, their shows are guaranteed to impress. They've had numerous amazing shows by people like director Michel Gondry, TWIST/Barry McGee, ESPO/Stephen Powers, Clare Rojas, Margaret Kilgallen, Keith Haring, and more. They have two new shows opening up next week but in the meantime there's this awesome mural by the Brazilian artists Os Gemeos up on Houston St.

Presented by Deitch Projects, this huge wall showcases the amount of detail these two brothers put into their work.

A few places I like to check out in the Lower East Side for shoes, t-shirts, and zines include The Reed Space, the two Alife Rivington Club stores on Rivington, and S.S.U.R., which is nearby at 7 Spring St.

In Soho there's Pearl River, the biggest source for Chinese themed items I've ever seen. You can get everything from paper lantern sets and kid sized chopsticks to full sized Chinese lions for your very own Chinese New Year's celebration. I picked up this Monk mask there.

You can see how Prada transformed a vintage building into a slick showroom on Broadway that's really interesting to walk through. Plus it's fun to play, "Guess the price" when you pick up random shoes on the shelves downstairs. Soho is also home to an Apple store (for quick internet and bathroom breaks), Camper shoes, the flagship Kid Robot store (all three on Prince St), the A Bathing Ape store, and the Billionaire Boys Club shop (it smells like ice cream cones!) on West Broadway.

Soho is also home to the aforementioned Deitch Projects as well as the Drawing Center up the street from them on Wooster.

Chinatown is just south of Soho beginning on Canal St. It's fun to walk amongst the huge crowds there during the day. It's also home to the 4-story Pearl Art Supply. I suggest taking the tiny elevator (hidden in the back) to the top floor and then working your way down.

Creative Time's massive collection of art installations is up on Governor's Island. Open weekends this summer through September 20th. You can take a free ferry boat ride to get there. More info here.

Going north from the Lower East Side, I like the bar Max Fish, there's Toy Tokyo for all your Godzilla and urban vinyl toy needs. In the East Village I like to check out Upper Playground, Giant Robot (which has great art shows as well as books and clothing), Autumn skate shop (across from Upper Playground & Giant Robot), and Turntable Lab. There's also an outpost of Two Boots Pizza, which are my favorite slices in New York.

Heading back west a little, there's the Strand Bookstore on 12th and Broadway, which has a massive selection of both used and remaindered (newish books that have been dropped in price) books, Washington Square Park (where you can relive your KIDS movie-related skateboard smackdown memories), and Other Music (which carries a great selection of cd's and vinyl). I also like the burgers and shakes at the Silver Spurs diner.

Going north there's Union Square, which is great for people watching, and the country's busiest Whole Foods (for snacking). Union Square is also where a whole bunch of train lines converge so it's a good meeting or transfer point.

Friday nights are free at the Museum of Modern Art as well as the American Folk Art Museum next door. The folk art museum has a great Henry Darger exhibit up for a couple more weeks. He's the Chicago outsider artist whose art wasn't discovered until after he died.

I'll post a few more places tomorrow...

Festival de Música Electrónica Latina

This year's edition of the Latin Electronic Music Festival has now grown to three locations in Chicago. Featuring beat makers from near and far, there'll be a good variety of music and workshops to check out. Schedule and prices are listed here.

One of the highlights of the festival is Puerto Rico's Balún, with their ethereal music. I like this track, Snol. They'll be part of the showcase at the Chicago Cultural Center.

FMEL
Festival de Música Electrónica Latina
Latin Electronic Music Festival
August 27, 2009 - Chicago Cultural Center
August 28, 2009 - National Museum of Mexican Art
August 29, 2009 - Sonotheque

Edible Audio Picnic

The last show in this summer's Edible Audio Picnic series will feature Chicago producers Caural and K-Kruz opening for Dark Party. Eliot Lipp and Leo123 formed Dark Party as a collaborative side project. I saw them perform some amazing music under that name at the Empty Bottle a few years ago. I've been waiting for them to come back ever since.

From Millennium Park's site...
Brooklyn-based beats producer Eliot Lipp and his Chicago-based friend Leo 123 use DJ electronic music influenced by hip-hop, disco, electro, and techno to produce the unique sound of Dark Party. Caural and K-Kruz, two of Chicago’s finest electronic producers, open for Dark Party playing their samplers live as instruments, together creating a collage of instrumental hip hop, electronic, jazz, ambient and glitch-inspired music.

Monday, August 24, 2009
12noon to 1:30pm
Edible Audio Picnic
Dark Party, Caural, and K-Kruz
Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park
Michigan Ave @ Washington
Chicago

TRS-80 in Chicago!

TRS-80 is flying out to Chicago to perform a free lunchtime show tomorrow Friday, August 21, 2009. Comprised of members Jay Rajeck and filmmaker Eric Fensler, TRS-80 plays a mix of live drumming and electronic beats alongside some kickass visuals.





Here's a Coca-Cola commercial that used their song, Bees Inside...



The show is free and will go from 12:15pm to 1:15pm
Friday, August 21, 2009
TRS-80 at the Pritzker Auditorium
Harold Washington Library Center
400 S State St
Chicago, IL

Transparent Reflect

From their site...

Transparent Reflect examines the portrait and the self-portrait and its overlap in art. The show takes the traditional approach of making a portrait (from an observational standpoint) and mixes it with the more reflective side of a self-portrait. The artists in the show use photography, drawing, painting and installation works to portray their ideas though a range of formal and abstract approaches. They explore religion, sexuality, popular culture and the economic times that we are currently struggling through, and take a more autobiographical response to the current state of the nation. Transparent Reflect questions the notion of identity and brings forth reflection that is required and lately ignored in today’s society.


Zach Abubeker
Matt Austin
Kristen Flemington
Adam Golfer
Goons
Maureen Peabody
Anna Shtyenshleyger
Swoon
Nick Wylie

Transparent Reflect
Opening Friday, August 21, 2009 6 to 11 pm
Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219 S Morgan
Chicago, IL

This show is less than 5 minutes away by car from the Call It What You Will latina photography show at 54B Gallery on Halsted and Cermak Rd. that same night.

Transparent Reflect will also be open Saturday August 22nd from 11am-6pm

Tag Team Terror

I love the poster design for this dj set at Lava tonight...


Hot Wax & End Of The World Dance Party present

!!!#$%&***TAG TEAM TERROR***&%$#!!!

with DJ sets by:

KID COLOR & SPARKLETONE
THE LIVEWIRE & DJ DEMCHUK
BRITISH KNIGHTS & HUGGIES SUPREME
Hosted by: NOVEM Studios & Micada (Six Point Chicago)
Photobooth by: GLITTER GUTS

Thursday, August 20, 2009
9pm to 2 am
LAVA
1270 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL

$5 / $3 w/ RSVP on Facebook - CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Call it what you will

"Call It What You Will", an all-Latina photography show by The Foto Chicas, is opening this Friday at 54B Gallery in Pilsen. Featuring work by Elia l. Alamillo, Erica Contreras, Analu Maria Lopez, Dulce Rodriguez, and Vanessa Saucedo, all students and recent graduates of Columbia College Chicago's photography program.



Opening Friday, August 21, 2009, 7pm to midnight.

Call It What You Will
54B Gallery
2128 S Halsted St (1/2 block north of Cermak Rd)
Chicago, IL