Gallery Thu May 08 2008
Next Wednesday the Oriental Institute is offering a free tour of its special exhibit Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past. This guided tour (the only one they have planned for the next few months) will give you the opportunity to speak with archeologist and co-curator Katharyn Hanson as she leads you through the gallery. The exhibit chronicles the initial looting of the Iraq National Museum and the on-going and heartbreaking damage that is being done to Iraq's cultural heritage as a result of the conflict there.
The Oriental Institute and its staff have been incredibly active since the beginning of the war in the efforts to prevent looting and protect the integrity of Iraqi archeological sites and artifacts, many of which date back to the very beginning of civilization. In addition to the exhibit going on through the end of the year, they host a database of objects that the Iraq Museum is believed to have contained that includes pictures and information about the objects' status. If you can't get enough of marveling at solid gold vases and man's earliest musical instruments, check out their recently released book "Antiquities Under Siege." It admittedly contains fewer pictures but has more suggestions on how to keep something like this from happening again.
The tour begins at 12:15 next Wednesday the 15th. The Oriental Institute is located in Hyde Park at 1155 East 58th Street. If you can't make the tour you can still view the exhibit from now until December 31 during the museum's normal business hours.
- Jamie Smith |
Alderman Robert Fioretti has created a local Citizen Advisory Committee to weigh in on South Loop building proposals. The article, appearing in the Chicago Journal, states that as part of the Ald. Fioretti’s decision making process, he will now weigh the opinion of this collection of pseudo-randomly selected residents.
How does one join this committee?
According to the article emails were sent to all those in their database consisting of Fioretti campaign contributors, people who signed up for information about the campaign through its Web site and people who have given their email address to the alderman at one of his community meetings,…” (see note below) Hannah Jubeh, Fioretti’s campaign manager continues to assert that the CAC will “bring (developers) in and reeducate them on how the process is going to work." While some community oversight is important, the CAC seems to be little more than an instrument for Fioretti to play architect. A committee stacked with his supporters will allow him to feign local support or angst for whichever project he would like.
Just as music cannot be reviewed by looking at the sheet music alone, architecture suffers when its creation is stymied before its execution even begins. New ideas must be able to be constructed and suceed or fail on their own merit. Only then can meaningful criticism take place. Fioretti has already attempted to stop one of the most forward thinking designs to be proposed for the quasi-historicist South Loop. Thankfully, Lucien Lagrange’s XO condominium project will continue despite the objections of another “community” organization, the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance.
(Note: I am 2nd ward resident who submitted an email and mailed several letters to the alderman's office over the past year. I was not on the email database, by mistake, I'm sure.)
- Carl Giometti |
Theatre Thu May 08 2008
Over at the theater blog An Angry White Guy in Chicago, a debate rages about the nature of art criticism. Blogger Don Hall claims that "most theater people just want affirmation and aren't really interested in criticism, constructive or otherwise but we all claim to want honest evaluation from our peers." Check the comments section for the response from the theater community.
- Lindsay Muscato |
Dance Mon May 05 2008
On the first Thursday of the next three months, dance critic Lucia Mauro will be hosting the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs series "About Dance," now in its fourth year. Each event in the series will feature a performance by a local choreographer or dance company, accompanied by a discussion with Mauro about that performer's artistic process. This month's contribution is sure to be entertaining. Matthew Hollis will perform "Let's Go Love!" in which he utilizes modern dance and his faux-self-help technique, the Power of Cheer (as in cheerleading) to pick apart and celebrate everything that is Love.
All of this entertainment is FREE at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at the Chicago Cultural Center's Dance Studio, 78 E. Washington St. For more information, call 312-744-6630.
- Rachel Zanders |
Film Sun May 04 2008
As the pundits prognosticate about the upcoming Democratic Convention, the Chicago Film Archives asks us to look back 40 years to the infamous 1968 Convention held in Chicago. Their latest series, “Out of the Vault: Year of Confrontation,” will present four restored films that explore not only the conflict between police and protesters at the convention but also how the media coverage was manipulated by the city after the fact.
Continue reading this entry»
- Jamie Smith |
Have you always wanted to be part of a Renaissance that doesn't end in the word "Faire?" Well, congratulations, because you may already be! According to the book RenGen: The Renaissance Generation, today's cultural consumers are paving the way for a transformation in American culture. The author posits that phenomenon like the rise of the DIY ethic, anti-consumerist movements, and the reinvention of canonical arts institutions (like that collaboration between Chicago Sinfonietta and Poi Dog Pondering?) are evidence that knowledge and creativity are becoming the new social currency.
She goes on to claim that this cultural (and commercial) revolution will change everything from the economy to love and marriage in America. If you're skeptical that the popularity of American Idol isn't a sign of the coming apocalypse but rather an indication that we're ready for a re-birth, then you might consider seeing the author, Patricia Martin, when she comes to Chicago on May 29th to speak to the local Arts & Business Council.
- Jamie Smith |
The Chicago Children's Museum intends to find out. Or perhaps it's "how low do we have to go?"
The new design for the relocated museum was released on Friday and has done little to change the attitudes of any involved. Perhaps the only real change that has happened is that the museum design, by sinking even further into the ground, has robbed architecture firm Kruek & Sexton a real opportunity to design a dynamic piece of architecture.
Removed from the design were any skylights or elements that protruded above the current ground plain at Daley Bicentennial Plaza. The entrance has been reduced of some of its splendor to further tuck it into the underground museum.
This whole development is quite puzzling. Personally, I cannot really understand what the great value in this location is to the Chicago Children's Museum. Clearly, there are better locations abound, as somewhat demonstrated by the Chicago Tribune's continuing articles featuring alternative locations for the museum (Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, Option 4, Option 5, Option 6). Normally, it can be difficult to side with certain "community" organizations that tend to be a place for people to massage their egos rather than provide meaningful activism. However, in this instance, there has not been one critque offered that has been untrue.
Mayor Daley's record at encouraging great architecture has been very strong up to this point, here's hoping that everyone can cooperate to create a new landmark public building for the City of Chicago.
- Carl Giometti |
Art Thu May 01 2008
The International Museum of Surgical Science in the Gold Coast might seem an unlikely place to attend an art show, but on Friday you can do just that, as artist Christa Donner exhibits recent works among the giant kidney stones and antique forceps in the museum’s collection. Titled “ExtraSensory,” the show is part of the “Anatomy in the Gallery” series, a rotating exhibition program featuring medically themed art.
Lest the phrase “medically themed art” makes you think of sterile skeleton sculptures and hanging mobiles made of say, IV bags (as it sort of does for me), fear not: Donner’s work is much more imaginative and much less high school biology course. Using drawing as “both her microscope and her scalpel,” she thoughtfully fuses art and science—examining, dissecting, and re-envisioning human anatomy. In particular, “ExtraSensory” explores body image and the power of sensory experience.
The show includes new works on paper and what Donner calls a “wacky sculptural drawing on the floor,” as well as zines, photographs, and collage drawings from a collaborative project with teens from rural McHenry County, Illinois. The show opens tomorrow with a reception from 5–8 p.m. and runs through July 18.
The International Museum of Surgical Science is located at 1524 N. Lake Shore Dr. (inner drive).
- Laura Pearson |
Dance Thu May 01 2008
In keeping with the company's goals of inspiring "new perceptions of movement," Inaside Chicago Dance has created an evening of dancing inspired by the drip period of Jackson Pollock's artwork. In the Painting will be a "multimedia dance experience," beginning with a short film by Pedro Brenner (Inaside's photographer and award-winning film director) about Pollock's life and art, and continuing with choreographed works that include a multimedia element.
May 2 @ 8:00, May 3 @ 2:00 & 8:00. Ruth Page Center for the Performing Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. $20 general ($15 student/dancer/senior). Purchase tickets at the Ruth Page box office (312.337.6543).
- Rachel Zanders |
Art Wed Apr 30 2008
Jay Ryan has produced a beautiful set of posters for "The Blue Planet Live," a film/concert series in the UK. Each poster, which features animals living in or above the world's oceans, is available for $50, or you can buy the full set for $300.
- Andrew Huff |
Even though the $170 million dollar renovation will not be completed until later this year, Looptopians will get a chance to catch a sneek preview of the Palmer House Hilton this Friday, Crain's reports. The hotel, located between Wabash and State on Monroe, will be hosting events from 10pm until 5am.
The Palmer House Hilton will be the second major hotel renovation to complete this year, and like the Blackstone Hotel, the designers have intended to give the building a "contemporary" update. At the Blackstone this meant stupendously restoring all the historic design elements of the walls and ceilings and then adding, less stupendously, modern carpet designs. Hopefully, the designers exercise some restraint with the common areas to retain their fidelity to the original and use the individual rooms as their opportunity to show some design flair. Either way, those rooms will be difficult to come by as hotel operators are expecting bookings to be exceptional for the pseudo "white night" celebration.
- Carl Giometti |
Art Sun Apr 27 2008
If you’ve been down Michigan Avenue lately, you may have noticed the return of “Communication X9,” a work by Israeli sculptor Yaacov Agam that has been undergoing renovations for the last three years. The artist, who is less than pleased with the changes, is hinting that he may file suit against both the restorer and the management company that hired him alleging that the work done was not a restoration but rather an unauthorized reproduction.
The Tribune provided an update Friday on the conflict that has been going on since the fall. For more in-depth reporting on who did what to whose paint samples, check out the Reader article from November of last year which explains the dispute in detail.
Photo by Robert L. Segal.
- Jamie Smith |
Theatre Wed Apr 23 2008
The Cubs will not be in town this weekend, but you still have a reason to experience wonderful Wrigleyville in the spring. Stage Left Theatre, known for tackling tough social issues in its productions is currently performing Omniscience, a play about the psychological and emotional trauma suffered by living in a quasi police state. The play follows a documentary producer and his military officer wife as he attempts to bring to light the truth of war and the suppression of expression by corporate and government forces intent on maintaining "control" of its populace.
When: Through May 24th; Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm
Where: Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield Ave.
Price: $20.00
Box Office: (773) 883-8830
- Norman Doucet |
Fashion Wed Apr 23 2008
Chicago Fashion Week, a privately run fashion show, decided on Thursday to delay the show by months, despite the fact it was supposed to begin today. Obviously upset, four designers are putting on a show anyway today at 7 p.m. near the grand ballroom at Navy Pier.
- David Schalliol |
Back in the good old days of architecture, buildings used to be breathtakingly ornamented. Effort is currently underway to restore the impressive Tiffany Glass dome at the Chicago Cultural Center. If you stop by on May 21st at 6 p.m., the project team from Evanston will be there to discuss the technical and historical details of the project (call 312.744.6630 for more information). Currently, the dome can be viewed from the perimeter of the room while the restoration is underway. In addition, several of the glass pieces have been replaced with temporary plastic panels.
The dome, pre-restoration.
The project is extraordinary for several reasons. Perhaps most significantly, the restoration will once again allow natural light to illuminate the ornate 'jewels' inserted in the panes. It is increasingly rare to find a Tiffany glass ceiling of this size that has not been encased and artificially lit. The metal frame will also be polished and refinished to insure that the whole ceiling sparkles radiantly. The restoration will be completed in late June.
- Carl Giometti |
