Friday, January 23, 2009
Score one for the Luddites...
So, we all watched it happen, and cried, "Say it ain't so Polaroid, say it an't so!" Well, I present to you, "It ain't so." Got to love the Dutch.
Openings for Friday, January 23rd (or "Fuck Ya'll, I'm From Texas!")
On this cold January evening, I feel I must quote the tattooed ass of my dear friend Katie Texas, “Fuck Ya’ll, I’m from Texas.” Now, this is not actually true of me, I am not from Texas (I am from Nevada City, thank you, and no, it isn’t in Nevada). The reason I choose to say as much is because my freezing cold ass is going to be in Texas tomorrow, Austin to be exact. But that is no reason for you, my friends, to fall off the wagon. Ya’ll are back from your winter adventures. Time to re-insert yourself into Chicago art. There isn’t much I can give you, but there are a few things. As I assume most of you would know, Sullivan Galleries is fairly bleeding from it’s sutures with shows (only second to Woman Made). For you photo kids, the Sharp First Floor Crew has put together a show, titled “Ship in a Bottle.” Unfortunately I believe this show will disappoint me by not actually consisting of work created entirely through the use of tweezers inserted into impossibly small spaces. I guess that’s just how it works, ya never get tweezers when ya want tweezers. Hmmm…well, thank all of you who replied to my request for skin salting space. Art, meat, art, what’s the difference? Well, what can I say, get your ass out there and look at art. If nothing else it gets you out of the house. Unfortunatly, I cannot access my geographic listing, so, ya’ll’s gonna have to figure out these neighborhoods ya’self. C’mon, you can use a map, right? Kisses ‘n shit.
Openings for Friday, January 23rd:
Carrie Secrist - 835 W. Washington. David Lefkowitz, Paintings of "unlikely topiary structures." Opening 5-8 pm.
Instituto Cervantes - 31 W. Ohio. Jose Manuel Ciria, paintings. Opening 6:30.
Leather Archives and Museum - 6418 N. Greenview. Beauties Service, Watercolors by Kate Tastrophe depicting "women who have taken complete and utter control over their own external sexuality." Opening 6-9 pm.
National Museum of Mexican Art - 1852 W. 19th. Miradas: Mexican Art From the Bank of America Collection, Paintings, prints, and photos by artists including Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Gabriel Orozco, Edward Weston, and Paul Strand. Opening 6-8:30pm.
Sullivan Galleries – State Street, in that entrance that looks like it’s there for maintenance purposes. "New Work" - Current students reveal their latest work, group show & "Ship in a Bottle" - Poised between the possible and the impossible, and with an emphasis on visual pleasure, the work in this exhibition is concerned with the elevation of experience through process, material, and subject matter, group show & Redress, work by Carla Dua, Lia Rousset, and Amber Ginsberg. Opening 4:30 – 7 pm.
Woman Made Gallery - 685 N. Milwaukee. After the Soup, paintings by Kathy Weaver & And You Think That's Funny?, Group show of work "addressed in a humorous way," juried by cartoonist Nicole Hollander & It's Enough to Make a Cat Laugh, work by Nicole Hollander & Whimsicality, group show. Opening 6-9.
Openings for Friday, January 23rd:
Carrie Secrist - 835 W. Washington. David Lefkowitz, Paintings of "unlikely topiary structures." Opening 5-8 pm.
Instituto Cervantes - 31 W. Ohio. Jose Manuel Ciria, paintings. Opening 6:30.
Leather Archives and Museum - 6418 N. Greenview. Beauties Service, Watercolors by Kate Tastrophe depicting "women who have taken complete and utter control over their own external sexuality." Opening 6-9 pm.
National Museum of Mexican Art - 1852 W. 19th. Miradas: Mexican Art From the Bank of America Collection, Paintings, prints, and photos by artists including Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Gabriel Orozco, Edward Weston, and Paul Strand. Opening 6-8:30pm.
Sullivan Galleries – State Street, in that entrance that looks like it’s there for maintenance purposes. "New Work" - Current students reveal their latest work, group show & "Ship in a Bottle" - Poised between the possible and the impossible, and with an emphasis on visual pleasure, the work in this exhibition is concerned with the elevation of experience through process, material, and subject matter, group show & Redress, work by Carla Dua, Lia Rousset, and Amber Ginsberg. Opening 4:30 – 7 pm.
Woman Made Gallery - 685 N. Milwaukee. After the Soup, paintings by Kathy Weaver & And You Think That's Funny?, Group show of work "addressed in a humorous way," juried by cartoonist Nicole Hollander & It's Enough to Make a Cat Laugh, work by Nicole Hollander & Whimsicality, group show. Opening 6-9.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Thoughts on a Child...
...what do you think of, when you imagine a child soldier? Do you think of their life before their "service"? Do you think of the gun they hold in their hand? Is it the political turmoil of their geographic area that gives you pause, or is it simply the fact that they are a child with a gun? What does this say about you? What does this say about them? What does this say about the artist who chooses to address them? What does this say about the artist who uses them as a canvas? Does it give you pause? A convenient image to cry upon, or do you think further? I press you to think when you look upon these images.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Notes From The Morning After #2
So, instead of curling up like a cat alongside my radiator like I wanted to, Jeriah and I hauled our asses out into the freezing doom, and went to art. First place we headed for was good ‘ole Roots and Culture. Thanks to a recommendation from my buddy Alex Jovanovich, I have tried to make it to every show this place has. There is always a huge crew there, you’re bound to see quite a few people you know. They show a crazy variety of work, and as often as you’re likely to see someone you know there, you’re as likely to see their work there. I’d suggest ya don’t miss it in the future. Right now there showing Suspend, abstract paintings by Michele Bolinger, Clare Grill, Stacie Johnson, Aliza Morell and Kimberly Trowbridge.
I met up there with my buddies Shannon and Jerimiah, and we headed down south to Bridgeport. We were looking for Normal Projects but ended up first at Zhou B. I’d never been there before, big place. Big place, with belly dancers. Jeriah and I both agreed the best thing there was a giant vulture/transformer/wraith thing made out of motorcycle parts. Once we realized Zhou B was, in fact, Zhou B, and not Normal Projects, we headed back out in the cold to find the elusive Normal Projects.
This being the first foray I’ve made down to Bridgeport, it was also my first visit to Normal Projects. I have to love this place, and all places like it. If you haven’t been there before, get your ass down there next time Emily Schroeder (the “director” I supposed you’d say) is having a show. Got to drink more Grolsch and watch a bunch of video pieces including work by Greg Stimac and my buddy Jesse Avina, among others. Good times.
Finally, we headed over to ze’ Co-Prosperity Sphere. This place, much like Heaven, Swimming Pool, and Happy Dog, is the ideal capstone for an evening of arting aboot. They’re open late and have rocking music. Just make sure ya bring cash for beer, they ain’t giving the stuff away. Right now they’re having a group show of Young Polish Artists.
After that it was time for home, time for warm, time for sleep, oh sleep. It was a good night. Where you out there? Ya should’ve been.
I met up there with my buddies Shannon and Jerimiah, and we headed down south to Bridgeport. We were looking for Normal Projects but ended up first at Zhou B. I’d never been there before, big place. Big place, with belly dancers. Jeriah and I both agreed the best thing there was a giant vulture/transformer/wraith thing made out of motorcycle parts. Once we realized Zhou B was, in fact, Zhou B, and not Normal Projects, we headed back out in the cold to find the elusive Normal Projects.
This being the first foray I’ve made down to Bridgeport, it was also my first visit to Normal Projects. I have to love this place, and all places like it. If you haven’t been there before, get your ass down there next time Emily Schroeder (the “director” I supposed you’d say) is having a show. Got to drink more Grolsch and watch a bunch of video pieces including work by Greg Stimac and my buddy Jesse Avina, among others. Good times.
Finally, we headed over to ze’ Co-Prosperity Sphere. This place, much like Heaven, Swimming Pool, and Happy Dog, is the ideal capstone for an evening of arting aboot. They’re open late and have rocking music. Just make sure ya bring cash for beer, they ain’t giving the stuff away. Right now they’re having a group show of Young Polish Artists.
After that it was time for home, time for warm, time for sleep, oh sleep. It was a good night. Where you out there? Ya should’ve been.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Openings For Friday, Jan. 16th
Alright all of my frozen toed colleagues. It’s that time, once again, that we sally fourth to meet our destiny, a destiny of crowded rooms, barely visible works of art, and of course, cheap wine flowing fourth like the proverbial fountain of youth. But first, I need some help.
I need a dirt floor basement, a warehouse floor, an un/ill-used garage, something, and I need it for about a month. I need to salt some skins. Worry not, my potential loaner-o-space, it won’t smell or get nasty. I’ve already done it in another friend’s basement, the only reason I’m moving my project is that I need more space. This is prep for my thesis, so I’d really appreciate some help with this. So, that’s that.
Well, for this literal hell-frozen-over of a Friday, there’s a lot of stuff going on, but it’s spread all over the place. West Loop’s got 4 things, including that Tony Wright opening I somehow thought was last week. Roots and Culture is rocking out, as it the whole Bridgeport crew. And, if your looking for something PETAtastic, there’s the aptly named “Porkopolis” up at Loyola. Don’t ask me.
My hunk of man love, Jeriah, and I are starting to do morning after reviews of our gallery crawls. We did the first one last week, check ‘em out if ya need a double dose of the smarm.
That is all. Go fourth and multiply, and by multiply I mean go look at art. Be brave, and remember the 30-30-30 Rule. Exposed flesh in -30F air with a 30 MPH wind will freeze solid in 30 seconds. That’s totally long enough to get from one gallery to another.
BRIDGEPORT:
33 Collective - 1029 W. 35th. Calmness, Work by Sergio Gomez. Reception Fri 1/16, 7-10 PM. 1/16-2/13.
Co-Prosperity Sphere - 3219-21 South Morgan Street. Young Polish Artists (YPA), A group show of work by Young Polish Americans. January 16 - February 17, 2009. Opening reception: Friday January 16, 6-9 pm. After show performances by: J+J+J, Rabid Rabbit, Aleks and the Drummer (DJ Set) @ 9pm $5 admission.
Zhou B Art Center - 1029 W. 35th. Center Line 2009, Selected works from Art Center exhibitions spanning the last five years. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-10 PM. 1/16-3/14.
BUCKTOWN:
360See - 1924 N. Damen. Pay-to-Play, Paintings by Chris Crites addressing corruption in Illinois politics & Unconventional Collage Show, Work by Virginia Fleck, Adam Grossi, and Alejandro Chavetta. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-9 PM. 1/16-3/1.
EAST ROGERS PARK:
Loyola Univ. Crown Center Gallery - 1001 W. Loyola, 2nd fl. Porkopolis: Animals and Industry, "Scathing social commentary on the meat industry" by Sue Coe. Reception Fri 1/16, 5:30-7:30 PM. 1/2-2/20.
EAST VILLAGE:
Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery - 1953 W. Chicago Ave. McBess, Netherland (aka David van Alphen), Overdrive. Opening: January 16th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
LOGAN SQUARE:
Elastic - 2830 N. Milwaukee, second floor. Visual Music, Graphic scores by musician Guillermo Gregorio. Reception Fri 1/16, 7 PM. 12/18-1/31.
NOBLE SQUARE:
Roots and Culture - 1034 N. Milwaukee. Suspend, Paintings by Michele Bolinger, Clare Grill, Stacie Johnson, Aliza Morell, and Kimberly Trowbridge. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-9 PM. 1/16-2/14.
OLDTOWN:
Thomas Masters - 245 W. North. Stasys Eidrigevicius, Photography. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-2/28.
RIVER NORTH:
Gallery KH - 311 W. Superior. From Russia With Love, Paintings by Roman Zaslonov. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-8 PM. 1/16-3/7.
Roy Boyd - 739 N. Wells. William Conger, Paintings. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-3/3.
Russell Bowman - 311 W. Superior #115. Geometry as Image, Group show of works on paper. Reception Fri 1/16, 5:30-8 PM. 1/16-3/21.
RIVER WEST:
Intuit - 756 N. Milwaukee. The Picture Tells the Story, Drawings by Joseph E. Yoakum documenting landscapes and his travels with the circus & Sticks, Work by "artists who have picked up a stick and made it their own," including Bessie Harvey, Emergy Blagdon, and Wayne Kusy. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM; curator's talk Sat 1/17, 11 AM. 1/16-6/27.
WEST LOOP:
65Grand - 1378 W. Grand (entrance on Noble). Beautiful Form, Work exploring geometric abstraction by Zachary Buchner, Todd Chilton, Titus Dawson Polo, Steven Husby, and Peter Shear. Reception Fri 1/16, 7-10 PM. 1/16-2/14.
Rhona Hoffman - 118 N. Peoria. New Works Under Tension, Work by E. V. Day & Tough and Sweet, Work by Stephanie Brooks. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-7:30 PM. 1/16-2/28.
Tony Wight - 119 N. Peoria. For January, Abstract paintings by Todd Chilton & Heads, Large-scale cardboard busts by Scott Fife. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-2/21.
WESTLAWN:
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture - 6500 S. Pulaski. Exemption From Occupation, Photo-based work by Keith Stanton that "explores the post-modern idea of material wealth." Reception Fri 1/16, 7 PM. 1/16-2/20.
I need a dirt floor basement, a warehouse floor, an un/ill-used garage, something, and I need it for about a month. I need to salt some skins. Worry not, my potential loaner-o-space, it won’t smell or get nasty. I’ve already done it in another friend’s basement, the only reason I’m moving my project is that I need more space. This is prep for my thesis, so I’d really appreciate some help with this. So, that’s that.
Well, for this literal hell-frozen-over of a Friday, there’s a lot of stuff going on, but it’s spread all over the place. West Loop’s got 4 things, including that Tony Wright opening I somehow thought was last week. Roots and Culture is rocking out, as it the whole Bridgeport crew. And, if your looking for something PETAtastic, there’s the aptly named “Porkopolis” up at Loyola. Don’t ask me.
My hunk of man love, Jeriah, and I are starting to do morning after reviews of our gallery crawls. We did the first one last week, check ‘em out if ya need a double dose of the smarm.
That is all. Go fourth and multiply, and by multiply I mean go look at art. Be brave, and remember the 30-30-30 Rule. Exposed flesh in -30F air with a 30 MPH wind will freeze solid in 30 seconds. That’s totally long enough to get from one gallery to another.
BRIDGEPORT:
33 Collective - 1029 W. 35th. Calmness, Work by Sergio Gomez. Reception Fri 1/16, 7-10 PM. 1/16-2/13.
Co-Prosperity Sphere - 3219-21 South Morgan Street. Young Polish Artists (YPA), A group show of work by Young Polish Americans. January 16 - February 17, 2009. Opening reception: Friday January 16, 6-9 pm. After show performances by: J+J+J, Rabid Rabbit, Aleks and the Drummer (DJ Set) @ 9pm $5 admission.
Zhou B Art Center - 1029 W. 35th. Center Line 2009, Selected works from Art Center exhibitions spanning the last five years. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-10 PM. 1/16-3/14.
BUCKTOWN:
360See - 1924 N. Damen. Pay-to-Play, Paintings by Chris Crites addressing corruption in Illinois politics & Unconventional Collage Show, Work by Virginia Fleck, Adam Grossi, and Alejandro Chavetta. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-9 PM. 1/16-3/1.
EAST ROGERS PARK:
Loyola Univ. Crown Center Gallery - 1001 W. Loyola, 2nd fl. Porkopolis: Animals and Industry, "Scathing social commentary on the meat industry" by Sue Coe. Reception Fri 1/16, 5:30-7:30 PM. 1/2-2/20.
EAST VILLAGE:
Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery - 1953 W. Chicago Ave. McBess, Netherland (aka David van Alphen), Overdrive. Opening: January 16th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
LOGAN SQUARE:
Elastic - 2830 N. Milwaukee, second floor. Visual Music, Graphic scores by musician Guillermo Gregorio. Reception Fri 1/16, 7 PM. 12/18-1/31.
NOBLE SQUARE:
Roots and Culture - 1034 N. Milwaukee. Suspend, Paintings by Michele Bolinger, Clare Grill, Stacie Johnson, Aliza Morell, and Kimberly Trowbridge. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-9 PM. 1/16-2/14.
OLDTOWN:
Thomas Masters - 245 W. North. Stasys Eidrigevicius, Photography. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-2/28.
RIVER NORTH:
Gallery KH - 311 W. Superior. From Russia With Love, Paintings by Roman Zaslonov. Reception Fri 1/16, 6-8 PM. 1/16-3/7.
Roy Boyd - 739 N. Wells. William Conger, Paintings. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-3/3.
Russell Bowman - 311 W. Superior #115. Geometry as Image, Group show of works on paper. Reception Fri 1/16, 5:30-8 PM. 1/16-3/21.
RIVER WEST:
Intuit - 756 N. Milwaukee. The Picture Tells the Story, Drawings by Joseph E. Yoakum documenting landscapes and his travels with the circus & Sticks, Work by "artists who have picked up a stick and made it their own," including Bessie Harvey, Emergy Blagdon, and Wayne Kusy. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM; curator's talk Sat 1/17, 11 AM. 1/16-6/27.
WEST LOOP:
65Grand - 1378 W. Grand (entrance on Noble). Beautiful Form, Work exploring geometric abstraction by Zachary Buchner, Todd Chilton, Titus Dawson Polo, Steven Husby, and Peter Shear. Reception Fri 1/16, 7-10 PM. 1/16-2/14.
Rhona Hoffman - 118 N. Peoria. New Works Under Tension, Work by E. V. Day & Tough and Sweet, Work by Stephanie Brooks. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-7:30 PM. 1/16-2/28.
Tony Wight - 119 N. Peoria. For January, Abstract paintings by Todd Chilton & Heads, Large-scale cardboard busts by Scott Fife. Reception Fri 1/16, 5-8 PM. 1/16-2/21.
WESTLAWN:
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture - 6500 S. Pulaski. Exemption From Occupation, Photo-based work by Keith Stanton that "explores the post-modern idea of material wealth." Reception Fri 1/16, 7 PM. 1/16-2/20.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Notes From The Morning After #1
Steph: Well hello my dearest gallery argonauts. Hope you all enjoyed the new year of art out on parade last night. I managed to make it to three galleries in River North (Catherine Edelman, Ann Nathan, and Byron Roche), through the West Loop, and finally to where we all hope to end up (right?), Heaven.
Jeriah: In case you were wondering where Heaven is, you can see it from the Blue Line, right before or after the Damen stop. It's that building with the weird abominable snowman cutouts on it. I'd always wondered what it was. So that's Heaven.
S: I tend to avoid River North, but these three galleries are my favorites in that area, so I made the necessary pilgrimage away from my well trodden bee-line to 119 N. Peoria. Walking into Edelman, I was predisposed to like what was there (me doing photo an' all, and her generally showing good photo). The primary work, a series by Robin Bowman called “It's Complicated: The American Teenager” was a nice group of photos and accompanying dialogs conjuring Avedon and our own Dawoud Bey. Unfortunately, the selection of teenagers felt a little too cherry picked for optimum diversity, a bit too “It's A Small World After All” if ya get my drift. I didn't get a chance to thumb the monograph, so I don't know if it was the show, or the body of work itself, that had this issue. Overall it was interesting, I look forward to going back when there's no one there to be able to read all the stories. There were also some Julie Blackmons up, always nice to see full size. Got to love “The Power of Now.”
J: I also liked getting to see the couple of Joel-Peter Witkin pieces that she had. I didn't get a chance to see the show he had there while it was up, so it was exciting to be able to see at least one of his pieces. Witkin is a major guilty pleasure of mine, one of those people whose work I can't help but love even though I know he's so easy to love. And obviously he totally appeals to my love of the grotesque.
S: Next we were off to Ann Nathan. As usual, she had a smörgåsbord of work up, mostly figurative. Work that bears mentioning in my mind is that of Nuala Creed, babies looking gleeful with firearms, always a winning combination. If the figure is your shtick, this is your place. Even if it ain't, this is a good place for seeing what your fellow artists (read competition) are doing with the figure in paint.
J: Nuala Creed was a big hit for me, too. I saw her work at Nathan's booth at SOFA and it was a real highlight of that whole fair for me. I'm doing some stuff with child soldiers in my own work right now, so it's a pretty natural affinity for me there. There was also, as usual, a lot of good technical painting up at Ann Nathan. Rose Freymuth Frazier's portraits were straightforward but flawlessly executed as far as traditional oil painting technique is concerned. Mary Borgman's large charcoal drawings on Mylar were a good example of portrait drawing. Mary Qian's figure paintings were my favorite of the straight figure work at Ann Nathan right now; they've got that kind of tension or distortion where you can't tell if she's exaggerating the figure in interesting ways, or just found a really awesome model. Either way, they're fun to look at, if you like nudes. Which I do. I don't go to River North expecting a lot of critical theory or to have my preconceptions challenged; I go there to see rock solid, traditional technique, and these three artists up at Ann Nathan right now are a good example of this; they definitely know their techniques and materials.
S: Lastly we stopped by Byron Roche. That man is one of the truly wonderful people I've met up in River North. He showed us a hilarious video called “Creature Comforts USA – Art.” If you're having a bad day, taking art too seriously, taking yourself to damn seriously, check it out. He has some work up there by an artist named Isabelle duToit, uber tight renderings of birds (and banana peels, as Jeriah continues to point out) that appeal to my deeply ingrained Audubon/Walton Ford fetish. Then, in a mad dash to make use of our 25¢ transfer, we were back on the train and on our way to the land of Grolsch 'n meat packers, the West Loop.
J: Byron is one of the nicest guys in the Chicago art scene. He's really friendly every time we go in there. duToit's birds are technically fantastic and, like you said, uber-tight. It's the kind of painting that tempts you to leave nose-prints on the surface, you just want to look at the brushwork that close up. They're simple paintings, just birds, but the execution is so tight, they're really enjoyable to look at. There's a banana peel, too.
S: On our way into the West Loop I saw a friend, lost and walking in the wrong direction looking for the galleries, that reminded me: Maps People! Which reminded me further that I need to finish mine. I am working on a Google map of every gallery in the city, it's about half done, and will be posted here once it's complete for future reference. Yay, navigation, it sure has been helpful to humans in the past, has it not?
So, back to what I was saying, the West Loop. As usual, I started at 119 N. Peoria. This just seems like the appropriate place to stop, with 6+ galleries in one place, at least 4 more across the street, and home to one of my favorites, ThreeWalls.
On a side note, sorry about the bull shit with Tony Wright, somewhere (possibly only in my addled brain) I swear I saw it written that he was having an opening. Oh well. ThreeWalls had some new work up by Christa Donner, called “Re:Production.” Ok, so we've got babies giving birth to full grown women, alternative modes of animal reproduction mapped onto people (most noteworthy for pure awesome factor, the Suriname Toad. Think Gremlins after midnight with water), hyper elongated penises, hermaphoriditic transformation, collage, painting, video, 'zines. Christa managed to pack a lot of variation into this show. I'm still a little unclear of the root she's getting at, but she definitely went all out at giving it the good ol' college try. The work deserves a bit more viewing time than I could give it last night.
J: Reproduction is a pretty rich vein of subject matter, and Donner does a good job at coming at it from a smart angle. There's a feminist undertone to the work, but in this case that's not a bad thing. Her work shows (as if there was any doubt) that there is a uniquely female point of view that can be brought to the table, and that it's worth hearing. I'm also pleased to see work that is distinctly about SEX, as opposed to most work, ostensibly about sex, which is in fact about gender, or eroticism, or attraction, or romance, or fucking, or porn. Some of Donner's work shows fairly explicit depictions of probing penises, mounted couples (which become endless stacks of mounted, penetrating bodies), but it avoids the too-easy appeal of the erotic, and reads more like a biology textbook written by misinformed space aliens speculating on the mechanism of human reproduction. If I have any misgiving about Donner's work, it's that the technique and execution seem to exist solely to serve the communication of the subject matter. This might be a problem if the subject matter weren't so bizarrely intriguing, but as it stands, the science textbook illustration aesthetic simply avoids distracting from the strangeness of Donner's imagery. This stuff was definitely one of the high points of the night for me.
S: Away we sprang, like a pack of tiny reindeer on speed, across the street and up three flights of stairs to Peter Miller Gallery, the only thing open in an otherwise dark 118 N. Peoria. Peter Miller is home to a couple of people I consistently enjoy staring at, Laura Ball and Caleb Weintraub. Last night was a show called “Second Nature,” work by Melissa Dean. Aside from a somewhat heinous pseudo kite made out of folded labels, and a “painting” consisting of adds covered in what looked like encaustic wax, the work was good. Very much in the contemporary hipster style, vintage worship vein, the work took me to its point in a visually enjoyable, if straight forward way. The use of text on some pieces felt a bit redundant, but hey, no one bats a thousand. On thing I must say is that Peter Miller is always worth a visit if for nothing else that a gander around their back room. They show a lot of interesting stuff, and they've always got a nice selection out in the back.
J: I'm with Steph; Laura Ball and Caleb Weintraub are two of my long-standing favorites. There were some charcoal drawings by Weintraub up in the back room last night, I hadn't seen them before, and they were pretty great. Also, props to Melissa Dean for the use of the acronym “HILF” in one of her titles.
S: Down those three flights of stairs we went with a clatter (Grolsch in hand), and headed over to Packer Schopf. Packer is another one of my West-y favorites, thought humorously, it is usually the basement that elicits the most joy. Last night was no exception. Upstairs featured well rendered landscapes that reminded me of the Yuba, my dear sweet Yuba. But nothing could compare to venturing into the basement and confront 12 or so giant, lifelike bats hanging from the ceiling and looking ready to pounce (or flap, or whatever it is they do.) The work, called “Roost” by Deborah Simon, is some of the most un-pretentious and immersively enjoyable pieces I've seen in a Chicago gallery. It made me feel 10 years old, it the awesome way. Go see them, if you don't love 'em, man, I don't know what to tell you (aside from “So about that bat phobia of yours...” or “You're nuts! How can you not love these things?”). The Roost and Shark Girl need to hang out.
J: The bats were terrific. They invite comparisons to Patricia Piccinini's bizarre creatures, but their presence in the space is much more charming, and less dependent on being uncanny and unnerving. Also, Simon's bats are about individual personality, rather than microscopic perfection in execution. Convincing enough to pass for real from across the room, their materials reveal themselves up close, which only adds to their charm. There's something just plain right about the world, when cast silicone, carved foam, and sheets of fake fur can elicit such plain joy in an adult viewer like myself. They really disarm that part of me that thinks it's supposed to critically dissect and analyze everything. You look at these things, and if you start trying to think semiology or whatever, they just sidestep that and say, “Yeah...but just look at us! We're pretty! You love us!” And I do. Also, the basement space was perfect for these guys; even though the Indian Flying Fox roosts in trees, not caves, it nevertheless “felt” right, and even knowing better, the timbers of the basement could stand in well enough for tree limbs. Lastly, I should mention that the artist was present, and she was very friendly and eager to talk, which is always a big plus for me at openings.
S: Thoroughly saturated with West Loop art and Grolsch, Jeriah and I again made for the train, the Train To Heaven...
Heaven, no surprise to those of you who've been there before, was much more of a party and much less of a gallery show. I can't really tell you about any of the work aside from Jason's pile of posters (hope you all got one, it's free art!) and the French beat boxer dude. I guess he's more of a "sound artist" but he was described to me as "the French Beatboxer" so it just kind of stuck in my head. This latter “piece” was the primary focus of my art based attention and, eventually, disappointment. Now I must give him props: he managed to get 40 or so drunk people to shut the fuck up for 20 minutes, not move, and look in one direction. That, my friends, is a feat in and of itself. Second, he did have skills when it came to voice and breath modulation. But really, if I'm going to stand there silently for 20 minuets watching you do your performance piece, I expect a pay off. His piece, lacking in timing and climax, failed to deliver. I felt a bit cheated and grabbed another Miller (camo can, nice touch!).
J: I always appreciate the venue that puts itself in the postion of the art opening-cum-party that runs later than everything else, so we have somewhere to end up. The environment was fun but somewhat distracting from the work. The theme/piece/title “Try Harder” felt like the kind of advice so good it can't be repeated too often. Couldn't we all stand to “Try Harder”?
S: At that point, I was sufficiently arted out, and made my way toward the door. And in typical Steph fashion, I said goodbye to no one.
Now remember, my dear friends out there in TV land, love it or hate it, I just say, "Get your ass out there d see it!"
Over and out.
Jeriah: In case you were wondering where Heaven is, you can see it from the Blue Line, right before or after the Damen stop. It's that building with the weird abominable snowman cutouts on it. I'd always wondered what it was. So that's Heaven.
S: I tend to avoid River North, but these three galleries are my favorites in that area, so I made the necessary pilgrimage away from my well trodden bee-line to 119 N. Peoria. Walking into Edelman, I was predisposed to like what was there (me doing photo an' all, and her generally showing good photo). The primary work, a series by Robin Bowman called “It's Complicated: The American Teenager” was a nice group of photos and accompanying dialogs conjuring Avedon and our own Dawoud Bey. Unfortunately, the selection of teenagers felt a little too cherry picked for optimum diversity, a bit too “It's A Small World After All” if ya get my drift. I didn't get a chance to thumb the monograph, so I don't know if it was the show, or the body of work itself, that had this issue. Overall it was interesting, I look forward to going back when there's no one there to be able to read all the stories. There were also some Julie Blackmons up, always nice to see full size. Got to love “The Power of Now.”
J: I also liked getting to see the couple of Joel-Peter Witkin pieces that she had. I didn't get a chance to see the show he had there while it was up, so it was exciting to be able to see at least one of his pieces. Witkin is a major guilty pleasure of mine, one of those people whose work I can't help but love even though I know he's so easy to love. And obviously he totally appeals to my love of the grotesque.
S: Next we were off to Ann Nathan. As usual, she had a smörgåsbord of work up, mostly figurative. Work that bears mentioning in my mind is that of Nuala Creed, babies looking gleeful with firearms, always a winning combination. If the figure is your shtick, this is your place. Even if it ain't, this is a good place for seeing what your fellow artists (read competition) are doing with the figure in paint.
J: Nuala Creed was a big hit for me, too. I saw her work at Nathan's booth at SOFA and it was a real highlight of that whole fair for me. I'm doing some stuff with child soldiers in my own work right now, so it's a pretty natural affinity for me there. There was also, as usual, a lot of good technical painting up at Ann Nathan. Rose Freymuth Frazier's portraits were straightforward but flawlessly executed as far as traditional oil painting technique is concerned. Mary Borgman's large charcoal drawings on Mylar were a good example of portrait drawing. Mary Qian's figure paintings were my favorite of the straight figure work at Ann Nathan right now; they've got that kind of tension or distortion where you can't tell if she's exaggerating the figure in interesting ways, or just found a really awesome model. Either way, they're fun to look at, if you like nudes. Which I do. I don't go to River North expecting a lot of critical theory or to have my preconceptions challenged; I go there to see rock solid, traditional technique, and these three artists up at Ann Nathan right now are a good example of this; they definitely know their techniques and materials.
S: Lastly we stopped by Byron Roche. That man is one of the truly wonderful people I've met up in River North. He showed us a hilarious video called “Creature Comforts USA – Art.” If you're having a bad day, taking art too seriously, taking yourself to damn seriously, check it out. He has some work up there by an artist named Isabelle duToit, uber tight renderings of birds (and banana peels, as Jeriah continues to point out) that appeal to my deeply ingrained Audubon/Walton Ford fetish. Then, in a mad dash to make use of our 25¢ transfer, we were back on the train and on our way to the land of Grolsch 'n meat packers, the West Loop.
J: Byron is one of the nicest guys in the Chicago art scene. He's really friendly every time we go in there. duToit's birds are technically fantastic and, like you said, uber-tight. It's the kind of painting that tempts you to leave nose-prints on the surface, you just want to look at the brushwork that close up. They're simple paintings, just birds, but the execution is so tight, they're really enjoyable to look at. There's a banana peel, too.
S: On our way into the West Loop I saw a friend, lost and walking in the wrong direction looking for the galleries, that reminded me: Maps People! Which reminded me further that I need to finish mine. I am working on a Google map of every gallery in the city, it's about half done, and will be posted here once it's complete for future reference. Yay, navigation, it sure has been helpful to humans in the past, has it not?
So, back to what I was saying, the West Loop. As usual, I started at 119 N. Peoria. This just seems like the appropriate place to stop, with 6+ galleries in one place, at least 4 more across the street, and home to one of my favorites, ThreeWalls.
On a side note, sorry about the bull shit with Tony Wright, somewhere (possibly only in my addled brain) I swear I saw it written that he was having an opening. Oh well. ThreeWalls had some new work up by Christa Donner, called “Re:Production.” Ok, so we've got babies giving birth to full grown women, alternative modes of animal reproduction mapped onto people (most noteworthy for pure awesome factor, the Suriname Toad. Think Gremlins after midnight with water), hyper elongated penises, hermaphoriditic transformation, collage, painting, video, 'zines. Christa managed to pack a lot of variation into this show. I'm still a little unclear of the root she's getting at, but she definitely went all out at giving it the good ol' college try. The work deserves a bit more viewing time than I could give it last night.
J: Reproduction is a pretty rich vein of subject matter, and Donner does a good job at coming at it from a smart angle. There's a feminist undertone to the work, but in this case that's not a bad thing. Her work shows (as if there was any doubt) that there is a uniquely female point of view that can be brought to the table, and that it's worth hearing. I'm also pleased to see work that is distinctly about SEX, as opposed to most work, ostensibly about sex, which is in fact about gender, or eroticism, or attraction, or romance, or fucking, or porn. Some of Donner's work shows fairly explicit depictions of probing penises, mounted couples (which become endless stacks of mounted, penetrating bodies), but it avoids the too-easy appeal of the erotic, and reads more like a biology textbook written by misinformed space aliens speculating on the mechanism of human reproduction. If I have any misgiving about Donner's work, it's that the technique and execution seem to exist solely to serve the communication of the subject matter. This might be a problem if the subject matter weren't so bizarrely intriguing, but as it stands, the science textbook illustration aesthetic simply avoids distracting from the strangeness of Donner's imagery. This stuff was definitely one of the high points of the night for me.
S: Away we sprang, like a pack of tiny reindeer on speed, across the street and up three flights of stairs to Peter Miller Gallery, the only thing open in an otherwise dark 118 N. Peoria. Peter Miller is home to a couple of people I consistently enjoy staring at, Laura Ball and Caleb Weintraub. Last night was a show called “Second Nature,” work by Melissa Dean. Aside from a somewhat heinous pseudo kite made out of folded labels, and a “painting” consisting of adds covered in what looked like encaustic wax, the work was good. Very much in the contemporary hipster style, vintage worship vein, the work took me to its point in a visually enjoyable, if straight forward way. The use of text on some pieces felt a bit redundant, but hey, no one bats a thousand. On thing I must say is that Peter Miller is always worth a visit if for nothing else that a gander around their back room. They show a lot of interesting stuff, and they've always got a nice selection out in the back.
J: I'm with Steph; Laura Ball and Caleb Weintraub are two of my long-standing favorites. There were some charcoal drawings by Weintraub up in the back room last night, I hadn't seen them before, and they were pretty great. Also, props to Melissa Dean for the use of the acronym “HILF” in one of her titles.
S: Down those three flights of stairs we went with a clatter (Grolsch in hand), and headed over to Packer Schopf. Packer is another one of my West-y favorites, thought humorously, it is usually the basement that elicits the most joy. Last night was no exception. Upstairs featured well rendered landscapes that reminded me of the Yuba, my dear sweet Yuba. But nothing could compare to venturing into the basement and confront 12 or so giant, lifelike bats hanging from the ceiling and looking ready to pounce (or flap, or whatever it is they do.) The work, called “Roost” by Deborah Simon, is some of the most un-pretentious and immersively enjoyable pieces I've seen in a Chicago gallery. It made me feel 10 years old, it the awesome way. Go see them, if you don't love 'em, man, I don't know what to tell you (aside from “So about that bat phobia of yours...” or “You're nuts! How can you not love these things?”). The Roost and Shark Girl need to hang out.
J: The bats were terrific. They invite comparisons to Patricia Piccinini's bizarre creatures, but their presence in the space is much more charming, and less dependent on being uncanny and unnerving. Also, Simon's bats are about individual personality, rather than microscopic perfection in execution. Convincing enough to pass for real from across the room, their materials reveal themselves up close, which only adds to their charm. There's something just plain right about the world, when cast silicone, carved foam, and sheets of fake fur can elicit such plain joy in an adult viewer like myself. They really disarm that part of me that thinks it's supposed to critically dissect and analyze everything. You look at these things, and if you start trying to think semiology or whatever, they just sidestep that and say, “Yeah...but just look at us! We're pretty! You love us!” And I do. Also, the basement space was perfect for these guys; even though the Indian Flying Fox roosts in trees, not caves, it nevertheless “felt” right, and even knowing better, the timbers of the basement could stand in well enough for tree limbs. Lastly, I should mention that the artist was present, and she was very friendly and eager to talk, which is always a big plus for me at openings.
S: Thoroughly saturated with West Loop art and Grolsch, Jeriah and I again made for the train, the Train To Heaven...
Heaven, no surprise to those of you who've been there before, was much more of a party and much less of a gallery show. I can't really tell you about any of the work aside from Jason's pile of posters (hope you all got one, it's free art!) and the French beat boxer dude. I guess he's more of a "sound artist" but he was described to me as "the French Beatboxer" so it just kind of stuck in my head. This latter “piece” was the primary focus of my art based attention and, eventually, disappointment. Now I must give him props: he managed to get 40 or so drunk people to shut the fuck up for 20 minutes, not move, and look in one direction. That, my friends, is a feat in and of itself. Second, he did have skills when it came to voice and breath modulation. But really, if I'm going to stand there silently for 20 minuets watching you do your performance piece, I expect a pay off. His piece, lacking in timing and climax, failed to deliver. I felt a bit cheated and grabbed another Miller (camo can, nice touch!).
J: I always appreciate the venue that puts itself in the postion of the art opening-cum-party that runs later than everything else, so we have somewhere to end up. The environment was fun but somewhat distracting from the work. The theme/piece/title “Try Harder” felt like the kind of advice so good it can't be repeated too often. Couldn't we all stand to “Try Harder”?
S: At that point, I was sufficiently arted out, and made my way toward the door. And in typical Steph fashion, I said goodbye to no one.
Now remember, my dear friends out there in TV land, love it or hate it, I just say, "Get your ass out there d see it!"
Over and out.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Openings for Friday, January 9th, 2009 (Or HOLY CRAP, they finally realized it's 2009)
Hello all. As you can see, this is a blog. This is how I will be disseminating information from now on. Worry not my loyal gallery crawlers, I will continue to email ya'll; now it will just be to let ya know the ole' bloggernaut's been updated. Fun for everyone in the family!
As for tomorrow, there's a load of stuff opening. The West Loop, my personal favorite of the neighborhoods, has at least 11 openings (1 Grolsch...2 Grolsch...3 Grolsch...4...). River North, as is to be expected, it bursting at the seams, but...well...Edelman looks interesting. Pilsen's open for business, hopefully 2009 means new stuff. Don't get me wrong, a lot of galleries down there have new stuff every month or so (Rooms, Art Department, etc.), but man, some stuff been there for MONTHS. Chicago Gallery News plastered them on the cover of the most recent edition, nothing like publication to light a fire under some asses. Up in Wicker Park we've got a comrade, Jason Lazarus, working with a bunch of people at Heaven Gallery. People you know, go see them. Really. Morpho, up in my neck of the woods, has the "Third Annual Emerging Artists Exhibit." Are you in it? Good for you. Do you know someone in it? Yes? Good, go. No? Well, go any way and check out your competition. I know nothing about this event, but it seems worth a look.
Well, that all for my drivel. I'm going to start at 119 N. Peoria around 6pm, so if ya want to cruse about with me, be there aboot then. Here you go:
Openings for Friday, January 9th, 2009:
BOWMANVILLE:
Avram Eisen - 5202 N. Damen. Two Dreams, work by Danny Vu and Richard Lapidus. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Morpho - 5216 N. Damen. Third Annual Emerging Artists Exhibit, work by more than 30 local emerging artists. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/5.
BUCKTOWN:
Debonair Social Club - 1575 N Milwaukee Ave. A Night of Sight & Sound, this socially conscious art-and-music extravaganza benefits Girls Rock Chicago. Local artists Jesse Seay, Danielle Colbeck, Laura Pawson and Sarah Lensink display new work as Shot of Therapy, The Mojdeh Project and Agents of Change perform. DJs provide music from 11pm–2am.
EVANSTON:
Northwestern Univ. Dittmar Gallery - 1999 Campus Dr. Silent Longing, installation by Petra Kralickova. Reception Thu 1/8, 7-9 PM. 1/8-2/8.
The Art Center - 1957 Sheridan Rd. INSIDE OUT/OUTSIDE IN, this exhibition features the work of artists with disabilities and allies who consider the complexity of self-representation and the representation of others. January 9, 2009 - January 30, 2009 Opening: January 9, 2009, 6:30-9:00pm.
LOGAN SQUARE:
Old Gold - 2022 N. Humboldt, basement. Tank Traps and Hijackings, Installation of sculpture and prints by Kendrick Shackleford. Reception Fri 1/9, 7-10 PM. 1/9-2/8.
LOOP:
Finestra - 410 S. Michigan #516. Investigating the Ambiguity of Form, installation by Richard Shipps. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/3-1/30.
PILSEN:
4Art - 1932 S. Halsted #100. Phase VII, group show. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/3.
Antena - 1765 S. Laflin #1R. Sebastian Alvarez, "Words Feel Beneath," an installation. Also: work by Huong Ngo and Patrick Holbrook. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Chicago Arts District - 1945 S. Halsted, Ste. 101. 2nd FRIDAYS Gallery Night; Reception 6-10pm
Logsdon - 1909 S. Halsted. Tertiary White, paintings and drawings by Marco Logsdon. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Vespine - 1907 S. Halsted. Sanctum Boxes, work by Charles Heppner. Reception Fri 1/9, 7-10 PM. 1/2-1/31.
RAVENSWOOD:
DANKHAUS: German Cultural Center - 4740 North Western Avenue. Christina Aguila, Michele Carlon, Lisa Rivas, Jeanette Jancius Durand, Kathleen Rindal Brooks: Beauty in the Simple & Trinidad Ball, Sally Swingewood, Suzanne Woolcott, David Pott, Maureen Grayson: EU Patchwork. Opening 6-9pm.
RIVER NORTH:
Addington Gallery - 704 N. Wells. Patrick McGannon: New work in front gallery; Thomas Monaghan exhibition in main gallery.
Ann Nathan - 212 W. Superior. Worth a Detour, Portraits by Mary Borgman, Amy Hill, Rose Freymuth-Frazier, and Joe Nicastri. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
ARC - 832 W. Superior #204. Money, Money, Money, group show juried by Mary Jane Jacob & N.A.F.T.A. (Not a Fair Trade for All), Getting the Correct Picture, documentary photos and video by Fred Lonidier focusing on class struggle and the labor movement. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/7-1/31.
Architech - 730 N. Franklin. Future Perfect: Mid-Century Modern Design Drawings, designs by Henry P. Glass, Bertrand Goldberg, and Ron Martelet. Jan. 9-March 28
Byron Roche Gallery - 750 N. Franklin. Contemporary paintings with an emphasis on process and materials. Opening reception January 9 from 5-8pm.
Catherine Edelman - 300 W. Superior. It's Complicated: The American Teenager, photos by Robin Bowman. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-3/7.
David Weinberg - 300 W. Superior #203. Overlap, paintings and drawings by Stephanie Serpick, Tricia Rumbolz, and Beverly Kedzior. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/21.
Gruen Galleries - 226 W. Superior. Gallery 1: Tamar Kander: Abstracts; Gallery 2: Raymond Eddy: New Paintings; Gallery 3: African Art
Habatat Galleries Chicago - 222 W. Superior. LET'S FACE IT: Featuring Pearl Dick - blown, hot sculpted glass, steel; Katja Fritzsche - blown glass; Martin Janecky - blown, hot sculpted glass, steel; Mira Maylor - cast glass, lead.
I Space - 230 W. Superior, 2nd fl. Dimension and Typography: A Survey of Letterforms in Space and Time, group show featuring prints, sculpture, video, and installation. Reception Fri 1/9, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Jean Albano - 215 W. Superior. From Soup to Nuts: Art for All Tastes, group show. Reception Fri 1/9, 5:30-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/28.
Melanee Cooper - 740 N. Franklin. Calling Time, abstract oils on canvas by Jill Sutton & Mutualism, paintings by Matthew Dennison. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Nicole - 230 W. Huron. Global Influence, work by Akinola Ebenezer and Candace Hunter. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-3/14.
Perimeter - 210 W. Superior. Dunes, work by Philip Livingston & Yutaka Yoshinaga. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Printworks - 311 W. Superior #105. Meditations on Kafka and Rilke, work by Vera Klement. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Schneider - 230 W. Superior. Jorge Martin and Pablo Soria. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/28.
Stephen Daiter - 311 W. Superior #408. The Transparent City, photos by Michael Wolf of "the density and magnitude of Chicago's skyline." Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/28.
WEST LOOP:
Black Walnut - 220 N. Aberdeen. Incipio, work by local artists Erika Bjornson, Aristeo Jaure, George Quintero, and Maria Gedroc. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/1-1/31.
EC Gallery - 215 N. Aberdeen. Works on paper by Agata Czeremuszkin.
Flatfile - 217 N. Carpenter. French Kiss & Karma, work by contemporary French and Indian artists; the artists will also be showing their work concurrently at ThinkArt. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-2/13.
Kasia Kay - 1044 W. Fulton Mkt. No Substantial Advantage to Mankind, drawings by Jason Dunda. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Linda Warren - 1052 W. Fulton Mkt. Alpestrine, large-scale drawings by Michael K. Paxton of aerial views of mountains and islands & Judith Mullen, paintings and sculptures & Spring Is the New Winter, paintings, installation, sculpture, and animation by Diane Christiansen. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Packer Schopf - 942 W. Lake. The Devil's Dream, paintings and pencil drawings by Amy Talluto & Roost, Sculptures of flying foxes by Deborah Simon. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Prism Contemporary Glass - 1048 W. Fulton Mkt. Susan Longini, glass leaf sculpture made using a pate de verre technique. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Thomas Robertello - 939 W. Randolph. The Unreasoning Mask: New Revelations in Figurative Metaphysics, small-scale paintings and sculpture by Jason Robert Bell. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/21.
Threewalls - 119 N. Peoria. Re: Production, installation, drawings, and animation by Christa Donner in collaboration with Andrew Yang. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/13.
Tony Wight Gallery - 119 N. Peoria, #2C. Todd Chilton;
Scott Fife.
Western Exhibitions - 119 N. Peoria, suite 2A. The Day of the Corrupt, work by Pedro Velez. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
WICKER PARK:
Corbett vs. Dempsey - 1120 N. Ashland, 3rd fl. Ronald Ahlstrom, abstract collages & Morris Barazani, paintings from 1972 to the present. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Heaven Gallery - 1550 N Milwaukee Ave. Try Harder, The nonprofit Harold Arts challenged four artists—Jason Lazarus, Brian McNearney, David Moré and Montgomery Perry Smith—to spend a week at Heaven Gallery creating these works, which respond to previous participants' contributions. French beatboxer Aymeric Hainaux, and Chicagoans Lark and Mikal Boyd perform as the results are unveiled.
ThinkArt - 1530 N. Paulina, suite F. French Kiss & Karma, work by contemporary French and Indian artists; the artists will also be showing their work concurrently at Flatfile.
As for tomorrow, there's a load of stuff opening. The West Loop, my personal favorite of the neighborhoods, has at least 11 openings (1 Grolsch...2 Grolsch...3 Grolsch...4...). River North, as is to be expected, it bursting at the seams, but...well...Edelman looks interesting. Pilsen's open for business, hopefully 2009 means new stuff. Don't get me wrong, a lot of galleries down there have new stuff every month or so (Rooms, Art Department, etc.), but man, some stuff been there for MONTHS. Chicago Gallery News plastered them on the cover of the most recent edition, nothing like publication to light a fire under some asses. Up in Wicker Park we've got a comrade, Jason Lazarus, working with a bunch of people at Heaven Gallery. People you know, go see them. Really. Morpho, up in my neck of the woods, has the "Third Annual Emerging Artists Exhibit." Are you in it? Good for you. Do you know someone in it? Yes? Good, go. No? Well, go any way and check out your competition. I know nothing about this event, but it seems worth a look.
Well, that all for my drivel. I'm going to start at 119 N. Peoria around 6pm, so if ya want to cruse about with me, be there aboot then. Here you go:
Openings for Friday, January 9th, 2009:
BOWMANVILLE:
Avram Eisen - 5202 N. Damen. Two Dreams, work by Danny Vu and Richard Lapidus. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Morpho - 5216 N. Damen. Third Annual Emerging Artists Exhibit, work by more than 30 local emerging artists. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/5.
BUCKTOWN:
Debonair Social Club - 1575 N Milwaukee Ave. A Night of Sight & Sound, this socially conscious art-and-music extravaganza benefits Girls Rock Chicago. Local artists Jesse Seay, Danielle Colbeck, Laura Pawson and Sarah Lensink display new work as Shot of Therapy, The Mojdeh Project and Agents of Change perform. DJs provide music from 11pm–2am.
EVANSTON:
Northwestern Univ. Dittmar Gallery - 1999 Campus Dr. Silent Longing, installation by Petra Kralickova. Reception Thu 1/8, 7-9 PM. 1/8-2/8.
The Art Center - 1957 Sheridan Rd. INSIDE OUT/OUTSIDE IN, this exhibition features the work of artists with disabilities and allies who consider the complexity of self-representation and the representation of others. January 9, 2009 - January 30, 2009 Opening: January 9, 2009, 6:30-9:00pm.
LOGAN SQUARE:
Old Gold - 2022 N. Humboldt, basement. Tank Traps and Hijackings, Installation of sculpture and prints by Kendrick Shackleford. Reception Fri 1/9, 7-10 PM. 1/9-2/8.
LOOP:
Finestra - 410 S. Michigan #516. Investigating the Ambiguity of Form, installation by Richard Shipps. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/3-1/30.
PILSEN:
4Art - 1932 S. Halsted #100. Phase VII, group show. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/3.
Antena - 1765 S. Laflin #1R. Sebastian Alvarez, "Words Feel Beneath," an installation. Also: work by Huong Ngo and Patrick Holbrook. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Chicago Arts District - 1945 S. Halsted, Ste. 101. 2nd FRIDAYS Gallery Night; Reception 6-10pm
Logsdon - 1909 S. Halsted. Tertiary White, paintings and drawings by Marco Logsdon. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-10 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Vespine - 1907 S. Halsted. Sanctum Boxes, work by Charles Heppner. Reception Fri 1/9, 7-10 PM. 1/2-1/31.
RAVENSWOOD:
DANKHAUS: German Cultural Center - 4740 North Western Avenue. Christina Aguila, Michele Carlon, Lisa Rivas, Jeanette Jancius Durand, Kathleen Rindal Brooks: Beauty in the Simple & Trinidad Ball, Sally Swingewood, Suzanne Woolcott, David Pott, Maureen Grayson: EU Patchwork. Opening 6-9pm.
RIVER NORTH:
Addington Gallery - 704 N. Wells. Patrick McGannon: New work in front gallery; Thomas Monaghan exhibition in main gallery.
Ann Nathan - 212 W. Superior. Worth a Detour, Portraits by Mary Borgman, Amy Hill, Rose Freymuth-Frazier, and Joe Nicastri. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
ARC - 832 W. Superior #204. Money, Money, Money, group show juried by Mary Jane Jacob & N.A.F.T.A. (Not a Fair Trade for All), Getting the Correct Picture, documentary photos and video by Fred Lonidier focusing on class struggle and the labor movement. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/7-1/31.
Architech - 730 N. Franklin. Future Perfect: Mid-Century Modern Design Drawings, designs by Henry P. Glass, Bertrand Goldberg, and Ron Martelet. Jan. 9-March 28
Byron Roche Gallery - 750 N. Franklin. Contemporary paintings with an emphasis on process and materials. Opening reception January 9 from 5-8pm.
Catherine Edelman - 300 W. Superior. It's Complicated: The American Teenager, photos by Robin Bowman. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-3/7.
David Weinberg - 300 W. Superior #203. Overlap, paintings and drawings by Stephanie Serpick, Tricia Rumbolz, and Beverly Kedzior. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/21.
Gruen Galleries - 226 W. Superior. Gallery 1: Tamar Kander: Abstracts; Gallery 2: Raymond Eddy: New Paintings; Gallery 3: African Art
Habatat Galleries Chicago - 222 W. Superior. LET'S FACE IT: Featuring Pearl Dick - blown, hot sculpted glass, steel; Katja Fritzsche - blown glass; Martin Janecky - blown, hot sculpted glass, steel; Mira Maylor - cast glass, lead.
I Space - 230 W. Superior, 2nd fl. Dimension and Typography: A Survey of Letterforms in Space and Time, group show featuring prints, sculpture, video, and installation. Reception Fri 1/9, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Jean Albano - 215 W. Superior. From Soup to Nuts: Art for All Tastes, group show. Reception Fri 1/9, 5:30-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/28.
Melanee Cooper - 740 N. Franklin. Calling Time, abstract oils on canvas by Jill Sutton & Mutualism, paintings by Matthew Dennison. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Nicole - 230 W. Huron. Global Influence, work by Akinola Ebenezer and Candace Hunter. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-3/14.
Perimeter - 210 W. Superior. Dunes, work by Philip Livingston & Yutaka Yoshinaga. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Printworks - 311 W. Superior #105. Meditations on Kafka and Rilke, work by Vera Klement. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Schneider - 230 W. Superior. Jorge Martin and Pablo Soria. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-7:30 PM. 1/9-2/28.
Stephen Daiter - 311 W. Superior #408. The Transparent City, photos by Michael Wolf of "the density and magnitude of Chicago's skyline." Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/28.
WEST LOOP:
Black Walnut - 220 N. Aberdeen. Incipio, work by local artists Erika Bjornson, Aristeo Jaure, George Quintero, and Maria Gedroc. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/1-1/31.
EC Gallery - 215 N. Aberdeen. Works on paper by Agata Czeremuszkin.
Flatfile - 217 N. Carpenter. French Kiss & Karma, work by contemporary French and Indian artists; the artists will also be showing their work concurrently at ThinkArt. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-2/13.
Kasia Kay - 1044 W. Fulton Mkt. No Substantial Advantage to Mankind, drawings by Jason Dunda. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Linda Warren - 1052 W. Fulton Mkt. Alpestrine, large-scale drawings by Michael K. Paxton of aerial views of mountains and islands & Judith Mullen, paintings and sculptures & Spring Is the New Winter, paintings, installation, sculpture, and animation by Diane Christiansen. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/7.
Packer Schopf - 942 W. Lake. The Devil's Dream, paintings and pencil drawings by Amy Talluto & Roost, Sculptures of flying foxes by Deborah Simon. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Prism Contemporary Glass - 1048 W. Fulton Mkt. Susan Longini, glass leaf sculpture made using a pate de verre technique. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-1/31.
Thomas Robertello - 939 W. Randolph. The Unreasoning Mask: New Revelations in Figurative Metaphysics, small-scale paintings and sculpture by Jason Robert Bell. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/21.
Threewalls - 119 N. Peoria. Re: Production, installation, drawings, and animation by Christa Donner in collaboration with Andrew Yang. Reception Fri 1/9, 6-9 PM. 1/9-2/13.
Tony Wight Gallery - 119 N. Peoria, #2C. Todd Chilton;
Scott Fife.
Western Exhibitions - 119 N. Peoria, suite 2A. The Day of the Corrupt, work by Pedro Velez. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-8 PM. 1/9-2/14.
WICKER PARK:
Corbett vs. Dempsey - 1120 N. Ashland, 3rd fl. Ronald Ahlstrom, abstract collages & Morris Barazani, paintings from 1972 to the present. Reception Fri 1/9, 5-9 PM. 1/9-2/14.
Heaven Gallery - 1550 N Milwaukee Ave. Try Harder, The nonprofit Harold Arts challenged four artists—Jason Lazarus, Brian McNearney, David Moré and Montgomery Perry Smith—to spend a week at Heaven Gallery creating these works, which respond to previous participants' contributions. French beatboxer Aymeric Hainaux, and Chicagoans Lark and Mikal Boyd perform as the results are unveiled.
ThinkArt - 1530 N. Paulina, suite F. French Kiss & Karma, work by contemporary French and Indian artists; the artists will also be showing their work concurrently at Flatfile.
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