Opening 7/3, 7/4 & 7/5

All right ya'll...the word of the week is lean, as in lean meat, Lean Cuisine, sparse, barren, etc. WTF? Are we really giving 4th of July weekend over to Taste(lessness) of Chicago and a bunch of half assed explosions at Navy Pier? I would think not,but looking at the line up, it is sadly looking like it. I hope ya'll know that if you want stuff listed here you have to let me know about it, by either sending me the info, or posting it somewhere on line. I've notices a marked decline on in event/opening listings on many of the online data bases I check for info. If you build it, the won't come! I ain't the ghost of Shoeless Joe, damn it. You must tell them if you want them to come. Ok, that's enough of my whining. Ya want to know where to go? No? Ok, move onto the list. Yes? Read on...CO-PRO! There are a million people showing at the SALAD-CHURCH-EXERCISE event. Be there (to eat salad) or be square. And for your Sunday church skipping, I'd head for Julius Caesar or Ben Russell. Just a thought. Go fourth and prosper, my art hungry friends!

FRIDAY -
East Rogers Park -
Mess Hall - 6932 N. Glenwood. Mike Wolf, COME, AND THEY WILL BUILD IT (with your help): making your own residency circuit. FRIDAY, July 3, 7:00p-10:00p.

Loop -
Chicago Cultural Center - 78 E. Washington. After-Glow, Collage and watercolors by Tom Torluemke. July 3-Sept. 27

West Loop -
Architrouve - 1433 W. Chicago. This Is 606, Photos by Ray Pride of the "606" zip code. Reception Fri 7/3, 6-9 PM. 7/3-8/2.

Wicker Park -
Flat Iron Arts Building - 1579 N. Milwaukee. Flat Iron Artists' Association Presents Wicker Park/Bucktown First Fridays, 6-10pm

SATURDAY -
Bridgeport -
Co-Prosperity Sphere - 3219 S. Morgan. SALAD-CHURCH-EXERCISE: A show about self-improvement through self-denial. Featuring work by: Michael Bancroft, Noah Berlatsky, Dayton Castleman, CThrough Outfit, Chelsea Culp, Derek Erdman, Gina Grafos, Jacob C. Hammes, Jaime Lynn Henderson, Hideous Beast, Thaddeus Kellstadt, Paul Mack, Rachel Pollak, Oliverio Rodriguez, Christopher Santiago, Dewayne Slightweight, Edra Soto, Bert Stabler, Matthew Steinke, Susannah Kite Strang. Curated by Bert Stabler. Opening Saturday, July 4, 2009, 2-6 pm. Massive salad potluck-come hungry!

East Rogers Park -
Mess Hall - 6932 N. Glenwood. COMMUNITY SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOPS. No experience necessary, come and learn. SATURDAY, July 4, 12:00p-4:00p.

Noble Square -
Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery - 1120 N. Ashland Ave. 3. Jason Adasiewicz, solo vibraphone. Saturday, July 4, 2009, 2 p.m.

SUNDAY -
Deerfield -
Brushwood Gallery - 21850 N. Riverwoods Rd., Deerfield. Locally Grown: Mixed media exhibition featuring work by Beverly Behrens, Dan Brinkmeier, Vicky Tesmer, Estelle Srivijittakar; Opening reception on Sunday, July 5 from 1-3pm

East Garfield Park -
Julius Cæsar - 3144 West Carroll Avenue, 2G. Hear Here: Kaylee Rae Wyant and Jerome Acks III. July 5-26, 2009. Opens Sunday.

East Rogers Park -
Mess Hall - 6932 N. Glenwood. PAPER MAKING WORKSHOP w/Mike Wolf. Making paper out of corn husks. No experience necessary, come and learn. SUNDAY, July 5,12:00p-6:00p:

Pilsen -
BEN RUSSELL - 1716 S Morgan #2F. BEN RUSSELL presents BEN RUSSELL: RUSE. Including work by MARCO KANE BRAUNSCHWEILER and MARTINE SYMS, PAUL CHAN, MIGUEL CORTEZ, ROXANE HOPPER and JULIE RUDDER, KELLY KACZYNSKI. The performance "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN" by Roxane Hopper and Julie Rudder will be presented once at 9pm during the opening reception. Paul Chan's video "RE:_THE OPERATION" will only be screened on the 5th of July. July 5 to July 26, 2009. Opening reception: 6-10 pm, July 5, 2009.

Streeterville -
Museum of Contemporary Art - 220 E Chicago Ave. SPECIAL CLOSING PERFORMANCE: Jen & Ira & You at the MCA Meet Buckminster Fuller Meeting the Hippies in Golden Gate Park: A Re-Performance. Sunday, July 5, 2 pm, free with museum admission.