Artwork by Sergei Isupov looks over Navy Pier's Festival Hall during SOFA setup Wednesday. (Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)
SOFA Chicago Through Sunday at Navy Pier; $15-$25
Celebrating its 16th year, the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair hits Navy Pier's Festival Hall to present work from top international galleries and dealers. Check out the opening night preview gala on Thursday ($50) to get a first glimpse at the show's best work. Hors d'oeurves and wine are included. Tickets for the rest of the show are $15 a day, or $25 for a three-day pass. Get them here or at the door. More: Check out the Sun-Times' SOFA photo gallery.
In this town, when you hear the word "sketch," you probably think of comedy -- Second City, ComedySportz, etc. But the word has more than one meaning, and local artists aim to let you know about it with this week's launch of Sketch Thursdays, a rotating, once-a-month (second Thursday) event in West Town.
The first free installment (you must be 21 to enter) goes down from 6-9 p.m. at The Architrouve, and will feature local emerging artists sketching or painting throughout the night, then offering those works for sale until close.
But this isn't all about buying, or even drinking; you can bring along your own pens 'n' paints and create your own art -- just don't expect a seat, as those are mostly reserved for invited artists. If you want to get an invite to a future installment, or just find out when and where the next one will be, contact Matthew Westfallen, (312) 850-9390.
The Blacks reunite at Saturday's Bloodshot Beer-B-Q.(photo via bloodshotrecords.com)
Bloodshot Records 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q noon Saturday at Hideout; $10
Ok, so there's no Hideout Block Party this year. Done crying yet? Good. Because the popular fest's replacement ain't so shabby: local (and nationally acclaimed) alt-country label Bloodshot Records will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an all-day "Beer-B-Q". The lineup is predictably strong and diverse; along with the more high-profile appearances from Alejandro Escovedo and The Waco Brothers, we're excited for the reunion of The Blacks, whose two albums rank, for us, among Bloodshot's finest releases to date. There will also be food from Honky Tonk Barbecue, an art show, kids' area and more. Sounds like a fest to us.
Pierogi Fest Friday-Sunday at 1900 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting, Indiana; free
Make your way to Whiting for this unique ethnic event featuring pierogi, polka bands, a parade and Mr. Pierogi. This costumed character, along with his friends The Pieroguettes and Miss Paczki, makes the rounds of the fest and performs a number of musical spoofs. There will also be plenty of family fun, a pierogi toss contest, a beer garden and an art show. Don't want to travel? Check out Centerstage's guide to the best pierogi right here in Chicago.
First, the bad news. Lakeview's popular toy, clothing and sneaker boutique and art gallery A.Okay Official is closing, with Saturday being its last day in business, according to Gapers Block.
The good news? They're closing things out with a huge sale on Saturday, complete with a DJ and refreshments. It's not quite enough to soften the blow, but hey, it's something.
WHAT A DRAG!
The reunion seems to be sticking for Superdrag, an alt-rock band with roots in Knoxville, Tenn. After a five-year hiatus, Superdrag has a new album, "Industry Giants," and a tour that will bring them to the Metro, 3730 N. Clark, for an 18+over show at Saturday at 9 p.m. Van Ghost and the Nicholis Tremulis Orchestra are also on the bill. Tickets are $20. Call (773) 549-0203 or visit www.metrochicago.com.
One of the exhibits in honor of the Day of the Dead celebration at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Pilsen.(Sun-Times file)
Just because the Art Institute is raising its admission prices doesn’t mean that art has been priced out of your reach.
The Mexican Fine Arts Museum (1852 W. 19th, 312-738-1503) is free year-round, as is the Smart Museum at the University of Chicago (5550 S. Greenwood, 773-702-0200).
Chicago residents with valid library cards also can also check out a Museum Passport that gets two adults and two children into one of 13 museums for free, including the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Each library location has a limited number of passports for each of the 13 museums and only one passport can be checked out at a time.
And if that weren’t enough, just about every museum has a free general-admission day. Here's a list of times and locations ...
We've been talking views — of the handsome Chicago skyline for last Saturday's Earth Hour — but there's an artist in town who has created some radically new and different views of the city. He's even coined his own term for the art. The artist is Nick Haas, and his photo collages are Haastyle.
Haas takes photos of the city — the El tracks, the Loop, the lights, what have you — and then, instead of picking the good ones and slipping them into frames, he layers the images, knits them together, uses technology to make intriguing photomosaics that sometimes create an entirely new viewpoint on sights and scenes we take for granted.
“The urban environment fascinates me,” says Haas in a statement. “I love everyday objects — buildings, power lines, cars, train tracks — for their complexity and functionality. We coexist with them, yet take them for granted and they go unnoticed. We interact with these objects everyday, but overlook the role they play in defining the city's appearance and behavior. This idea inspires much of my artwork.”
Haastyle is currently on display at Thos. Moser showroom, 607 N. State. For more, see his portfolio.
Since Barack Obama became our 44th president, his face has actually become slightly less ubiquitous than it once was (he still appears in our dreams on the reg). His likeness remains as inspirational as ever, though, a fact that "Officially Unofficial - Inspired Art for Obama" should reinforce.
The exhibition of prints, posters, photographs and videos inspired by Mr. Change runs April 1-May 31 at the Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph. Participating artists include Ray Noland (the "GoTellMama!" poster series), Shepard Fairey (the infamous "Hope" poster) and Sol Sender (official Obama '08 logo).
Admission is free; hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There will also be special gallery talks at 12:15 p.m. on April 16 (Noland) and May 28 (Scott Thomas, curator and former Design Director of the Obama campaign).
In what is becoming a depressing trend, another Chicago cultural institution is calling it quits this month. According to the Reader, the West Loop's Flatfile Galleries will close March 27, ending a nine-year run. if you want to check it out before it goes under, there is a full slate of upcoming events, including Friday's performance of "Urban Rituals -- The Magic of Music in an Inspired Terrain" by Kahil El'Zabar. Check the gallery's Web site for a full list of events and exhibitions.
1. Monotonix and Turbo Fruits 9 p.m. Sunday at Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia; $12
One of the most exciting live rock bands out there, Monotonix is known for performing on the floor among the crowd, setting instruments on fire and stealing drinks from audience members. When the members found themselves banned from most venues in their hometown Tel Aviv, they decided to take the show on the road. Touring the U.S. and Europe since 2006, theirs is a concert you experience, not watch. Catch Monotonix's stage antics and Led Zeppelin/Thin Lizzy-inspired riffs, as well as opening act Turbo Fruit's Kinks-esque neo-surf/garage rock for a night your eardrums won't soon forget.
For more of this weekend's music, including Jeff Tweedy, Cheer-Accident and Buckwheat Zydeco, check out the calendar.
Spring definitely has not sprung. But after a long deep-freeze, the thermometer is forecast to kiss 50 within the next few days, maybe even this weekend. As Punxsutawney Phil just reminded us (that rat!), we’ve got at least six more weeks of winter ahead. Still, it’s all relative, and 40s sure feel like 70s after three months of frigid, and maybe we’ll actually see the lawns again (no one will be happier about this than your dog).
So — without rushing into anything (and you might keep an eye on the forecast) — if you’re looking for excuses to do something semi-outdoors, here are 25 possibilities that might help kick your seasonal affective disorder, even if you still have to bundle up a bit:
Ginkgo Tree mural by Kevin Garbacz, an exhibitor this weekend's smART Show.
1. Wicker Park Bucktown First Friday and smART Show Friday-Sunday at Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee
On the first Friday of each month, the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods host an artists' open house. This month, the First Friday event coincides with the Winter smART show. For a suggested $5 donation you can explore the historic Flat Iron Arts Building and view the art of over 100 resident, guest and student artists. Many studios offer refreshments, and impromptu performances will occur throughout the evening. Also look for performances and events at neighborhood venues Debonair, the Double Door and Piece.
One of the more progressive galleries in the city, The Finch Gallery, 2747 W. Armitage, is closing up shop tonight, as its executive director, Nicholas Freeman, prepares to move to New York City (cue Stephen Colbert-style fist-shaking). But before it's all over, Freeman's putting on one last exhibition. Tonight's event includes readings by Hans Hetrick, Jill Summers and Dave Snyder, music from Judson Claiborne, The Gunshy and Daniel Knox, and the audiovisual stylings of filmmaker Chris Hefner (the event is also a fundraiser for his first feature film, "The Pink Hotel"). And, of course, there will be some art on display, namely, Casey Murtaugh's drawings and John Atwood's photos.
It all starts around 6 p.m. and goes 'til they say it goes.
You all remember the cougar, yes? The cat was caught roaming the streets of Roscoe Village last spring, and was eventually shot, causing a fair amount of uproar in the local community. Blogs were abuzz with commentary, parents refused to let their kids play outside, zoos were boycotted (ok, not really). It was a big deal. Which is why we can't understand how we've heard next to nothing about another wild animal, a rhinoceros, residing in Chicago - and it's been here for the last 20 years.
We're talking about the Rhinoceros Theater Festival, of course, the month-plus-long showcase of untraditional performance going down through March 1 at five venues across the city. Curated by the Curious Theatre Branch, this festival offers a look at the many creative artists that make Chicago special. This year's fest includes a new addition, the Rhino Music Series at the Viaduct Theatre, featuring the likes of Michael Zerang and Maestro Subgum and the Whole. Other upcoming events include "Elvisbride: Some Prepared Remarks to Clarify the Impending Jubilation," a tonal operetta for voice, orchestra and analog television (9:30 p.m. Friday at Acme Art Works, 2215 W. North), and "Catching Out: A Hobo Play With Music" (9 p.m. Saturday at SAIC Auditorium, 280 S. Columbus). Seems kinda hard to ignore, eh?
Tickets are $12 for music, $15 for theater and $20 for special events - or you can pay what you can afford. All reservations can be made through the Viaduct Theatre box office, (773) 296-6024.
Ginkgo Tree mural by Kevin Garbacz, an exhibitor this weekend's smART Show.
Really? You could ignore this?
