Category Archives: Art
Chicago House Bird House, Art Auction and Cocktail Party June 20th
Birdhouse extravaganza! June 20, 2013
Join Co-Chairs Jerry
Sanfilippo, Spyros Petros, Denise Antonucci, Erik Retzer & Jim
Josephson for the Pride Kickoff event EVERYONE is crowing about!
Toast the Summer Season with
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on artwork and birdhouses
from the city’s Most unique designers! Functional birdhouses, funky art,
and auction pieces for any shopper!
Where: Room & Board Downtown Chicago Store
55 East Ohio Street Chicago, Illinois
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Advance tickets: $70 Door tickets: $80
Get Dosed! At Dose Market Sunday April 14
Dose
is a monthly market featuring the finest selection of vendors in one
place: the modern, lofted halls of the River East Art Center. Join us
once a month to celebrate Chicago’s most dynamic gathering of innovative
fashion, artisan food and high design.
Sunday!
$10 gets you in – Free cocktails and food tastings and Fabulous shopping!
You heard it here first: this is the finest drinking vodka on the planet and it wears its Chicago stars with pride. Next Star Vodka make
their DOSE debut with gratis pours of their stellar Chicago mule —
ginger beer, lime juice and their fanatic-inspiring spirit — the perfect
way to get ready for your Très Awesome photoshoot.
favorite outfit (or build it at the Market and get plenty of help) and
find yourself on the sweep in front of Chicago’s reigning street-style
maven, Emma Arnold of Très Awesome. With
seriously cool technology, you’ll not only get a great shot, you’ll
have a shot at winning some fantastic Spring accessories.
finest brews, wines and spirits free of charge if you’re the appropriate
age. We realize, though, different strokes for different folks. You may
now trade in your drink ticket for DOSE h2o!
CHI will be providing DOSE-goers the opportunity to try the service and
snag a free ride to the Market this Sunday! Just enter the code
ILOVEDOSE for a $15 credit toward your first ride.
Chicago House, Willis Tower and Absolute Wrapture Jan 24th
Chicago House & Co-Chairs Dennis Remer, Sean Kotwa, David Kaufman,Tom Segal, Christopher Hubbard & Sean Ward invite you to enjoy a fresh new fusion of one-of-a-kind artwork up for auction and windy city views alongside the premiere of a tasty new tune from Absolut!
Thursday, January 24th
Willis Tower Skydeck 99th Floor
233 South Franklin (Building’s East Lobby Entrance)
5PM: VIP Early Arrival
6PM-9PM: General Guest Arrival
LIMITED VIP TICKET 50% Sold Out: $150, includes EARLY ARRIVAL at 5PM, a commemorative visit and photo opportunity on The Ledge, plus a VIP swag bag of treats from Garrett Popcorn, Kiehl’s, Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland, and much more!
GENERAL TICKET: $99
New In 2013!
Expedited Entry through Willis Tower’s multiple passenger elevators!
Early arrival for VIP’s!
Paperless auction with cellular bidding!
More unique artwork!
NEW year, NEW tune, SAME great cause
Getting Into Face with JoJo Baby and Sal-E
Legendary club kid, doll maker, makeup artist, costumer, and penis-sculpture enthusiast JoJo Baby costars with his clubbing companion, Sal-E, in Bernard Colbert’s lush new 12″ x 12″ coffee-table book Getting into Face: 52 Mondays Featuring Jojo Baby and Sal-e
(Schiffer).
For 17 years, Bernard has been perfecting his craft, working in the field of commercial and advertising photography.
‘In the vibrant community where I live and work, I find what I have
always been searching for- a sublime energy. Nightlife activity blends
with the arts and diversity of self expression abounds. Here, I can
freely pursue my dream: to document and celebrate that spark within,
which defines the unique nature of our human experience.’
performance artists JoJo Baby and Sal-E use their bodies as canvases to
become inspired and whimsical conceptual characters, executed with
expert skill using original, theatrical makeup and costumes. In more
than 100 portraits, photographer Bernard Colbert rigorously captures
these two performance artists in genius moments as psychedelic Hindi
gods, comic book villains, fantastical creatures, astronauts, and much,
much more.
Colbert’s stunning portraits document these delightful
transformations over a five-year period and are the same body of work
featured in the Clive Barker documentary titled JoJo Baby. Through
Colbert’s collaboration with JoJo and Sal, viewers can experience a
front row seat to an ongoing show which has been entertaining club goers
in Chicago for two decades. This is a portfolio for the visually
adventuress and fans of true creative vision.
Every Monday night, JoJo Baby with friend Sal-E have gone to work as
hosts of Chicago’s largest and longest running house-music dance party,
the Boom Boom Room, which is currently on hiatus from its usual location
at Green Dolphin St., 2220 N. Ashland Ave., while the building
undergoes renovation. It took the duo hours to prepare, and Colbert was
there every week to capture the endlessly entertaining process. He said
he usually only had 10 to 15 minutes to photograph them before they went
on stage.
“Sometimes they would show up and I would look at what they were
wearing and try and quickly comprehend what they were up to, because
sometimes it’s high concept and it’s not obvious right away,” Colbert
said. “It’s interesting right away, but it’s like, ‘What the heck is
going on?’ So I scramble and try and make it happen.”
Colbert, who took courses in commercial photography at Columbia from
1989–1991, said he loves portrait photography and has been drawn to
performers such as models, musicians and athletes—people who are both
interesting and like being photographed.
The combination of unplanned imagination and spontaneity kept Colbert
continually inspired. He said the most successful images captured an
indescribable magic that would often occur.
“It was something that would elevate it from an interesting time to
really high art, and it’s something that fascinates me,” Colbert said.
“It feels elusive, but when you find that you can do it time and time
again, it’s really fun to keep trying to do it.”
The book will also be available at local
bookstores in Chicago and Amazon.com.
Getting into Face: 52 Mondays Featuring Jojo Baby and Sal-e
$500 Poster Contest for 2013 Gay Six Flags Event
“Out in the Park” at Six Flags Great America returns in 2013 with a BANG!
500 Posters and 30,000 Postcards will be printed and distributed in
Chicagoland, Wisconsin, parts of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana!
Plus we’ll have ads and banners on websites everywhere including
Facebook. Your name will be on everything, giving the artist amazing exposure!
- The competition is open to all interested artists and graphic designers.
- All submissions must be received before the deadline to be considered in the competition.
- There is no limit to the number of submissions entered.
- There is no cost to submit.
- Entries will be accepted from individuals, collaborative teams, or design firms, with prize money being split between the entrants listed on the submission.
- The winner will be given credit for design on artwork to include a name or website reference on all printed material and on www.BestGayChicago.com, www.GaySixFlagsChicago.com and other websites that run the official press release.
The winning design as chosen by BestGayChicago.com will receive $500 and 2 tickets to the “Out In The Park” at Six Flags Great America 2013 Celebration ($80.00 Value).
*This was the BACK of last years postcard – we’ll be looking to totally redesign the back, with much less information:
Tickets for admission to the park are $39 includes FREE PARKING! A portion of all tickets sold will benefit (Charity TBD 2/1/13).
BestGayChicago.com is looking for artwork and a design that immediately grab your attention visually and look like something REALLY FUN that you feel compelled to buy a ticket for , grab some friends and get out and have a BLAST!
Entries must include:
- OUT IN THE PARK official logo
- BestGayChicago.com official logo
- All text necessary to create the sell message
- Additional sponsor/media partner logos
- Beyond bright and colorful!
- Use of park ride(s) and feeling of fun and/or movement
- The rest is up to you and your vision!
Entries will be judged using the following criteria:
- Overall impact of eye-catching appeal
- Visual attractiveness
- Ability to draw the viewer in
- Clear and concise messaging
- Appropriateness of graphics used
- Off the-chart creativity
- Must be appropriate for all ages.
Include your name, address, email and phone number on with each submission to
BestGayCities (at) gmail (dot) com.
All submissions will be judged based on content, appeal and marketability. The decisions of the judges will be final.
Guidelines are as follows:
Poster:
– Size 11″ X 17″ Entries should be developed at least 300dpi, but can be submitted at a lower resolution.
– Final winner will submit 300dpi PDF – and be able to tool poster theme into postcard size and various sized ads.
– Must be original artwork. Do not submit copyrighted work. BE CAREFUL using stock images for rides that do not exist at Six Flags Great America. We can not show a full ride image, of a ride that does not exist. However, you could cut out portions of a generic ride and riders, if needed.
Michael or Derrick 773-878-5323
Special Holiday Sale and Party Dec. 5th
invite you to Celebrate the Holidays and Shop LOCAL.
2 of our favorite new small businesses at one Boystown address!
MEBLE Design Studio & Vanite’ Paul Mitchell Focus Salon
Meet and greet the dynamic mother-daughter duo Agnes & Danuta at Meble Design where they sell antiques, artwork, unique interior design pieces, upholstery and accent items – all AMAZINGLY PRICED.
From pictures and accents to couches and chairs – it’s ALL HERE!
Need a custom piece created or have an item you would like refurbished, updated or bedazzled? That’s their specialty!
ALL guests will enjoy 30% off store items or services discussed during this special event!
ALSO, meet Kinley Preston and her staff at the brand new Vanite Paul Mitchell Hair Salon for men & women.
Kinley will be on hand showing off her gorgeous new salon space and you can pick up Paul Mitchell samples and ENJOY 30% OFF all Paul Mitchell products.
PLUS, everyone gets a BestGayChicago.com swag bag of goodies, just for stopping by!
Come have some wine and cheese and shop and mingle!
Please RSVP, if you can.
Its an Open House event party 5-9pm, so stop in and peruse and mingle anytime convenient and bring a friend.
But if you do stop by during the day, just mention BestGayChicago.com and the 30% off special will apply.
It is so important that we are aware of the small businesses in our community so that we can refer them to friends and support and shop local when we can so that they continue to be in business in the future.
3161 North Halsted Street Chicago, IL 60657
Sci-Fi Meets Theatre as Intergalactic Nemesis hits Chicago
How It Works:
Three actors voice dozens of characters, one artist creates hundreds of
sounds, and one keyboardist accompanies while more than 1,000
hand-drawn, blow-your-mind comic-book images blast from a large screen.
The Story:
The year is 1933. Pulitzer Prize-winner Molly Sloan and her intrepid
assistant Timmy Mendez have traveled to Transylvania to meet a key
contact for a story about illegal pelt smuggling. As the crackling
fireplace warms the room against the blizzard outside, their contact,
Vlad, tells them that their story is at a dead end: all of the smugglers
have either disappeared or been killed by … something.
rumors of monsters in the Carpathian Mountains. Vlad hands Molly and
Timmy a map of something called the Central Hive when suddenly an
assassin appears in the doorway and Vlad falls dead, a knife in his
back.
Almost as suddenly, a mysterious and handsome stranger appears
behind the assassin, throws the assassin into the roaring fire, and
tells Molly and Timmy to run for their lives. Reporter Molly Sloan and
her assistant Timmy Mendez have stumbled upon the story of the century.
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Grab your seats now . . . before it’s too late! |
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“Totally nuts and a ton of fun! Do not miss it!” — The Austinist
“Something you simply must experience if you are a fan of awesome.” — collider.com |
Fine & Performing Arts Center
9000 West College Parkway
Palos Hills, IL 60465
Phone (708) 974-5500
Beautiful Art from Around the World – SOFA Nov. 2-4
If you want to see jaw-dropping eye-popping Art and Design
the SOFA exhibition is a MUST SEE!
The Art Fair Company, based in Chicago, presents the critically
acclaimed international art fair SOFA CHICAGO 2012 at the historic Navy
Pier Friday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 4.
This popular three-day event
features masterworks of contemporary and modern arts and design,
sculpture, functional art, outsider, ethnographic, non-traditional folk
and visionary art, plus related special exhibitions and a lecture
series.
SOFA CHICAGO enjoys the prestigious position of being the largest and
longest continually running art fair in Chicago, a mainstay of the
city’s cultural and social calendar. “In 2010 we added a new dimension
of art to SOFA CHICAGO with the Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider
Art,” says Donna Davies, Director of SOFA art fairs in Chicago and New
York. “We’ve been thrilled to see our collectors fully embrace the
Intuit galleries and artists, so this year we are integrating those
galleries under one unifying fair umbrella, SOFA CHICAGO 2012.”
“It really is a feast for the eyes!” says Derrick Sorles, of InsideYourChicago.com
Glass will be a major focus this year as SOFA will be celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of the Studio Glass movement. The pioneers of the movement
have Midwest roots that
has since expanded and developed to be international in scope. In fact
Chicago’s Floating World Gallery will be showcasing 10-12 works by a
Japanese artists who was so excited about SOFA the she created new works
which will be shown for the first time at SOFA!
There are special exhibits, lectures and more.
The Corning Glass Road
Show will once again be on site.
There are a couple of artists with Chicago connections that
might make for a fascinating chat:
Barbara Cooper, (left) whose work is showcased by Chicago’s Perimeter Gallery, and
Brian Dettmer
(below – who grew up in Naperville and until 2006 resided in Chicago), who will be
featured by the Chicago’s Packer Schopf.
Both create extremely
fascinating work using existing materials.
Both Cooper and Dettmer will be on site at SOFA.
PLAN TO SPEND A DAY at SOFA. There is so much to see and do.
Lots of Booth talks,
book signings,film screenings
and lecture series. There is something here for everyone’s taste.
There are some very special exhibits this year, including:
Eye of Mr I : A retrospective of artwork by legendary self-taught artist Gregory
Warmak, a.ka. Mr. Imagination (1948-2012), known for his transformation
of discarded objects into works of art.
Bags Across the Globe (BAG) is a global intervention conceived and
carried out by Ann Savageau from 2008 to the present. The large-scale
installation addresses the disastrous unintended environmental
consequences of one of the most widespread consumer products on the
globe, the single use plastic shopping bag.
Among Fellows : An Exhibition of Work by the 2012 College of Fellows. Since 1975, the American Craft Council (ACC) has recognized significant
contributions to the field of craft by awarding the distinction of
Fellow of the Council.
Part of the ACC’s commitment “to honor those who
have made an outstanding contribution to the crafts in America,” this
special exhibit features significant works by 2012 elected Fellows
Sharon Church, Anne Currier, Andrea Gill, Lewis Knauss, Tom Loeser,
Dante Marioni, and Sherri Smith, and Gold Medalist Stephen De Staebler.
Dates & Hours
Friday, November 2
11 am – 7 pm
Saturday, November 3
11 am – 7 pm
Sunday, November 4
Noon – 6 pm
Photography is not permitted. Cameras must be checked at coat check for a fee.
GET TICKETS ONLINE – 3 day passes and group tickets are available!
See you at SOFA 2012!
Chicago Lost and Found Benefit at The Victor May 24
Chicago Lost and Found is a not-for-profit organization
committed to art education and inspiring creativity throughout the city.
This organization re-purposes materials that otherwise become landfill, creating unusual art, fashion and functional furnishings. Sales from creations assist in funding art education throughout Chicago.
“Where most people see trash, I see possibility” says Mitch Pennell, founder and creative director.
The most recent creation from the CL&F studio is the clutch bag. This must-have bag is
fabricated from once fashionable men’s trousers or designer fabric samples headed for
the trash. Yesterday’s style relic becomes today’s chic fashion accessory.
Thursday May 24th, Chicago Lost and Found presents “The Big Picture” an annual
event where even the smallest contribution makes a huge difference.
Setting a new precedence in fund-raising, “The Big Picture” introduces a fresh concept
with a pop-up boutique presented by Andersonville Galleria, featuring an array of
hand-made goods by area artists and craftsmen. Total sales from the boutique will
be matched by pledges made prior to the event. This “shop-a-thon” allows guests to
purchase items they love or even gifts for someone special. In turn, each dollar spent is
multiplied through pledges to fund the mission of art education.
Top billing for this star-studded event includes delicacies from Chicago’s own Top Chef
favorite, Dale Levitski – Sprout/Frog N Snail in cooperation with Pure Kitchen Catering
and A-list party planner, Debi Lilly /A Perfect Event. Entertainment includes international
cabaret duo Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen with fashion illustrations by Rosemary
Fanti. And a special appearance and performance by the fabulous Cyon Flare.
Plus signature cocktails from Patron and Ultimat Vodka.
This ticketed event is a party to celebrate the arts and invite the community to learn
more about the unconventional mission of turning junk into art and art into education.
This is an event you do not want to miss! Get your tickets now, space is limited and this event will sell out.
While funding for the arts and education is on a constant decline, it is paramount
community organizations like Chicago Lost and Found step in to fill the void. CL&F
offers a unique way to help while providing additional benefits for the city and
environment.
GET TICKETS NOW FOR JUST $30!
YES! Just $30 for an amazing event of art, food, and drink!
But only until May 18th! Then $40 @ the door – with limited availability.
For tickets and more information about the event:
www.chicagolostandfound.com
Chicago Lost and Found May 24, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
at The Victor, (311 N. Sangamon)
Chicago House Champagne Wrapture Benefit 2012 at Willis Tower
Champagne Darling, Champagne for Everyone!!
Notorious for its history of innovation! Through the centuries Veuve Clicquot has become known as The Champagne House with cutting edge ideas!
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe. The 1811 comet vintage of Veuve Clicquot is theorized to have been the first truly “modern” Champagne due to the advancements in the méthode champenoise which Veuve Clicquot pioneered through the technique of remuage.
Each year Chicago House hosts a Veuve Clicquot benefit at a different venue. This year the event reaches the highest high!
On the 99th floor of the Willis Tower, high flying treats and bubbly drinks await you!
Artists from around the city present their various interpretations of Clicquot and a fantastic silent auction keeps everyone bidding throughout the evening as bubbly flows.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Time: 6pm
Where: The SkyDeck, Willis Tower
233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
GET TICKETS
World Aids Day – FREE HIV Testing Today
TODAY IS WORLD AIDS DAY.
observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
AIDS
has killed more than 26 million people. and an estimated 35 million
people worldwide live with HIV, making it one of the most destructive
epidemics in recorded history. It is NOT OVER.
Here
in the U.S. about 50,000 people become infected with HIV annually. New
numbers from the CDC indicate that nearly 1 in 5 people (about 240,000)
don’t know they are infected.
Today from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., staff members from Howard
Brown will offer free HIV testing at the Brown Elephant
(Andersonville), 5404 N. Clark.
Model, actor,
athlete, designer Jack Mackenroth has quickly become the most visible,
out HIV+ advocate and educator in the country… if not the world. With the release of his gorgeous, sexy 2012 calendar,
he is raising both money and awareness for AIDS research, and to
show through his photographs that a person living with HIV can be in top
physical form, healthy and sexy.All proceeds Benefit AMFAR.
His AUTOGRAPHED, high-quality, glossy, limited edition, 15-month calendar has been selling like hotcakes since September.
The calendar begins in January 2012 and continues through May
2013. Each month features a different photographer with a very different
style. $14.95!! Buy a couple. One for you and one for friends! This
is sure to be a sell out!! And every calendar sold helps the fight!
BUY ONLINE NOW
SOFA Chicago Art and Design Show Nov. 4-6
THE ART FAIR COMPANY PRESENTS One Ticket Admits Patrons To Both Fairs
18TH ANNUAL SOFA CHICAGO 2011
+ THE INTUIT SHOW OF FOLK & OUTSIDER ART
SIDE-BY-SIDE IN NAVY PIER’S FESTIVAL HALL NOV. 4 – 6
And Related Lecture Series,
Special Exhibits And Events
Opening Night VIP and
Public Preview Thursday, Nov. 3
SOFA CHICAGO 2011, the critically acclaimed International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair, will share the Pier’s Festival Hall with The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art. SOFA CHICAGO, now in its 18th year, enjoys the prestigious position of being the largest and longest continually running art fair in Chicago, a mainstay of the city’s cultural and social calendar.
The Chicago Sun-Times hails SOFA CHICAGO as “amazing,” and Bradley Lincoln of Chicago Home + Garden raves, “This is one of my favorite art shows in Chicago – I guarantee you will see some flashy, jaw dropping works of…genius.” The SOFA CHICAGO and Intuit Show’s joint Opening Night Preview on Thursday, Nov. 3 will be open to the public from 7 – 9 p.m. with ticket purchase.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sofaexpo.com.
Chicago Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary Upon receipt of a major gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly, the Poetry Foundation was established in 2003, evolving from the Modern Poetry Association, which was founded in 1941. The Poetry Foundation is one of the largest literary foundations in the world. The Poetry Foundation works to raise poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture. Rather than celebrating the status quo, the Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry. In the long term, the Foundation aspires to alter the perception that poetry is a marginal art, and to make it directly relevant to the American public. Building Hours: 11AM – 4PM Garden Hours: 9AM – 5PM Library Hours: See library information for details
organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.
Celebrating nearly 100 YEARS!! When Harriet Monroe founded Poetry magazine in 1912, she wrote that her publication was “a modest effort to give to poetry her own place.” Now, nearly one hundred years later, poetry quite literally has that place. Opened to the public in June 2011, the building houses a public garden, a 30,000-volume library, an exhibition gallery, the Poetry Foundation’s programming offices—including the offices of Poetry magazine—and provides new space for the Foundation’s extensive roster of public programs and events. – Their building on Superior is a MUST SEE.
61 West Superior Street Chicago, IL 60654
Coyote Art Festival in Wicker Park Sept 30-Oct 2
The Coyote is back!
Early in 2008, the Around the Coyote organization set sail on a new course. No longer was the “Around the Coyote” art festival to be an open, Wicker Park Bucktown, neighborhood festival. Around the Coyote was to transform into a professional, serious, curatorial organization, “convincing the broader art community that they have moved up in quality and that they were becoming something more edgy and interesting”.”
The end result…… early 2010, Around the Coyote “Bites the Dust”…… But the Coyote remained alive.
With the support of the neighborhood, in the fall of 2010, The Flat Iron Artist Organization brought the Coyote back by sponsoring “Beyond the Coyote”, drawing several thousand visitors to the neighborhood.
This fall the Coyote is alive in Wicker Park. We continue to honor the artistic spirit of Wicker Park Bucktown and invite you to join us September 30th, October 1st and 2nd.
$10 donation at the door.
Start at 1579 N. Milwaukee @ Flat Iron Bldg.
More than 150 neighborhood artists pay tribute to the Around the Coyote art fest with a showcase of works spanning painting, sculpture and photography. The fest also features performances, a silent auction and refreshments. Grab an event map to find out which local bars and galleries host live music, exhibits and giveaways in conjunction with the fest.
Flat Iron Artists
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts 2011 Sept. 10-11 in Boystown
The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the seventh annual Lakeview East Festival of the Arts. The Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11 on Broadway Avenue, just north of Belmont. Lakeview East is a dynamic and diversified neighborhood community rich in culture, history and the arts. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce works hand in hand with their local residents and business owners and is pleased to offer its neighbors and the Chicagoland area with one of the premier fine art outdoor festivals. The 2011 Lakeview East Festival of the Arts showcases more than 150 juried artists featuring world class original paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, jewelry and more. Artists in almost every medium will be represented including photography, printmaking, mixed media, ceramics, clay, collage, fiber, glass, sculpture, furniture and more. Unique and original artwork is on sale in all price ranges. In addition to the art on sale, the Festival features live demonstrations and entertainment stages where some of Chicago’s favorite musicians play throughout the weekend. This year, sculpture artist Lucy Slivnski will contribute her designs to the Chirsty Webber urban garden.
September 10 & 11 Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm
Along Broadway • Belmont to Roscoe
LAKEVIEW FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Over 150 Juried Artists Showcased!
GREAT ART • MUSIC • FOOD •Beer and Wine Garden – SCULPTURE GARDEN
Jack Mackenroth Does Super Sexy Calendar for Charity
New Yorker Jack Mackenroth competed in the fourth season of Project Runway. Mackenroth was the first openly HIV-positive contestant in the show’s history. Proceeds Benefiting amfAR — As the first television personality since Pedro Zamora to be vocal about his HIV status, Jack Mackenroth has quickly become the most visible, out HIV+ advocate and educator in the country. . . if not the world. With the release of his 2012 calendar, he hopes to raise both money and awareness for AIDS research, and to show through his photographs that a person living with HIV can be in top physical form, healthy and sexy. All proceeds from the calendar will go to amfAR (Amfar.org) to help find a cure for AIDS. Mackenroth has been living with the disease for 22 years. Designer, athlete and HIV/AIDS activist and educator Jack Mackenroth has had the priveledge of shooting with some of the best photographers in the business. Each month of the 15 month calendar will feature a different photographer with a very different style. Jack is a role model to many people in the HIV community and a fitness model that many aspire to emulate. Photographers taking part in the project include Adam Bouska, Rick Day, Carsten Fleck, Frank Louis, James Franklin, Karl Giant, Tommy Synnamon, Mattheus Lian, Richard Gerst, Ray John Pila, Sonny Tong, Thomas Evans, Krys Fox and Preston Cros. “I have amassed such an amazing collection of images that I wanted to put out a calendar that will help to combat the silence and stigma associated with being HIV-positive,” says Mackenroth. He adds, “If I can raise money for HIV/AIDS research, it’s even better.” Jack has been a vocal and visible advocate of the HIV community, touring the country through numerous speaking engagements and special appearances at events. He continues to speak around the country and will be planning calendar signing events in the upcoming months. His memoir, “Making Lemonaids” will be released this winter. The autographed calendar is available for pre-sale NOW, with shipping starting Sept. 15, 2011. All proceeds benefit amfAR—The American Foundation for AIDS Research. (Amfar.org) The calendar’s dimensions are 8.5 x 11 inches, and are available through (ONLINE NOW) for $14.95 (plus tax and shipping).
This month he launches his 2012 Calendar with 100% of
The American Foundation for AIDS Research
For additional information, please visit Jackmackenroth.com.
Center on Halsted Artist Reception Aug 19th
Join us for the opening of two exciting art galleries at Center on Halsted! Brian Hofmeister will present his collection, titled “free/ not free,” in the second floor gallery with Ron Reason displaying his collection, titled “Everything’s Going (to turn out just fine),” in the third floor art gallery space. Both shows will run from August 19th to September 27th.
EVENT DATE Friday, August 19, 2011 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM $5 donation
For Free / Not Free, (left, by Brian Hofmeister) “the pieces I’ve created consist entirely of works on panel, utilizing the media of oil painting, screen print and collage. The intersection of the imagery in this work, specifically birds and either corsets, text or nature, reveal for me an allegory of my exploration of beauty and my attempt to capture it.”
Everything’s Going (to turn out just fine) Ron Reason (right)
The exhibit will give a glimpse into the unusual experience of art, music, survival, fashion and fun the two Chicago residents shared at the annual Burning Man festival. (This year’s installment of Burning Man, the first ever to sell out, begins one week after this exhibit’s opening.) The festival is a unique, impromptu experiment in creating art, culture, and community, whereby an ad-hoc “city” of 45,000 pops up for one week each year, inhabiting campers, tents, and RVs in harsh federal desert land in Nevada. The by-products of the interaction of daring souls from around the world are some of the most unusual art, music and fashion seen anywhere.
Find out More online about the artists and the event!
BestGayChicago.com
Carlton Gardens…A unique Gift shop in West Michigan Just Past Saugatuck
Ruth A. Tucker was for six years a professor of missions at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, and before that taught for seventeen years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. She is the author of seventeen books, including From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, Another Gospel, Women in the Maze and Walking Away from Faith.
Saugatuck and Douglas
are filled with all sorts of little gift shops and art galleries…but once you have seen them all, then what?
On a recent trip to Saugautuck someone told me about CARLTON GARDENS. This is West Michigans Best Kept Secret! But not for long!
Just about 40 minutes from the Saugatuck area, this is an amazing little piece of land, beautifully landscaped and full of all kinds of gifts and art., in Grand Rapids.
Carlton Gardens is much more than an enchanting gift shop with unusual wall hangings, floral arrangements, antiques, and garden décor—with nooks and crannies around every corner. The main house is the first stop. Lot’s of clothes, jewelry, purses and accessories, mostly all for women, but also lots of lamps, lights and home decor.
In the surrounding yard and gardens you with find walkways leading to a vast array of yard art, benches, baskets, and unique gifts.
Here in this acre of country hidden right inside the city are 4 gazebos, 2 ponds, 2 bridges and 9 out-buildings: the Barn, the Garden House, the Christmas House, the Potting Shed, the Outhouse, the Coop, Breton Cottage, the Apple House, and Chapel by the Bridge, complete with stained glass windows.
Gifts and trinkets and yard art everywhere. You can literally spend a couple hours here.
In fact, owner Ruth Tucker told us she encourages folks to pack a basket lunch and come on out and spend an afternoon. One of the lovely screened gazebos has great lawn furniture inside, and shoppers are encouraged to come and hang out and enjoy this hidden gem.
While I find many of the galleries and gift shops in Saugatuck and Douglas, a bit overpriced, I found Carlton gardens EXTREMELY reasonable! Huge pieces of metal yard art ran $15-$350. With many in the $60-$80 range. It is so beautiful and very affordable.
The property is filled with all of these little “sheds” and buildings, each filled with more art and more gifts!
There is even a little Halloween building and a Christmas building.
Ruth runs the shop and keeps the grounds up with her husband John. Ruth is actually quite the trailblazer! (Google her!)
In 2003, less than 3 months after Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. was installed as the new president, “I was, without warning, removed from tenure track and given a terminal appointment. I have repeatedly asked that all the evidence be opened only to be blocked by a dishonest cover-up. When independent mediators were retained by the seminary board in 2005, they called for “retroactive pay to 2003,” among other things. That report was buried. I finished my second terminal appointment on August 31, 2006.” Talk about an emotional roller coaster!
So these days she and her husband devote all of their time to the gift shop and all of its grounds. It really truly is enchanting! I have never seen anything like it. And I encourage anyone looking for unique gifts to give, or for yourself or your yard, make the drive to see Ruth and her amazing gardens! Plan to spend a couple hours, and bring your checkbook. I don’t see how anyone could possibly leave this place without buying something. Four of us went to the shop and all left with bags of gifts!
Ruth said a lot of gay people have discovered her little shop over the last few years and word has been spreading.
Her and her husband have actually had the store since 1996. But in recent years have made a lot of changes and additions. They are ALWAYS working on it. In fact, since I was there in July, they have made more changes and additions!
And they are always getting in new merchandise.
“Much of unique yard art comes from various artists around Michigan.
Ruth says, “Sure, we sell sculptures (and chimes, bird houses, furniture, floral, baskets, pillows, paintings, clothes, collectibles, jewelry and much more). But you need not purchase a thing. Just come and enjoy our wonderful grounds. Bring a lunch and eat it in one of our four gazebos, two of them by waterfalls. Wander over the bridge into our sculpture garden where magic unfolds!
Hope to see you soon!”
CARLTON GARDENS
3140 Breton Rd. S.E. , 3 blocks south of 28th St. S.E.
See lots of photos on the website and on Facebook.
Phone: 616-974-1062
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10 am-5 pm , Sat: 10 am-3 pm
*PS – While you are in Grand Rapids, you might want to visit Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Comprised of 132 acres of natural wetlands, woodlands, meadows and display gardens, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a year-round experience with indoor tropical, arid, carnivorous, Victorian and seasonal gardens, changing sculpture galleries with exhibitions by international artists, and outdoor acreage featuring an internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park, Children’s Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden, amphitheater for summer concert events, nature trails and boardwalks.
