Category Archives: Art

November 27, 2017   Art, Celebrity, FREE, Music, News and Happenings

Artist Garek Chicago Show December 1st

GAREK is a New York based singer-songwriter-artist. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he made the transition to New York in 2010. Fusing Industrial Rock (a la Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Garbage) with haunting melodies and explosive choruses, GAREK creates a distinct sonic landscape. This Electro-Industrial hybrid, coupled with his artfully degenerate style, make him a force to be watched.

GAREK’s first single “Save The Queen” had tastemakers around the globe buzzing. London’s EQ Music has hailed him as “a deity of Industrial-Electro mastery” while Australia’s DNA Magazine says, “He’s ready to rule the world!” MTV’s LOGO (NewNowNext) says, “for all [his] influences, there’s something distinctive about what Garek is doing.”

In  2014, GAREK proved his influence extends beyond music as he made his UK runway debut for the Champagne-inspired jeweler ‘Wearing Memories’ at London Fashion Week. Guests of the sold-out show were treated to a spectacle blending GAREK’s Industrial stylings with ‘Wearing Memories’ classic appeal. Models strutted down the catwalk in black morph suits to GAREK’s “Save The Queen” before GAREK himself closed the show.

Now NYC-based artist, GAREK, brings his own brand of unique darkness to Chicago in his first public opening.

The exhibit opens Friday December 1st at 5 p.m. at Gallery Victor Armendariz. The show will feature artists from The Studio, a section of the gallery dedicated to accessibly priced art of exceptional beauty.

GAREK is a self-taught artist, who got his first break at Tazza Gallery NYC, in the Chelsea Gallery District. After showing the owner of Tazza examples of his work, he was signed on the spot to representation.

GAREK is known for his distinct charcoal works, focusing primarily on figurative subjects. His works hang in private collections in L.A., NYC, and London. Chris Gehringer, Madonna’s primary mix engineer, has 2 of his pieces hanging in his studio.

“Garek’s art cannot be ignored. 

​

His subjects are presented in a way that seems completely natural, not the product of design, as if their presence were something familiar, known and buried down deep in our subconscious. 

​

His skill is undoubted. This very young and multitalented artist is obviously going places; and it is great to see part of this journey through his art.”

​

                   -Denis Arguedas (Tazza Gallery

For more of GAREK’s art visit www.garek.tv/art or visit his Instagram @garek_art

Gallery Victor Armendariz

300 West Superior

Chicago, IL 60654

5-8 p.m. Friday, December 1st, 2017

Share
Read More
October 23, 2017   Art, News and Happenings, Recommended

SOFA Art and Design Show 2017 Nov 2-5

 

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. On par with Art Basel and TEFAF Maastricht, SOFA is produced by Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events company.

Critically acclaimed and continuously running since 1994, what distinguishes SOFA from other top art events is its focus on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. SOFA is noted for its exceptional presentation, with an elite selection of international dealers presenting for sale one-of-a-kind masterworks in handsome, custom-designed gallery exhibits.

SOFA is held annually in the fall at Chicago’s major destination, Navy Pier, with an average of 80 dealers and 35,000 people attending. Sales at the fair are estimated at 15-20 million dollars per show.

With a strong educational emphasis, SOFA CHICAGO includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world. A VIP program includes exclusive events tailored to high-profile gallery clients and collector/museum groups.

SOFA has evolved into a dynamic international marketplace and community – a confluence of perspectives where art, design and people intersect.   BUY TICKETS ONLINE!

Share
Read More
September 28, 2017   Alternative, Art, Community, Deals, FREE, News and Happenings

Day of the Dead Chicago 2017

The National Museum of Mexican Art unveils this years Day of the Dead exhibit!
The Day of the Dead is one of the most stunning and important living traditions in Mexico, classified in 2003 by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Mexican community north of the US/Mexico border conserves and participates in the traditions of Day of the Dead by gathering in cultural spaces such as the Museum to honor and remember loved ones no longer present. Fine art and folk art are integrated into this exhibition to bring to life a Mexican celebration that bridges borders. This year more than 100 artists are represented in the exhibition via 10 ofrendas, The Xoloitzcuintle Project, folk art, and fine art pieces. This exhibition is curated by Dolores Mercado.
The exhibition will continue through December 10, 2017.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Day of the Dead: Xicágo
Join the National Museum of Mexican Art for the annual Dí­a de los Muertos Xicágo celebration on Sunday, October 29th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bring your friends and loved ones to celebrate Día de los Muertos as we transform the Museum and surrounding area into a beautiful work of art. To commemorate this special day, guests will enjoy face painting, art activities, ofrenda (altar) demonstrations, live musical performances, and Pan de Muerto (traditional Day of the Dead Bread). This year we are thrilled to be joined by Fernando Sic (Rimiyoho), who will create live animations projected on the Museum’s exterior.
Additionally, families and individuals are invited to participate by creating their own ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar) or sharing a photograph of a departed loved one as part of the large illuminated ofrenda. Read more about the event and how you can contribute.

Día de los Muertos: Love Never Dies Masquerade
The National Museum of Mexican Art’s Auxiliary Board cordially invites you to join us for a special celebration that honors life and the spirits of los muertos.
Save the Date!
Saturday, November 4th, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the National Museum of Mexican Art

Enjoy a spectacular fall event complete with live musical and DJ entertainment, delicious culinary treats, and cocktails, all in support of the Museum’s programs.

More details to come! But early birds can purchase tickets now and take advantage of discounted pricing.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
National Museum of Mexican Art
Museum Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission is FREE every day!
Share
Read More
September 11, 2017   Art, News and Happenings, Passings

Scott Barnes Passing September 9th, 2017

Scott Barnes died Sept. 9 of a heart attack  at the Out at the Park Six Flags Great America event in the Chicago suburbs.

He was 50. He is survived by his former partner, Jay Howard Cook and Brian Loomis, his current companion. Barnes’ memorial service will take place at the Geisen-Carlisle Funeral & Cremation Services 613 Washington St. Michigan City, Indiana, with the viewing on Friday, Sept. 15 in the afternoon and evening, and the funeral on Saturday, Sept. 16. For those who cannot travel to Indiana a memorial service will be held at Barnes’ favorite local bar Elixer sometime next week.   There will also be a showing of his work at The SoFo Tap, 4923 N. Clark St. Details TBA. Read full Obituary  HERE.

September 20th – Memorial for Scott, who passed away this year at Out in the Park…https://www.facebook.com/events/1033964130078572

Share
Read More
August 24, 2017   Art, News and Happenings, Outdoors, Theater in Chicago

Cirque Du Soleil Luzia Inspired Mural in Chicago

Cirque du Soleil recently announced a partnership with Columbia College Chicago and the Wabash Arts Corridor (WAC) that will add a new public mural downtown in honor of the city’s Year of Public Art. Local artist Gloria “Gloe” Talamantes is creating the mural, commissioned by Cirque du Soleil and inspired by its highly acclaimed production LUZIA, currently playing a limited engagement in Chicago through Sept. 3.

 

The Cirque du Soleil-commissioned mural is an addition to WAC’s 40+ murals in the South Loop neighborhood. It will also kick off this year’s public art exhibition Street Level, which will unveil eight new murals that will be presented at street level and highlight a diverse range of artists at the local, national, and international level.

 

The mural was unveiled this week, on the western façade of Columbia’s 33 E. Congress Parkway.

 

“We are happy to give this artistic gift to Chicago for its Year of Public Art,” said Claudine Rivard, Company Manager of Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA. “This is a way for Cirque du Soleil to thank the city and its residents for all of their support, not just for LUZIA, but for embracing our artists and crews for over 17 productions across 28 years.”

 

Having started as a troupe of street performance artists 33 years ago, Cirque du Soleil is always looking for ways to give back to the local communities it visits, either through its social action programs or through art. The LUZIA mural project in partnership with WAC and Talamantes will permanently add the signature joy and color of Cirque du Soleil to Chicago’s greatest concentration of street art.

“Chicago is one of the top destinations in the world for public art,” said DCASE Commissioner Mark Kelly. “It is fitting that acclaimed international arts organization Cirque du Soleil has commissioned one of Chicago’s own artists for the Year of Public Art. This new mural brings additional vibrancy to the growing Wabash Arts Corridor.”

 

“Chicago’s dedication to public art is deeply rooted in the city’s history,” said Neysa Page-Lieberman, WAC’s Chief Curator and the Executive Director of Columbia’s Department of Exhibitions and Performance Spaces. “Columbia and WAC continue the tradition each year in producing, supporting, and engaging Chicagoans and visitors with vital arts and programming. The scope of Chicago’s public art will flourish from the recognition and support by the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil.”

 

About the mural

Artist Gloria “Gloe” Talamantes’ style of work suits the project perfectly, and in creating the mural, she combines inspiration from LUZIA with her Mexican heritage.

“I created wispy butterfly wings that carry flowers adorned with motifs inspired by my roots and culture,” said Talamantes. “The design inspiration comes from my family heirlooms, carpetas tejidas, the delicate and intricate original crocheted designs of my grandmother and great grandmother. After watching some of LUZIA, I reflected on the massive red papel picado that was used in one of the scenes; it immediately made me think of the many designs that make up my grandma’s doilies.”

The dripping effect at the bottom of the mural is a direct reflection of the water scenes in LUZIA, the first Cirque du Soleil show to incorporate water into artistic and acrobatic scenes.

“I wanted to create a subtle resemblance to the water while keeping it connected to my graffiti roots,” said Talamantes. “Drips are common and often the most enjoyable parts of ink tags and natural spray paint abstracts when doing stylized letters. It is important for me to stay true to my Mexican and Graffiti culture, for the two have been an integral part of my life and visual art.”

 

About LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil

LUZIA takes you to an imaginary Mexico, like in a waking dream, where light (“luz” in Spanish) quenches the spirit and rain (“lluvia”) soothes the soul. In a series of grand visual surprises and breathtaking acrobatic performances, LUZIA invites audiences to escape on a surrealistic journey through a sumptuous and vibrant world suspended somewhere between dreams and reality. Smoothly passing from an old movie set to the ocean to a smoky dance hall or an arid desert, LUZIA cleverly brings to the stage multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico taken from both tradition and modernity. Rich in awe-inspiring moments, LUZIA enchants by incorporating rain into acrobatic and artistic scenes – a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.

 

LUZIA is Cirque du Soleil’s 38th original production since 1984, and its 17th show presented under the Big Top. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 160 million spectators in more than 400 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

FINAL DAYS!!

LUZIA is now playing in Chicago through Sept. 3, 2017, under the Big Top in the United Center parking lot. For show and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/luzia.

 

Follow #LUZIA and #cirquedusoleil on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

 

Share
Read More
April 6, 2017   Art, Dance, Music, News and Happenings, Special Events, Theater in Chicago

Cavalia Odysseo is HUGE!

 

Whether you like horses  or  not –  this  show  is  so much more than horses.  It’s  beautifully  choreographed  art  and  showmanship.   BIGGER  THAN  LIFE!

Imagine,  21  semi  trucks  delivered  the  show  to Chicago  over  6 weeks  ago.  a $30 million extravaganza!  The main tent stands  over 125  feet tall  and  occupies  some  58,000  square feet. From your seat,  at least to me,  the  stage  looked  2-3 times  the  size  of the space that the audience  occupies.

 

This unprecedented ‘traveling theatre’ is also composed of several exceptional features including its grandiose stage – larger than the United Center ice rink – that enables large-scale, cutting-edge creative performances. Surrounded by bleachers with 2,074 seats, the 17,500-square-foot stage requires 10,000 tons of stone, earth and sand to create so that it offers a vast space of freedom where 65 horses and 48 artists can display their intimate collaboration.

 

To help immerse the audience in the magical world of Odysseo, images of the most beautiful landscapes from around the world are projected throughout the show onto an 8,400-square-foot screen. Its technical grid, worthy of the largest permanent installations in Las Vegas, New York or London, can support 80 tons of equipment for the stage needs of the show, including a majestic life-sized merry-go-round.

Perhaps most amazing  is  when  40,000 gallons of water fills the stage!  Mind  blowing  what this show delivers! Music, Singing,  Dance, Acrobatic skills  and   65  of the most regal horses you ever see!

Get a  sneak peak NOW    and  get your  tickets  HERE!

Share
Read More
December 1, 2016   Art, Community, FREE, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits

Art Aids America Chicago

art-sex-aids-chicago

More than a groundbreaking visual art exhibition, Art AIDS America Chicago will serve as the catalyst for a citywide dialogue on the cultural impact of HIV/AIDS through robust public programming at the newly constructed Alphawood Gallery (2401 N. Halsted Street) and via a constellation of related events presented in association with local arts and advocacy community allies.

Art AIDS America Chicago opens at the Alphawood Gallery on World AIDS Day, Thursday, December 1, 2016, and continues through Sunday, April 2, 2017.  Admission to the exhibition and all programming held at the Gallery– artist & expert talks, panel discussions, performances, gallery tours, and HIV testing — are free and open to the public. 

LOTS  AND LOTS  OF  PROGRAMMING  GOING ON  FOR THIS – CHECK OUT THE SITE!

 

“Art AIDS America tells a story of struggle, pain, loss, and, ultimately, hope.  It’s about the power of art to help us overcome insurmountable odds,” said Christopher Audain, program officer at Alphawood Foundation. Audain, who is working on programming and events for the exhibition, continued, “To help us tell this story, and to broaden the impact and access of this great work, we have joined with organizations and individuals from across the city who have eagerly embraced this project. Our joint programming provides a space for the multitude of people impacted by HIV/AIDS—across intersections of race, sexuality, gender, age, and artistic disciplines—to tell their story, particularly those we don’t often hear, from their own voice. We want to spark conversations that don’t happen nearly enough about how this disease has affected each of us in immeasurable ways. We know that artists, activists, and advocates standing together can create real change.”

About Art AIDS America

This is the first exhibition to explore how the AIDS crisis forever changed American art. Since the first reports of mysterious illnesses in the early 1980s, HIV and AIDS have touched nearly every American in some way, and operated as an undeniable, though often unacknowledged, force in shaping politics, medicine, culture and society. While acknowledging and honoring the enormous anger, loss and grief generated by the epidemic, the exhibition refutes the narrative that AIDS is only a tragic tangent in American art. Instead, Art AIDS America offers a story of resilience and beauty revealed through the visual arts, and of the communities that gathered to bring hope and change in the face of a devastating disease.

 

Art AIDS America Chicago is the local – and largest – iteration of this groundbreaking national exhibition which underscores the deep and unforgettable presence of HIV in American art. The exhibition will feature some 140+ significant contemporary works on display at the Alphawood Gallery, a temporary space created in a former bank by the Alphawood Foundation to bring the exhibition to its only Midwest venue.   The Alphawood Foundation, a Chicago-based, grant-making private foundation working for an equitable, just and humane society, is proudly presenting Art AIDS America here.  Each year the Foundation awards grants to organizations, primarily in the areas of advocacy, architecture and preservation, the arts and arts education, promotion and protection of the rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS, and other human and civil rights.

Share
Read More
November 10, 2016   Art, Community, FREE, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Special Events, Wellness

Art AIDS America Dec 1 – April 2

art-aids-america-chicago-exhibit

Art AIDS America Chicago

This groundbreaking exhibition underscores the deep and unforgettable presence of HIV in American art. It introduces and explores the whole spectrum of artistic responses to AIDS, from the politically outspoken to the quietly mournful, surveying works from the early 1980s to the present.

 

Uncomfortable, wistfully beautiful,
and vitally important… — Advocate.com

 

Art AIDS America will culminate its national tour at the new Alphawood Gallery, established for this presentation by the Alphawood Foundation, at 2401 North Halsted Street (at Fullerton Avenue). The exhibition – opening on World AIDS Day, Thursday, December 1, and continuing through Sunday, April 2, 2017 – will be free and open to the public.

Tino Rodriguez (born 1965), Eternal Lovers, 2010. Oil on wood, Overall: 18 × 24 inches.

Private collection.
Photo courtesy of the artist.

  • The New Alphawood Gallery

    The Alphawood Foundation felt it was so important that this exhibition come to Chicago that it has undertaken an effort to transform its headquarters building, a former bank, into a temporary museum space, the Alphawood Gallery. The reworking of the space is now underway. Our contractors have filled out the foundation—studs, plywood and drywall have been going up at remarkable speed. The floors, finishes, and lights are next. It is very exciting to see the space taking shape so rapidly. Check back regularly for updates and more exhibition information.

    art-aids-chicago-exhibit-halsted

    aids-art-collection

    Admission

    Alphawood Foundation is proud to bring Art AIDS America to Chicago.  To accommodate the largest possible audience for this important exhibition, admission to Art AIDS America at the Alphawood Gallery will be free to all.  We are only constrained by the size and capacity of our building that necessarily limit the number of visitors who can enter the gallery at one time.

    To ensure admission and a quality experience, you should obtain a timed admission pass, which will allow entry to the gallery during a one-hour window.

    The length of your visit will be up to you.  If crowd size and other circumstances permit, a limited number of walk-up admissions will also be available onsite.

    Alphawood Gallery
    2401 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL

 

Share
Read More
June 13, 2016   Art, Cabaret, Celebrity, Movers and Shakers, News and Happenings, Reccomended Reads

BIG BOOK OF DRAG AND ART

magnus-hastings-why-drag-art-book

WHAT A GORGEOUS BOOK! And for a coffee table art book, its very affordable at about $35! Why Drag?

224 pages of the biggest and most diverse queens across America and beyond, all answering the question, Why drag?

Everyone loves to gag over photographs of their favorite queens, and chances are, some of the photographs have been taken by talented drag queen photographer, Magnus Hastings. His popular Facebook page, Dragged Around the World, archives some of his best work.

This celebrated artist has been photographing drag queens for the past 10 years- and his artwork showcasing queens is taking the world by storm! LAST YEAR, Hastings’ first photo exhibition in New York, Why Drag?, ran during Pride, at the OUT HOTEL. The best part about this unique exhibition is that each queen he photographs explains why it is that they do drag (but you’ll have to the exhibit to see that!) – Now, you can get the book!

Magnus Hastings came up through the London Gay scene and quickly gained recognition as one of the forerunners of his type of the pop art photography. playing with campy ideas when it was not fashionable to do so and embracing drag queens as a subject and study. He says, a “child of drag,” prone to putting on his sister’s clothes and dancing around his childhood home. But he didn’t truly discover the drag world until much later, long after he himself had stopped dressing across gender lines.

He completely revamped the Gaydar franchise in 2009 and has been published worldwide in magazines such as Glamour (uk), GQ (uk), Cosmopolitan (Italy),People (usa) , US weekly (use), Attitude (uk) ,AXM (uk), Bent (uk), QX international (uk), Blue (australia), Boyz (uk), Nois (spain) to name a few.

why-drag-magnus-hastings-

In 2003, on a visit to Sydney, Hastings walked into the Arq nightclub and saw the drag queen Vanity Faire lip-syncing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz in a flawless Dorothy outfit. The experience changed his life.

“I started shooting drag because it’s my home and my world and it feels like my family,” Hastings said.

Watching that performance connected Hastings to a part of himself that he’d abandoned due to social pressures as a child but that he still longed to explore.

 

With Vanity’s guidance, Hastings began photographing the city’s vibrant drag scene and developing a polished, dynamic style of portraiture reflecting his subjects’ creativity and humor.

 

magnus hastings photographer

As he traveled the world, he continued capturing local queens with a focus on those who best represented the art’s diversity and daring, from the bearded to the “fishy,” or ultrafeminine.

His images attracted a larger audience when he started posting his photos to his Facebook group, “Dragged Around the World.”

Magnus now lives in Los Angeles with his Jack Russell named George and is heavily involved in photographing the drag scene.

‘Why Drag?‘ with photographs by Magnus Hastings and a foreword by Boy George, was published in May by Chronicle Books. BUY THE BOOK!

Why Drag?

detox drag queen magnus hastings

Share
Read More
July 8, 2015   Art, Cabaret, Celebrity, Comedy, Music, News and Happenings, Special Events, Theater in Chicago

KURIOS from Cirque du Soleil August

KURIOS-from-Cirque-du-Soleil

It’s back!

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL RETURNS TO CHICAGO THIS SUMMER
WITH KURIOS – CABINET OF CURIOSITIES!

Written and directed by Michel Laprise, the new touring production will premiere under the iconic blue-and-yellow Big Top at United Center beginning August 6, 2015

TICKETS, STARTING AT $35, NOW ON SALE!

It’s been  too long!   Cirque du Soleil returns to Chicago after four years with its newest touring show, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities™, performing under the iconic blue-and-yellow Big Top at the United Center parking lot, 1901 W. Madison Street, August 6 – September 20, 2015.

Cabinet of Curiosities premiered to the world in Montréal in April 2014 and is Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production. Since its debut, the critics have been raving: “KURIOS is Cirque du Soleil’s strongest act in years…one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen on a stage” (Toronto Star) and “KURIOS is the best Cirque du Soleil show in a long time.” (San Francisco Chronicle).

cirque-du-soliel-chicago-2

 

  • Picture credit : © Martin Girard shootstudio.ca
  • Costume credit : Philippe Guillotel

 

Written and directed by Michel Laprise, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is a tale in which time comes to a complete stop, transporting the audience inside a fantasy world where everything is possible. In this realm set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, reality is quite relative indeed as our perception of it is utterly transformed. The name of the show refers to the humble and strange characters that inhabit the Seeker’s Cabinet of Curiosities.

In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a Seeker discovers that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, we must first learn to close our eyes. In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams lie waiting. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker’s imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes.

Tickets are available for purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/kurios or calling 1-877-9 CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783). Tickets range from $35 – $145.
KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production since 1984. The company, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014, has brought wonder and delight to close to 150 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

cirque-du-soliel-chicago-2015

Share
Read More
July 7, 2015   Art, Celebrity, Music, News and Happenings

Harrison Scott in Chicago July 9th

harrison-scott-gay-pop--singer

Entertainment Weekly says “Harrison has a real knack for emulating the sounds of ’80’s synthpop” while Crossfadr states “His smooth vocals hark back to a time when the “pop” in synthpop and electro-pop mattered, while the production maintains timeless.” Fashionista said “Scott is a modern vision as he wears slick dark designs from Landeros New York and Nick Palmer.” He has also been featured on  VH1, MTV and LogoTV. 
Harrison  will be at Debonair Social Club this Thursday, July 9th.
1575 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 227-7990
There are no pre-sale tickets, it’s just $8 at the door.
Harrison Scott
Scott recently released his debut album, Spectral Evidence. Listen here .
His video  “Silence into Noise” can be seen here.

 
Share
Read More
July 1, 2015   Art, Dance, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Special Events

Dance For Life Chicago August 15th

DFL_Online-Banners-2015_250x500_v2

Dance for Life: Dancers Unite to Inspire Chicago from Center Stage
Chicago’s Top Dance Troupes Raise Funds and Awareness for HIV/AIDS on Aug. 15

 

Experience a night of breathtaking performances as seven of Chicago’s top dance companies come together for one evening at Dance for Life. With thought provoking choreography and poignant music, this highly anticipated event is held annually to support organizations and dance community professionals dealing with critical health issues, including, but not limited to HIV/AIDS, through the art of dance. Since 1992, Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars to support the cause.

This year, the funny and talented Joey Bland and Tim Mason from The Second City will emcee the night. Choreographer Randy Duncan will bring his highly acclaimed work STAND BY ME with special music arrangement by Ira Antelis to the Auditorium Theatre as Dance for Life’s finale. Performing group C5 will also present a show stopping world premiere.

Dance for Life believes in cultivating young talent in the Chicago dance community and giving them the opportunity to shine. That’s why for the first time ever, the finale will feature local professional dancers that were selected through a special audition.

Funds raised through this year’s Dance for Life benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Dancers’ Fund.

Participating Companies Include:

• Giordano Dance Chicago
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Joffrey Ballet
• River North Dance Chicago
• C5
• Chicago Human Rhythm Project
• Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre

 

Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015
5:00 p.m. – Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
7:30 p.m. – Dance for Life Performance – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E. Congress Pkwy.)
*Complimentary shuttle bus service provided between the two venues.

COST: $15-$75 (performance only)
$250- $600 (includes admission to 5:00 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-922-5812 or visit www.danceforlifechicago.org

 

Connect with Dance for Life on Facebook!

Share
Read More
April 1, 2015   Alternative, Art, Dance, Film, Music, News and Happenings

LGBQ programs at CIMMfest 2015

cimm fest chicago LGBT

2015 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES & MUSIC FESTIVAL

CIMMfest No. 7 TO ROLL OUT LGBQ PROGRAMMING

APRIL 16 – 19, 2015

The 7th Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest), the annual four-day showcase celebrating the inseparable connection between music and movies, is proud to announce the festival’s LGBQ programming include films The Dicks from Texas, Cakes da Killa: No Homo and a special video and music event Cruising TRACKS: a Radical Queer Video. For a complete lineup of confirmed films, musical acts and live scoring events for CIMMfest No. 7, visit http://cimmfest.org/.

 

CIMMfest’s queer film screenings and music event present documentaries, video art, short fictions and music videos. These presentations touch a wide array of topics: stretching notions of gender identity; kinship and sexuality; proper bodies and their organized functions while dealing with other social and political struggles such as the fight against HIV/AIDS, sexism, confinement, racism, and mental illness.

 

 

Thursday, April 16th         The Dicks from Texas (pictured)

The Dicks from Texas tells the story of the men, the myth and the music behind the band that defined Texas hardcore punk. Long before Austin made weirdness a civic virtue, The Dicks made it a cause. Three rawboned Marlboro Man types fronted by Gary Floyd, a fat queer with a penchant for fright wigs, this self-described “commie faggot band” helped put the Texas capital on the punk map in the early ’80s with anthems like “Dicks Hate the Police” and “Wheelchair Epidemic.”

7:00pm @ The Society for Arts, 1112 N Milwaukee Ave

A la carte tickets are $12

 

Friday, April 17th

CIMMfest’s Cruising Tracks – Radical Queer Video Program includes:

·         Queer Video Screening, videos & event curated by Rebecca Lavoie.

·         Live performance by Donzelle, Montreal’s Sassiest Rapper and her dancers; Douce Angoisse, provocative electronic musician backed by hypnotic disco/darkwave melodies.

·         Slo ‘Mo dance party: A throwback to old-school R&B, Slo ‘Mo seeks to unite people of all identities, bodies and expressions through soul music. Including the sounds of Anita Baker, Frank Ocean, Janet Jackson and more, Slo ‘Mo Dance Party is hosted by Kristen Kava with grooves by DJ Tess and Audio Jack of Slo ‘Mo.

8:00pm @ The Hideout Inn, 354 West Wabansia

Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door and $5 for the dance party only

 

Saturday, April 18th

Cakes da Killa: No Homo (short doc) playing with feature documentary The Hip-Hop Fellow

The short doc follows Cakes Da Killa (born Rashard Bradshaw), a 22 year-old up and coming rapper who also happens to be an out and proud gay man. With provocative lyrics that explore sexuality and gender politics, he’s not your run of the mill rapper, but he just might be your new favorite.

9:00pm @ The Society for Arts, 1112 N Milwaukee Ave

A la carte tickets are $12

 

CIMMfest No. 7 takes place April 16-19, 2015 along the Milwaukee Avenue corridor – from Wicker Park to Logan Square – with satellite events in the West Loop, Pilsen and beyond. Four-day festival passes, which include admission to An Evening of Music, Film & Wine with Spike Lee, are currently available for $110 at CIMMfest.org. Additional (non-Spike) CIMMfest passes – $75 (basic) and VIP ($100) – are also available now.

 

Share
Read More
March 20, 2015   Art, Benefits, Community, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Theater in Chicago

WARHOL Wonka Ball April 10

WonkaBallWarhol-1

Come claim your 15 minutes of fame at About Face Theatre’s annual gala WONKA BALL:

WARHOL, where guests are invited to step into Warhol’s infamous factory for one night only. This year’s highly-anticipated soiree takes place Friday, April 10, 2015 at 8 pm (VIP Cocktail Reception at 7 pm) at Moonlight Studios, 1446 W. Kinzie St. in Chicago.

WONKA BALL:

WARHOL will celebrate the pop art icon and his cadre of superstars, celebrities and subjects. Guests are invited to experience live, Warhol-inspired art-making by Matthew Lew, JoJo Baby and Edgewater Workbench, short experimental films by Warhol and contemporary Chicago filmmakers, a punch-out prize wall, a photo booth and more. Guests will also enjoy fantastic food with catering by Wolfgang Puck, delicious drinks and stellar silent and live auctions, including a three-night stay in Key West.

Join Chicago’s celebrated center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and ally arts (LGBTQIA) as it celebrates its 19th year on this unforgettable evening. Tickets are currently available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling (773) 784-8565.
VIP Cocktail Reception

Join About Face for an exclusive VIP Cocktail Reception beginning at 7 pm, guests will enjoy early access to the venue, specialty cocktails, an exclusive raffle with complimentary raffle tickets, culinary treats, live entertainment and a VIP gift bag. The reception will be hosted by the evening’s honorary co-chairs and members of the AFT Board of Directors.

 

WONKA BALL: WARHOL Honorary Co-Chairs include AFT Artistic Associate Precious Davis, John Dalton and Kristen Kaza.

 

Proceeds from WONKA BALL: WARHOL will support About Face Theatre’s award-winning mainstage programming, new play development series and nationally-recognized educational program. Since 1995, About Face has created exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays that advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity and have entertained and challenged audiences in Chicago, across the country and around the world. Support from Wonka Ball enables About Face to thrive as Chicago’s celebrated center for LGBTQIA arts; an inclusive home where diverse artists, youth, audiences and community partners come together for artistic exchange and cultural dialogue.

 

EVENT DETAILS:

Event: WONKA BALL: WARHOL

Date: Friday, April 10 from 8 pm – 11 pm;  VIP Cocktail Party at 7 pm

Location: Moonlight Studios, 1446 W. Kinzie St. in Chicago

Tickets: General admission: $150 (Early Bird Special $125 through March 13, 2015). VIP Cocktail Reception: $200 (Early Bird Special $175 through March 13, 2015). Additional sponsorship packages are available. Tickets currently available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling (773) 784-8565.

 

THE SPONSORS

Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering. Liquor: Absolut, Angels Envy, Goose Island and Sidetrack. Event furniture: Cort. Photo booth: Red Weddings. Restaurant Partners: Wow Bao, Garrett Popcorn, Hamburger Mary’s, Cabot Cheese, Insomnia Cookies, Yo Soy!, Swirlz Cupcakes, Mariano’s, Rique’s Chicago, mEAT, DS Tequila and Do-Rite Donuts. Key West vacation: Historic Key West Inns.

 

About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the country, and around the world.

Share
Read More
February 23, 2015   Alternative, Art, Benefits, Cabaret, Dance, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Theater in Chicago

Chicago House THE TEASE Feb 28th

tease-strip-tease-chicago-house

the tease chicAGO STRIPPERS CHARITY

Nadine DuBois is a commanding addition to this year’s production of The Tease. Renowned for her masterful ability to transform shows into a “more cohesive and pure slice of burlesque,” DuBois will provide a “glamorous framework for The Tease‘s incredible cast of artists.”

Hailing from Minneapolis, DuBois laces a glimmer of sexuality into her Minnesota-nice demeanor. She brings experience performing throughout the Twin Cities in large theatrical productions such as Grown and Sexy PRIDE, which every year features a special guest from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and in big-stage shows that have toured across New Zealand and Australia with Chicago burlesque artists Jett Adore, Bazuka Joe and Ray Gunn. DuBois has also made appearances in venues such as Chicago’s Subterranean and Music Box Theatre.

For DuBois, burlesque is truly an innocent, fun and freeing experience. “When I’m on stage, it’s the most present I ever am.”

This love affair started one hot summer night in Minneapolis when DuBois walked past an unnamed bar. Inside, she saw mystic artists who looked like they truly belonged. Trained as a singer, DuBois sought the perfect platform from which to share her talent, but she had yet to find the right fit. On this warm night in 2003, Nadine DuBois fell in love.

From there grew the persona that DuBois describes as “comedic in a real way.” Opening shows with the question, Have you ever been to a burlesque show before?, DuBois channels the audience’s nervous energy into her comedy. She responds suggestively to those new to the art form, eager to pop the cherries of burlesque virgins around the world.

This month, DuBois will host The Tease. Tying together performances by aerialists, dancers, jugglers and contortionists, DuBois will provide the scaffolding for The Tease’s portrayal of the turmoil of love. As a fierce ally to the communities Chicago House serves, Nadine DuBois intends for her performance to “highlight and encourage the powerful compassion and immense resources that Chicago House provides for its clients.”

  Two shows  7:30  and  10:30!!!  Saturday  Feb. 28th!

Buy tickets to this year’s production of The Tease on our website or by calling 773.248.5200 x 304.

Share
Read More
February 9, 2015   Art, Benefits, Celebrity, Deals, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Theater in Chicago

Wonka Ball 2015 WARHOL

wonka-ball-warhol-lgbt-event

In 1968, Andy Warhol proclaimed:
“In the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.“

In 2015, About Face Theatre proclaims:
“It is the future and everyone can be Andy Warhol” at…

WONKA BALL: WARHOL

Named as one of Chicago’s top theatre, dance, and music events for the 5th year in a row, WONKA BALL: WARHOL will celebrate the Pop Art icon and his cadre of superstars, celebrities and subjects.

Guests will experience live, Warhol-inspired art-making and performances, plus fantastic food, delicious drinks, music and a stellar silent and live auction for which Wonka Ball itself has become famous.

Get your discounted Early Bird tickets now and support About Face Theatre, Chicago’s premiere center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and ally arts (LGBTQIA) as we celebrate our 19th year and party like superstars!

Early bird tickets available through March 13th ONLY!

Share
Read More
December 16, 2014   Art, Benefits, Cabaret, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits

Chicago House THE TEASE Event 2015

chicago-house-THE-TEASE-strippers

You won’t want to miss the hottest event in Chicago in 2015!
  
A sensational night of sexy burlesque performances, aerial acts, appropriately raunchy comedy and fantastic cocktails are waiting for you at the Tease.  Tickets available NOW!
Saturday
February 28, 2015
 Two shows, 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm
@  an AMAZING space   –     Moonlight Studios

1438 W Kinzie St, Chicago
These shows WILL  SELL OUT!!!
Take me to the Ticket Page!
Share
Read More
November 24, 2014   Art, Contests, Health, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits

#We are all Clean HIV Challenge

we-are-ALL--CLEAN

THIS IS BRILLIANT!

Could this be the HIV equivalent to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? We think so. The concept is the brainchild of well-known HIV activist, Jack Mackenroth who has partnered with Moovz, the leading global gay social app, to launch the project. It’s genius in its simplicity. We are now a selfie-obsessed culture and Mackenroth urges everyone to take a special selfie for an important cause.

“I was inspired by the use of the word ‘clean’, especially common in gay culture, to describe oneself as STI/STD free. Indirectly this implies that HIV-positive people are somehow ‘dirty'”, says Mackenroth. “I thought a PG or PG-13 shower selfie or Vine video would be a fun way that everyone could easily show their support on social media for finding a cure by using the hashtag #weareALLclean when they post their photo with the link. They then nominate 3 other people to participate and hopefully donate to the project as well.”

The goal of the campaign is to raise 1 million dollars to stop the epidemic and help find a cure and the campaign will be ongoing indefinitely. Donate here. All donations received will be donated to Housing Works, a New York-based nonprofit organization fighting on the front lines to end AIDS and homelessness, not just in New York but globally by 2030. The CDC estimates that there are currently 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV and over 35 million people around the world.

#weareallclean

“As someone who has been living with HIV for 25 years this is very personal to me.” Mackenroth adds, “There is current urgency for funding as we have new treatments that maintain viral suppression and render HIV-positive individuals virtually non-transmissible. Those same treatments can be given to HIV-negative individuals and protect them from infection. Essentially we already have the tools to stop the epidemic from spreading. Exciting new research is bringing us closer to a real cure for AIDS every day. ”

The campaign will launch within Moovz because of the app’s high user engagement rates and it’s history of successful international LGBT social media campaigns. Mackenroth is known as a social media powerhouse in his own right but he is also enlisting many of his “social media superstar” friends to get the campaign off the ground.

Actor, model, singer and social media stud, Chris Salvatore is igniting the campaign from Los Angeles after joining forces with Moovz as well. “It’s time to erase the stigma and unite as a global community. Regardless of your gender or sexual identity—no matter what age, color, size or shape you are, you should be part of this project! Let’s all be one loud, united voice in support of awareness, education, treatment and research for a cure.” says Salvatore. “And have fun with it. Be funny, sexy or silly. Who doesn’t want to see people in the shower soaping up for a good cause?”

“I truly hope this campaign goes viral—no pun intended.” Mackenroth quips.

The campaign launches between now and World AIDS Day, December 1st and is ongoing until the goal is reached. The hope is that there will be traction in the following weeks so that people know about the campaign on World AIDS Day and change their profile photos to show support.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Take a selfie or Vine video of yourself in the shower.** NO EXPLICIT NUDITY**

2) Post your photo now on Moovz and all social media platforms with the caption “Take HIV Shower Selfie Challenge raise $$ for AIDS cure bit.ly/CUREAIDS #weareALLclean“

3) Nominate 3 or more other people to participate!

4) (Optional) DONATE!! Please consider a small donation if you are able. Every penny counts! bit.ly/CUREAIDS

5) On World AIDS Day (or before) : Monday, December 1st, please change all your social media profile pix to your shower selfie photo and spread the word!!

Share
Read More
November 7, 2014   Art, News and Happenings

SOFA Chicago Art Show Nov. 7-9th

sofa-art-chiago-glass

SOFA  comes to town every November  and is one of the most SPECTACULAR art shows you will ever see!

The 21st Annual Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art + Design Fair is a gallery-presented, international art exposition dedicated to bridging the worlds of design, decorative and fine art.

Works by emerging and established artists and designers are available for sale by premier galleries and dealers.

SOFA CHICAGO opens to the public  Friday, November 7 and runs through Sunday, November 9, 2014 at Navy Pier.

We got  a sneak peak last night  and it  was one of the best  SOFA  shows  we have ever seen, with artists  from around the world!

There is just acres of art!  They have have lectures going on,  meet the artists, cafes with food and coffees available  while you gaze at all the beauty!

 

 

sofa chicago sofa glass wiscon sofa glass sofa you and me sofa-art

sofa-chicago-art-work

Friday, November 7, 2014 11 am – 7 pm

Saturday, November 8, 2014 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday, November 9, 2014  Noon – 6 pm

  • Photography is not permitted. Cameras must be checked at coat check for a fee.
  • Backpacks, large purses, bulky coats and over-sized personal items must be checked at coat check for a fee.
  • General Admission $20.00
    Three-Day Pass  $30.00
    Groups (10 or more)   $15.00 (in advance)
Share
Read More
November 3, 2014   Art, Deals, Film, News and Happenings

LGBTQ Short Films in Chicago

1 OPEN RELATIONSHIP gay film fest chicago

Pride Films and Plays’ Queer Bits Fall Film Festival
Announces Short Films to Receive Chicago Premieres

Pride Films and Plays announces ten short films from the USA, Denmark, and Spain receiving their Chicago premieres during Queer Bits Fall Film Festival at the Public House Theatre (3914 N Clark) on November 10th, 2014.

Pride Films and Plays’ Queer Bits Fall Film Festival will include a sexy romp about a young man with an international taste in men, a poignant drama about an elderly woman revisiting an intense memory, two very different and festive animated films, a touching documentary about a gay couple living in the Deep South, a powerful lesbian drama about a dangerous crush, a fascinating examination of LGBT youth in America, a sweet coming-out tale set in high school, a smart look at two men trying to reconcile their dissimilar faiths, and a fun look at a relationship which one of the partners wants to make more open.

The screening commences at 7:30PM and will be followed by a brief talkback with some of the filmmakers. The Public House Theater bar will be open beginning at 6:30PM. Please come early and have a drink with us!

Warning: some of the short films contain adult themes, language, and brief nudity. You are going to love them!
Tickets are $10. VIP Tickets are available for $15 and include prime table seating. Student and Senior tickets are also available for $5. Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com or by calling 1.800.838.3006.

7 SCOTTY AND JOSH GET ENLIGHTENED gay film fest

Queer Bits Fall Film Festival Program (in alphabetical order)
A Mississippi Love Story
Director: Robbie Fisher (USA, 13 minutes)
A Mississippi Love Story: a story set against the backdrop of legal battles about same-sex marriage, featuring Eddie Outlaw and Justin Outlaw of Jackson, Mississippi.

Freja and Sofie
Director/Writer: Søren Lundvall Danielsen (Denmark, 15 minutes)
Sofie plans to humiliate the lonely girl of the class Freja who is secretly in love with her.

Heavenly Peace
Director/Writer/Animator: Andreas Wessel-Therhorn (USA, 5 minutes)
An estranged gay couple is visited by a mischievously manipulative cupid just in time for Christmas – based on a comic by Ralf König.

International Male
Director/Writer: Heath Daniels (US, 7 minutes)
A financially strapped man, yearning for global adventure, invites over an international cast of men for a series of romantic escapades.

KARA FISTIK
Director/Animator: Nesli Erten (US, 4 minutes)
KARA FISTIK is a love letter to the freedom of female body parts.

The Miles Were Many
Director/Writer: Ashley “Smash” Wright (US, 5 minutes)
40% of America’s homeless youth are LGBTQ. Nancy was one of them. At
14 she came out, at which point her life became a journey, and “The miles
were many”.

Open Relationship
Director/Writer: Carlos Ocho (Spain, 14 minutes)
Oscar and Sergio have been in a relationship for 5 years and one of them has decided to ask for an open relationship.

Out Again
Directors: Emma McKittrick, Greg Chu, Tai Payne (US, 5 minutes)
Sixteen-year-old Sam attempts coming out to his crush Jordan. He travels through time to fix his mistakes until he can get the “perfect” coming out.

Scotty and Josh Get Enlightened
Director/Writer: Dan Pal (US, 14 minutes)
After a passionate night, Scotty and Josh discover they are on opposite ends of the believer/non-believer spectrum. Can their relationship survive?

Violet
Directors/Writers: Daniel Mena and Carlos Farró (Spain, 15 minutes)
An elderly woman is fighting against Alzheimer’s. Before the disease kills her memories, she decides to look back at a buried memory.
About Queer Bits Film Festival

Queer Bits Film Festival is Pride Films and Plays’ recently re-titled Film Festival is now in its third year and prides itself in providing the best LGBT short films with their Chicago premieres.

The first screening and incarnation of Queer Bits occurred in November 2012 in Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. In November 2013, five short films received their Chicago-premieres in the same venue during Pride Films and Plays’ annual Gay Film Weekend. In June 2014, Pride Films and Plays presented Queer Bits Film Festival, a sold-out 90 minute program of short films and webisodes, which was followed in September 2014 by the Women’s Words Film Festival, a very successful program of short films and webisodes with lesbian characters and themes which were written and/or directed by women.
About Pride Films and Plays

Founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays is a leading player in the development of GLBT plays and musicals, screenplays and films. Under A Rainbow Flag won Jeff Awards in 2013 for Best New Work and Best Musical, and The Children’s Hour won for Best Supporting Actor (Nora Lise Ulrey) in 2014. Our current season began with the Jeff Recommended Chicago premieres of Some Men by Terrence McNally and The Submission by Jeff Talbott.

The season continues with the highly anticipated world premiere of The Book of Merman by Leo Schwartz – Jeff Award Winner for Under A Rainbow Flag – opening in January at Mary’s Attic. It will be a followed by Topher Payne’s comedy Angry Fags which is included in the spring Garage Rep at Steppenwolf.

For more information visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

 

Share
Read More
« Older posts