Cultural and Arts Organization/Venues Directory. Cultural and Arts Calendar. Civic Knowledge. Community Events Calendar. News from Co-laboring Organizations in the Community. Tracking Community Trends I, Tracking Community Trends II. (Reflections on the state of arts, culture, entertainment in Hyde Park and Kenwood: In "I" go to Culture, in "II" scroll alphabetically to Cultural Vitality.) Checkerboard Lounge. Harper Theater. Blackstone Library. Community News. Calendars and Directories index.

Arts and Cultural News bits and tips/links

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website, www.hydepark.org. Help support our program: Join the Conference!

Enhancing Assets conference report from the Conference Reporter, other reports
A major issue of conjecture is what possible sale of Harper Court may mean for arts and how to make sure any windfall is handled openly, properly and in fairness. See Harper Court Sale page. Maps. To UC and the Arts, below.

Neighborhood, race, income education gaps in in use of mainline culture venues--what it means: study by U of C Cultural Policy and Joyce Foundation. Is some about Hyde Park vs. surrounding cultural demographics. Could also be used to toot Hyde Park's horn, but to what use doing it at expense of neighbors when the whole South Side art scene is growing exponentially?

Jazz up, jazz down, maybe up again?

Some current shows- see Cultural Calendar page

This year's Arts Awards

Wireless Internet access now at branch libraries

Local authors and book titles. Venues for Author events

One Book One Chicago selection; Chicago Book Festival October 2005

55th Street, Washington Park become an art class for UC students, projects were shown, honored at Hist'l Soc. in June, 2005, follow up class held in September; exhibit in HP Historical Society

Arts classes- for you

Seeking/showing the South Side's home movies

Someone to watch: Hamza Walker of Renaissance Society

Another: Keith Purvis and his (co-owned) Art on the Loose

Hyde Park Art Center new building open, evolving

Black Pearl/Muntu: Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center (Workshop) opened a major, innovative center on 47th Street now a major 2nd venue for U of C and Smart fine arts programs.

Muntu Dance ground breaking, gets big gift from Boeing. Has $11 m of 19. Watch for Munto's gala summer, 2007.

DuSable Museum gets historic park building, starts leg 2 of major fundraising. New hours during construction.

University of Chicago and the arts:

President Zimmer gives arts campus priority.

Concept development continues for U of C Center for Creative and Performing Arts- architectural competition decided.

Enhancing Assets- now Southside Arts and Humanities Network/Civic Knowledge Reports: A new UC/Smart Museum led resourcing consortium for arts and cultural venues and organizations and community orgs. and businesses that can help the arts. Teaching artists the practical side. And now, a traveling module on researching your house as asset. CK, SAHN Updates will be in Civic Knowledge page. And a new Network Directory is out by CK.
Artists, performers in greater south side who are being helped.
What a new $25,000 grant will enable Civic Knowledge/Enhancing Assets to do!
www.uchicago.edu/artscouncil. Civic Knowledge listhost: https://listhost.uchicago.edu/mailman/listinfo/civicknowledge Contact ebabcock@uchicago.edu
The guidebook is now out!

March 7 2005 arts panel analyzes university's role in community

and Feminism and Hip Hop conference hits a nerve, is sold out

Smart Museum outreach, recent accessions, awards

Oriental Institute opened last major permanent collections exhibit January 2005

World's achangin': Did you know that...?

"...knowledge and its circulation...have structural social effects that are as fundamental as brute economics [to] not just empower local communities, but also it establishes the realities. Increasing knowledge circulation around the University, University as a community resource." Danielle Allen

" Public scholarship in the arts and humanities is defined by its explicit hopefulness. Such work is based on the conviction that it is possible for artists and humanists to make original, smart, and beautiful work that matters to particular communities and to higher education. Public scholarship is terrain where invention can be carries out sociably, yielding new relationships, new knowledge, and tangible public goods." Ellison, U. Michigan

"It's the only thing that people do, especially with regard to making things, that they don't have to do... an act of human intervention [that] seems to point to what is special about being human... where to look for what's gong on, ..the things we have in common, [personal process, conduit for connections with another, understanding]." Ted Cohen, Prof. of Philosophy

Announcements, save-the-dates, requests, opportunities etc.

General, deaths, kudos

Jazz,Sundays 7:30-11 pm. Checkerboard Lounge and CheckerJazz. Sept. 29 they host the final HP Jazz Festival great midnight JAM.

 

Need space?

Dear Members of the Southside Arts and Humanities Network "The Network,"

If you are looking for a space for your arts non-profit organization
-- I encourage you to read the following message from IFF and
complete their survey! If you have any questions, please contact
Robin Toewe directly at (312) 596-5141 rtoewe@iff.org.

Message from IFF:

"Are you tired of dealing with second-rate landlords?
Is your program space bursting at the seams?
Are there programs you would offer if only your agency had the right
space?

IFF, a nonprofit community development lender and real estate
consultant, is pleased to share an exciting and rare opportunity to
offer nonprofit arts and culture groups space in state-of-the-art
community facilities to be built on Chicago’s South and West Sides
over the next few years.

IFF is facilitating the planning process to construct two multi-
tenant arts, culture and recreation facilities in Chicago. The first
site is at 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue on the South Side,
and a second to-be-determined site will be constructed on the West
Side. Each facility will house a variety of nonprofit-run programs to
serve area families. The facilities may include shared state-of-the-
art performance space, retail businesses and other amenities for
seniors, families and children.

If your agency is thinking about new space, please take 10 minutes to
complete this survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226N6VK7G3A

IFF is eager to gauge the interests of arts and culture nonprofit
groups in occupying space in either of these facilities. All
responses will be acknowledged by IFF by mail or telephone by October
1, 2007.

Deadline: Survey must be submitted by July 30, 2007."

 

Reva and David Logan family gift of $35 million sets the Logan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts development in motion. The architect selected in late May is the husband and wife team of Tod Williams and Billie Tsien of New York, known for art centers and work on university campuses. It looks like the structure will be built in one phase, with hopes it will not have to be scaled back. It have a horizontal component visually open to the Midway, a raised courtyard and a 160-foot green stone clad tower including a protruding glass-faced cafe with retractable roof, yoga and napping room. The building is to expose the messiness of art to the outside while avoiding separated- off floors, so that the different departments can mingle.

The Zhou Brothers has a new major art manufactory and gallery in the old Spiegel hq, 35th and Morgan. 1029 W. 35th. 87,000 sq. ft. It's fast becoming a major and chic art center in Chicago. Raises stipend money for struggling artists and arts organizations. Its use for gathering space has been curtailed or killed by police action.

Collaborating on mural restoration in viaducts and a new call for proposals for the new art panels are Hyde Park Art center, Chicago Public Art Group, and South Side Community Art Center. Details and links to graphics in Murals and Viaducts page. Looks more encouraging for 47th viaduct- call for proposals to go out.

Groups seek to preserve public art [mixing new art and existing 70s murals]

Hyde Park Herald, June 6, 2007. By Nykeya Woods

The South Side Community Art Center, the Hyde Park Art Center and the Chicago Public Art Group are soliciting local artists to refurbish several historic murals. Plans include 55th, 56th and 57th streets. Talks began when the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) whitewashed murals at the 51st and 47th street viaducts during improvements.

Jon Pounds, executive director of the Chicago Public Art Group, said that several panels will be installed during the renovation as "an outdoor gallery for artists."

His organization is spearheading the proposal, which was announced at last month's [May 14, 2007] 53rd Street Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Advisory Council meeting. Artists who live between 2nd and 79th streets and the Dan Ryan Expressway and the lake are encouraged to submit their work. "The interest is in making this geographically specific ...to artists who have made the South Side of Chicago a part of their complex history," Pounds said.

Pounds said once the proposal is sent out by mid-June, the next step will be to restore the viaduct murals, two of which were created by Hyde Parker Astrid Fuller in the 19070s.

Fuller is delighted that her murals at 57th Street--"The History of Hyde Park" and "The History of Social Work" will be restored. Each mural will be photographed, washed and sealed with an acrylic varnish and then the existing paint will be used as a guideline to redraw and repaint.

Fuller said that she would not be interested in creating new artwork. "Well I have enough of my statements up there," she said. "I would have to have someone do most of the climbing work. Its' been quite some years since I climbed up a scaffolding."

South Side community Art Center Curator Faheem Majeed said that he and Chuck Thurow of the Hyde Park art Center are helping Pounds decide which artists are selected. "Being one of the oldest African-American art institutions in the country, we have lists of artists with varying ranges of mediums and aesthetics who would be able to handle this," Majeed said.

[Ed.--Means of blowing up or adjusting scale and new, inexpensive means of reproduction, materials and attachments make this feasible, according to Pounds. Meantime, the 47th and 51st murals will not come back- Top

New Art will brighten Lake Park Viaducts- selection made, works in progress

InsideOut Fall 2007 (University of Chicago)

By Spring 2008, thousands of resident, automobile passengers, CTA riders, and Metra commuters will experience a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly experience at the 53rd and 55th Street viaducts on Lake Park Avenue. The city is currently renovating these viaducts and will landscape the railroad embankment between them.

The City of Chicago and Metra--through the support of Aldermen Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward) and Leslie Hairston (5th Ward)--have committed $3.8 million to support this first phase of work. Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25th) obtained an additional $2.5 million from the State of Illinois to fund subsequent phases. Design is currently underway for the next set of viaducts at 51st and 57th Streets. The Chicago Department of transportation estimates that he entire multiphase project will cost over $20 million.

With $100,000 in support from the University of Chicago, a curatorial team from the Chicago Public Art Group, the Hyde Park Art Center, and the South Side Community Art Center selected the work of four South Side--and internationally renowned--artists to adorn the walls of the viaducts. The work of Terry Evans, John Himmelfarb, Calvin Jones, and Margaret Taylor-Burroughs will be reproduced digitally and printed onto eight-by-twelve-foot panels lining the pedestrian walkways in the viaducts at 53rd and 55th Streets. The selections "showcase the diversity of the extraordinarily talented artists living on the South Side," says John Pounds, executive director of the Chicago Public Art Group.

In addition, the Chicago Public Art Group will restore the mural on the north side of the 55th Street viaduct. The murals on both sides of the 57th Street viaduct will be restored in conjunction with the future renovation of these viaducts.

These major infrastructure improvements combined with the colorful art panels and restored murals underscore the presence of the vital art community on the South Side," says Irene Sherr, a principal with Community Counsel, an urban planning firm involved with the project.

New proposal for niche mosaics by schools in 57th/Lake Shore Drive underpasses Rebecca Janowitz and Irene Sherr wrote the Herald in autumn 2006:

There is a wonderful proposal for a mosaic created by school children a the 57th Street underpass to Lake Shore Drive under the superb direction of Hyde Park artist Mirtes Zwierzynski. The Chicago Public Art Group is prepared to spearhead the fund-raising for this and for the restoration of the other murals, at 55th, 56th and 57th streets that meet CPAG's rubric.

More on the project form the Jackson Park Advisory Council December 11 minutes:

A public art project was introduced by guests Lauren Moltz, coordinator and volunteer on councils and boards of schools and numerous organizations; Jon Pounds, director of the Chicago Public Art Group, and Mirtes Zwierzynski, directing artist. The project would consist of placing mural mosaics in up to 64 niches (554 square feet) in the two underpasses under South Lake Shore Drive and 57th Drive that were built by Chicago Department of Transportation with recessed surfaces, with such public art in mind. The mosaics would be of hard-fired, close-set ceramic that would take up virtually no water and would be extremely difficult to deface and easy to clean off, as attested by the many such mosaics around the metropolitan area. The Hyde Park Art Center and Ms. Zwierzynski will oversee the production of colored tiles by students of nearly every school. To date most of the elementary schools in Hyde Park have signed on; Ms. Zwierzynski has helped several already to make and install murals in their schools. Mosaic production is curricular-imbedded and involves four teachers at each school. Opening involvement to other schools near the park was requested by JPAC, and participation by or presentation to other organizations was suggested. Ms. Moltz and Mr. Pounds will coordinate participation and fund raising, with as much as $100,000 budgeted if all the niches are to be filled over the next set of years. The theme or set of themes is under consideration but could include neighborhood and or park and other history, features, nature, people, activities or concerns. For information, Mr. Pounds suggested people visit the Chicago Public Art Group website—www.cpag.net.

Peterson moved that: Resolved, JPAC supports the 57th and Lake Shore Drive Underpass Public Art Project. Upon second by Louise McCurry, the motion was unanimously approved.

Students learn by creating art for public, new art selected to brighten Lake Park viaducts.

InsideOut Fall 2007.

True public art is an enduring expression of a community and the people within it. So says Mirtes Zwierzynski, a public artist, muralist, and mosaicist who for twenty years has worked closely with Chicago area youth to create just such artistic expressions. Much of her work takes place under the umbrella of the Chicago Public Art Group, which engages communities and artists in creating high quality public art.

Mirtes is working with students from Bret Harte and Canter Schools on several mosaics for the pedestrian underpass at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. Their collaborative project began in October [2007] at the Hyde Park Art Center with the help of a $9,950 neighborhood beautification grant from the South East Chicago Commission funded by the University of Chicago. The underpass has concrete insets of various sized and shapes waiting for the mosaics that will be installed in spring 2008.

Mirtes says she helps young people create public art "first of all the bring art where there is no art. I do this because I believe that everybody has something to express. Everybody has some sense of art."

And collaboration is much bigger than the personal lives of individuals, she explains. "Collaborative art projects involve these students in a process of reflection, sharing, and creating together. They learn respect for the group. They learn both to give and to give up. Sometimes the group decides a student's sketch is too small or to big, and the process starts over again. Through this kind of intense collaboration they learn more about themselves, each other, and how to make judgments about values they have."

[Mirtes worked with student on decoration of water fountains on 3 floors at Canter School.] Visit Chicago Public art Group websiste, http://www.cpag.net.

Top

Kenwood Academy in June 2007 joined the many schools whose students with artists are creating mosaics and murals. Kenwood's is 400 square foot.

Hyde Park Art Center keeps up its heavy pace of multiple exhibits while Renaissance Society has another site specific exhibit, Katharina Grosse's interactive exploration of pure colorism, Atoms Inside Balloons. Through June 10.

New director at Chicago presents takes over concert series.

Based on University of Chicago Chronicle, March 29, 2007. By Josh Schonwald

Shauna Quill, who has had a distinguished career with several music groups, festivals and presenters, will head the professional concerts organization at U of C as Executive Director. Although on the job since February, she will take her official vow April7 at the Contempo double bill program at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Music Dept. Chair Robert Kendrick notes that up to 60 percent of Presents performers are making their Chicago debuts and says that finding young musicians on the brink of success is a top goal. UC programming must also appeal to diverse and multi-interest audiences while exposing them to music they may not otherwise hear. The 2008 season will celebrate Olivier Messiaen and 2009 Joseph Haydn.

Illinois Humanities Council has a quarterly grant cycle for small arts groups (under $1 million per year). April 15, July 15 deadlines. Visit prairie.org. Note that IHC is now located at 17 N. State Street, suite 1400. 312 422-5585.

Classes forming for nonprofit arts groups continually.*****Don't miss this FREE workshop, hosted by the Southside Arts & Humanities Network ("The Network"- formerly Enhancing Assets of Civic Knowledge, U of C) that will help you acquire fundraising skills and build
the capacity of your organization! Register now because space is limited to 20
participants.****

New (but really active long in the area): Kalapriya Indian Performing Arts Foundation teaches traditional dance of India and more. At Joan's studio, 138 E/ 57tj. 773 463-4117. info@kalapriya.org. www.kalapriya.org.

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Black Pearl students and area artist Bernard Williams design wall medallions for Dan Ryan walls.

Eight Little Bal ck Pearl students showed their medallion designs for Dan Ryan retaining walls. Artist Bernard Williams worked with the kids and the designs were "juried" online. Six collaborative medallions will be placed between 51st and 59th. Justin Fawcett, 16, is one student who created the innovative "day and night" design. They even collaborated on the IDOT logo! Some of the students are from Ariel and Dyett

Little Black Pearl students set to beautify Cottage Grove after successful decoration along Dan Ryan Expressway

From Herald article February 13 2008 by Kate Hawley

Troy Patterson eyed the giant slab of pressboard propped up against the studio wall, its surface criss-crossed with pencil lines, its edges carved to outline human faces. "Nice," said the 15-year-old, under his breath. "Real nice."

Patterson is among a handful of students working on murals at Little Black Pearl Art Center, 1060 E. 47th St., under the direction of artist Jharrett Brantley. A total of five murals will hang in front of a smattering of vacant lots in the 4300 to 4700 blocks of Cottage Grove Avenue, an effort to boost the attractiveness of the strip during a long-term project to revitalize it.

The first mural -- the one Patterson admired -- wil be up by the end of the month, weather permitting, according to Bernita Johnson-Gabriel of ?Qua Communities Development Corp. (QCDC) the non-profit behind the Cottage Grove plan. Johnson envisions Cottage Grove's well-work buildings transformed into a retail corridor that mirrors Andersonville on the North Side -- a dense, bustling row of high-end boutiques and eateries.

Little Black Pearl, just around the corner from the proposed mural sites, has been integral to QCDC's mission, designing the banners and providing design consultation for businesses interested in setting up shop on Cottage Grove. The murals are its latest effort.

Artist Carla Carr laid the groundwork for the murals' design, Brantley said, but now he's adding his own spin with a swirl of neon hues and squiggly white lines. "I'm a contemporary kid," he said. "I love color. I love movement. I didn't want to take too much away from the original design, just make it a little hipper."

Other murals will explore Cottage Grove's past and future, a topic Brantley said he's in the middle of researching. He's getting technical help from Dante DiBarolo, who has created murals and other public art installations in Joliet, among other places.

The students are playing a key role as well, drawing, priming and painting Brantley's design -- of which Patterson is an enthusiastic fan. "I really admire his work," Patterson said. "Basically, anything this guy does is cool."

Patterson was driving with his father on the Dan Ryan Expressway when he saw medallions painted by Little Black Pearl students. "I asked by dad who did those," he said. "I wanted to come down here so I could get some of my work in public." Since he showed up at Little Black Pearl in September, it's been hard to keep him out of the studio. "He attacks a project," Brantley said. "I like to do a lot of art," said Patterson. "That's basically my life."

Top

New proposal for niche mosaics by schools in 57th/Lake Shore Drive underpasses Rebecca Janowitz and Irene Sherr wrote the Herald in autumn 2006:

There is a wonderful proposal for a mosaic created by school children a t he 57th Street underpass to Lake Shore Drive under the superb direction of Hyde Park artist Mirtes Zwierzynski. The Chicago Public Art Group is prepared to spearhead the fund-raising for this and for the restoration of the other murals, at 55th, 56th an 57th streets that meet CPAG's rubric.

More on the project form the Jackson Park Advisory Council December 11 minutes:

A public art project was introduced by guests Lauren Moltz, coordinator and volunteer on councils and boards of schools and numerous organizations; Jon Pounds, director of the Chicago Public Art Group, and Mirtes Zwierzynski, directing artist. The project would consist of placing mural mosaics in up to 64 niches (554 square feet) in the two underpasses under South Lake Shore Drive and 57th Drive that were built by Chicago Department of Transportation with recessed surfaces, with such public art in mind. The mosaics would be of hard-fired, close-set ceramic that would take up virtually no water and would be extremely difficult to deface and easy to clean off, as attested by the many such mosaics around the metropolitan area. The Hyde Park Art Center and Ms. Zwierzynski will oversee the production of colored tiles by students of nearly every school. To date most of the elementary schools in Hyde Park have signed on; Ms. Zwierzynski has helped several already to make and install murals in their schools. Mosaic production is curricular-imbedded and involves four teachers at each school. Opening involvement to other schools near the park was requested by JPAC, and participation by or presentation to other organizations was suggested. Ms. Moltz and Mr. Pounds will coordinate participation and fund raising, with as much as $100,000 budgeted if all the niches are to be filled over the next set of years. The theme or set of themes is under consideration but could include neighborhood and or park and other history, features, nature, people, activities or concerns. For information, Mr. Pounds suggested people visit the Chicago Public Art Group website—www.cpag.net.

Peterson moved that: Resolved, JPAC supports the 57th and Lake Shore Drive Underpass Public Art Project. Upon second by Louise McCurry, the motion was unanimously approved.
Top

 

Civic Knowledge Project of the U of C Humanities Div. with Graham School of General Studies offers two courses of interest to arts (and other) organizations, providers, artists: "Making Savvy Organizational Choices" and "Managing Intellectual Property." Cost is $100 each. Ask about the next and register at http://grahamschool.uchicago.edu.

Also offered and free to boards and staffs of South Side arts organizations:
Legal Basics for Nonprofits. William Rattner, J. D., of U. of C. Law School and Harris Center. Weds. Oct 18 and 25 and Nov. 1, 6-8:30 pm at Harris School, 1155 E. 60th St. ebabcock.uchicago.edu, 773 834-3929. And

Art and Business Council's Board Development Seminars. Introductory 1-hour free Monday Oct. 23, 224 S. Michigan 7th Floor. RSVP lmarks@artsbiz-chicago.org. 312 372-1876.

New grants and a course announcement for arts nonprofits from Civic Knowledge-Enhancing Assets and others. Let's hope these repeat.

 

For information on pricing, registration, and location please contact
Elizabeth Babcock at ebabcock@uchicago.edu or 773-834-3929.

The University hired three major artists as Dept. Visual Arts faculty: Tania Bruguera, Inigo Mangloano-Ovalle, Catherine Sullivan. Adding rich depth and new internationalism.

And the Presidential Fellows in the Arts openers for 2006-07 are filmmaker Atom Egoyan ("The Sweet Hereafter," "Exotica," "Where the Truth Lies," "Ararat") and contemporary SITI theater ensemble director Anne Bogart (directing "Hotel Cassiopeia" this fall at Court Theatre). Top

Students and faculty of the U of C have been inventorying, creating website for researchers, on archives of South Side and African American history and on arts, poetry, jazz in various archives. The archives include U of C Libraries and Special Collections, DuSable Museum, The Chicago Defender, and Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History at the Woodson Regional Library. The grants are from Mellon Foundation and others and expands a Mapping the Stacks project into Uncovering New Chic gao Archives Project (UNCAP). The project will for the first time make what's available on what accessible and usable. Work at most of the sites is wrapping up, next are the Jazz Archives and poetry manuscripts. The effort is highly collaborative. Top

New youth-made mural for Harris Recreational Center opening

Talent of area youth artists to grace Harris YMCA

Students of the Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization
(MAGIC) will be on hand at noon Friday, July 14 to unveil a 20 by 30
foot mural that will grace an entire wall at the Harris YMCA, 6200 S.
Drexel Ave.

The mural includes images of historic African Americans from the
Woodlawn area —including entertainer Oscar Brown Jr., pilot Bessie
Coleman, writer Sam Greenlee, and the Bishop Arthur Brazier—and will
be unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new Chicago
Park District Harris YMCA. The students, ages 12-18, created the mural
at the Washington Park District building as part of the After School
Matters Program directed by Maggie Daley, wife of Chicago Mayor Richard
M. Daley. MAGIC is a Woodlawn-based organization that chose the Harris
facility for the
display because it is located in Woodlawn.

“The students learned to create something they probably never thought
they could create,” said MAGIC executive director Brian Echols. “They
tapped into a deep talent, and they connected with historic figures who
demonstrated they can accomplish anything they want to, if they give it
a good effort.” To interview students or to get information on MAGIC or
its arts program, contact (773) 290-2313.

Contact: Bryan Echols (773).290-2313
July 11, 2006

July 8 Smart Museum dedicated the Eunice Ratner Reception Gallery in honor of "Red" Ratner's generous gift to the mission and programs of the very special university art museum, Smart. Dedicators, including Dana Fietler Director Hirshel, Geoff Stone for the University, and Board head Feldman noted the physical alignment of the Ratner Gallery in Smart and the Ratner Athletics Facility in the revitalized north campus. A wonderful etching in metal of Eunice Ratner, based on a photo taken at the Athletic Center dedication, was unveiled and will be mounted.

Students from Chicago Vocational Career Academy filmed part of their Independent Feature Project feature, "The Last Stain" on the 5100 block of Blackstone. They were counseled in all aspects of film making and based their work on a student's script. The film was to be premiered at the Gene Siskel Film Center in August 2006.

Five ways to save cheap at Chicago cultural institutions (besides becoming a member and volunteering)

Great Kids Museum Passport. Go to your public library and get a 1-week pass of free general admission to 11 museums for up to 8 children or adults.
www.chipublib.org/003cpl/partners/gkids/gkids.html.

GO Chicago Card. 25 attractions and tours, dining, shopping discounts. From $49. 800-887-9103, www.gochicagocard.com.

Go on free days. Tuesdays-Art Institute, MCA. Monday, Tuesday Sept.-Feb. at Field. Field-Shedd-Adler free all of Campus Week, Aug. 26-31. MSI- Monday and Tuesday part of winter?

Cheap seats at the symphony. Students for $10 up to two weeks in advance. Non students can buy in bulk up to 20% of for 10 concerns or more.

Student seats at the Opera. $20 to full time college students for select performances--register online. Court Theatre has student rush tickets and a preview night.

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Summer art camps are offered by Hyde Park Art Center and Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center.

Eva Liljendahl, Inspiration for Excellence start series of creative writing classes, support groups. "My passion is to help writers be able to express themselves, say what they want to say in writing and say it well," she told the Herald. Watch for her repeating series of programs at Blue Gargoyle, First Unitarian, and many other mid South locations, as well as by teleconferencing- see the Arts and Culture Calendar. She hopes to have a program on WHPK. Beginners to advanced.

The 57th Street Art Fair and Community Art Fair, June 3 and 4 2006, was heavily visited and seemed to have more, higher quality and varied artists and fares this year. The 57th Street Art Fair has a survey up through June 9 on its upgraded website. Note, artists can also apply for next year online. http://www.57thstreetartfair.org.

Find out about small city grants to programs that build small org skills and transmit these skills to 12-18 year olds including through the arts. www.cityofchicago.org/cys.
Contact also Civic Knowledge Project at U of C.

Kenwood Academy student senior Steven Barrett in March 2006 won a CPS All City Art Exhibition scholarship. The $10,000 award was made at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where the Exhibition is on display through April 30. Barrett will attend the American Academy of Art on South Michigan. He paints and sculpts his portraits at Gallery 37 downtown. Top

Artisans 21 arts cooperative was one of the original tenants of Harper Court and recently celebrated a major anniversary. The organization stated emphatically at HPKCC forum on Harper Court future that it wants to stay in Harper Court. Thirtieth anniversary specials and celebration October 21 and 22 2006.

Four new artists were recently inducted: Danny Ellis, glass blower, son of Raku artist Dorri Ellis; Kristi Sloniger, ceramicist (Moonstar Pottery, represented in over 30 galleries and part of the Illinois Artisans Program); Suzan H. Mahal, printmaker, former Kenwood teacher, leader of Gallery 37, member o the All City Art Fair, co-wrote the CPS Fine Arts Assessment Guide, and created art for La Rabida; Harry Meyer, Chicago photographer. 773 288-7450.

Locally based artists can often be found exhibiting or selling locally, at fairs or individually on streets and in stores.
Laurel Stradford was a lead organizer of the Harper Court Arts Fair at which artists and artisans can exhibit in a casual atmosphere. Joyan, for example, shows arresting stained glass triptychs making astute use of negative spaces. Stradford exhibits much in her What the Traveler Saw, in the 1400 block of 53rd. There is also Artisans 21. Sometimes artists have a whole business to exhibit in, such as Third World Cafe at 1301 E. 53rd.

Recently featured in the Herald is Tonya Patton, who displays her art along 53rd Street. She has studied art little and thinks the gallery scene is too much about being seen rather than engaging with the art and artist, but feels she grows as she does the art, which is highly dramatic, often suggesting African masks and cubism.

Hyde Park Art Center, www.hydeparkart.org. At the Hyde Park Art Center:
New exhibits are going up at the new Center (5020 S. Cornell) almost every week, plus lots of classes and venues for artists' work. More below

HPAC has become a source behind mural creation by school children. Teacher Kathy Kerigan has been one of the teacher-facilitators. Bret Harte has one inside the school, Ray has one on the utility garage (with Brazilian artist Mirtes Zwierzynski). Canter kids worked with the Hyde Park Art Center to create "Cityscape", which was on display in the County Cts. Building lobby, 69 W. Washington. Mirtes has worked with several Hyde Park schools in collaborative, curricular-imbedded mural and mosaic programs. For description of a truly ambitious multischool program for the underpass under Lake Shore Drive at 57th, see above in HPAC.

The Museum of Science and Industry took a broader look at artist and intellectual Leonard Da Vinci in 2006 exhibit- get catalog there.

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Notable at the Renaissance: several impressive exhibits in 2006- get catalogues or oversized descriptive brochures. In 2007?

Done. Top

Bronzeville is becoming a new gallery center, in synergy with much else including the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Some of the key galleries are Guichard, Nichole 2, and SteeleLife. See Cultural Resources-Galleries. It also has a visitors' center now, in the former Supreme Life building, 3501 S. King.

Bronzeville Academic Center/Blue Gargoyle students won the Alternative Golden Idol competition in May 2004., reciting storied verse in turn or unison. The competition was run by International House and the Alternative Schools Network. Bronzeville is becoming an arts-based learning center with a recording studio. Top

 

A trustees-deans-and donors gift of $15 million has been given in honor of President Randel for restoration of the Rockefeller Chapel organ and carillon. The gift was made to Randel on his 65th birthday. These restorations were a top priority of Randel's. The 1923 E.M. Skinner organ, unable to be used since 2001, is considered one of the finest early 20th century romantic organs. It has three academic companions, at Yale, Princeton, and Michigan. The Laura Spelman Rockefeller Carillon was made in Britain and installed in 1932. It is the second largest in the world and largest installed at one time. The rusting bells are now pasted together. The total campaign for reconditioning and repair is $2.75 million, and one aim is to repurchase remaining lost original pipes. It is expected that with all the money in hand, a fund can be included for ongoing maintenance. Not clear in releases is whether the funds include installation of a small baroque organ in the west side aisle. Top

 

Smart Museum - for exhibit description see in Arts and Culture Calendar, under Best Bets.

Each of these exhibits in its way broadens our grasp of the subtleties of their subjects. I


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Smart Museum, already rich in schools and other family programs, received a Institute of Museum and Library Services grant to provide the "Families at the Smart" programs. The service, matched $ for $ by the Museum, will target surrounding neighborhoods. Families are to be enabled to become engaged partners.
First fruits include SmartFamilies at Blackstone Library:

SmartFamilies@Blackstone Library
4904 S. Lake Park Avenue in Hyde Park, Chicago
Second Saturdays: October 8, November 12, December 10, and continuing through June 2006! 2-4 pm
The Smart Museum of Art and the Blackstone Branch of the Chicago Public Library are teaming up for an exciting new series of FREE drop-in family workshops. Visit the children's reading room in the library and join Smart Museum staff for exciting art and reading-related activities. Parents, caregivers and children can make art projects together, read related stories, and explore artworks on the Smart's children's website, smARTkids. Best for children ages 3 and up. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 773-702-4540.


Jacqueline Terrassa
Deputy Director of Collections,
Programs and Interpretation
Smart Museum of Art
University of Chicago
5550 S. Greenwood Avenue
Chicago IL 60637
ph. 773.702.2351
fax 773.702.3121

Dina Weinstein
Friends of the Blackstone Branch Library
(773) 643-6045
dina_w@hotmail.com

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University Theater's Summer Inc. gives local stage artists creative space.

A new residency program gives space for everything from clowns an hip hop to cutting edge theater troupes and collectives. Free use of the theater and residency is for 2-3 week time blocks. There is tech support and access to a learning production manager. UC students participate, 4 ongoing, and hone their skills and thoughts also. Eight groups participate, three at a time using the first floor, third floor, and Bartlett spaces. In 2006 all 8 groups opted to give performances at the end of their residencies--schedule is in http://ut.uchicago.edu.

Court Theatre has selected Dawn Helsing as Executive Director. Helsing comes from CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore. At all her previous positions she substantially increased successful fundraising. Helsing will work to raise Court's profile both nationally and on the local scene. See Cultural Calendar for their 2005-06 schedule! Top

International House chooses veteran Bill McCartney as new director

Bill McCartney directed the housing system at the University of Mississippi and previously University of North Carolina-Wilmington before accepting the position at the International House at the University of Chicago, 1414 E. 59th Street. While at each, McCartney fostered and coordinated international exchange programs and development of international-focus programs. He has also served for the past decade as chair of the international relations committee of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International.

McCartney, who started in March, 2005, will manage both real estate--management, marketing and occupancy--and programming while I-House undergoes a total reconstruction modernizing to much improved quality of life.

McCartney is quoted in the UC Chronicle: "Throughout my whole life, I've helped build environments that are conducive to learning, social interaction and personal growth. That's exactly what I-House represents... The shining star of I-House is its programs. Programs such as the Global Voices Series provide a great resource to our community...The opportunity to be exposed to world leaders and thinkers is rare. It's certainly something that's unique about this job."

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St. Paul Chamber Orchestra takes up residency at U of C

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the country's only full-time, professional chamber orchestra and one of the finest in the world, will begin a three-year residency and provide performances and tutorials under University of Chicago Presents in the 2005-06 academic year. Tickets for its first program next fall go on sale April 22. Each quarter, the orchestra will be in residence a week to give a 3-concert series dedicated to the repertoire, a family concert, master classes/composition reading/coaching, and music education in Chicago elementary public schools.

Marna Seltzer, Director of University of Chicago Presents, is quoted in the UC Chronicle: "Our residency with SPCO adds a world-class chamber orchestra to the musical menue of our already musically diverse city. We think it fills a need and creates an exciting new offering on the local cultural scene. But perhaps more importantly, it allows our organization to expand its impact outside the concert hall through outreach efforts that will enrich the lives of many different constituencies on the South Side." And Richard Kendrick, Chair of the Department of Music: "We are pleased to have th SPCO on campus, and we look forward to their interaction with our faculty and students, especially students interested in composition and conducting. We hope this residency will deepen students' understanding of orchestration and orchestral practice, giving a new dimension to their work in composition, musical analysis and even the sociology of orchestras."

SPCO is in its 47th season. For more information go to the link above or call 773 702-8068.

Former UC President Randel told the Maroon that the Mellon Foundation is considering funding residency for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra at U o f C.

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Maverick Ensemble is a contemporary music group that performs at the Ukrainian Institute and at Renaissance Society, the Chicago Cultural Center and elsewhere. It has about 15 members, only a very few of whom appear in any performance. It specializes in works that go counter to the trendy, have not had much exposure, or are totally new. The November 27 performance at the Renaissance Society in conjunction with "All the Pretty Corpses" consisted of recent and a new commissioned work that are spare-- subdued and bit melancholic but not really minimalist and are accessible if obviously modern/postmodern. The new work, by William Jason Raynovich, is for two sopranos and sets two related poems of e e cummings dealing with the human and creative enigma and tragedy. The Sopranos sang different sections divided by what is in parentheses. This performance also celebrated the birthday of Lamar Brantley, Jr.
312 771-4916. Top

Hyde Park Art Center has a winner in the James Faulkner retrospective. Important though little known on the Chicago art scene for five decades, Faulkner's art is closer to Surrealism and Joseph Cornell (and suggestive of Westerman(n?)) than to either national or regional trends of recent decades. Yet it calls together and questions the reverberations between art of various ages and experience and between 2 and 3 dimensions in a way that is distinct. What hangs this exhibit together is the idea of bumping together with other countries and cultures with their arts and architecture through traveling. Into January at 5307 S. Hyde Park Blvd. 773 324-5520. Top

The Compass Players with Off Off Campus reenacted the birth of Improv July 5, 2005 in the Kinahan Theater at Reynolds Club. The original 1955 venue of course was the Compass Tavern at 55th and University, torn down shortly thereafter in Urban Renewal. David Shepherd was co director of both the original performance that gave birth to Second City, Saturday Night live and lots of movies, and of the reenactment. 2005 skits included "Tribune Blues" from bits of headlines and stories and a surreal "drama," "The Game of Hurt." The mother of improv was Viola Spolin, whose son _____ Sills created the genre with Shepherd. The Compass and its Second City successor featured and sent in the world Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Bernie Sahlins, Bill Murray , Roger Bowen, Barbara Harris, and Ed Asner. Improv at U of C still thrives and has nourished David Auburn (Proof), Greg Kotis (Urinetown), Abby Sheer and Tami Segher. Top

Kudos

Local filmmaker Deri Tyton, 30, premiered her "Toot's and Blow's-The Movie" at the Gene Siskel Center Black Harvest Festival of Film and Video in August 2005. Several scenes were filmed in this neighborhood, creating one of the poles of neighborhoods the characters inhabited.

 

2005 1st round Illinois Arts Council local area awards:

DuSable Museum ($50,000), Hyde Park Art Center ($30,000), Hyde Park Youth Symphony ($1,910), Little Black Pearl Workshop ($15,530), Muntu Dance Theatre ($20,700), Renaissance Society at U of C ($18,220). University of Chicago- for Folk Festival ($2,240), for WHPK Concert ($3,360), Arts at Argonne ($4,520, Smart Museum ($17,250), University of Chicago Presents ($18,220.

Local recipients of CityArts grants

$7,000: Court Theatre, Hyde Park Art Center

$6,000: DuSable Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Renaissance Society

$1,300: Hyde Park Youth Symphony.

 

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UC and Joyce study show a gap in use of main cultural venues in Chicago--what does it really mean, what can be done?

The gap is real--mostly white, well educated, wealthy people and only certain ethnic groups, and largely lakefront folk visit the Art Institute etc. and go to Lyric and Symphony. And Hyde Park is an island (36% have gone to one in the past year) in the South Side. But peoples in other neighborhood patronize smaller cultural institutions, and not factored in are the many outreach programs--sometimes reaching as big an audience as those who come through the doors-- and there are plenty of schools whose curriculum is arts-centric. Yet even this shows that most "outreached" to do not reciprocate by going to the full experience and that the big institutions (including MSI) are at risk of becoming isolated and irrelevant to the larger region and populace and losing support base - although those they still draw from are those that include big and small cultural donors. Moving heavily to blockbusters or programming that plays to the underrepresented seems to help only to redress past disparities and only goes so far while distorting the broad range of cultural expression and artifice.

Alderman Preckwinkle suggested free or reduced-price admission Saturday and Sunday afternoons--but there are already countless bargain and programs and free days. And there are many collaborative programs between large and small, local institutions. A more coordinated set of arts and music programs in schools (which would need to have an underwriting mechanism) might help. Kids have shown again and again that they respond and do better in their other studies.

Hyde Park's institutions take strong advantage of outreach opportunities in surrounding neighborhoods-Smart's families and schools programs, MSI, Court, Oriental--working with the second-size institutions such as DuSable and third-tier such as Little Black Pearl and Hyde Park Art Center that also have very strong and distant outreach, including to upcoming cultural centers in Bronzeville. They work collaboratively, including with such projects as U of C Civic Knowledge, to make themselves and the arts community resources and assets. _________

Chicago Tribune, March 16, 2006. By James Janega. "Cash, color gap in arts, culture: Study of Chicago-area institutions" links attendance to race, wealth, education.

Higher education and upper incomes bring people to the city's museums and cultural forums, with most of their visitors wealthy and white, a study of attendance at Chicago's cultural institutions reveals. The findings reported Wednesday by the Joyce Foundation and University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center show deep wedges between those who visit Chicago's flagship museums and theaters and those who don't, often carving stark lines between neighborhoods.

According to the report, attendance was lowest from primarily African-American census tracts on the West and South Sides of the city, but it was also low in the racially mixed south, west and northwest suburbs. It was highest among residents of the North Shore, Hyde Park and Chicago's north lakefront.

The study also noted that smaller ethnic and diverse cultural institutions appear to reach groups that the major institutions did not, though statistical conclusions could not be reached because only 40 of the area's 496 smaller institutions responded to the survey, its authors said.

"We need to figure out some way that ordinary families can afford to go to museums on Saturday and Sunday afternoons," said Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), whose South Side ward straddles Hyde Park and Kenwood, among the more glaring divisions in the city.

Hyde Park, which is almost half white and home to the University of Chicago, ranks high for museum and arts attendees. [North?] Kenwood, with a much higher African-American population, does not rank high.

The dozen large cultural institutions studied had annual budgets of more than $8 million and included five museums: the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum (formerly the Chicago Historical Society), the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science and Industry, an the Field Museum.

The rest were the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Auditorium Theater; the Joffrey Ballet, and the Lyric Opera.

During 2004, researchers reviewed more than 1 million records from those and 49 smaller cultural institutions, using the information to map attendance among 600,000 families by county and neighborhood, from southeast Wisconsin to northwest Indiana. The data do not include outreach efforts or count school visitors, because it was deemed too complicated to gather information about them, report co-author Colm O'Muircheartaigh said.

Representatives from the large cultural establishments said the information would radically alter the view of who they reached on a daily basis, with visitors coming from throughout local public school systems. "Organizations such as ours are working so hard to make certain that we are a community resource by going out to underserved areas with educational programs, and none of what we're doing in educational programs are represented in this study," said Susan Mathieson Mayer, director of marketing and communications at the Lyric.

But if the visits were intended to build long-term relationships, overall it did not..work outside of the north suburban and North Side area from which most of the organizations' visitors were drawn, the data show. "We call it the Glenview Effect," said Valerie Waller, vice president of marketing for the Museum of Science and Industry. "There are a million questions you ask," Waller said. "Is this an awareness issue? Is price a factor?"

For a family of four to park, attend the Museum of Science and Industry, see an Omnimax film and visit the U-505 submarine, it would cost $88.50 without lunch. a couple attending the Lyric Opera on a weekend must spend $41 per seat for upper-balcony seats or $175 each for good seats on the ground floor--before calling a babysitter.

"Somewhere along the line, people who were in charge of the cultural institutions--I think it's just ignorance and being out of touch--they just did not have a plan, they did not think beyond the point that the city would change," said Chris James, 39, of Uptown. Now, he said, "The museums don't necessarily fit. They can do all the outreach they can. But how broad is their base? If you're at the Art Institute , you're competing with the DuSable. Downtown isn't the draw like it was once."

Even before getting the report, downtown cultural institutions had moved to address the disparity. Last month the Chicago Historical Society changed it name to the Chicago History Museum "so people don't think we're an exclusive club," museum president Gary Johnson said. They're adding exhibits reflecting ethnic neighborhoods prior to reopening next September after an extensive remodeling.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is planning a hip hop music festival in May. The Art Institute of Chicago has a four-pronged outreach effort ranging from traveling to city parks and libraries to exhibiting Southwestern and African ceramics.

Several have already opened partnerships with smaller arts instructions, which gladly hailed Wednesday's report as showing they had found a way to serve groups uninterested in downtown cultural attractions.

But for the city's flagship institutions, the report left only more questions. "What I would really love to see is some kind of tracking so that we can measure year on year, month on month, on how we're doing at moving the needle," said Carrie Heinonen, vice president for marketing and public affairs at the Art Institute. "It's certainly on my wish list for things to do."

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Jazz up- and down- and now up again?

The New Checkerboard Lounge, opened in November at 5201 S. Harper, features mainly blues, but has a jazz Sundays at 7:30. But this may not last long into the new year due to low attendance and lack of publicity. (The night chosen, however is Sunday.) The Hyde Park Jazz Society (Committee to Restore Jazz to Hyde Park) is largely responsible for the Sunday night trial. Numbers have been going up Sunday nights in early 2007.This group says it is incorporating. Jazz is often performed in the area, however, for example at South Shore Cultural Center. Saturday mornings Eugenio "Tundi" Ruiz plays jazz on WHPK. Special concerts include 16 2005's charity Jazz Concert, featuring Willie Pickens and Maggie Brown at Hyde Park Union Church and a gala celebration of Pickens' birthday at Museum of Science and Industry February 2006. More in "Will jazz survive" in Checkerboard page. (At the latter, series of quality performers are regularly lined up for Sunday evenings and sometimes afternoons.

Willie Pickens, Jazz musician, educator extraordinary

Jazz pianist Willie Pickens has been identified with Hyde Park for decades (since 1959), and raised three children here in the public schools, where he also taught for decades. Daughter Bethany is a noted singer and pianist. Son Bob is a high-ranking officer in Chicago Public Schools. More than once a year, Willie gives concerts at his church, Hyde Park Union Church, to raise funds for the Hyde Park Food Pantry, homeless, and the church and its programs and he participates in Neighbors' Eve. October 26, 2006, he and Bethany will perform at the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Quadrangle Club. Perhaps he will play from his newest CD, "Jazz Spirit."

He started playing piano at age 5, his mother and sister being pianists. After serving in the Army in the early 1950s, he earned a degree in music education at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After graduation, he expanded his work of the clubs such as the Pershing Lounge at 64th and Cottage and th Crown Propeller on 63rd, later at the Underground Wonder Bar (then Domino) on Walton. He reflects that the jazz scene was vibrant on both sides of town. He thought of working his way east to New York, but slowly gravitated to Hyde Park, taking his first teaching job at Lindbloom High in 1966. Later, he formed the first jazz band at Kenwood Academy and directed the All-City High School Band. The public schools are still his great love, and he says the local schools are the best thing in Hyde Park.

In 1992, post retirement, he was able to tour five years, especially in Europe and Japan, with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine after Jones left the John Coltrane Quartet. In New York, they played the Bottom Line, joined by Wynton Marsalis. Top

 

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Some current exhibits and art shows, performance series

Consult Cultural Calendar. Of special interest are those at Smart Museum (especially Beyond Green), Renaissance Society and Hyde Park Art Center. Also the exhibit on Maroon Cultures of the Americas and one on a hundred years of American Music (open June 6) at DuSable Museum.

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Wireless internet access is now offered at public libraries, other computer services expanded. Anyone with a laptop can access from any of the 76 branches, in addition to free desktop computer service already available! this will be the largest public library net in the country. In addition, patrons can now reserve two one-hour sessions on desktop as far as 3 days in advance by using their card at the library or via www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/pcres/reserve.pl. Also, from January 3, users may print up to 10 pages freeze (more are 15 cents each). Remember that a library card is now required for computer access- so get one! Top

Among local authors (or native Hyde Parkers) recently published or soon to be published: (new books and their authors, as well as authors from around the world, generally read from, lecture on, and sign their books at local bookstores! Most frequent author events are at 57th Street Books/Seminary Coop Bookstores. (Sometimes the events are at the associated Newberry Library downtown, or at places in the neighborhood with more space, such as Oriental Institute or International House or St. James United Methodist Church.) Also holding a fair number of such events are Borders Books etc. and occasionally University of Chicago Barnes and Noble Bookstore or the Hyde Park Art Center. See Cultural Directory for locales, links and contacts.