Culture, Arts and Entertainment Calendar for Hyde Park and Kenwood area Chicago

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website, www.hydepark.org. Send us your additions and corrections: hpkcc@aol.com. Calendar Manager: Gary Ossewaarde. Help support our work: Join the Conference!
In this page:


About the annual 57th Street Art Fair, Community Art Fair, and Arts Festival.
Others neighborhood "big events" to seek here or in the Community Events page are:

Look for the Hyde Park Herald month Arts and Culture Guide--usually first Wednesdays.

Special classes for arts organizations: contact Southside Arts and Humanities Network- http://southside.uchicago.edu or http://civicknowledge.uchicago.edu. joaniefriedman@uchicago.edu, rschultz@uchicago.edu.

Civic Knowledge and its Southside Arts and Humanities Network, and what they are doing. See at http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/070315/civicknowledge.shtml. Also, get on their internal and community events and classes listserve via http://civicknowledge.uchicago.edu/index.shtml. Writeup's in our Arts and Culture News page.

Did you now that Hyde Park Art Center has regular classes for kids 6-7:30 pm and weekdays every school day off.

This week (and coming): details in the "By Date" calendar

May 12, 14, 16 Violence and Order in Hollywood Westerns ill. lectures by Robert Pippin
 May 14 Garrett Kiely on UC Press, Katheryn Hanson on looting of Iraq history, Denys Turner on Faith-Reason-Eucharist: Music as Model, Nussbaum on respect for conscience origins, Charles Payne on Educ. for black Liberation
May 15 Noon concert, Jimmie Briggs on child soldiers, Court opens First Breeze of Summer
May 16 Garden Fair (also 17th), Impacts of American landscape, Composer Michael Gondolfi, African-American genealogical research meanings, Gardening at Dragon's Gate, Baroque-NeoBaroque premiers
May 17 Hyde Park History Tour- and sep. of Oriental Institute and of Robie House, Chicago Chorale, University Chamber Orch.
May 18 Writers on the Record, Neitzche and Simone Weil, Poetry reading at Black Pearl, archit. tour from HPArt Ctr., Chicago Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Checkerboard trumpter Art Hoyle

'Best bets' circle:

Art and social and cultural and relevance and reflection: view in tandem Renaissance Society's "Black Is, Black Ain't" (through June 8) and Hyde Park Art Center's "Disinhibition: Black Art and Blue Humor" (through June 22) and make up your own mind.

Festival of the Arts week starts on UC campus with Kickoff Party May 10, 9 pm, Hutch Commons.

Celebrating 75 years- International House. See some of the special programs and performances, events, in this website's current page and civic calendar and their website, http://ihouse.uchicago.edu.

For more visit http://arts.uchicago.edu for a calendar and link to more calendars centered around UC. For more, visit our Culture and Arts Resources page-- scroll in table to calendars and directories and in main alpha run below to links under University of Chicago and visit Neighborhood Links- University of Chicago section.

Zygon Center at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is holding a series of Tuesday evening lecture discussions on the creation, theology, nature, and ecology/environmental responsibility. Through ? 2-3 series a year. http://www.zygoncenter.org/future_creation.html.

One Book One Chicago. Spring 2008 Raymond Chandler's classic detective novel, "The Long Goodbye." Check chicagopubliclibrary.org or call Blackstone Library 312 747-0511 for programs. Note that Doc Films is showing the classic movie as part of a director retrospeccccive.

 

Hyde Park Art Center open with a bevy of ongoing exhibits, classes and specials. 5020 S. Cornell. Always free (almost) .

2007 exhibit and event schedule

At Hyde Park Art Center. 773 324-5520.

See special on July 1.

"Disinhibition: Black Art and Blue Humor" through June 22. Multi artist. Incl. Tuesday film series, see May 13, 20, June 3, 17

-Kelly Kaczynski: "Olympus Manger, Scene II" A new large-scale installation involving the functure between art, architecture, theatre and landscape. It is the second installation in a continuing series of a singular artwork. Reception Sat., April 26, 6-8 pm. Talks at Art Thing May 6.
July 1, Who's Afraid of Vladimir Tatlin? A Responsive Situation.

Rebecca Keller: Victory Garden for the New Millennia. On the plaza April 26-September 1. Plants that can be used for alternative fuels to remove contaminants.

"Faster Cheaper Bolder" May 4-July 27 and Paul Nudd and Casey Ann Wasniewski: "Dirty."
"Faster, Cheaper, Bolder"- adult silkscreen class exhibit. Features silkscreen's use in populist social movements. Reception see May 11..
Dirty examines the boudaries betwen animal vegetable and mineral with scupltures and painting. Through July 20

Selected Shots by Young Artists through July 20. From several schools in the area and Lane Tech. Notable will be art of Kenwood Academy medal winners from citywide competition and whose art was shown this year at MCA and MSI. Support art in our schools- it does make a difference!

David Lozano "Queer Interiors and Phthalo Blue" Through Nov. 16. The color blue will never be experience inthe same way after entering this installation. Phthalocyanine blue has a brillian, intense quality. Lozano seeks a euphoric environment tdhat wretles with teh complexities of carnal desire.

Videodance: Works form teh Centre Pompidou. JUne 21-July 20. Screenings daily in black box gallery of videos of and related to dance from 19780 to present-- see the HPAC website for schedule. Plus June 21 7-10 pm Dance Party on the plaza and a Talk 6 pm and Free Form Thursdays open mic June 26, July 10 and 17 6-8 pm.

Kiss on the Cheek: Portraits by Dale Washington. July 6-September 28. A selection of nearly 50 new portraits of Chicago's creative community by this HPAC faculty member utilized a vaiety of differedndt styles, traditonal and untraditional media, and color palettes to match thecharacter of the subject. For the past year he has been photograhphic area artists, especially south side, focusing on cross relationships between genre.

Are We There Yet? July 20-September 28. Where is "There" and how is it recognized as diferent form "here" in a physical, geographical, or psychic landscape? Curated by Dawoud Bey, the exhibit examines through a range of lens-based work the ways in whiccch a shifteing sense of place is visualized through various conceptual staaeies. Artists include Howard Henry Chen, allen Cohen, Christine DiThomas, Aaron Gent, Rula Halawaani, Surendra Lawoti, Curtis Mann, Oscar Palacio, and Adriana Rios.

Monica Herrera , Strings. August 3-October 19. Herrera creates an interactive sound installation constructed from recycled instrument strings, tuning pegs and wood, turning the spoace into a temporary walk-in sound chamber. Using the walls or ceiling of the room as the staff of the instrument and the floor as the bass. The public plucks or plays the more than 200 chords and see how archtitecture can rpoduce sound.

GLOW: Work by photographers on facult. August 3- October 19. Curated by Karen Irvine, JCP, the exhibition features the work of the Art Center's instructors in digital and blackand white photography, including artists Katharine LIon, Adam Edberg, Ollie Dantzler, Kystal Meisel, and Anna Resssman.

Catherine Forster: The Call Me Theirs. August 3- October 5. Outside and inside colide in this sculpture, sound and video installation. The artwork raises questiosn about the disticntions between teh natural and digital environment and how our experience of th worsld is fabricated, mediated and privatized through technology.

Related events: Some: May 9, 11, 11, 18, 10, June 3, 17... Videodance from Pompidou daily, talks and dance party June 21, openmic freeform Thursdays .
Teacher Institute 7/29-7/30

Hyde Park Art Center
Clay and Cocktails on Friday evenings.
Second Sundays Family Days

Mondays Talking Points-

A Series Readings or else Art Thing - selected or periodic Tuesday nights

Cocktails and Clay certain Fridays 8-midnight.

A:List (hydeparkart.org/alist)- online curated database as part of 4833 rph.

Creativity programs for days-off-school, ages 6-12-

Hyde Park Art Center quarterly classes. Times range from start 10 am through close at 9:30 pm and run every day of the week except holidays. Sample includes painting, figuration, art exploration, ceramics, stenciling, abstraction, puppetry, knitting, acrylic, digital and other photography, asian another ink painting, sculpture, weaving, printmaking, wire wrapped jewelry, experimental digital, watercolor, oil approaches, media, origami, crochet, creative process, stained glass, printmaking, quilting, graphite pencil, metalsmithing, animation, writing for artists, multicultural. For various levels and ages.

Top

Open at Museum of Science and Industry. "The Glass Experience."

Omnimax includes Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric adventure; Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
A New 3D High Definition theater- scroll down through alphas to Museum of Science and Industry.
March 6, Sunday. Closing at Museum of Science and Industry. "The Magic and Science of Cinema and Television."Take a trip behind the scenes of Hollywood as part of "Black Creativity." Interactive. 57th at Lake Shore Drive. 773 684-1414.

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Checkerboard Lounge Blues 'n' Jazz Open! Jazz Suns, blues all other days. Call the club daily after 5:00 p.m. at: (773) 684-1472. Now the Jazz and Blues Checkerboard Lounge.

Famous for presentation of blues for over two decades, the Checkerboard Lounge re-opened, in its new location in Harper Court at 5201 S. Harper. The Checkerboard is now hosting jazz every Sunday night--with possibly a second night of jazz to be added to the programming. See by date.

Sunday is CheckerJAZZ, 7:30-11 pm. $10, $5 university students. 5201 S. Harper. http://www.checkerjazz.org, http://checkerjazz.org/calendar/checkerjazz.org.
Sunday, 7:30-11 pm. 5201 S. Harper. $10, $5 students. 773 684-1472. Checkerjazz at the Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper, 773 684-1472. $10, $5.

Mondays Jazz ord blues.

2nd and 4th Wednesdays Speakeasy Inc. presents a concert for 5 to 8 singers and singing ensembles with live band. Mainly Blues and R&B. Not Karaoke or open mic. Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper. 773 684-1472. Now Poetry Mondays (non alcohol, 18+)

There is a nominal cover charge, and drinks are reasonably priced. There is ample parking on the site.

Saturdays Vance Kelly, Sundays Jazz stars 7:30-11.

And many venues now offer jazz and blues various evenings-- Hidden Pearl at Little Black (Mons.), Chant (Fri., Sat. Sun 11-4)...

Court Theatre 2006-2007 5535 S. Ellis. 773 753-4472. http://www. courttheatre.org. 773 753-4472. Unless extended, Titus Andronicus has ended. Next Carousel.

2007-2008 Season: All in Hyde Park

May 15-June 15. The First Breeze of Summer by Leslie Lee directed by Ron OJ Parson
The Obie Award Winner and Tony-mominated Best Play, Leslie Le's rarely seen, powerful drama explores a turbulent time in three generations pf am Afraocam-American family in the 1970s. One hot June weekend, the family matriarch reflects on lessons of her own youth and the three lost love affairs that shaped her life and her family whilethe conflict between her two discontented grandsons and their stern, overworked father comes to a head. Resident Artist Ron OJ Parons (Fences, Flyin' West) directs the classic tale of growing up and growing old. Tickets ar $10 w valid stent ID. Faculty and staff are $20 with valid ID Wed, Th, Sun nights.

Doc Films. To section and run, below


DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.
At Dusable Museum:
"Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the vietnam Era"
"A Slow Walk to Greatness: The Harold Washington Story"
"Red, White, Blue & Black: A History of African Americans in the Armed Forces."
Continuing "And Freedom For All: Martin Luther King, Jr. & the Civil Rights Movement"
"Wisdom of Words: Lerone Bennett, The People's Historian." 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600. From the Kinsey Collection
January 10, Thursday, 9 am-8 pm through June 1. Opening at Dusable Museum of African American History: "And Freedom for All: Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Civil Rights Movement"- photography exhibit. Through June.
"The Wisdom of Words: Lerone Bennett Jr., The People's Historian."
"Africa Speaks"
"Harold Washington in Office"
"Masterpieces From the DuSable Museum Collection"
Sunday film series, Wed & Thurs Penny Cinema for kids

Open at DuSable Museum of African American History. "Separate Cinema: Chicago's Black Film History." 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.
In the Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey.

Franke Institute for the Humanities at University of Chicago

Graham School of General Studies at the University of Chicago

Summer Programs for Teachers and Educators. Kari Stachura at 773 702-4950 or kstachura@uchicago.edu.
Basic Program.
UChicago Summer Session for Visiting College Students and UChicago Summer Session for High School Students. Apply at https://summer.uchicago.edu/register-today.cfm and https://summer.uchicago.edu/apply-today.cfm.

Kalapriya Dance, 1438 E. 57th St. 773 363-9303
I would like to introduce the Kalapriya Foundation, Center for Indian Performing Arts (a 501 3 c organization) to you. Kalapriya has recently taken office space at 1438 E. 57th St. in Joan's Studio. The company has had a presence in Hyde Park for a few years now, starting with the company's annual cross cultural dance festival presented at The International House of the University of Chicago and with Bharata Natyam training classes being given at Joan's Studio. You can get move information about the organization at www.kalapriya.org. info@kalapriya.org.

Little Black Pearl.
Little Black Pearl is a special and growing place.

Museum of Science and Industry, lots of temporary as well as permanent exhibits, New temporary exhibit on Glass.

Through July 6 . "The Glass Experience." There is more to glass than you know! Glass, a material crucial for progress throughout the globe, is used in industries varying form construction to telecommunications. It also adds beauty, color and art to our lives. In the exhibition, guests will learn how the art, science and technology of glass influences our culture, lifestyle and economy while they see, first-hand, some of the amazing art that glass helps to create.

Guests can watch as one of the nation's finest glass artists form the Corning Museum of Glass blow 2,300 degree molten glass in the Museum's own hot glass studio- and they will even take the audience's design requests.

Then the guests may take a walk through a dazzling "Macchia" forest, designed by master glass artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly will fil the 7,000-square-foot space with more than 20 brilliantly colored glass baskets at varying heights, giving the illusion of a forest of glass.

Additionally, the Botti Studio of Architectural Arts in Evanston, which has been in the stained glass business for six generations, will be on site daily to demonstrate the design, patterning and assembly of stained glass windows, lamps and mosaics. They will be working on the restoration of the Chicago Cultural Center Tiffany Dome, offering a unique opportunity to watch and talk with these artisans as they delicately rebuild a masterpiece.

Museum of Science and Industry started celebration of its 75h year by receiving a Paul Cornell award from the Hyde Park Historical Society and with exhibits on black creativity and the science and art of cinema and video, and especially with its new exhibit, THE GLASS EXPERIENCE. From the entry with 22 large lead crystal chandeliers, it's a stunner. Geoffrey Curly is the curator. The exhibit explores the science and process of glass, starting 4000 years ago, its use as a practical necessity, ingenuity an invention, and wonderful art by the likes of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Corning Museum of Glass, and Dale Chihuly. The latter's "Macchia Forest" may well be the show-stopper. The work of Wright and Tiffany follow, culminating in the window "Landscape with Classical Bust" (1905). Artisans form the Botti Studio in Evanston will demonstrate restoration work while New York's Corning Museum of Glass artisans shape molten glass. The show ends with modern art glass and the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Through September.

The exhibition requires an additional ticket with a specified entry time. Incl. general admission these are $23, $22, $14 child. Discounts for Chicago residents. Advanced sales www.msichicago.org.

Open May 8-Jan. 4 2009- Smart Home: Green + Wired. Powered by ComEd, warmed by Peoples Gas. Tour a functioning and sustaiable "green" home in the Museum's backyard. The thee-story house has been outfitted with technologies for the 21st century and a variety of environmentally friendly materials. Within the home, view th latest innovations in reusabl resources, smart-energy consumption and clen, healthy living environments, all in a contemporary and elegant setting.

Now at Omnimax-
At Omnimax: Dinosaurs Alive! (tracking evidence from dinos to birds)
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (ancient waters with saber-toothed fish, prehistoric sharks, giant squid.
Sub U505 massive exhibit open. "Capture the Experience, Experience the Capture"
New: a 3-D High definition theater. Shorts include Mars 3-D and Misadventures.
The Museum of Science and Industry 57th at Lake Shore Drive. 773 684-1414. Has a garage at 57th/Cornell Drive ($8)

 

Oriental Institute Museum.

Lectures, family features et al. Films on Sunday at 2: March 2008 movies about Cleopatra.

Special exhibit: "Catastrophe! Looting of History in Iraq."

OI is looking for docent volunteers. Lots of perks. contact the Volunteer Office at 773 702-9507, oi-education@uchicago.edu.

Regenstein Library Special Collection has an important sample of its collection of views of Renaissance Rome (largest in the world) on display. See the whole online at http://speculum.lib.uchicago.edu. Also on line the two reunited mss on Love and on Chess, and more.
Through June 14: "Discover Hidden Archives Treasures."
Through June 20: The Spirit of the Orient and Judaism: From the Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaica."
Through July 6: "Images of Politics, Prayer and Everyday Life from the Harry and Branka Sondheim Jewish Heritage Collection."

Renaissance Society.
Cobb 418, 5811 S. Ellis. 773 702-8670.

April 20-June 8. Opening at Renaissance Society, Opening Reception April 20 4-7, Discussion with Artists 7-6 pm. "Black Is, Black Ain't." The formal invention of race remains one of modernity's most astounding feats. The distillation of humanity into three fictional archetypes (MOngoloid, Negroid and Ca8ucassoid) has taken on a life of its own as explanations of difference serve to create and maintain a dubious social order, one whose hierarchy can be critiques in terms of skin color. A biological fiction turned social fact, race is produced and reproduced to the extent that questions of what humanity would be without it come as a threat. Race is not merely social, it is psycho-social, having become and inextricable part of the collective and individual imagination.

In the case of African-Americans, what was once deemed "cultural self-determination" has been reduced to the term "blackness." Culture is a precipitate of race, and consequently, race is reified and discernable in what is confidently referred to as "black culture." Calling attention to race as the means to address inequality, however, stands at odds with the formal equality underpining liberalism. This is the paradox of affirmative action where race, in order to be transcended, first must be acknowledged. In short, the cultural production of so-called "blackness" is concurrent with efforts to make race socially and politically irrelevant. To quote Ralph Ellison: "Black Is, Black Ain't." Using that as its title, this exhibition will survey a moment in which race is produced and retained, yet is simultaneously rejected.

This exhibition will be accompanied by a series of panels, lectures and readings. Please note that this exhibit is, as intended, provocative and has had an unusually extreme range of reviews. See May 16, May 18, May 21, May 29, June 1, June 5.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, run by Wright Plus, the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, gives tours, has a bookstore et al, special events, is restoring the "most important historic residential property in America" at multimillion dollar cost in conjunction with the National Trust. Extended Thursday hours in summer, May 31-August 30- includes tours to 7 on Thursdays. Watch for recurring Architrek. Saturdays at 1:30: The Wright 3 Tour based on Blue Balliett's mystery-$5 to $12. Watch for Walk and Wine. Also Secrets and Shadows Oct. 19 and 20. http//gowright.org. 708 848-1976. 5757 S. Woodlawn.

Rockefeller Chapel exhibits. 5850 S. Woodlawn. New: Center for Interfaith Worship and Fellowship, in the undercroft. Do not miss the carillon--programs every Sunday at 6 pm through July, after which the bells go out for renovation. There is an exhibit on plaster casts for the statuary.
Also first Sundays 5 pm Oct. 1-May 27 Choral Evensong and Vespers-the Chapel Choir and guests in Anglican candlelit prayer.
Plaster casts and models of the Chapel's statuary. Through Sept. 15, 2007.

Smart Museum: 5550 S. Greenwood. Main number 773 702-0700.
See below in next few weeks- Art.


"Adaptation"programs continue even though the exhibit is gone. Doc Film series "Impossible Adaptations": "Ulysses" (1967), "Time Regained" (1999), "Christobel" (2001), "Home, Sweet Home" (1914)
May 12, 18, 26 Mondays: "Under the Volcano," "Quick Billy," "Finnegans Wake."
June 2, "Wisconsin Death Trip."

May 8 Adaptation- Cantata Collegium presents Coffee Cantata at Fulton Hall

Sol LeWitt: Color and Line- March 26-June 8

In the 1960s an '70s, Sol LeWitt was one of the first artists to use color and line as building blocks in a serial approach to art. By systematically varying and combining color and line and other basic elements, LeWitt (1928-2007) sought to eliminate "the arbitrary, the capricious and the subjective as much as possible." The approach was pivotal to the development of the minimalist and conceptualist art. Mechanical reproduction also was key to LeWitt's approach, and his most extensive experiments with color and line occurred as he began print making in 1970. The exhibition features a selection of lithographs and artists books from the period and sheds light on the highly systematic--and extremely diverse-- ways in which LeWitt deployed color and line within the print making process.

Idol Anxiety- April 8-November 2

From ancient times to the present day, theological traditions have reflected on idolatry and questioned the transcendence, significance, and power of object. Different anxieties have produced different artistic practices. The exhibition navigates a variety of theological and secular perspectives--juxtaposing Mesopotamian cult figures with Classical antiquities and Renaissance paintings--in order to explore the complex relationships between objects of worship, their makers, and their audiences. For example, in ancient Mesopotamia, a cult statue was installed in the temple only after an elaborate ritual in which artisans proclaimed not to have made the idol while presenting their hands to be symbolically chopped off. Finding such ritual denials ineffective, the Bible's second commandment no graven images--deemed all object worship idolatrous. How do objects become idols. and what is this uneasy relationship between people and things made? Edward A. Maser Gallery for Art Before 1900.

Programs April 10 tour, April 27 Idol Anxiety Cross Campus Tour including Oriental Institute

From Weekly News April 10

Idol Speculation peek inside the Smart Museum’s new exhibit. By Michel Joyce

Idols, as described by curator Aaron Tugendhaft’s introduction to the Smart Museum’s new special exhibit “Idol Anxiety,” are worrisome objects. A physical intersection between humanity and the divine, idols have been he subject of devotion and the inspiration of anxiety for millennia, from the still-mysterious Venus figurines of he Paleolithic to more recent sculptural depictions of the body of Christ, so central in Gothic art that in some European cities guilds held a monopoly on their manufacture. The nature of idols made as objects, however, has stimulated anxieties of its own. Created by human hands, but claiming a relationship with the supernatural, idols tread an uncertain ground between veneration as a symbol of divinity and worship as a divinely-imbued object. Using a variety of religious and secular perspectives, “Idol Anxiety” explores the necessarily complex relationship between idols, their makers, and their audiences.
One familiar aspect of that relationship is the flexibility is interpreting the prohibition on graven images shared by Abrahamic religions. Though many Christian sects have encouraged and even required physical representations of divinity, movements against them have exerted a profound effect. The Byzantine emperor Leo III’s eighth-century purge of traditional depictions of Christ and the saints birthed the term “iconoclasm,” and for a time radically altered the practice of the empire’s state religion. Its theological basis combined a fear of paganism, the impossibility of fully depicting holy beings, and by some accounts, Islamic and Jewish influences with the pragmatic benefit of confiscating precious metals form the churches. Eight centuries later, similar conflicts would be associated with the Protestant reformation, and anxieties over the potentially misplaced veneration offered to idols continue to this day.

Of course, the making of idols and their role in religion, politics, and the meaning of daily life hardly began with Christianity or classical polytheism, though examples of idols in these contexts are lushly represented in “Idol Anxiety.” Mesopotamian cult figures from the tiny to the awe-inspiring get their due, and a free guided our in conjunction with the Oriental Institute (whose vast collection deserves a visit of its own) is scheduled for April 27. …a fascinating examination of a conflict as ancient as it is compelling.

Exhibit puts the “art” back in artifacts. Maroon, April 11, by Italia Patti

The most exciting thing about Idol Anxiety at Smart Museum is that it is at the Smart Museum. The show borrows many of its objects on display form museums like the Oriental Institute where they are displayed more as artifacts than art objects. This show asks viewers to ponder them in this instance as pieces of art.
Of course, the show does not ignore the context and history of the pieces—in the same way that institutions like the Oriental Institute do not ignore their artistic significance. Still, simply presenting the works in an art museum forces the viewer to take the works’ artistic merit into account. This angle was refreshing because most of the show’s viewers will likely be much less well versed in the cultural contexts of these pieces than in art appreciation.

Hailing from Mesopotamia in the mid to late third millennium B.C.E., or the Early Dynastic Period, are five stone sculptures of worshipers. The fist “Male Worshiper Fragment” is a man with crossed arms. His body below the arms is cut off, but detailed marks in his locks of long hair and hanging beard remain. His eyes are proportionally huge and suggest concentration. He and his counterpart, the bust of another bearded, concentrating male, are both carved in limestone. Although their many millennia of existence have separated these busts from their bodies and worn the stone a bit rough, viewers can pick up on something of the emotion of prayer when staring back at these faces.
One of he “Female Worshipper Fragment” pieces is impressive for the intricate pattern of its dress, which is rendered in limestone. Her hands re folded in the same position as the other statues in the case. Most of her body is intact, but she is headless. Another “Male Worshipper Fragment” also has a detailed costume. A pattern circles the bottom hem, and what looks like text creeps up the right side. The smallest piece in the case….has less intricate carving but is made of travertine rather than limestone. The creamy white stone is luminous, and light brown veins running though it.
What makes these statues remarkable is their differences. The different materials appear to affect the artistic process. No carved pattern supplements the pattern of the travertine, but there are details carved into the clothes of the limestone pieces. The positions are similar, but each has distinguishing marks and evidence of an artist’s hand.
How significant or intentional this is I confess I am not sure, but it jumps out to a contemporary viewer accustomed to artists’ striving for a unique style and making pieces both distinctive, to separate themselves as artists, and distinct, to imbue pieces with singular identities.

The show represents a huge diversity of historical periods. Beside pieces from Ancient Mesopotamia stands a print by Albrecht Durer, “Sudarium.” In the image, Christ’s image stares out, captured on the cloth on which he wiped his face. Two angels hold the cloth, somber and depicted in dark and sketchy black lines. Durer is exploring ideas of image-making in the piece.
Perhaps the most striking piece in the show is Johann Benedict Witz’s 1750 Rococo “The Crucifixion.” A lavishly decorated wooden sculpture, “The Crucifixion” depicts Jesus on a cross with three figures below The cross is black, plain, and stark. The figure of Jesus is very detailed, with visible ribs, muscles, and folds in the loincloth, but is also relatively free from decoration. The base of the sculpture, however, is covered in looping, curvy details. There is also a nook cut into the base in which another figure lies—presumably Jesus in his tomb. This piece is not necessarily the most beautiful piece in the show, but its size and intricacy make it the most attention-grabbing.

Another attention-grabbing piece is the 19th century “Holy Tree.” This piece is a long strip of parchment with Hebrew text inked onto it. The piece is a sefirot, or a graphic representation of God’s attributes. This piece, like the works from Ancient Mesopotamia, may generally be thought significant more for its religious or historical significance than as a piece of art. But approaching the piece from an aesthetic perspective brings out the fluidity of ink marking and the way the shape of the text guides the viewer’s eyes through the piece without a dizzying effect.

Idol Anxiety is successful in bringing together works of so any different periods and traditions, having a unifying theme, and in asking viewers to look at these work as unique pieces of art without ignoring what the works could tell us about the times and places from which they originate.

Seeing the City: Sloan's new York- May 22-September 14

John Sloan's images of New Your helped define the city in the popular imagination. In gritty depictions of urban life, Sloan celebrated the metropolis by focusing on street scenes, elevated trains, public spaces, and the lives of ordinary Americans. Gathering together a wealth of material in all media from 1900 to the 1930s, this exhibition maps Sloan's New Your and examines the personal meaning tied to the places he chose to depict again and again. Richard and Mary L Gay Gallery for Special Exhibitions.

Programs. May 21 Members Preview Tour. May 22 Opening Reception and lecture. June 15 Seeing the /city Smart Readings: Chicago Books and Sloan's New York: The Jungle: Labor and Leisure in the Modern American city- opening of a series in conjunction with 57th St. Books, readings and discussions in the galleries:
June 15, Sunday, 2 pm Labor and Leisure in the Modern American City--Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (1906).
July 13, Sunday 2 pm. Women in the Modern City--Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie (1900)
August 10, Sunday, 2pm. The Individual and the Mass in the Modern American City--Carl Sandburg's Chicago Poems (1906)
Chicago Architecture Foundation buy a tour and get another free. Get at Smart, redeem at Architcenter, 224 S. Michigan.

Related exhibit at smart: See next.

Street Level: Modern Photography from the Smart Museum Collection- July 1-September 28

In the early twentieth century, a number of photographers turned their cameras to their immediate environment, finding subjects in the everyday imagery and visual clamor of the streets of modern cities like Chicago, Moscow, New Your, and Paris. With photographs drawn from the Smart Museum's collection, this exhibition looks at the modern city as seen from the street. Joel and Carole Bernstein Gallery for Works on Paper.

Displacement: The Three Gorges Dam and Contemporary Chinese Art- October 2- January 25 2009

 

SmartFamilies@Coleman Library
o- Moves to Bessie Coleman Library, 731 E. 63rd St. February-May 2008.
Second Saturdays: 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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Nichole Gallery 2 4653 S. King Dr. 773 373-4700
See also Steele Life, Gallery Guichard in 'South Side Art Outside the Hyde Park Box' section below and Cultural Resources page-Galleries.

South Shore Cultural Center Gallery, 7059 South Shore Drive. 773 256-0149.
Through February 29, "What Shall I Tell My Children Who are Black?" Featuring the work of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs. Features artwork inspired by the 1968 poetry anthology of the same name. The works, like the poems, focus on family, African American culture and life, and the effects of racism on one's mental and emotional well being.

UC Special Collections Regenstein Library, 1100 E. 57th St. Through July 6, "Images of Prayer, Politics and Everyday Life from the Harry and Branka Sondheim Jewish Heritage Collection." Organized around both the life cycle and the Jewish calendar.
Oct. 10-June 20. "The Spirit of the Orient and Judaism: From the Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaica."
Jan. and Feb. Exhibition about ML King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

Ways that 19th and 20th-century Jews shaped their own identities through real and imaginary encounters with the Orient, including dressing up as "Orientals," valorizing "authentic" Eastern Jewish communities, romanticizing Jewish history under Islam during the Golden Age in Spain, building synagogues in the Moorish style, imagining biblical patriarchs as Bedouins, becoming Zionists and positioning themselves as cultural mediators between West and East.

Through June 14. "Discover Hidden Archives Treasures." Items on display include pamphlets about Chicago child welfare, illustrations by Hyde Park matron, activist and arts supporter Vi Fogel Uretz, a record of a musical bsed on the life and times of Charles Darwin, and Chicago Jazz Archves selections incl. artowrdk by Stephen Longstreet and George Von Physter.

Through August 2008. Masaryk and Chicago. In conjuncionwith Msaryk Lectue on democrcy freturdin Madeleine Albright.

University Theater - visit http://ut.uchicago.edu for schedule.

The Chicago Ensemble, Mostly Music, University of Chicago Presents, and The Chicago Chorale events at Rockefeller Chapel. Jazz and Gamelan events at Hyde Park Union Church. Series section.

Astronomical viewing with Ryerson Astronomical Society Thursdays 7-9 weather permitting. Ponder the heavens through the vintage 6-inch telescope. Ryerson is at the northeast corner of the campus circle drive.

Jazz on Tap

Hyde Park Jazz Society, http://www.hydeparkjazzsociety.org. Formed to do what its former name says, Committee to Restore Jazz in Hyde Park, including bringing the Checkerboard to Hyde Park. Now organizes the large, annual jazz festival in Hyde Park, supports jazz Sunday night at the Checkerboard, and other programs. Jim Wagner, Judith Stein, others.

Watch in September 27, 2008 for the next annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival. Presented by Hyde Park Jazz Society, Hyde Park Cultural Alliance, and the University of Chicago. (for the first two visit http://www.hydeparkjazzfestival.org.)

Check the Checkerboard page for CheckerJazz's Sunday night lineup of jazz, 7:30-11 pm at Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper 773 684-1472. CheckerJazz is part of the Hyde Park Jazz Society. http://hydeparkjazzsociety.org/. See our Checkerboard page. CheckerJAZZ. Presents Sunday night and special programs at Checkerboard Lounge. Calendar: http://www.checkerjazz.org/calendar.checkerjazz.org.
Blues programs as well including Saturday night. Cover generally $10.
New series of jazz and R & B Monday nights at 8.

Hyde Park Art Center

Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center- Hidden Pearl Art Cafe. Occasional jazz offerings. 1060 E. 47th St. 773 285-1211. See March 17 in By Date.

Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 9:30 pm And Sundays 11 am- 4 pm at C.H.A.N.T Chinese and Asian American tapas restaurant, 1509 E. 53rd St. , has jazz and blues soloists, several of them stars such as Ray Silkman. Also a blues trio Sundays 11 am-4 pm, and music expanding to other days now also.
April 26 The Usual Mistakes

Mellow Yellow, Friday night Jazz starting April 18, 8-midnight. 1508 E. 53rd St. 773 667-2000. No cover, 2 dr. min. http://www.mellowyellowrestaurant.com, http://wwww.snatchinband.com.

Quadrangle Club, 1st Fridays Jazz, 6 pm-?. 1155 E. 57th St.

Watch for more Friday or Saturday performances live at Mellow Yellow, 1508 E. 53rd St. 773 667-2000. Free adm. but 2 drink min. (Not sure this group perfs. jazz, but.... ) www.mellowyellowrestaurant.com, www.snatchinband.com.

Piccolo Mondo, 1642 E. 56th St., 773 643-9171 is expected to start a live music program certain evenings, shortly.

Curtis Black Trio, other groups Sundays at 9 pm, Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap, 11-- E. 55th St.

Hyde Park Art Center, Renaissance Society, and Hyde Park Shopping Center and Harper Court are places for occasional jazz concerts. Occasionally also there are large concerts at Mandel Hall and even on the quads.

At least once a quarter the Jazz XTet under Mtawa Bowden perform at the University of Chicago's Fulton Hall. music.uchicago.edu. Nov. 29, March 13, June 5.

First Unitarian, 5650 S. Woodlawn, and Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn often have jazz events, including by Willie Pickens and Jimmy Ellis. Don't miss the Christmas concert.

First Fridays Jazz at Quadrangle Club, 1155 E. 57th St. 6-9 pm.


Rock Scene

Hyde Park has a U of C scene, centered performances in Bartlett and Hutchinson and Main Quads, Uncommon Grounds (2nd fl. Reynolds), Hutchinson Commons, or the several coffee shops-- and thought by some to be rather subdued and fusion. It also has a cutting edge underground scene-- literally more often than not in a basement, often in west Hyde Park. For the latter especially, you have to get into the scene or on various email or pass-the-flyer groups to find them.

To start with the South Side rock and cutting edge scene, frequent such spots as Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State and South Union Arts, 1352 S. Union.

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Series

Persons needing assistance at U of C programs should call 773 702-8484.

Series Chicago Chorale
Series Chicago Ensemble
Series Music UC
Noontime Music Series at UC
Chicago Presents 2008-2009 announced
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Chicago Presents Classic
Chicago Presents Early
Pacifica Quartet
Newberry Consort
Court Theatre
Mostly Music
Music Teachers of Hyde Park
Sundays at First Unitarian

Chicago Chorale. Bruce Tammen, Director. Hyde Park-based and largely HP artists. 1100 E. 55th St. (Lutheran School). No phone given.

May 17, Saturday, 8 pm. Schoenberg's Vigil for Peace. $. Monastery of the Holy Cross, 3111 S. Aberdeen.


Chicago Ensemble at I-House Sundays, 3 pm. (also Tuesdays- succeeding-- at Sherwood Academy 7 pm). All works have a personal introduction by Founder and Artistic Director /pianist Gerald Rizzer and refreshments. $25, student $10. Subscription $10o for 5 programs, plus intro complementary tickets to distribute. International House, 1414 E. 59th St. theceweb@thechicagoensemble.org 773 889-4206. (Dates given are at International House). http://www.thechicagoensemble.org. Mail contacts P.O. Box 409048, Chicago, IL 60640. 773 889-4206.

May 18, Sunday, 3 pm. The Chicago Ensemble Program 5. Stacy Eckert, mezzo-soprano, Susan Levitin, flute, Elizandro Garcia-Montoya, clarinet, Andrew Snow, cello, Gerald Rizzer, piano. Bach, Aria: Was Gott bekennt From Cantata No. 45. Christopher Dietz, Trio in G Minor, op. 63 for clarinet, cello and piano- (2005, Discover America VI). Weber, Trio in G Minor, op. 63. Arthur Berger, Three Poems of Yeats (1950). Hugo Wolf, Selected Songs for Mezzo-soprano & piano. Vincent d'Indy, trio in Bb Major, op. 29. International House, 1414 E. 59th St.

University of Chicago Music Series-Chicago Presents and other series:

Besides the series below, Chicago Presents has combination mini-series such as (2007-08 examples) Quartet (Oct 5 Academy of St. Martin, October 19 Brentano, February 29 Alban Berg, April 11 Belcea),
Vocal (Oct. 19 Brentano with Susan Naruchki soprano, Nov. 2 Les Violins du Roy with Karina Gauvin soprano, Feb. 25 Alice Coote, March 7 Tallis Scholars), and the Debut Series (Jan 18 Ensemble Caprice, Feb. 15 Alice Coote, April 11 Becea Quartet).

Noontime Concert Series Thursdays except as noted, 12:15 pm. at Fulton Recital Hall, Goodspeed 4th, 1010 E. 59th St.

Chicago Presents 2008-2009 season announced.

10-day Olivier Messian festival in October, featuring pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra plus, at Rockefeller, orgnist Dame Gillian Weir.

October __ recital by celist Johannes Moser

October 31 Guarneri Quartet (farewell tour)-Mozart, Dvorak, Kodalty

November 7 Early Music: Fully staged "Judith" at Hyde Park Union Church by Diagolos vocal ensemble.

November 21 German cellist Thomas Moser

January 23 pianist Vladimir Feltsman

February 6 Early Music: Pomerium- sacred vocal works from age of Michelangelo

February 20 Takacs Quartet and pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin -Schumann Piano Quintet

April 17 Early Music: period instrument ensemble Quatuor Mosaiques

Pacifica Quartet- April 19.

Visiting artist double basist Edgar Meyer (classical, bluegrass, jazz) Oct. 24, April 24, April 25 (colab with Nickel Creek guitarist Chris Thile.)

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Oct. 3 with pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard- Beethoven and Messiaen (part of 10-concert Messiaen series). Also March 6, May 1. Note, now moved to Friday nights.

Contempo: November 13 Zukovsky Q8artet- string quartets by Babbitt at Chicago Cultural Center. October 4, April 4, May 15, M ay 28- eighth blackbird and Pacifica Quartet

Regents Park Discovery artist: January 17 tenor Nicholas Phan



Chicago Presents St. Paul Chamber Orchestra series. Rave reviews for its debut at U of C. $75 reg., $30 UC students. Single tickets go on sale Sept. , $35. Phone 773 702-8068, mail U C Presents, Office of Prof. Concerts, 5720 S. Woodlawn rm. 102 60637 or there in person, fax w. credit card 773 834-5888. The brochure now available for 2007-2008 apparently has performances all in Mandel Hall unless specified otherwise.

April 27, Sunday, 3 pm. Chicago Presents. Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Douglas Boyd, conductor, with Dawn Upshaw, soprano. Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite (inspired by Pergolesi); Schubert: songs (orig. form); Schubert: Songs (newly commissioned and arranged by living Argentinean Osvaldo Golijov); Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D Major, Hob. 1/104, "London." $35? Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St. 773 702-8068.

2008-2009 initial announcement-- performances move to Friday evenings in October, March, and May.

Chicago Presents Classic Concert (in 2006-2007 was Chamber Music) Series.

Subscriptions 6 concert: $130 general, $24 student, faculty and staff $127. Add 50 for Classic Plus series, student is $36-- this is for 9 concerts Classic plus 3 St. Paul. All student single tickets are now $5. 5720 S. Woodlawn, 773 702-8068. Single tickets are generally $32, some $20.

2007-2008 Classic Concert Series

April 11, Friday, 7:30 pm. Chicago Presents. Classic Concert series. Belcea Quartet in Chicago recital debut. Haydn: Quartet in D major, op. 20, no. 4; Britten: Quartet No. 3; Britten: Quartet No. 2 in C major. Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St. 773 702-8068.

 

Chicago Presents Howard Mayer Brown International Early Music Series- 2007-2008 season. Subscr. $85 general, $40 student reduced. Single $35 and student less. All at Mandel hall this year.

Watch to 2008-2009 series.

April 22, 2008, Tuesday, 7:30 pm. Chicago Presents. Artist in Residence Concert: Pacifica Quartet with Almita Varnos violin and Eugenia Monacelli, piano. Mozart: Quartet in G major, K. 387; Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, op. 92; Chausson: Concert in D major, op. 21. Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.

New: Chicago Presents Visiting Artist: Edgar Meyer perfoms in October adn Twice in April

Chicago Presents Regents Park Discovery Concert. Contempo University of Chicago contemporary music group.

Next year's in 2008-2009 announced- now on Fridays. Tenor Nicholas Phan

Contempo.

U of C Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, New Music Ensemble, Wind Ensemble

Chicago Presents Pacifica Quartet. 3 concerts at $15/5. All on Sundays at 3 pm. Look for 2007-08 series:

April 22, Tuesday, 7:30 pm. Chicago Presents. Pacifica Quartet Artists in Residence.

Regents Park Discovery Concerts and Discovery Encores

Newberry Consort, Ars Schola, eighth blackbird Artist in Residence groups

The Newberry Consort. $38, $28. Performs at the Newberry, U of C, and Northwestern. The Consort is Artist-in-Residence at all three. Performances are Friday evening at the Newberry's Ruggles Hall, Saturday 7:30 at the U of C, and Sunday, 3 pm at Lutkin Hall at Northwestern in Evanston. Visit the website for information on subscription, advance ticket sales, and exchanges. Address is The Newberry Consort, 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, Il 60610. Center for Public Programs, 312 255-3700.

Check their website for their benefit concert April 27, 2008: Off the Record: An Afternoon with Ellen Hargis and Paul O'Dette. Ruggles Hall, Newberry Library, 3 pm.

Also for 2008-2009 series, now announced. Moved for 2008-2009 to the Khorsabad Gallery of University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th St, exceot Feb. 21 at Rockefeller Chapel.

October 18, Saturday, 8 pm (c 7:15 lecture). Newberry Consort presents Handel in Miniature. Dutch recorder virtuosa Marion Verbuggen, Baroque Diva Ellen Hargis, Handel specialist Drew Minter, harpsichordist David Schrder, and director-gambist David Douglass. Khorsabad Gallery, Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th St.

January 18 2009, Sunday, 3 pm Newberry Consort benefit concert, Fair Oriana, a party for Queen Elizabeth I upon the 450th anniversary of her coronation. Ruggles Hall, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton.

February 21, Saturday, 8 pm (7:15 pm lecture?) Newberry Consort, Howard Mayer Brown Consert. What a Difference a Day Makes: Venetian Music for Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. With wind band Piffarro and Newbery Singers. Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn.

March 21, Saturday, 8 pm (7:15 lecture). Newberry Consort presents Ecco La Primavera, The Music of Fracesco Landini. Blind 14th century Florentine true Renaissance man. Includes Rachel Barton Pine debuting on the vielle and rebec. Oriental Institute Khorsabad Gallery, 1155 E. 58th St.

May 2, Saturday, 8 pm (7:15 lecture). Newberry Consort presents Arcadia Revisited: A Garden of Earthly Delights. Late 17th century London: music of Henry and Wiliam Lawes, Nicholas Lanier, John Wilson, and Henry Purcell. Stopries of mythological drama and frolicking comedy for noble and commoner. Khorsabad Gallery, Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th St.

 

There are too many other groups to list here, including Jazz X-Tet, Middle Eastern Ensemble, Rockefeller Chapel ensembles, Computer Music Studio, University Wind Ensemble, Motet Choir, University Chamber Orchestra, University Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble. 12 groups are underwritten in part by the Gilbert and Sullivan production (this year Pinafore, March 9-11). music.uchicago.edu.

Noontime Concert Series Thursdays at 12:15 pm. Above

University Symphony see Mar. 8, Apr. 26, May 31-June 1.

University Wind Ensemble see Feb. 17, May 18.

University Chamber Orchestra see Feb. 9, May 17.

University Chorus see Mar. 8, May 31-June 1.

Motet Choir see Mar. 8, Apr. 27, May 16-17, May 31-June 1.

Rockefeller Chapel Choir see Feb. 10, Mar. 9, Apr. 13, May 11, May 16-17, June 7.

New Music Ensemble see Mar. 1, May 4.

Jazz X-tet see Mar. 13, June 5.

Middle East Music Ensemble see Feb. 17, Apr. 13.

Central Javanese Gamelan see May 11.

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co.

End of season concerts/Alumni weekend see May 31-June 1.

Noontime Concert Series, Thursdays at 12:15

Chicago Men's A Capella, Unaccompanied Women, Umoja Gospel Choir, Midway Brass (See May 3), Fire Wire Ensemble....

Monthly organ concerts on the Ganz Organ at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 E. 55tth St. First Tuesdays in academic year.

Court Theatre Titus Andronicus; next Carousel.

Mostly Music at North Eastern Illinois University - Hyde Park Series- Sundays at 4 pm. Master (7 at different venues) $175, flex 5 $100, flex 4 $75, flex 3 $65, individual $25, $15 stud. The Hyde Park subscription series of 4 is $150. 773 442-4978 or http://www.neiu.edu/~chamberm/home.html, can also subscribe at mostly-music@neiu.edu. Mostly Music at NEIU, 5500 N. St, Louis, Rm C627, Chicago, Il 60625. Jennifer Reiff, 773 442-4212, j-reiff@neiu.edu.

2007-2008 Hyde Park series (Sundays at 4) is now up on their website. See website for north side and north shore series and details. Announcement contained no details. Residence locations are always announced after ticket orders are received. Contact them to be on the mailing list for 2007-2008.

Hyde Park Series Sundays at 4 pm:

April 13, Sunday, 4 pm. Mostly Music- Hyde Park Series. "Dynamic Innovation." Quintet Attacca, a woodwind quintet. Mostly Music at NEIU, 5500 N. St, Louis, Rm C627, Chicago, Il 60625. Jennifer Reiff, 773 442-4212, j-reiff@neiu.edu. Note, at International House, 1414 E. 59th St.

Contact them for three non-Hyde Park programs: March 2 La Catrina quartet at Chicago Temple (2 pm), April 27 Rembrandt Young Artists at an Astor St. residence, May 18 Abraham Stokman Piano and Jennifer Reiff flute 2 pm at Wilmette Library.

Music Teachers of Hyde Park 4th Monday Series 7:30 pm- Fall-Spring - at Blackstone Library, 4904 S. Lake Park. 312 747-0511 or 773 643-9251.

 

Sunday Afternoon Concerts at First Unitarian Church. Various sets of 3 or 4 during the year.

 

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Continuing, next few weeks and by running date--mostly places

(For most religious venues, links can be found in the Religious Directory.
A more extensive listing of the incredible array of cultural programming providers is in the
Cultural Directory, especially the alpha listings. See also After School.)

Continuing or set-period run

Every Saturday? Robie House offers a vicinity walking tour featuring notable architecture. otherwise self-guided. Interior tours available also. Robie House. 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave. 708 848-1976.

Court Theatre. 5535 S. Ellis Ave. 773 753-4472.
Special deals such as preview week, student rush available. Occasional staged readings also. 773 753-4472. See above for 2007-08 run.

Continuing at DuSable Museum:
The DuSable Museum of African American History is located in Washington Park near the corner of 56th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue at 740 E. 56th Pl.

For information call 773/947-0600 or visit the website at http://www.dusablemuseum.org/exhibit1.asp
"In the Hands of African American Collectors: the Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey."
January 10, Thursday, 9 am-8 pm, through June 1. Opening at Dusable Museum of African American History: "And Freedom for All: Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Civil Rights Movement"- photography exhibit. Through June. Previously unpublished images from the archives of LOOK Magazine taken by Stanley Tretick. 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.
January 30, Wednesday-February 29. Open at DuSable Museum of African American Art. "Goya Lopez: the African Diaspora in Brazil." Uses textiles and fabric to create a story of the various African cultures and experiences transported to Brazil during the period of the slave trade. Sponsored by Columbia College Chicago- ?Dept. of Liberal Education, the Black World Studies Program and the critical Encounters Initiative, with the Glass Curtain Gallery. Several teacher workshops. 940 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.

Short runs. University Theater Reynolds 1st fl. th. or 3rd floor, us. Wed.-Sat. 7506 S. University. http://ut.uchicago.edu.
Continuing or short run: the Big ones

Continuing at Hyde Park Art Center:
See in types-art exhibits below and in "Best Bets" above.
Hyde Park Art Center classes, exhibits, events. 773 324-5520.
Park Art Center.
Now at 5020 S. Cornell

Continuing. Museum of Science and Industry: More see in alpha listing. 773- 955-9503.
Submarine U 505 new underground exhibit opens June 4. Watch for special events.
57th at Lake Shore Drive , 773 684-1414.
Omnimax: Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric adventure; Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs.
March 6, Sunday. Closing at Museum of Science and Industry. "The Magic and Science of Cinema and Television."Take a trip behind the scenes of Hollywood as part of "Black Creativity." Interactive. 57th at Lake Shore Drive. 773 684-1414.

Oriental Institute 1155 E. 58th St. 773 702-9507.
Films on Sunday at 2, other specials, periodic lectures and classes. New permanent exhibits. " special exhibits and interactive programs, lectures, Sunday films a t 2 pm.
April 10, Thursday. Opening at Oriental Institute: "Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past." Through December. Lecture by McGuire Gibson, followed by candlelight vigil. 1155 E. 58th St. 773 702-9514. See symposium April 12.


Renaissance Society Bergman Gallery. 4th (418) floor Cobb Hall, 5811 S. Ellis Ave. 773 702-8670.10-5 Tu-F, 12-5 Sat.-Sun, Exhibits and openings with lectures, concerts and more.
info@renaissancesociety.org.
April 20-June 8. Opening at Renaissance Society, Opening Reception April 20 4-7, Discussion with Artists 7-6 pm. "Black Is, Black Ain't." The formal invention of race remains one of modernity's most astounding feats. The distillation of humanity into three fictional archetypes (MOngoloid, Negroid and Ca8ucassoid) has taken on a life of its own as explanations of difference serve to create and maintain a dubious social order, one whose hierarchy can be critiques in terms of skin color. A biological fiction turned social fact, race is produced and reproduced to the extent that questions of what humanity would be without it come as a threat. Race is not merely social, it is psycho-social, having become and inextricable part of the collective and individual imagination.

In the case of African-Americans, what was once deemed "cultural self-determination" has been reduced to the term "blackness." Culture is a precipitate of race, and consequently, race is reified and discernable in what is confidently referred to as "black culture." Calling attention to race as the means to address inequality, however, stands at odds with the formal equality underpining liberalism. This is the paradox of affirmative action where race, in order to be transcended, first must be acknowledged. In short, the cultural production of so-called "blackness" is concurrent with efforts to make race socially and politically irrelevant. To quote Ralph Ellison: "Black Is, Black Ain't." Using that as its title, this exhibition will survey a moment in which race is produced and retained, yet is simultaneously rejected.

This exhibition will be accompanied by a series of panels, lectures and readings.


Continuing at Smart Museum: see in venue section above and types section below.
5550 S. Greenwood. 773 702-0200.

Continuing or short run: Other venues

Continuing at Augustana Lutheran, 55th and Woodlawn.

Continuing at Catholic Theological Union. 5416 S. Cornell, replacing Courtyard Gallery. 773 324-8000. M-F 9-4.y.

Continuing. Center for Gender Studies. 5733 S. University

Continuing. John Crerar Library, M-S 8:30-5. 5730 S. Ellis. 773 702-8717.

Continuing . Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone. Concerts and exhibits.

Continuing. Franke Institute, JRL S-118 1100 E. 57th St.

Friends of the Gamelan. gamelan@uchicago.edu. Or info@chicagogamelan.org.

God's Gang artists coop. Contact 773 213-6992, http://godsgang1.net.

Grand Ballroom, 6357 S. Cottage Grove.

Great Frame Up, The. 1413 E. 53rd St., 773 752-2020.

U of C Library Society lectures are often on public affairs matters. For information and RSVP: Barbara Palmer-Bostick at 773 702-7695 or bbostick@uchicago. edu. http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/alumnifriends/libsoc/programs.html.

Continuing at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. 5480 S. Kenwood.

Continuing at Hyde Park School of Ballet. Classes (Quarter system) culminating in recitals and performances in collaboration with U of C performing groups. More details in Afterschool.

Continuing. Every Tuesday, 7 pm. International Folk Dancing at Quaker House, 5615 S. Woodlawn. 8-10:15. $4. 773 241-5834 or Mike at 773 241-5834. (Check and see if still functioning.)

Continuing. Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center. 1060 E. 47th St. 773 285-1211. Through June 30: "A Father's Choice/Chicago artists." Opening ? through July 31: "Printmaking Exhibition."

Lookingglass Theatre Summer Camp for 9-15 year olds at Promontory Point fieldhouse on the lake. Create an original piece July -August 1 to be performed on the mainstage. 773 477-9257 x193. lookingglasstheatre.org/education.

Occasional at Montgomery Place, 5550 South Shore.

Continuing. Marsha Melsheimer presents Music Anytime with the Young Child in the basement of Blackstone Branch Library. Several other ongoing programs for kids and a book club there. Call the Library, 312 747-0511. Visit the Friends of Blackstone page. Marsha's Music Together holds classes in var. venues, esp. at Joan's Studio on 57th. email. 773 288-3815.

At Nichole2 Gallery, 4653 S. King Dr. 312 787-7716. (See more South Side Galleries in "Outside the Hyde Park Box.")
One of 3 closely set Bronzeville galleries, Nichole Smith's 2nd space is currently featuring not only Haitian and other Caribbean art but that of Africa, specifically Nigeria.See also Steele Life, Gallery Guichard in South Side Art Outside the Hyde Park Box (below) and Cultural Resources page-Galleries.

Continuing through end of each academic quarter except summer: Off-Off Campus improv comedy at University Church, 5655 S. University. Resumes a few weeks into fall quarter.

Continuing at Regenstein Special Collections. Watch for next fall's, specialcollections@lib.uchicago.edu
 Through June 20. "The Spirit of the Orient and Judaism: From the Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaism." Ways in which 10th and 20th-century Jews shaped their won identities through real and imaginary encounters with the orient, including dressing up a Orientals, valorizing "authentic" Eastern Jewish communities, romanticizing Jewish history under Islam during the Golden Age of Spain , building synagogues in Moorish style, becoming Zionists or cultual mediators between west and east.
Through June 14: "Discover Hidden Archives Treasures."
Through June 20: The Spirit of the Orient and Judaism: From the Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaica."
Through July 6: "Images of Politics, Prayer and Everyday Life from the Harry and Branka Sondheim Jewish Heritage Collection."

Continuing at Renaissance Society, Cobb 418, 5811 S. Ellis, 773 702-8670. Rockefeller Chapel. 5850 S. Woodlawn. Religious and Music events, special art exhibits. Details passim By Date.
5850 S. Woodlawn. 773 702-5059. 773 702-2100.

Continuing. South Shore Shore Cultural Center Gallery. 7059 South Shore Drive. 773 256-0149.

University Theater Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University.

Continuing. Every Monday and Wednesday morning there is toddler storytelling and read-a-book at 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th St. 773 684-1300. New monthly book club has started.

Continuing. Every first and third Thursday evening (7:30>) at Borders'. Cyber Session Poetry Open Mic. 1539 E. 53rd St. 774 752-8663. And every Thursday is Storytime Thursday for children at 11 am.

Continuing. Sunday evenings at 9 the Curtis Black Trio performs jazz at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap, 1174 E. 55th St.

Continuing. University of Chicago Argentine Tango Club. Lessons during academic year. Ida Noyes 2nd fl. west lounge./ 1212 E. 59th St. Sometimes just nominal fee. Lots of styles of dance being taught and demonstrated at Ida. A different one almost every night!

Nichols Park field house classes and sessions. Includes arts and crafts and other programs for tots. small fee. 1355 E. 53rd St. 312 747-2703. Say Salsa at Neighborhood Club and Nichols fieldhouse ? (Tuesdays at 7?) 4 week $100, 8 week $160. info@saysalsa.com, 773 955-0222.

 

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The next few weeks and beyond- best bets by major type (a selection)

Art shows and talks, other exhibits


Smart Museum. 5550 S. Greenwood. 773 702-0200. See in Best Bets above.

See best bets.

Exhibits at the Regenstein Special Collections -see in Best Bets, above

DuSable Museum
The DuSable Museum of African American History is located in Washington Park near the corner of 56th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. 740 E. 56 th Pl.
For information call 773/947-0600 or visit the website at http://www.dusablemuseum.org/exhibit1.asp. For other specials see above in Best Bets.

April 18, Friday. Opening at DuSable Museum: "Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the vietnam Era;" "A Slow Walk to Greatness: The Harold Washington Story;" "Red, White, Blue & Black: A History of African Americans in the Armed Forces." Continuing "And Freedom For All: Martin Luther King, Jr. & the Civil Rights Movement;" "Wisdom of Words: Lerone Bennett, The People's Historian." 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.
January 10, Thursday, 9 am-8 pm. Through June 1. Opening at Dusable Museum of African American History: "And Freedom for All: Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Civil Rights Movement"- photography exhibit. Through June. Previously unpublished images from the archives of LOOK Magazine taken by Stanley Tretick. 740 E. 56th Pl. 773 947-0600.