Abraham Walkowitz, “Isadora Duncan,” watercolor, pen, ink and graphite on paper, 14 x 8 1/2 inches/Photo: Courtesy of Madron Gallery
ART
EXPO Announces Core Programming For Ninth Edition
EXPO CHICAGO, the international exposition of contemporary and modern art, has announced the full roster of participating artists and speakers for its core programs throughout its ninth annual edition, which runs April 7-10. Core programs include the /Dialogues onsite panel program of art world leaders in conversation, presented in partnership with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; the Northern Trust Exchange Stage, providing interactive daily panel discussions; IN/SITU, large-scale sculpture, video, film and site-specific series of works installed within the expansive, vaulted architecture of Navy Pier’s Festival Hall; and an expanded OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project, which will use citywide digital billboards in the Chicago Digital Network to play a curated selection of contemporary artwork throughout the city.
Participants in the core programs feature Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson (Chair, National Endowment of the Arts), Jamillah James (senior curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago), Koyo Kouoh (executive director and chief curator, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town), Sarah Meister (executive director, Aperture), Charles Moore (art historian, collector and author) and Hans Ulrich Obrist (artistic director, Serpentine Galleries, London). Artists in panels and on-site installations include AFRICOBRA members Gerald Williams and Sherman Beck as well as Dawoud Bey, Sanford Biggers, Liz Larner, Mary Lovelace O’Neal, Nancy Rubins, Devon Shimoyama and Gio Swaby.
“This April will be the first time since 2019 that the fair will be able to bring its global community of artists, curators, designers and art world leaders together in person, and the incredible range and depth of the core programs reflect this built energy and enthusiasm,” Kate Sierzputowski, director of programming says in a release. “From /Dialogues panels addressing the resilience of artists’ practices and institutional reflection, to IN/SITU’s first dedicated section to digital work, to the expansion of the digital billboard network for the OVERRIDE program, you will see throughout the programming creatives grappling with the development of augmented connectivity that has emerged in force since we last gathered. I hope that this artist-centered programmatic approach sparks new creative energy amongst the participants as well as engages the broad range of communities joining the fair from Chicago and beyond.” More here.
LatinXAmerican At Lubeznik
Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ upcoming spring exhibition, “LatinXAmerican,” includes photographs, paintings, sculptures, textiles, videos and installations from more than twenty-five Latinx artists. “The exhibition explores the shifting and, at times, contradictory social, cultural, political and artistic identities between Latinx artists of different circumstances and generations. The term ‘Latinx’ is used here as a nonbinary, gender-inclusive alternative to Latino or Latina for people of Latin American heritage living primarily in the U.S. It’s important to note not every artist in the exhibition identifies as a Latinx artist. Some prefer national, racial or ethnic designations of identity.”
“LatinXAmerican” is on loan from the DePaul Art Museum in Chicago. This exhibition reflects an initiative “to increase the visibility of Latinx artists and voices in museums, working toward equity and lasting transformation. Latinx communities account for over eighteen percent of the U.S. population. A 2018 study of eighteen major U.S. art museums found only 2.8% of artists in their collections are Latinx people.” Participating artists include Alberto Aguilar, Tanya Aguiñiga, Candida Alvarez, Alfredo Antonio Martinez, Enrique Chagoya, Karen Dana Cohen, Nicolás de Jesús, Claudio Dicochea, Salvador Dominguez, Ester Hernandez, Benito Huerta, Alejandro Jimenez-Flores, Salvador Jimenez-Flores, Rodrigo Lara, Melissa Leandro, José Lerma, Nicole Marroquin, Marisa Moran Jahn, Vik Muniz, Errol Ortiz, Gala Porras-Kim, Edra Soto, Vincent Valdez, Derek Webster and Mario Ybarra Jr. “LatinXAmerican” runs March 4-June 11. More here.
Abraham Walkowitz Draws Isadora Duncan At Madron
“What is the power of a line, of ink and graphite sinking into a piece of paper? The simple, gestural figure drawings created by modernist Abraham Walkowitz (American, b. Russia, 1878-1965) of the modern dancer Isadora Duncan (American, 1878-1927) answer this question many times over,” relays Madron Gallery of “Perpetual Motion: Abraham Walkowitz Draws Isadora Duncan.” “A confident black line sweeps across the paper, creating the sensation of movement with its bends and curves, its variations in boldness and width. The line elongates and combines with others, forming a figure clad in a sheer tunic, head raised, arms and legs stretching across the wide expanse, challenging the borders of the page. Madron Gallery’s ‘Perpetual Motion’ explores the natural inclination of disparate artists and art forms to intertwine, inspire, and transform one another. Twelve of Walkowitz’s original drawings are exhibited alongside a filmed 2016 performance of ‘Varshavianka,’ a work Duncan choreographed in 1924.” More here.
DESIGN
Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Further Fouls Supply Chains
“Russia’s military incursion is severing key supply chains and setting off a scramble among global companies to comply with new sanctions,” reports the New York Times. “The clash in Ukraine, a large country at the nexus of Europe and Asia, has caused some flights to be canceled or rerouted, putting pressure on cargo capacity and raising concerns about further supply chain disruptions. It is putting at risk global supplies of products like platinum, aluminum, sunflower oil and steel, and shuttering factories in Europe, Ukraine and Russia. And it has sent energy prices soaring, further raising shipping costs.” Meanwhile, the cargo ship that caught fire in the Atlantic with as many as 4,000 luxury vehicles on board has sunk two miles to the bottom of the sea off Portugal.
Initial Details For 31st Street Beach Facilities In Bronzeville
“Initial details have been revealed for the redevelopment of the public areas of Margaret T. Burroughs Beach at 3100 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Bronzeville,” reports YIMBY Chicago. “Most commonly known as 31st Street Beach, the updated plans come after a multiyear delay on the project which will tie in with the adjacent harbor. The redevelopment is led by the Chicago Park District, working with local firm Site Design Group on the structures that will benefit from The Bronzeville Lakefront megadevelopment.”
Chicago Medical District Development Gets Permit For 135-Room Hotel
“Construction has started on a six-story hotel in the Chicago Medical District,” reports Chicago Construction News. “The $18.8 million permit issued on February 28 is part of The Gateway, a $300-million mixed-use development. The permit lists Elzie Higginbottom as the owner…. The overall project is designed by Epstein Global architect.”
$650 Million Double Track Project For Michigan City
“Multimillion-dollar improvements to passenger rail service for northwest Indiana has led to an $80 million development for Michigan City. City officials, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, and Flaherty & Collins Properties are co-developing a mixed-use, twelve-story facility which will house 208 apartments, a new train station, 10,000 square-feet of commercial space and a 558-space parking garage,” reports Northwest Indiana Business. “The project is a linchpin of the South Shore’s $650-million Double Track project that will speed up and streamline passenger rail traffic, making it more practical for daily commuters to and from downtown Chicago,” adds Moody On The Market. “Their optimistic estimate would put train time as sixty-seven minutes each way from Michigan City to Chicago, once the double track project is completed.” The project, with the working title “11th Street Central,” “would be a mix of residential, commercial and train station space, and would include a 558-space parking garage for South Shore Line riders.”
DINING & DRINKING
Ty Fujimura Opens Wine And Sake Shop In Lincoln Square
“It’s been three months since Chicagoans learned that Entente, the Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef Brian Fisher, wouldn’t be reopening in River North,” reports Eater Chicago. “But Ty Fujimura—the restaurateur behind Entente, sushi favorite Arami, and neighborhood pub SmallBar—has… unveiled his latest venture: Rockwell Bottle Shop & Coffee, a retail spot featuring wine, beer and sake, as well as drip coffee and packaged snacks… near the CTA’s Rockwell Brown Line El stop. ‘I always wanted to do something to take what we’ve learned—like sake from Arami, wine at Entente—and channel that at a retail level… I’ve been thinking about how we transpose hospitality onto a retail experience. It’s an interesting exercise.'”
Naperville Set To Regulate Food Trucks
“Two Naperville business organizations are calling on leaders to increase limits on where and how long food trucks can operate,” reports the Naperville Sun, via the Trib. “The Naperville City Council is scheduled to discuss the possibility of regulating or enforcing local taxes on food trucks that operate on private property as the Downtown Naperville Alliance and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce sent letters to city officials offering direction for the council to consider.”
Tribune Releases Tribune Critics’ Food Awards
The Tribune reports on its food critics’ favorites for 2022. Louisa Chu, Nick Kindelsperger and Josh Noel report: “The Chicago Tribune’s annual dining awards are back, and (if you’ll pardon the hubris) better than ever. First and foremost: We’ve decided that calling our yearly celebration the Dining Awards doesn’t quite encapsulate all the great food this city has to offer, especially as our concept of what a restaurant can be continues to evolve… [We’re] proud to present the Chicago Tribune Food Awards. Whether it’s some of the city’s best barbecue delivered out of a virtual kitchen in Avondale or an Asian food wonderland in the form of a food court, we want to celebrate the best food this city has to offer, in all its forms…We thank the frontline enforcers who gave everything to keep people as safe as possible while still endeavoring to serve up platefuls of joy and comfort.”
FILM & TELEVISION
AMC Theatres Introduce Variable Pricing For Big Movies
“AMC Theatres has started to charge higher prices for Hollywood’s most popular films—including this weekend’s release of Warner Bros.’ ‘The Batman’—as the world’s largest cinema chain looks to get more bang from the biggest blockbusters,” reports Ryan Faughnder at the Los Angeles Times. “Chief Executive Adam Aron on Tuesday told investors that the Leawood, Kansas-based company is bringing variable pricing to its theaters, an idea that U.S. movie houses have long resisted other than with matinees and other exceptions.” Adds WGN-TV: “Aron also described AMC as a ‘bold thinker in the area of pricing’ after referencing the chain’s recent successes with raising weekend pricing at U.S. locations, and its existing practice of charging a premium for more sought-after seats in its European theaters, perhaps hinting at future initiatives stateside.” Prices for Saturday night at AMC River East, from Fandango: 6:30pm, $16.45; Dolby Cinema, 7:10pm: $23.17.
MUSIC
Bandcamp Acquired By Maker Of Fortnite
Epic Games has acquired music distribution site Bandcamp. “Bandcamp will keep operating as a standalone marketplace and music community,” the company reports on its blog. “The products and services you depend on aren’t going anywhere, we’ll continue to build Bandcamp around our artists-first revenue model (where artists net an average of eighty-two-percent of every sale), you’ll still have the same control over how you offer your music, Bandcamp Fridays will continue as planned.” But “behind the scenes we’re working with Epic to expand internationally and push development forward across Bandcamp, from basics like our album pages, mobile apps, merch tools, payment system, and search and discovery features, to newer initiatives like our vinyl pressing and live-streaming services… Since our founding in 2008, we’ve been motivated by the pursuit of our mission, which is to help spread the healing power of music by building a community where artists thrive through the direct support of their fans. That simple idea has worked well, with payments to artists and labels closing in on $1 billion. And while over the years we’ve heard from other companies who wanted us to join them, we’ve always felt that doing so would only be exciting if they strongly believed in our mission, were aligned with our values, and not only wanted to see Bandcamp continue, but also wanted to provide the resources to bring a lot more benefit to the artists, labels, and fans who use the site. Epic ticks all those boxes.” Comments Russ Fischer, editorial director, The Boxoffice Studios: “Will hope for the best here—maybe Epic’s tech can push Bandcamp forward—but always going to be skeptical when a tech player flush with cash buys into an all-new sector.”
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Announces Forty-Fifth Anniversary Season
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Stilian Kirov, has announced its forty-fifth anniversary season. The 2022-23 season features cellists Oliver Herbert and Inbal Segev and multiple appearances by Grammy award-winning baritone Bill McMurray, soprano Kimberly E. Jones, and the Chicago Community Chorus. IPO will premiere two works: the Midwest premiere of Vijay Iyer’s “Human Archipelago” (following its unveiling with the London Philharmonic and its American premiere with Oregon Symphony) as well as the world-premiere, co-commission of Augusta Reed Thomas’ “Gwendolyn Brooks Settings,” complete with an accompanying performance by the Anima Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus. More here.
Versa Femme-Centric Festival Debuts In Chicago
VERSA, a music festival with comedy and inspirational speakers across five stages, produced by Four Leaf Productions, has announced a talent lineup including Liz Phair, Ellie Goulding, Kali Uchis, Kim Petras, Monica, Mon Laferte, Jamila Woods, Young M.A, Ingrid Andress, Yuna, Big Freedia, YENDRY, Laura Jane Grace, Salem Ilese, Deb Never, Madame Gandhi, Lila Iké, Adeline, Vagabon, Coco & Breezy, Lillie Mae and Tia Wood. The roster of comedians includes Chelsea Handler, Ilana Glazer, Fortune Feimster, Patti Harrison, Aida Rodriguez, Dulcé Sloan and Sydnee Washington. The inaugural event will be at Lincoln Park South Fields on June 11-12. Tickets on sale here.
ARTS & CULTURE
Chicago Suspends Moscow Sister City Status After Ukraine Invasion
Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv is among Chicago’s Sister Cities, the Tribune notes. “After nearly three dozen aldermen called for Chicago’s Sister Cities relationship with Moscow to be suspended while the Russian war on Ukraine is ongoing, Mayor Lightfoot directed World Business Chicago to do that. ‘While this is not a decision I enter into lightly, we must send an unambiguous message: we strongly condemn all actions by the Putin regime. This suspension will be upheld until the end of hostilities against Ukraine and the Putin regime is held accountable for its crimes.'”
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike Leaving At End Of Month
“After two years as the face and architect of the state’s COVID-19 response, Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike offered the surprise announcement that she will step down later this month,” reports the Sun-Times. “Ezike, the first Black woman to lead the state’s top health agency, stood beside Pritzker for more than 160 coronavirus updates, most of them during the early days of the crisis when residents were ordered to stay indoors—one of the COVID-19 mitigation strategies Pritzker implemented at Ezike’s recommendation.”
Wrigleyville Businesses React To Billionaire Baseball Delay
“I feel especially bad for vendors, parking attendants and other ballpark employees who will pay dearly for the MLB owners’ lockout,” posts writer Phil Rosenthal. The Trib reports on the corporate cancellations: “MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the cancellation of the first two series of the regular season, a move that wipes out division series for both Chicago teams.” “Bars and restaurants in Wrigleyville have had a challenging few years with the pandemic,”reports WGN-TV. “‘We just lifted the mask mandate, summer is around the corner and then they cancel some games. It’s just not what we want to see,’ bar manager Arthur Knutson told the station. While bars and restaurants work to drive traffic in during the offseason, their best money is made after the first pitch of MLB’s Opening Day. While it’s unclear how soon the MLB lockout will end, Wrigleyville businesses and fans are left to wait on deck.”
Problem Parties At Illegal Clubs Continue
“Illegal social clubs are often set up in empty stores being rented out to people who want to have a ‘private affair,’ said Joseph Sneed, a manager of business compliance with the business departments,” reports Block Club Chicago. “Bars shutting down during the pandemic spurred a wave of these unlicensed clubs and parties, forcing the city to create a task force involving the business department, police and the buildings department to raid the spaces and shut them down… ‘Ever since the pandemic first shut everything down, we’ve identified a lot of these event spaces popping up all over the city,’ Sneed said. ‘This is a citywide problem. It’s not just on the Northwest Side. It’s all over.'”
Legislation Introduced To Revoke Postmaster General’s Order For Forty Years Of Gas-Powered Vehicles
“Louis DeJoy’s decision to buy dirty, gas-guzzling postal trucks is a huge mistake,” posts Senator Ed Markey. “I’m on the Senate floor demanding that we tear up his deal and build an all-electric fleet of USPS vehicles that are cleaner, cheaper, and will help create a livable future.”
