Weekend Events

Friday

Art in my Backyard has a new exhibition opening today, in a newly renovated storefront at 4201 N Elston Ave. The opening reception is tonight from 6 - 9pm. The exhibition is titled "Buy Land" and

explores the American landscape through painting, drawing and video, and features ten artists who live and work on the northwest side of Chicago. The show title "Buy Land" draws attention to the current real estate crisis and borrows from a Mark Twain quote: "Buy land. They're not making it anymore."

Artists include Lorna Fillippini, Pamela Gibson, Liz Gresey, Fletcher Hayes, Jennifer Hines, Michael Kolasinski, Chris Novak, Garrett Reese, Neil Shapiro, and Cyd Smillie."

via 39th Ward newsletter

The space is only open on the weekends (check website for hours) and the show runs until October 30th. Admission is free.

Chicago Calling at Brown Rice.

The Chicago Phonography collective, which participated in the MCA's “Here/Not There” performance series this summer, plays recordings from the Ragdale artists' retreat in Lake Forest as part of the Chicago Calling Arts Festival. For more information, visit chicagocalling.org.

from TimeOut Chicago

Visit the Brown Rice website to find out who the second set will be (includes video projections from 3 artists) .

When: 10- 11:30pm

Where: 4432 Kedzie

Free (suggested $5 donation)

Saturday

North Park University's annual Homecoming Block Party. Look for music, games, BBQ food, and booths by local organizations.

Where: Off Kedzie and Carmen (if it rains, HBP will take place in Hamming Hall)

When: 10:30am- 1:30pm

Free

Gomp-tober Fest Party in the Park! Featuring food, drink, live music, with an entrance fee of $5. Only for 21+

Where: Gomper's Park

When: 7:30pm- 10:30pm.

The Swimming Pool Project Space new exhibition "Badgerland" opens. The exhibition features various media produced by students visiting Prague.

Only for 21+ (free Grolsch beer)

Where: 2858 W Montrose

When: 6pm- 9pm

Free

Sunday

Albany Park's first mural will be complete and hung by Our Lady of Mercy. Go check it out!

(more info about the mural, including interviews, to come soon)

The Swimming Pool was a splash-

I went to the SPPS GroupSOLO opening on Saturday night, and I had a blast. Granted, because of this cold/flu thing I have I couldn't stay for the whole show (Nyquil and Grolsch are fun together?) - the 2 hours I was there sold me in coming back for their next opening.

I arrived during Tom Long's exhibit, to watch Aza Quinn-Brauner and Daniel Baird putting together podiums for the next installation. Liz Nielson (the owner of the space) was around to greet guests and explain her concept: by showing the installations before the show, it would allow the attendee to view the more mundane and ordinary aspects of a gallery exhibition. The idea that the show is in progress also makes the viewer question if they should be at the gallery at that time- should they come back when installation is done? It's a play on the idea of how we view art in the museum setting- all pristine and perfect, ready for the viewer. Seeing the installation take place created this relaxed environment, and I admit, I couldn't wait to see the next artist- there was a "build-up" of anticipation.

Tom Long's art piece was fantasic- his use of patterns, empty space, and intricate detail made me feel like I could look at it for hours and not take in everything. Diego Leclery was next, with a video installation. Three small TVs played video of him insulting the viewer, or himself. I had a detailed conversation with the last artist Jeffrey Grauel deconstructing the video installation. Grauel noted the computer monitor light, and how the video looks like it could be a youtube video. Leclery's insults focused on being "crazy" or a "baby"- and it made me wonder if his art piece was commentary on the comments people leave on the internet/youtube videos. From there, Grauel explained to me his art process- using a machine to burn pinpricks on wood. These pinpricks make a picture. Grauel says he is fascinated by the tension between machine and nature- and is specifically drawn to memories- furthering the idea of "burning".

As for the crowd: artists, writers (including Justin Natale of Newcity and freelancer Erik Wennermark), friends, students of Liz Nielson and .....a group of 16 year olds that grabbed a beer, checked out Long's painting for 5 minutes, then promptly left (hey, I would have done the same thing?). The space is small and intimate, and combined with the art and free beer is a perfect catalyst for thoughtful and friendly conversation.

The SPPS is open to the public only on Sundays, from 1pm- 5pm.

Events in the neighborhood

Saturday

The Swimming Pool Project Space is having a one-night only exhibition tonight, called the GroupSOLO project, a rotating gallery performance of 4 individual artists. The artists are Carol Jackson, Tom Long, Jeffrey Grauel and Diego Leclery, and each exhibit will be installed on the hour by Aza Quinn-Brauner and Daniel Baird. The installation will be visible, as that is the point:

The public performance exposes the behind-the-scenes gallery installation and prep work. The on-lookers will experience timely intervals of action allowing singular artists in a group show to be viewed more intimately and critically. Additionally, because of the truncated exhibition times, some guests may come and go with the intention of seeing a specific artist's work (just as one would come to see a band play their set within a night's line up) conveniently featuring more obvious social sub-groups within the art viewing and art making public.

The exhibit starts at 7pm, and goes until 11. The line up: T. Long @ 7- 8, D. Leclery @ 8 - 9, C. Jackson @ 9- 10, with J. Grauel going last from 10- 11pm.

and...

Mi Lindo Pueblo restaurant is having a party, from 8pm - 3am. Admission is free, and so are margaritas for the ladies. It looks like there will be 5 different boy bands/mariachi bands at this event. Check out the flyer below.