High Culture
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Arts and Activism: Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis
art, above: from “Public Address”, an art installment/retail concept curated by Ellen Rothberg. Chicago, 2008. Thursday, October 1st at Bronzeville’s Little Black Pearl Art & Design Center, there will be a panel discussion focusing on the Arts scenes in these three cities (and the intersection of art and community activism). Panelists and other participants will be…
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Cult Movie of the Week: Stray Dog (1949)
A work of Japanese Noir from iconic Japanese director Kurosawa, “Stray Dog” (1949) gets by on good looks, swagger, and heart. Featuring a slinking pace, the film’s cadence is ultimately trumped by its ability to be beautifully gritty and enveloping, just like summer. Set in the depths of summer in Post-World War II Tokyo, the film follows detective Murakami as he seeks to…
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Marion Perkins: Sculpted a Better Chicago, a Better World
Woodson Regional is a gem of the South Side. I’ve always believed that. One of my favorite locations of the Chicago Public Library, bar none. The library, located at 95th and Halsted, boasts the Vivian Harsh Research Collection (all manner of Black Ephemera) and a really strong overall collection. 1 of only two regional libraries in the…
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Dear Michael….
What bothers me are bandwagon tributes. An Icon, they say. A Genius. The same cackling media outlets that refused to play Michael Jackson’s music for years, and affixed an implicit punchline to his name. Whatever. Artists are not perfect people. We can choose to accept the art without embracing the artist. In the case of Michael Jackson,…
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The Art of Development: Marguerite Horberg’s Portoluz
In the news: a whole new vision of performance, development, art, and change! Originally published in CHICAGO WEEKLY…. By: Veronica Gonzales Envision this: a creative haven for artists both local and global to come together and encourage the economic growth of a community. A neighborhood place where artists, intellectuals, community activists, students, and visitors can…
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Jaema Joy Berry: You Can’t Dance out the Side of Your Mouth
From performing arts space Links Hall…. Quirky, funny, and sincere, with accompaniment ranging from jazz piano to the sound of tap dancing, Chicago choreographer Jaema Joy Berry explores the simplicity of movement in the context of human and musical interaction. Running: Friday – Saturday June 19-20, 8pm Sunday, June 21, 7pm 3435 N Sheffield Ave…
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Mingus Awareness Project TONIGHT!
Tonight, a group of musicians will gather at The Hideout to celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus, and to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Mingus, an American musical hero who died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), is one of the greatest figures in jazz history. His bass playing, compositions and philosophy have…
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Art Comes Alive Tonight in Chicago
First Fridays at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Tonight, Fri. May 1st) Happy hour takes on a new meaning with First Fridays at the MCA. Cash bar featuring specialty drinks and free Wolfgang Puck appetizers. Enjoy live music from local DJs, the world’s only iMac G5 digital dating bar, creation stations, and more. Each month features…
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no room for pride
Art from Immig-Art, anonymously contributed immigration experiences as a group art project. Immig-Art was founded by my friend, Kabuika Kamunga, a Congolese filmmaker and journalist based in Chicago.
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Alvin Ailey American Dance: back in chicago
the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is back in Chicago (at the gorgeous Auditorium Theatre). Those loyal darkjive readers among you, I warned you weeks ago that it was time to save up…. highlights of this year’s program include: Night Creature – One of Ailey’s most classically choreographed ballets juxtaposed within Ellington’s jazz idiom –…
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