My Bike Betty

Category: Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers

• Pilsen Bound

  Posted at 12:42 am by jan, on May 24, 2017

  Recently, Betty and I headed to Pilsen to check out a community gallery and artist’s co-op, Pilsen Outpost. Co-owners and artists, Teresa Magaña, Pablo Ramirez and Diana Solis provide a space reflecting diverse artistic expression saturated with cultural influences. Supporting the objective of the gallery to represent community artists, they regularly have workshops and openings.

  

  1958 W. 21st Street

  

  Nicolas de Jesus

  

  

  Diske Uno

  

  

  Pablo Ramirez

  

  

  

  The gallery also includes screen prints, crafts, textiles, jewelry, and rotating art exhibitions.

   

  

  Finishing up the day, and grateful for my journey, we got this snap of our beautiful city!

  Ok all! Let’s get out there and explore, look for art and artistic expression and then share it here…all while you SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Pilsen Outpost

• Collaboration…a Win Win for Us All!

  Posted at 6:08 pm by jan, on March 7, 2017

  Greetings fellow explorers! I am super excited to share this week’s find. As an artist and a teacher I am always encouraging collaboration. Magical things happen! So when I discovered Backroom Pop-Up Bar, Johalla Projects art gallery, and the Field Museum were presenting, Celebrating Specimens, I couldn’t wait to check it out. 

  The Tank at Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S Michigan Avenue

  

  

  Now through March 25, Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm – midnight, enjoy a tasty beverage from James Beard Award semifinalist, Paul McGee while exploring real specimens, observing museum experts in action and then joining in on projects and activities.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Field Museum’s Chief Preparator, Akiko Shinya gives the presentation, Dig Your Own Dinosaur

  

  And then, WE DID!

  Great fun while we gathered as a community, learned and laughed! Like I said, magical things happen when you collaborate!

  Alright, Betty and I are off on our next journey. We’re inviting you to join in, explore, look for art and artistic expression everywhere, post your experience here and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Backroom, Chicago Athletic Association, The Field Museum of Natural History Chicago

• Hebru Brantley and New Works

  Posted at 8:20 pm by jan, on February 15, 2017

  Hello All!

  Do you remember this guy from…

  

  

  CTA’s Red Line at Lawrence,

  

  and W. Lunt and Ravenswood Ave?

  Of course you do! It’s Hebru Brantley’s, Chi-boy public art works! As much as Betty and I love to discover these murals along our way, we were super excited to discover new works in a couple of cozy gallery spaces.

  Now through February 25th check out, Hebru Brantley, Eat Crap King exhibition at Vertical Gallery.

  

  1016 N. Western Ave

  

  Bros Before Hoes (real friends), spray paint, charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 2017

  Influenced by Japanese anime, and identifying with the non-traditional works of street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Brantley pairs the familiar image of Basquiat with pop-culture artist Andy Warhol. Brantley’s work references the issues and relationship of art work within the “white cube” as institutionalized and work that rebels against it.

  

  First Major Solo Exhibition, spraypaint, charcoal, acrylic on canvas, 2017

   

  

  Just Catch Your Breath (study), spraypaint, charcoal, acrylic on canvas, 2017

  

  Samo & Andy #2, #3, hand-painted resin, 2017

  

  Shook Up the World, spraypaint, charcoal, acrylic on canvas, 2017

  

  The mask in this series were certainly a surprise to me and after a discussion with Vertical Gallery the discoveries continued across the street at, Line Dot. The journey began with this…

  

  and then there were THESE, more hand-painted resin masks! These superhero kids, most untitled, were created to represent urban youth who are daily challenged by social injustices.

  

  For you fellow wonderers, details!

  

  Blue Devil

  

  

  Sun-Ra

  Super interesting day and one I invite you to share. Wonder, explore, and discover art and artistic expression everywhere! Along the way, post it here and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

   

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Hebru Brantley, Line Dot, The Wabash Arts Corridor, Vertical Gallery

• New Year Affirmations

  Posted at 5:39 pm by jan, on February 3, 2017

  Greetings All!

  As the Chinese New Year approaches, Betty and I got in on some of the celebration this week at a favorite community space…

  

  Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington

  Chinese Arts Society hosted a one hour presentation of song, dance, music, and martial arts. Kicking off the year of the rooster was of course these handmade incredible beast…

  

  

  

  Yay!!! From the lion’s mouth a red “envelope” symbolizes the extension of well wishes, good health, prosperity, and happiness in the new year.

  

  Traditional music invited the Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe to showcase martial arts. 

  

  Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe is famous for the artistic way in which they present traditional Chinese martial arts. On a side note, each artist was selected for the troupe by martial artist and actor, Jackie Chan.

  

  

  Local dance emphasizing tradition.

  Last was this Mongolese singer that blew our minds!

  Alright, Betty and I are off on our next journey, encouraging you to join in, and of course inviting you to post your experience here and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Chicago Cultural Center

• Puppets! An Extension of Expression

  Posted at 5:46 pm by jan, on January 22, 2017

  Happy New Year All!!!

  So what begins the new year better than a bottle of champagne? A two-week puppet festival of course! Check out, chicagopuppetfest.org for a performance that best appeals to you and/or your family.

  This week Betty and I checked out the MCA preview of Silencio Blanco’s, Chiflón, El Silencio del Carbón (Chiflón, Silence of the Coal), where I enjoyed an audience participated talk with the creators and artists and a one on one interaction with the puppets.

  

  Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago

  

  Silencio Blanco Puppeteer group with cofounders, Santiago Tobar and Dominga Gutiérrez

  

  During the talk I was touched by the way the group held and interacted with the puppets.

  

  Hand made from newspaper, each puppet was incredibly personal, expressive, and full of life.

  

  

  AND! They let us touch them!

  

  

   

  Betty and I are off to another show and will share some of our finds next week. Till then, join us on a ride, exploration, and discovery of art and artistic expression. Lastly, post your experience here and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

   

   

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers, Theaters, Festivals, Music, Parades | 0 Comments | Tagged Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, MCA Chicago

• Observation, Affect, and Response

  Posted at 7:16 pm by jan, on December 27, 2016

  

  

  Alphawood Gallery, 2401 North Halsted Street

  Now through April 2, 2017, Chicago-based Alphawood Foundation presents,

  ART AIDS AMERICA Chicago

  BEAUTY

  SEX

  LOSS

  COURAGE

  POLITICS

  With the objective to advocate the rights of the LGBT community, this year’s Alphawood grant award presents this exhibit. In the show, Alphawood identifies the diverse work with labeled icons defining the artist’s point of reference. They include, Body, Activism, Camouflage, and Spirit.

  Originally a bank, the exhibition space lends itself to many aspects of isolation, entrapment, and loneliness conveyed in the work. Below is only a fraction of the art.

  

  Every 12 Minutes, Nayland Blake, video, 1991

  

  Untitled (Water), Feliz Gonzalez-Torres, installation, 1995

  

  By Punchinello’s Bed and The Lamentation, Patrick Webb, oil on canvas, 1992

  

  Homosexual Holocaust, Study for Pink Triangle Torture, Judy Chicago, sprayed acrylic, photo-silkscreen, and oil of canvas, 1989

  

  Untitled, Ferenc Suto, gelatin silver print, 1986

  

  (left) AIDS, Time, Death, Luis Cruz Azaceta, acrylic and ink on paper, 1989
  (right) Icarian I Incline, Daniel Goldstein, leather, sweat, wood, copper, felt, and plexiglass, 1993

  

  Altar Piece, Keith Haring, bronze with with gold leaf patina, 1990

  

  The Uninvited, Rudy Lemcke, video installation, 2003

  

  Red Spill, Kiki Smith, glass, 1996

  

  The End from Where You Are, Jim Hodges, silk, polyester, thread, 1998

  And last, an opportunity to share your story…

  

  StoryCorps records your story to document and then (with your permission) shares it publicly by partnering with Chicago’s WBEZ 91.5 radio.

   

  Alright friends, Betty and I are off on our next adventure and wrapping up 2016. Along the way we extend to you the invitation to explore, look for art and artistic expression everywhere and lastly, SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

   

   

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Alpha wood Gallery, ArtAIDSAmerica Chicago

• Undeniable Evidence

  Posted at 12:53 am by jan, on December 9, 2016

  When I consider what Fine Art is, I think about work with multiple layers of meaning. I think about art like the installations of artist, Doris Salcedo. A large portion of her work is in response to what she witnessed in her Colombia homeland. Using personal articles of those who were victims of war and merciless brutality, her art is documentation and undeniable evidence of crimes against innocence.

  Although work like this is painful to observe, it is absolutely necessary in order to expose crimes and criminals, give voice to victims, and advocate ethical principles.

  This week Betty and I rode to the Museum of Contemporary Art to experience the 2006 installation of artist, Alfredo Jaar.

  

  220 E Chicago Ave

  In the group exhibition, Witness, The Sound of Silence is roughly an 8 minute immersion into an observation, a story, a crime. When entering the gallery you are met with an enclosed room-sized cube where a singular, florescent lit side confronts you. You are then guided to the opposite end, invited to sit on a bench and wait for a green light invitational signal.

  Upon entering the dark space, you sit, read minimal relevant text and witness.

  

  The genesis of the piece is a singular photo. One that tells the story of millions. The same image is part of what destroyed the artist who took it. And in that very same image is the result of lost humanness.

  This piece will exhibit until February 12th and is a part of the permanent collection at the MCA.

   

   

  Posted in Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged MCA, Museum of Contemporary

• A Hidden Gem in the Loop

  Posted at 7:42 pm by jan, on November 28, 2016

  This discovery was found nestled on the 3rd floor of Block Thirty-Seven downtown.

  

  108 N. State Street

  Now through February 25th enjoy Sydney University’s Tin Sheds Gallery’s traveling installation project, City of Ideas: Architects’ Voices and Visions. After curator Vladimir Belogolovsky gathered and transcribed leading international architects ideas and objectives he then extended the collaboration to local artists and architects for their response to the work and to the evolution of architectural design.

  

  

  Kengo Kuma
  Bato-machi Hiroshige Museum
  Tokyo
  1954

  

  Zvi Hecker
  Ramot Houseing
  Jerusalem
  1931

  

  Wolf Prix
  Rooftop Remodeling Falkestrasse
  Vienna
  1942

  

  Paulo Mendes da Rocha
  Saint Peter Chapel
  Sao Paulo
  1928

  

  Thomas Mayne
  Diamond Ranch High School
  Pomona, California
  1999

  

  Lastly, a super kewl shopping area loaded with local designer’s work. 

  Ok all, keep an eye out for art and artistic expression…it’s EVERYWHERE! Join Betty and me and explore, learn something new, post it here and then, SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

  Posted in Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged Chicago Design Museum

• Field Museum’s Tattoo Pop-ups!

  Posted at 5:22 pm by jan, on November 16, 2016

  On the heels of the last blog entry, check out the traveling tattoo parlor by the Field Museum. Spreading the word that the Tattoo exhibit will run through April 30, 2017, be on the lookout as this tatt shop travels around Chicago treating on-lookers to a free temporary airbrushed tattoo.

  

  Last seen, Emporium Arcade Bar, 2363 N Milwaukee

  

  

  Thanks to airbrush artist, Jason Preker for fun, no commitment fresh ink!

  Posted in Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged The Field Museum of Natural History Chicago

• Where Can You Find a Dinosaur in a Cubs Jersey?

  Posted at 6:49 pm by jan, on November 11, 2016

  

  

  The Field Museum of Natural History, that’s where!
  1400 S. Lake Shore Drive

  Now through April 30th exhibition, Tattoo explores many aspects of the practice of tattooing including cultural influence, the tools used, the history of tattooing, and live tattoo demonstrations.

  I visited this show over a week ago and what continues to come to mind is the characteristic of tattooing that identifies a person regardless of whether it is received by choice or not. These characteristics then exemplify a dichotomy of extreme intention, representation, and meaning.

  

  Auschwitz survivor, Dr. George Brent

  Photographer: John Weinstein Wilmette

  

  Auschwitz survivor Livia Ravek’s grandson Daniel Philosoph proudly displays his grandmother’s identifying number as homage to her.

  Photographer: Uriel Sinai

  

  A practice of the Ottoman government, during the Armenian genocide, was to force women into slavery and prostitution and then identify them as such by tattooing their faces and chest.

  Photographer: unknown

  

  Photographer: Marc Garanger

  

  Famous Phillippine master tattoo artist Fang-Od Odday practices and trains the art of Kalina tattooing. For women, the marks are signs of beauty along with the belief that the adornment will carry over into the afterlife.

  Photographer: Jake Verzosa

  

  A woman from the Chinese Drung culture with marks that identify rights of passage among her tribe.

  Photographer: Michael Laukien

  

  Yakuzas or Japanese mafia identify themselves traditionally by full body tattoos.

  Photographer: Irina Ionesco

  

  Salvadorian gang member’s marks convey symbols of gang loyalty and defiance to authority.

  Photographer: Isabel Munos

  

  Photographer: Isabel Munos

  

  A late 19th/early 20th century sideshow featuring a prisoner being tattooed by natives.

  Photographer: unknown

  

  Mid 20th century trunk and suitcase of a traveling tattoo artist.

  Last, I want to show some work of contemporary artist.

  Artist: Guy le Tatooer

  Photographer: Zoe Forget

  

  Artist: Yann Black

  Photographer: Zoe Forget

  

  Artist: Musa

  Photographer: Zoe Forget

  

  Artist: Kostek

  Photographer: Zoe Forget

  A really interesting exhibit and keep in mind only a fraction of it is shown here.

  Alright! Betty and I are off on our next adventure and considering Thanksgiving is around the corner, and I’m super thankful for this project, the next entry will reflect gratefulness!

  Remember fellow explorers, art and artistic expression is everywhere. Look for it. Document it. Then please, post it here and SHOW ME WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

   

  Posted in An Extension To All, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers | 0 Comments | Tagged The Field Museum of Natural History Chicago

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