Chicago Cultural Alliance finds strength in numbers 

By Kay McKinlay Ford 

Chicago’s diversity, from Bronzeville and Chinatown on the South Side, to Greektown on the Near West Side, to Vietnamese and Swedish communities farther north, has defined the city’s essence and character. Over the years, its many cultures have folded into one another, creating an origami-like effect: like the plain, flat piece of paper that transforms into a breathtaking 3D design with each geometric fold, Chicago has grown richer and more complex as its many ethnic groups have arrived, interacted, and contributed to an ever greater whole.

The Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) launched last month after three years of planning with the goal of uniting the “folds” of Chicago’s many small ethnic organizations. The CCA seeks to unite the little ethnic museums and cultural centers around the city and to partner with larger museums and government.

The key word is "partner," not "join." The individual identity of each member museum will remain intact, but each member also will support the others.

CCA began with a core of 20 members voicing some big ideas, such as promoting cultural understanding and making resources available for government, museums, libraries, universities, businesses, and other educational and cultural institutions. Core members include the Ukrainian National Museum, Swedish American Museum, Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia, and Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society.

CCA envisioned presenting cultural and educational programs, helping immigrants and youth, and facilitating unity and communication both within and between communities. They also felt their members could undertake such tasks more effectively as a group than alone.

“We are stronger together," said Jennifer Amdur Spitz, CCA director. "The smaller museums find it hard for each to raise money. It works well when we share resources.”

Aligned, the consortium can better engage in public education, marketing, preservation, and social service programs by providing organizational development to its core members. As Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Currently, CCA is using the Smart Scope Assessment Tool developed by the Arts and Business Council of Chicago to help members evaluate their infrastructure.  More than 80% of the members are participating in the study to determine how they could strengthen their organizations.

Meanwhile, partner institutions such as the Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum work to “fold” some of their programs into CCA museums. An origami-like partnership was created in Cultural Connections at the Field Museum to allow area ethnic museums and cultural centers to become involved and provide greater opportunity to explore Chicago’s cultural diversity.

“The alliance has put a lot of effort and heart into deciding where they want to promote cultural understanding and to create a relationship with larger museums,” explained Jennifer Norman, CCA executive board secretary.

CCA already is looking for more partners to work with to spur creative ideas and offer new venues. It also plans to hire an executive director and develop a fundraising campaign with the goal of growing membership and partnerships focusing on the depth of cultural diversity.

The CCA currently is working out of the Swedish American Museum Center, 5211 N. Clark St. For more information, call (773) 728-8111, ext. 24, or e-mail info@chicagoculturalaliance.org.

 

ART

            Alfedena Gallery, 434 W. Ontario St., offers Yvette Kaiser-Smith’s Digits opening Friday, Mar. 14, and running through Saturday, Apr. 12. Call (312) 944-4340 or log on to www.alfedenagallery.com.

            Architrouve, 1433 W. Chicago Ave., presents New Abstractions by Brenda Barnum and Marianna Levant. Call (312) 563-0977 or log on to www.thearchitrouve.com.

            Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., presents Do We Dare Squander Chicago’s Great Architectural Heritage? Preserving Chicago, Making History through March. Visit www.architecture.org or call (312) 922-3432.

            Gallery 400 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 400 S. Peoria St. See the large-scale installation Thread by artist Justin Cooper, which debuts Tuesday, Apr. 22, with a special opening night performance. Visit www.uic.edu, call (312) 996-6114, or visit www.feeltankchicago.net.

            Lloyd Dobler, 1545 W. Division St., 2nd floor, presents the group show Into the Mouth of the Wolf opening Friday, Mar. 7, and featuring work by Matthew Woodson, Helena Kvarnstrom, Dawn Kasper, Matt Carr, Brendan Larsen, and Xela. Visit www.lloyddoblergallery.com or call (312) 961-8706.

            Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., presents Soft Life through Sunday, Mar. 30, in Gallery 4. Wall hangings, installations, video, performance, and sculptures represent the passionate, chaotic, and sometimes painful connection love generates between individuals. Admission is free. Call (773) 324-5520 or visit www.hydeparkart.org.

            Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave., presents Least Wanted: A Century of American Mugshots, Mark Michaelson’s collection of mugshots from the 1870s to the 1960s, throughout March. Call (312) 243-9088 for hours.

            National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., presents mixed media pieces, 3D constructions, and works on paper by young artists from various Chicago neighborhoods including Pilsen, Back of the Yards, and Little Village. The exhibition runs through Friday, Mar. 28. Admission is free. Visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org or call (312) 738-1503.

National Vietnam Veterans Museum, 1801 S. Indiana Ave., features exhibits by vets of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan throughout March in a show entitled The Things They Carried. Call (312) 326-0270 or visit www.nvvam.org.

Neleh Galleries Internationale, 3219 S. Calumet Ave., welcomes all to their Frank Lloyd Wright-designed location in the heart of Bronzeville’s Historic District. Call (312) 225-5692 or visit www.nelehgalleries.com.

Judy A. Saslow Gallery, 300 W. Superior St., features works by David Lee Csicsko and Kathy Yancey through Sat., Apr. 12, with an opening reception Fri., Mar. 7, 5 to 8 p.m. Call (312) 943-0530 or log on to www.jsaslowgallery.com.

            Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, 618 S. Michigan Av., presents The New Authentics: Artists of the Post-Jewish Generation, in which artists explore contemporary notions of Jewish identity. Visit www.spertus.edu or call (312) 322-1700.

            Linda Warren Gallery, 1052 W. Fulton Market, shows art by Joseph Noderer, who works in acrylic on panels. Call (312) 432-9500 or visit www.lindawarrengallery.com.

            Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave., offers Between Hip-Hop and Hopak, a lecture by Adriana Helbig on Saturday, Mar. 8, at 3 p.m. Helbig will explore how, since the collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union, growing numbers of Africans have migrated to Ukraine to form their own cultures. Call (630) 240-7112 or visit www.uima-art.org.

            Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave., presents Speaking to My Ancestors through Thursday, Mar. 27, to showcase artists influenced by people in their pasts. Visit www.womanmade.org or call (312) 738-0400.

 

MUSEUMS

Chinese-American Museum, 238 W, 23rd St., presents Great Wall to the Great Lakes: Chinese Immigration to the Midwest, which traces the history of Chinese immigrants to the U.S, including exclusion laws and reasons for moving to various parts of the U.S. Mini replicas of a Chinese restaurant grocery store and hand laundry highlight early Chinese immigrants’ livelihoods. Call (312) 949-1000 or visit www.ccamuseum.org.

Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., offers Family Field Day on Saturday, Mar. 15. Meet WTTW Kids character Piggley Winks, hear a story, take part in free art activities, meet a real scientist, or sign up for a family workshop. Free with museum admission. Call (866) Field-03 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.

Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St. and Lake Shore Dr., presents Dinosaurs Alive, a captivating adventure of science and discovery in a new giant screen film narrated by Michael Douglas. The show runs throughout March. For more information, call (773) 753-6230 or visit www.msichicago.org.

 

MUSIC

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St, presents Classical Mondays at 12:15 p.m.; Jazz, Blues, & Beyond on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. in the Randolph Café at 77 E. Randolph St.; and classical music by young musicians on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. On Sundays at 3 p.m., enjoy more classical music with the Sunday Salon Series. Admission is free. Call (312) 744-6630 or log on to www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.

            Music in the Loft, 1017 W. Washington Blvd., presents the Young Award Winners’ Concert with Emma Steele, violin, and Paul Juhn, piano, on Sunday, Mar. 9, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for students. Call (312) 243-9233 or visit www.musicintheloft.org.

            Pianoforte, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., suite 825, presents members of the Metropolis Quartet and pianist George Radosavljevic in a program of music for oboe, violin, cello, and piano featuring a Beethoven trio, Bach double concerto, and Martinu quartet on Friday, Mar. 14, at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Call (312) 291-0000 or toll free (888) 291-6880 or visit www.pianofortechicago.com.

            Sherwood Conservatory of Music, 1312 S. Michigan Ave., invites all to a free symphony concert at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 2746 N. Magnolia St., on Sunday, Mar. 9, at 2 p.m. Call (312) 427-6267.

           

THEATER

            Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., presents Shakespeare’s Othello, directed by Marti Maraden, in the Courtyard Theater throughout March. Call (312) 595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com.

Merle Reskin Theatre of DePaul University, 60 E. Balbo Dr., will offer The Giver by Lois Lowry, which has been adapted for the stage by Eric Coble and directed by Ernie Nolan. The show opens Tuesday, Apr. 1, and tells a story staged in a perfect world without pain, war, fear, or inequality in which a young man, Jonas, is selected as the Receiver of Memories and begins to learn some difficult truths. Call the box office at (312) 922-1999 or visit www.ticketweb.com for online orders.

            Redmoon Theater, 1438 W. Kinzie St. The Depression-era tale Boneyard Prayer opens Saturday, Mar. 15, and uses puppets, shadow images, and music to explore struggle, sorrow, and ultimate redemption. Tickets cost $15 to $30. For tickets or more information, call the box office at (312) 850-8440 x111 or visit www.redmoon.org.