DuSable Art and Craft Fair a highlight of summer
By Kay McKinlay Ford
Uncover the lawn
furniture, oil the bike, and get up off the couch to enjoy summer. Time
to organize that family reunion, see old friends, and drink up some of
that elusive sun. This month, what better place to meet than the 34th
annual DuSable Art and Craft Fair on the City’s South Side?
Enjoy a weekend of art, words, music, and dance that showcases the creativity of African American artists Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, from noon until 8 p.m.
This year’s fair, Connecting Black Art and History: Celebrating Excellence and Achievement, highlights fine arts and crafts that relate to African-American themes, identity, history, and culture. Throughout the weekend, attendees also can enjoy music, workshops, child-friendly activities, and lots of great food.
“We try to keep everyone engaged and entertained; we try not to forget anybody,” said Marilyn Hunter, event chairperson.
More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair, which will be held next to DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl., in Washington Park’s sunken garden.
The event began in 1976 to give artists an opportunity to show their work, and it has evolved into a summertime “must do” ever since.
“There really still aren’t a lot of places that showcase African American artists,” explained Hunter, “which was the original reason for the festival in the first place.”
This year, African inspired crafters will display intricate quilts, engaging dolls, sophisticated jewelry, multi-colored clothing, hats, and other handmade treasures. In addition, fine artists will interpret their African legacy in sculpture, paintings, and stained glass.
Some of the fine artists who will participate are familiar names in the Chicago art scene, including Ronda Gray, Sekou Ra, Laurel Richardson, and Mansfield Harris. Also showing are sculpture artists Daluhshaka Mugwana, Grant White, and Mitchel Nelson and stained glass artist Monica Harris.
Authors Eric Green, Pam Page Morris, Sporty King, Erin Gosser Mitchel, Judith Grand Pre Smith, and Talayah Stovall will be on hand for book signings; their books’ topics range from personal empowerment tools and methods for self-improvement to inspiring poems for teachers and parents.
Young entrepreneur artisans also will show and sell their work. “One young lady, Maxine Mathis, won last year for her bracelets," Hunter said. "She was 11 years old. We have children as young as five sell their work.”
Children can check out the Art of Play, which will present oversize chess, checkers, and hopscotch to keep kids engaged. Kids also can jam to music provided by the Radio Disney van.
Grown-up music lovers will enjoy the myriad sounds filling the park all weekend as bands play reggae, jazz, and gospel. Many talented local artists working in a variety of genres also will be on hand.
While some tap their feet, others will glean knowledge from the many workshops such as the Art of Investing, How to Market Your Product, and What is the Future of African American Art?, all free to participants. Also, in conjunction with the clothing crafters, enjoy the Strike a Pose fashion show featuring some of the custom designs and accessories available for purchase.
For those looking for a cool treat, stop by the event’s longstanding tradition: the ice cream social. While some may choose dessert first, others can sample all kinds food from vendors who offer African American and other cuisines such as soul food, soul vegetarian, curry and jerk chicken, smoothies, and desserts.
“It’s just a great time; anyone and everyone will enjoy,” proclaimed Hunter.
Admission is free, and the museum also is open all weekend. The DuSable Museum is accessible by CTA buses #3, #4, and #55, and limited parking is available on the premises. For more information call (773) 947-0600.
ART
Allrise Gallery, 1370 W. Grand Ave., opens in its new location on Friday, July 11, with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. with Chantal Kommanivanh. The show, A Self-Examination of a Refugee’s Identity, features works of paint and mixed media on denim. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (773) 292-9255 or e-mail lisaflores@allrisegallery.com.
Around the Coyote, 1425 N. Damen Ave., presents Works on Paper opening Saturday, July 12, 6 to 10 p.m. The annual competition exhibits the best new artists' work on paper. Call (773) 342-6777 for details.
Architrouve, 1433 W. Chicago Ave., displays new mixed media drawings and photographs by Victoria Loeb and J.C. Steinbrunner through July. Call (312) 563-1033 or visit www.thearchitrouve.com.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. welcomes Benin-Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria opening Thursday, July 10, and running through Sunday, Sept. 21. For more information on this and other shows visit www.artic.edu/aic or call (312) 443-3600 for details.
Russell Bowman Art Advisory, 311 W. Superior St., Suite 115, presents Chicago Imagism: 1965-1985 through July and featuring work by Roger Brown, Ed Flood, Art Green, Phil Hanson, Gladys Nilsson, Jim Nutt, Ed Paschke, Christina Ramberg, Barbara Rossi, Karl Wirsum, and Ray Yoshida. Call (312) 751-9500 or log on to www.bowmanart.com for details.
Caro d’Offay Gallery, 2204 W. North Ave., presents paintings by Fred Camper and Lyle Carbajal through July. Call (773) 235-7400 or visit www.carodoffaygallery.com for details.
Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., presents Green with Desire: Can We Live Sustainably in our Homes?, an exhibit continuing through July. For information visit www.architecture.org or call (312) 922-3432.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. presents eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopedics in Art through Sunday, July 20. Sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the juried exhibition highlights paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography by artists who have experienced an orthopedic condition and by orthopedic surgeons who treat them. Also showing beginning Saturday, July 19, is Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe. Approximately 300 photographs, paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and other pieces honor the icon of 1950s femininity. Call (312) 744-6630 or visit www.egov.cityofchicago.org for details.
City Gallery, 806 N. Michigan Ave., presents photographs on specific themes by Chicago photographers. Through Sunday, Aug. 3, see work by Jason Lazarus and Brian Ulrich that interprets the Wright Auction House. Call (312) 742-0808 or visit www.colum.edu/academics/phhotography/city_gallery.php.
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., shows Faster Cheaper Bolder, an exhibit of work by students in the center's adult silk screen classes, through Sunday, July 27. Also showing is Dirty: Work by Paul Nudd and Casey Wasniewski and photography by young area artists through Sunday, July 20. Admission is free. Call (773) 324-5520 or visit www.hydeparkart.org for details.
Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery, Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 2-100, presents a show of work by metalsmith L. Brent Kington entitled Mythic Metalsmith through Friday, Aug. 1. Call (312) 814-6322 or visit www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/chicago.com for details.
Thomas
Masters Gallery, 245 W. North Ave., presents Icon, work of
Nicholas Harper, through Friday, June 13. Call (312) 440-2322.
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., presents A Declaration of Immigration. The show opens Friday, July 4 and depicts many of the experiences and viewpoints within U.S. immigrant community via works by more than 70 artists. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org or call (312) 738-1503.
National Vietnam Veterans Museum, 1801 S. Indiana Ave, exhibits work by veterans and currently seeks submissions for a show of letters, poems, and other objects written during a war and sent to a sweetheart. Send digital files to: Ted Stanuga at stanuga48@comcast.net. Call (312) 326-0270 or visit www.nvvam.org for details.
Neleh Galleries Internationale, 3219 S. Calumet Ave, welcomes all to their location in the heart of Bronzeville’s Historic District. Call (312) 225-5692 or visit www.nelehgalleries.com for gallery hours.
Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., highlights 500 Years of Puerto Rican History through the Eyes of Others through Saturday, July 12. For hours call (312) 255-3700 or visit www.newberry.org.
Judy A. Saslow Gallery, 300 W. Superior St., shows new mixed media sculptures by Gerard Cambon, La Tinaia, and Mr. Imagination through Saturday, July 26. Call (312) 943-0530 or visit www.jsaslowgallery.com.
Linda Warren Gallery, 1052 W. Fulton Market, presents Hollis Brown Thornton’s work in acrylic on canvas through July. Call (312) 432-9500 or visit www.lindawarrengallery.com for details.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave, invites all to join curator of collections Stanislov Grezdo as he leads a tour of the newly installed permanent art collection on Saturday, July 26, at 3 p.m. Call (630) 240-7112 or visit www.uima-art.org for details.
Walsh Gallery, 118 N. Peoria St., presents Portraying Food (and the Absence of IT), featuring paintings, ceramic sculptures, and photographs about food. Call (312) 829-3312.
Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave., presents Drawing on Experience through Thursday, July 24.Visit www.womanmade.org or call (312) 738-0400 for gallery hours and details.
DANCE
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., offer 25% off a subscription; see all four programs for as little as $75. Call (312) 850-9744, ext. 166, or e-mail compete order form to tickets@hubbardstreetdance.com.
MUSEUMS
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., invites visitors to Shoot for the Moon. This new permanent exhibition highlights exciting stories of space exploration. Visit www.artic.edu or call (312) 857-7161 for details.
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. Call (312) 949-1000 or visit www.ccamuseum.org.
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., presents special programs for children Monday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. During Egypt Unwrapped, participants prepare a mummy for its journey to the afterlife; in the Great Fossil Hunt, children can find out what it takes to be a paleontologist. Cost is $4 per child. For information call (866) Field-03 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.
Museum Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, presents Smart Home, which invites visitors to explore a three-story modular and sustainable “green” house in the museum' own backyard to learn about the ways, big and small, to make eco-friendly living a part of life. For more information call (773) 753-6230 or visit www.msichicago.org.
MUSIC
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St, invites all to Classical Mondays at 12:15 p.m. in the Grand Army of the Republic Room. On Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. enjoy the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, which spotlights ensemble classical music performed by young musicians. For more information call (312) 404-7180 or log on to www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., has a full calendar in the month of July with something for everyone. For a complete schedule and ticket information visit www.cso.org or call (312) 294-3000.
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. in Millennium Park, offers Made in America Tuesday through Thursday, July 29 through 31, featuring the Grant Park Chorus. To order tickets visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call (312) 334-7777.
Sherwood Conservatory of Music,
1312 S. Michigan Ave., offers special summer programs including the
Chamber Music Workshop, Summer Flute Institute, and Children’s Opera
Camp. New this summer is a Latin Jazz Workshop and the Keys to Style
piano workshop. For details visit
www.colum.edu/Sherwood_conservatory/ or call (312)
427-6267.
THEATER
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., presents Funk It Up About Nothin, an “ad-rap-tation” of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing through July. Also, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka begins Tuesday, July 8. For times and ticket information call (312) 595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com for details.
DCA Theaters, 77 E. Randolph St. BackStage Theatre Co. presents Bloody Bess: A Tale of Piracy and Revenge through Sunday, July 20. This thriller tells the story of Elizabeth Presberty, daughter of the governor of Tobago, who became a pirate. Call (312) 742-8497 or visit www.dcatheater.org.
Goodman Theater, 170 N. Dearborn St, presents Chicago Children’s Theater’s Esperanza Rising, the story of a rich Mexican girl whose privileged existence is shattered by tragedy, forcing her to flee with her mother to California, where the two become migrant workers. For times and ticket prices visit www.goodmantheatre.org or call the box office (312) 443-3800.
