By Kay Mckinlay Ford
The month of August offers a wonderful array of activities related to the arts and entertainment scene in Chicago. The following offering should meet the interests of adults and children alike.
ART
Allrise Gallery, 1370 W. Grand Ave., presents the work of Chantal Kommanivanh through Saturday, Aug. 23. The show A Self-Examination of a Refugee’s Identity is 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 visit lisaflores@allrisegallery.com .
Around the Coyote, 1425 N. Damen Ave., presents Joseph Frasca: Memorial Works on Paper through Saturday, Aug. 30. The annual competition exhibits the best new artists’ work on paper. Call (773) 342-6777 or e-mail info@aroundthecoyote.org for details.
Architrouve, 1433 W. Chicago Ave., features the work of Tony Fitzpatrick, Matthew Hoffman, Jesse Goldstein, Damara Kaminecki, Chris Kerr, Joseph Lappie, Lee Piechocki, Michael Pajon, and KS Rives in the month of August. The show is called Allegoric. The exhibition consists of mixed media drawings and photographs. Call (312) 563-1033 or visit www.thearchitrouve.com.
Art Institute of Chicago, The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice building, 111 S. Michigan Ave. welcomes Benin-Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria through August in Regenstein Hall. For more information on these 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 Imagism: 1965-1985 through Saturday, Aug. 16. Featured artists include: Roger Brown, Ed Flood, Art Green, Phil Hanson, Gladys Nilsson, Jim Nutt, Ed Paschki, Christina Ramberg, Barbara Rossi, Karl Wirsum, and Ray Yoshida. Call (312) 751-9500 or www.bowmanart.com for details.
Caro d’Offay Gallery, 2204 W. North Ave., presents Lumetype: Prints and Plates featuring the works of George C. Clark opening Saturday, Aug. 9, through Friday, Oct. 3. Call (773) 235-7400 or visit www.carodoffaygallery.com for details.
Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF), 224 S. Michigan Ave., presents Green with Desire: Can We Live Sustainably in Our Homes? The exhibit continues through August. For further information visit www.architecture.org or call (312) 922-3432.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., presents artist Martin Koenig’s Voices and Images from Bulgaria 1966-1979. These historic black and white photographs portray villagers, especially musicians and dancers, and a document a traditional way of life that has since been transformed by modernization. Also visit Ellis Island by photographer Stephen Wilkes. View the hospital complex that comprised the south side of Ellis Island. Call (312) 744-6630 or visit www.egov.cityofchicago.org for details.
City Gallery, 806 N. Michigan Ave., presents the work of themed photographs by Chicago photographers. The photography department of Columbia College Chicago curates exhibitions along with the Chicago Cultural Center. Call (312) 742-0808 or visit www.colum.edu/academics/phhotography/city_gallery.php.
Framing Mode and Gallery, 1526 S. Wabash Ave., through Saturday, Aug. 16 features Macro, a solo show of paintings, drawings, and prints by Nick Bridge. Call (312) 566-0027 or log on to www.framingmode.com.
Gallery KH, 311 W. Superior St., is presenting the show PhotoFusion featuring works by Robert Berlin and M. Ellen Cocose through Saturday, Aug. 30. Call (312) 642-0202 or log on to www.gallerykh.com.
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., shows Are We There Yet?--work by Howard Henry Chen, Alan Cohen, Christine DiThomas, Aron Gent, Rula Halawani, Surendra Lawoti, Curtis Mann, Oscar Palacio, and Adriana Rios. Also showing is Strings by Monica Herrera in an interactive sound installation. 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., Ste 2-100. Eleven Illinois artists explore plants as conduits between humanity and the natural world. The show opens on Monday, Aug. 25. Call (312) 814-6322 or visit www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/chicago.com for details.
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave., invites all to The Life and Art of Chris Hipkiss with Annie Carlano through Saturday, Aug. 30. Carlano will provide an insightful look into the artist’s incredibly complex, large-scale drawings of a post-apocalyptic future. Call (312) 243-9088 for hours.
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., presents A Declaration of Immigration through August. The exhibition depicts many of the experiences and viewpoints within U.S. immigrant community. The works of more than 70 artists will help visitors increase their understanding of the immigrant perspective. 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 from veterans. Currently, the museum is seeking submissions for a show of letters, poems, and objects from during a war and sent to sweethearts. 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 new 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 library hours call (312) 255-3700 or visit www.newberry.org.
Linda Warren Gallery, 1052 W. Fulton Market, presents the work in acrylic on canvas of artist Hollis Brown Thornton through July. Call (312) 432-9500 or visit www.lindawarrengallery.com for details.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave, presents the work of the avant-garde sculptor Alexander Archipenko, who is a printmaker and graphic artist as well as a sculptor. The show runs through Sunday, Aug. 10. Call (630) 240-7112 or visit www.uima-art.org for details.
Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave., presents its annual Members’ Show through August. Call (312) 738-0400 for gallery hours and details or visit www.womanmade.org.
MUSEUMS
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., invites visitors to Planetary Machines: Views of the Universe Shoot for the Moon through August. A collection of mechanical devices shows the movements of bodies in the Solar System. The planetary machines featured in this exhibit will fascinate children and adults alike. 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. This exhibition features the history of Chinese immigrants to the U.S, exclusion laws enforced upon the Chinese, and reasons for moving to various parts of the U.S. Mini replicas of a Chinese restaurant grocery store and hand laundry will highlight the livelihoods of early Chinese immigrants. Call (312) 949-1000 or visit www.ccamuseum.org.
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., invites all to Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters through August. The exhibit features a series of stunning displays, state-of-the-art animations, and poignant large-scale images. For information call (866) Field-03 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.
Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan Ave., invites viewers to Beyond the Backyard, through Saturday, Aug. 23. The group show examines the outdoor places in which we spend our leisure time, focusing on the backyard but looking beyond it in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Call (312) 663-5554 or visit www.mocp.org.
Museum Science and Industry, 57th St. and Lake Shore Dr., presents Smart Home. See the greenest home in Chicago. All are invited to explore a real, three-story, modular and sustainable “green” home in the museum’s own backyard to learn about the ways, big and small, to make eco-friendly living a part of your 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 Hall. On Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. enjoy Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, where ensemble classical music is 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 August with something for everyone. Harpist and vocalist Joanna Newsom performs with the CSO on Friday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m. The program will include songs which feature orchestral arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. For a complete calendar 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, performs Dance for Life on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Top dance companies unite as part of the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest. To order tickets visit www.danceforlifechicago or call (312) 922-5812.
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.
THEATER
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., presents Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka through Sunday, Aug. 17. Willy Wonka and his band of Oompa-Loompas lead sweet-natured Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners on the tour of a lifetime through a mysterious candy-maker’s fantastical factory. For times and ticket information call (312) 595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com.
DCA Theaters, 77 E. Randolph St., presents Scenes from the Big Picture, written by Owen McCafferty and presented by Seanachai Theatre Company. The story masterfully weaves together the lives of 20 characters in 40 scenes into a 24-hour slice of contemporary Belfast life. The play begins Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Storefront Theater. For show times of these and other events call (312) 742-8497 or visit www.dcatheater.org.
Goodman Theater, 170 N. Dearborn St, presents Esperanza Rising by Chicago Children’s Theater through August. The story is of a wealthy Mexican girl whose privileged existence is shattered when tragedy strikes, and she and her mother flee to California and become employed as migrant workers. For times and ticket prices visit www.goodmantheatre.org or call the box office (312) 443-3800.
