BULLETIN
Using Data Wisely
Community Programs Accelerator, 5225 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Wednesday, November 16, 12:30pm–2pm. Free. Register here. (773) 702-8803. communityprograms.uchicago.edu
In this day and age, information is everywhere—from the government tracking phone calls, to Facebook feeding consumer data to advertisers. But can Big Data be channeled toward social good? The UofCs Community Programs Accelerator explores how to use data in philanthropy and public service. (Hafsa Razi)
Screening of Precious Loss
7th District Police Station, 1438 W. 63rd St., Community Room. Wednesday, November 16, 11:00am–2:00pm. Free. RSVP required. Email btreeceosting@everthriveil.org or call 312-491-8161, ext. 24.
The documentary Precious Loss looks at racial disparities in infant mortality and how they arise from systemic racism. After the film, participants will discuss the issue and hear an expert panel speak on how the documentary relates to their work. (Scott K. Olehnik)
Couponing 4 Beginners
South Shore Public Library, 2505 E. 73rd St., Conference Room. Saturday, November 19, 9am–11:30am. $15.50–$20. Bring at least one copy of the Sunday Tribune. Ticket price includes raffle entry. (773) 891-7246. bit.ly/couponing4beginners
Learn new ways to save money on household necessities from “Natasha The Fugal Coupon Lady,” at this Saturday workshop. Natasha—who “[eats], [sleeps], and [breathes] coupons!!”—will teach you how to get the best bang for your buck by being smart about weekly deals, sales, and coupon offers. (Emily Lipstein)
A Pie In The Sky: A VIP Bake Sale
Absolutely Anything Essential Gift Shop, 3521 S. King Dr. Saturday, November 26, 9am–3pm. VIP breakfast 9am–10am, four hour-long unlimited tasting sessions starting 10am. $20 for VIP breakfast and one tasting session, $15 for one tasting session. (773) 406-7663. bit.ly/pie-in-the-sky
How many desserts can you eat in an hour? Taste cakes, pies, doughnuts, and more from local dessert masters at this exclusive bake sale event. Find your new favorite treat and place your holiday orders while benefitting the FAM Entertainment Theater Company, which empowers young women and girls through the creative arts. (Emily Lipstein)
VISUAL ARTS
ArtWorks: Makers on 8
Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., 8th floor. Through December 19. Mondays, 4:30pm–7:30pm. Free. (312) 747-4300. chipublib.org
Express your creativity at this weekly creative arts studio at the downtown branch of Chicago Public Libraries. Materials like paper, yarn, and ceramic shards are provided. School of the Art Institute of Chicago representatives provide guidance in a cultural exchange that aims to bring diverse people together for greater understanding. (Joseph S. Pete)
Day Job / Night Job / Art Job
Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey Ave. #208. Wednesday, November 16, 6pm–9pm. $5 suggested donation. (773) 772-3616. elasticarts.org
Art doesn’t always pay the bills—but it’s made anyway. Join Chicago Artists Resource and a number of local artists to discuss methods of maintaining financial stability and artistic activity. Following the discussion is a networking event for meeting other (hopefully not) starving artists. (Jonathan Hogeback)
You Can Go With This Or You Can Go With That
MANA Contemporary, 2233 S. Throop St., 6th floor. Saturday, November 19. Gallery hours noon–4pm, reception 4pm–7pm. Free. (312) 850-0555. manacontemporarychicago.com
MANA Contemporary dropped an old Black Sheep lyric in naming its one-night-only show for Cranbrook Academy of Art and SAIC MFA students at the forefront of the ceramics discipline. Cranbrook is a graduate school known for its design and architecture, located in the leafy Detroit suburbs. (Joseph S. Pete)
Sadie Benning: Shared Eye
The Renaissance Society, Cobb Hall, 5811 S. Ellis Ave., 4th floor. Opening reception November 19, 5pm–8pm; 6pm conversation with artist. Through January 22. Free. (773) 702-8670. renaissancesociety.org
Le Tigre founder and internationally exhibited Brooklyn artist Sadie Benning installed forty cut-up and reassembled panels of photos, found pictures and other mixed media paying homage to Blinky Palermo’s “To the People of New York City.” Benning’s installation explores how vision is a shared act, surveillance is internalized, and meaning is constructed through association. (Joseph S. Pete)
Exploring Symbolism Through Portraiture
Project Onward Studio, 1200 W. 35th St., 4th floor. Opening reception Friday, November 18, 6pm–9:30pm. Free. (773) 940-2992. projectonward.org
Artist Julius DC Bautista is a Chicago-based Filipino-American whose artwork for this exhibition, including new pieces, highlights the tension between balance and disharmony through wonderfully colorful portraits that pay homage to abstract expressionism and contemporary illustration. Bautista will be on hand to discuss the complexities and messages of his artwork. (Troy Ordonez)
Inspired by Social Issues: Male Artists of Color Reflect on Today’s Urban Experience
Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th St. Opening reception Friday, November 18, 7pm–10pm. Through January 6, 2017, Monday–Saturday, 8am–6pm; Sundays 8am–noon. Free. (773) 843-9000. bridgeportart.com
This exhibition features artwork from a collective of male artists of color, addressing and detailing the problems facing our society today. Topics like homelessness, unemployment, and youth incarceration will be covered in this expansive gallery filled with artworks including works on paper, oil portraits, watercolor, mixed media, and views of the urban landscape. (Troy Ordonez)
MUSIC
Ron Perrillo
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Tuesday, November 15, 7:30pm. Free. (773) 702-2787. arts.uchicago.edu
Celebrated Chicago-based pianist Ron Perrillo will perform at this month’s Third Tuesday Jazz event. Described by his peers as a “monster” for his inventive and unorthodox creative style, Perrillo playing solo should be a treat for all to hear. (Emily Lipstein)
Thee Oh Sees
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Saturday, November 19, doors 7:30, show 8:30pm. $20. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
Hailing from San Francisco, the indie-psychedelic outfit Thee Oh Sees will take the Thalia Hall stage with labelmates Running to make some intensely weird noise. For extra fun, enjoy local opener Grün Wasser, whose industrial synth pop is as murky and rippling as their name, which translates to Green Water, suggests. (Neal Jochmann)
The Corner Presents: Mother Nature, Participatory Music Coalition
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Monday, November 21, 7pm–11pm. $5. 21+. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Emcees T.R.U.T.H. and Klevah of the “Hip Hop Force” Mother Nature named their project after a nonprofit that provides children of neglected communities with safe spaces. Their inclusive message complements that of The Participatory Music Coalition, a ten-member jazz juggernaut with reverence for all Great Black Music traditions. (Neal Jochmann)
Bongzilla
Reggies Music Joint, 2105 S. State St. Thursday, November 17, 8pm. $17 online, $20 day of show. 21+. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
Stoner metal gods Bongzilla rip through Reggies this Thursday, bringing their smoky riffs and Wisconsin vibes to the Windy City. Roll up for a show guaranteed to melt your brain and light your joint, if that’s your kind of thing. (Austin Brown)
Sarah Davachi
Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Ave. Saturday, November 19, 8pm–10pm. Free. Register at sarahdavachi.eventbrite.com. (312) 857-5561. rebuild-foundation.org
Canadian experimentalist Sarah Davachi brings her synth-blended electroacoustic music to the Stony Island Arts Bank this weekend. Davachi is most interested in “the experience of enveloped sonic dwelling,” so be sure to make it out if you’re looking for a home away from home. (Austin Brown)
STAGE & SCREEN
Chicago Podcast Festival
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Thursday, November 17, 7pm & 9pm. Friday, November 18, 7pm & 9pm. Saturday, November 19, 11pm. Doors for all shows are an hour before scheduled start time. Ticket price varies by show, $10-25. 21+. (773) 935-9810. chicagopodcastfestival.org
Sarah Koenig’s award-winning podcast Serial isn’t the only game in town. Join local podcasters this Thursday through Saturday for live tapings of podcasts, including The Room Where It’s Happening—a Hamilton podcast—and Black Girl in Om—a podcast about self-care and self-love, from women of color, for women of color. (Emily Lipstein)
Connect Hyde Park: Harper Theater Programming
Harper Theater, 5238 S. Harper Ave. Friday, November 18, 5pm–10pm; Saturday, November 19, noon–10pm; Sunday, November 20, noon–5pm. Free. connecthydepark.com
Although film programming for Eric Williams’s inaugural three-day art festival Connect Hyde Park has not yet been announced, this is an event it would be fair to have blind faith in: the inimitable Jacqueline Stewart, of Black Cinema House, and the UofC are responsible for the curation. (Julia Aizuss)
Day of Absence Staged Reading
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Saturday, November 19, 3pm. Free. (773) 753-4472. courttheatre.org
Day of Absence, the final play in Court Theatre’s 2016 Spotlight Reading Series imagines the disappearance of every black resident in a Southern town and the bewildered reactions of the town’s white residents (who may just feel differently than their prejudice would imply). (Jonathan Hogeback)
African American Film Pioneers: Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Saturday, November 19, 7pm. Free. (773) 702-8596. filmstudiescenter.uchicago.edu
Follow the tragic story of nightclub entertainer Gertie La Rue in all of its 35mm glory. This screening is a part of the African American Film Pioneers series at the UofC Film Studies Center and will be introduced by UofC film professor Allyson Nadia Field. (Jonathan Hogeback)
Third Cinema? IV
filmfront, 1740 W. 18th St. Saturday, November 19, 8pm–10pm. Free. filmfront.org
Join filmfront for the final screening in the “Third Cinema?” series, following the Tercer Cine movement in Latin America. Viewers will explore the lives of brick makers in Marta Rodríguez’s Chircales, and feelings of misery in Carlos Mayolo’s mockumentary, Agarrando Pueblo. (Jonathan Hogeback)
The November Phoenix
High Concept Labs, 2233 S. Throop St. Saturday, November 19, 7pm–11pm. $10 suggested donation. (312) 850-0555. highconceptlaboratories.org
The November Phoenix is performance with the power to heal: a group of vignettes that tell stories of growth and strength in the aftermath of intimate partner violence. All proceeds from the event will support Sarah’s Inn, a nonprofit that helps those affected by domestic violence. (Jonathan Hogeback)
RE/NIGHT/LIVE/MARE: Parts 3&4
ACRE TV. Part 3: Tuesday, November 15–Monday, November 21; Part 4: Tuesday, November 22–Monday, November 28. acretv.org
ACRE TV’s latest project might now be a little too timely: this diverse four-part multitude of twice-airing video art first and foremost “re-considers your nightmares.” This week, you can catch the daydreams, fantasies, and horrors reworked in the tail end of Part 3 (LIVE) and the beginning of Part 4 (MARE). (Julia Aizuss)