BULLETIN
Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts’ Open House
Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts, 555 E. 51st St. Wednesday, November 16, 6pm–7:30pm. Free. Students, families, and community members welcome. (773) 535-1825. newdyett.org
Dyett High School went from the brink of closure, through a hunger strike, to an open-enrollment school in Washington Park focused on arts education. Now, it’s hosting its first open house. Visitors can learn about the school’s missions, interact with faculty, and explore the newly renovated school grounds. (Rachel Kim)
Small Business Funding Seminar
Greenline Coffee, 501 E. 61st St. Thursday, November 10, 11:30am–1pm. Free. (312) 577-7587. bit.ly/2eH7bM5
Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn how to get a start-up loan for their business at this seminar, hosted by VEDC Chicagoland Business Opportunity Fund (CBOF). Over 100,000 small businesses have gotten funding from the CBOF, with loans ranging from $35,000 to $500,000. (Hafsa Razi)
Riot. Strike. Riot: The New Era of Uprisings
Seminary Co-op, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. Thursday, November 10, 6pm. Free. (773) 752-4381. semcoop.com
According to award-winning poet Joshua Clover, the vehicle for anti-capitalist struggle has evolved from riot to strike and now back to riot (hence the book’s title). Clover will be joined in conversation by William Sewell as they discuss the theoretical and historical reasoning behind this “new era of uprisings.” (Joe Andrews)
Dark Girls Documentary Screening
Culture Connection 360, 400 W. 71st St. Saturday, November 12, 3pm–6pm. $6.12. Buy tickets online. (773) 527-6015. kwanzaaroundtable.wixsite.com/community
Revolutionary Motherhood hosts this screening of the documentary Dark Girls, an exploration of colorism in African communities, both on the continent and in the diaspora. Come to learn and discuss your experiences. (Hafsa Razi)
VISUAL ARTS
Glass Lantern Slide Night: Planning for a Disaster
Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Ave. Friday, November 18, 6pm–7pm. Free. (312) 857-5561. rebuild-foundation.org
Diving into the archive of the Rebuild Foundation’s glass slide collection, art historian Adam Levine discusses the role of archival photography in preemptively preserving the past and creating archives of the present. (Corinne Butta)
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–12pm. 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
Thelma & Gobbinjr
2040. Monday, November 14th, 7pm–1am. Message on day of show for address. Facebook
Each scaling a different route up the dream pop mountain, New York City’s femme-fronted crooner Thelma and the more bedroom-pop Gobbinjr will grace Pilsen’s 2040, as should you, once you ask for the address. Show up for an intimate evening of spacious, groovy whispers. (Michal Kranz)
Glamour Hotline
Reggies Record Breakers, 2105 S. State St. Wednesday, November 9, 7pm. Free. All ages. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
The most recent breakout punks from Chicago’s always-bubbling DIY community, Glamour Hotline will be serving up their crunchy riot grrl nuggets to Reggies this Thursday, for the Columbia College Chicago takeover of the always-reliable space. (Austin Brown)
G Herbo & Tink
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Thursday, November 10, 8pm. Tickets in WGCI raffle. 21+. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Herbo and Tink come off each of their solid 2016s to bring their respective drill and R&B talents on the mic to The Promontory this Thursday for a #HOMETURF show. The only catch? The tickets are being offered through a WGCI raffle—check the venue’s website for more info. (Austin Brown)
DIIV
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Thursday, November 10, 7:30pm doors, 8:30pm show. $20 online, $22, $25 at door. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
DIIV never got as much attention for their second album, this year’s Is the Is Are, as they did for their 2012 breakout LP Oshin, but the record added more than a dozen new songs to the group’s dreamy repertoire, bolstering an already formidable live act and promising a blissful show at Thalia Hall this Thursday. (Austin Brown)
In The Circle: Chicago Footwork
The Hokin Project, 623 S. Wabash Ave. Thursday, November 10, 5pm-8pm. Free. All Ages. students.colum.edu/deps/hokin-gallery
Weekly (and Reader) features and footwork ambassadors The Era went big this year, debuting their In The Wurkz mixtape and a stage show to go along with it that’s made them the center of attention for those who are watching the Chicago scene closely. Now they’re taking on the world of contemporary art with “In The Circle,” a partnership with Columbia College. Come to the reception, and check out Teklife mainstays Phil and Manny on the boards. (Austin Brown)
STAGE & SCREEN
Electra
Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. Thursday, November 10–Sunday, December 11. $38 for previews, $58 after opening, discounts available for seniors, faculty, and students. (773) 753-4472. courttheatre.org
What can you expect from family drama? In the case of the third and final chapter of Court’s Greek Cycle, a story in which “even justice can bring destruction.” In Sophocles’ play, Nicholas Rudall’s translation, and under Seret Scott’s direction, Electra and her brother Orestes scheme to avenge their father Agamemnon’s murder. (Daniel Mays)
Copyright Criminals at Kembrew’s Critique Boutique
Uri-Eichen Gallery, 2101 S. Halsted St. Opening Friday, November 11, 6pm–10pm, with screening and artist discussion at 7:30pm. By appointment through December 2. Free. (312) 852-7717. uri-eichen.com
Dancing “RoboProfessor” Kembrew McLeod does it all. The multimedia artist, scholar, and prankster has sold his soul, trademarked “Freedom of Expression,” and threatened to sue AT&T for using the well-worn phrase. He’ll screen and discuss his 2009 documentary, Copyright Criminals, at the opening of this exhibition displaying his work. (Joseph S. Pete)
Third Cinema? III: Terra Em Transe
Filmfront, 1740 W. 18th St. Friday, November 11, 8pm. Free. filmfront.org
Brazilian filmmaker Glauber Rocha’s Terra Em Transe, or Entranced Earth, is the latest installment in Filmfront’s Tercer Cine series. The Pilsen cine-club is showing a scathing political critique that was initially banned in its native Brazil but won the FIPRESCI Award at the Cannes Film Festival. (Joseph S. Pete)
In De’ Beginnin’
eta Creative Arts, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Friday, November 11 through Saturday, December 24. $40, discounts for students and seniors. (773) 752-3955. etacreativearts.org
Oscar Brown, Jr.’s funky musical, based on the Book of Genesis, is eta Creative Arts’ holiday entertainment offering for families. Brown was a multitalented artist, civil rights activist, and humanitarian; his daughter Maggie Brown will take on musical direction for this production, which eta calls a “tribute” to one of “Chicago’s greatest artists.” (Joseph S. Pete)
Alternative Histories of Labor: Union Maids and The Willmar 8
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Sunday, November 13, 3pm. Free. southsideprojections.org
Brush up on your knowledge of female labor organizers with a double feature showcasing Union Maids, an Oscar-nominated 1976 documentary about three Chicago women who were working-class organizers in the 1930s, and The Willmar 8, about eight female bank employees who started the longest bank strike in American history. Afterwards, Julia Reichert, a director, and Sara Joy Liles, a union member and trustee of the Illinois Labor History Society, will lead a discussion. (Bridget Gamble)
Be Alarmed: The Black Americana Epic: Tiona McClodden with Cauleen Smith
Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Ave. Sunday, November 13, 4pm–6pm. $5. (312) 857-5561. rebuild-foundation.org
Tiona McClodden’s epic film/exhibit puts to the test Audre Lorde’s concept of biomythography—the practice of “toeing the line” of myth, history, and biography in the narrative form. Be Alarmed is comprised of scenes, images and physical artifacts that aim to reconstruct “the Black American fairy tale.” (Bridget Gamble)