STAGE & SCREEN
Story Club South Side: My Other Talent
Why read nonfiction narratives when you can watch them live? Story Club South Side is ready to deliver all the amusement of open mic combined with the thrill of live theater at this month’s show, “My Other Talent” at the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Unlike most of Story Club’s shows, participants will not only tell you a story, but they’ll enhance it with other types of performance, too. Featured performers such as playwright Kendra Stevens and activist Kim Morris may sing, recite poetry, or even bring puppets into the mix in a rare, enriched Story Club experience. Come perform as well: sign-up for open mic starts at 7:30pm, slots are eight minutes long, and the audience will vote on their favorite performance at the end. Whether you’re hoping to win over the crowd or be part of the audience yourself, it’s sure to be a good time. (But also, keep reading.) Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3221 S. Morgan St. Tuesday, November 18. 8pm. Free, $10 suggested donation. (773)837-0145. storyclubchicago.com (Sonia Schlesinger)
Bad Grammar Theater
This Thanksgiving season, satisfy your literary cravings with Bad Grammar Theater. Quirk, performance, good writing, and plain old weirdness merge as Chicago authors join together to showcase their work in this monthly series. A monthly tradition that takes place at Powell’s Books at Roosevelt and Halsted, Bad Grammar Theater welcomes Chicago’s best science fiction, pulp fiction, horror, and fantasy writers to the stage. The event takes place in a very casual setting: a mélange of authors perform sections of their work from 6pm to 9pm, and audience members are welcome to arrive and depart as they please. A perfect combination of literature and performance, Bad Grammar Theater provides a great assortment of performances sure to appease the most diverse tastes. Powell’s Bookstore, 1218 S. Halsted St.. Friday, November 21, 6pm–9pm. Free. (312)243-9070. badgrammartheater.com (Itzel Blancas)
Manakamana
Developed in the confines of the Harvard Sensory Ethnography Lab but shot above the Nepalese jungle, recent documentary Manakamana represents numerous physical and emotional journeys to the ancient Hindu temple of the title in 118 minutes of 16mm film. At just eleven takes, the entire film is shot within the cable car that carries these travelers, and some goats, up the mountain to the goddess’s sacred site. Directors Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez create intimate portraits of the passengers amidst the jarring contrast between a sprawling jungle and urban technology. The UofC Film Studies Center will host a screening and discussion with the directors of the documentary, which the New York Film Festival called “an airborne version of an Andy Warhol screen test…an endlessly suggestive film that both describes and transcends the bounds of time and space.” Intriguing in its simplicity, Manakamana creates a window into its subjects’ lives, providing a brief, inconclusive glimpse into who they are. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Friday, November 21. 7pm. Free. (773)702-8596. filmstudiescenter.uchicago.edu (Sammie Spector)
Missing Pages Lecture Series
Over the course of our lives, we have often been under the impression that we were presented with the whole story—after all, our high-school history textbooks must have covered everything we needed to know, right? the DuSable Museum doesn’t think so. Aimed to reveal the people, places, and events that haven’t gotten proper credit for shaping history, the lecture series Missing Pag- es, starting November 20 and running through March, is designed to address larger themes of politics, culture, race relations, and personal identity. The largely unknown figures and topics will be presented and discussed by nationally known speakers, and while their subjects never received much recognition in common memory or the media, now they take center stage. All this series asks of its audience members is that they remain open to what they might not have known and be willing to pick up a pencil and fill in history’s forgotten pages. DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl. Various Thursdays, through March, 6:30pm. $5. dusablemuseum.org (Emiliano Burr di Mauro)
André Bazin’s Dark Passage
In his upcoming lecture, Yale professor and film scholar Dudley Andrew takes on film critic and theorist André Bazin’s take on director Delmer Daves’s 1947 film Dark Passage. Bazin was a mid-twentieth century film critic and theorist with a love of gritty Italian films and existentialist philosophy whose outspoken critique of montages was swiftly ignored by every 1980s movie ever. Dark Passage follows an escaped criminal’s attempt to clear his name in the classic film-noir style Bazin helped to define. This Thursday, Andrew uses the film as a lens with which to explore Bazin’s cinematic and real-life philosophies. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Thursday, November 20, 5pm. (773)702-8596. filmstudi- escenter.uchicago.edu (Kathryn Seidewitz)
VISUAL ARTS
Road Trip
Have you ever wanted to drop all your responsibilities, gather your best friends, load them up in a VW bus, and take a road trip across the Great American Landscape? If you’re like me, just the thought makes you faint because you know the price of gas these days. Have no fear: Dennis Kowalski’s retrospective, “Road Map,” is coming to Chicago. Originally interested in architecture, the artist quickly turned to sculpture. In the exhibit, ten years’ worth of work will be on display, exploring the impact of humans on the environment and our neglect of the upkeep of civilization. Kowalski’s work spans across media, including installation and photography, as well as across the geography of the United States. Bridgeport Art Gallery, 1200 W. 35th St. November 21-December 31. Opening Friday, November 21, 6-9pm. Free. (773)247- 3000. bridgeportart.com (Mark Hassenfratz)
Technologic
Are we a part of modernity? Does technology play a role in today’s art? Did video kill the radio star? All of these questions will be explored, and perhaps even answered, at the Chicago Art Department’s newest exhibition, “Technologic.” Curator Chuck Przybyl’s goal is to show- case technology that has aided artists in avant-garde and creative work. “Technologic” features robotic drawings, prosthetics, 3D printing, laser cutting, image slicing, circuit bending, plus textile circuitry and algorithmic art. While it does not exhibit the artwork itself, the show represents the behind-the-scenes tools that can help artists produce work at the height of the DIY era—an ethos becoming known as the Maker Movement. With all of this (laser) slicing and dicing, “Technologic” is by nature participatory; workshops and discussions will be held throughout the two weeks of exhibition time. Chicago Art Department, 1932 S. Halsted St., Ste. 100. Through November 22. (312)725-4223. chicagoartdepartment.org (Sammie Spector)
The Material That Went to Make Me
This month at the South Side Community Art Center, the Prison + Neighborhood Arts Project presents a collection of artwork created in classes at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. In both visual and text-based works, inmates use art to talk about their daily experiences behind bars and their movement within the prison system. The exhibit calls to attention the many issues prisoners face, including illiteracy, gangs, and violence within prison walls. Pieces such as timelines and schedules of how prisoners spend every hour of their day within the system are also on display. The exhibit strives to offer a humanizing look at prisoners, one rarely seen in popular media. South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave. Through December 6. Monday-Fri- day, 12pm-5pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 1pm-5pm. (773)373-1026. sscartcenter.org (Michelle Gan)
For the Brown Kids
For the month of November, a poem addressing “those who learned to live the blues before they could tie their shoes” is being reimagined as a visual art exhibit at the Beverly Arts Center. The EXPO collective has gathered Chicago artists and had them illustrate their take on “For Brown Boys,” Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria’s direct, emotional exploration of the experience of growing up brown. EXPO calls the event a celebration of “diversity in art and in society,” highlighting the fact that the show bridges mediums while wrestling with the same theme of race. The show ran for the first time in June, but if you missed it, this is your second chance to see nineteen artists do their best to transfer a powerful poem onto canvas. Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. Through November 30. Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm; Saturday, 9am- 5pm; Sunday, 1pm-4pm. Free. (773)445-3838. beverlyart- center.org (Mari Cohen)
Labor Migrant Gulf
The boteh is the droplet-like shape at the heart of the paisley pattern. It is also a symbol of religion, culture, and appropriation for many in Asia. Fittingly, this symbol serves as the centerpiece of the “Labor/Migrant/ Gulf” installation at Pilsen’s Uri-Eichen. The installation was developed in part as a response to the unsafe working conditions of migrant laborers in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Additionally, the exhibit gives due attention to laborers around the Mexican-American border and the history of migrants in California. This second half of the installation can be found one door down from Uri-Eichen at the Al DiFranco Studio. In accordance with the exhibit’s theme, the music of Joe Hill, an early twentieth century Swedish-American labor activist, will be played around 8pm at this neighboring venue. Uri-Eichen Gallery, 2101 S. Halsted St. and Al DiFranco Studio, 2107 S. Halsted St. Through December 3, by appointment. Free. (312)852-7717. uri-eichen.com (Emeline Posner)
Affects Illustrated
The press picture shows dismembered, vaguely architec- tural pieces of pink metal standing in a field. It’s actually a digitally cut-up photograph of artist and UofC visual arts instructor Hannah Givler’s sculpture “Avatar.” The sculpture is one of several pieces that comprise “Affects Illustrated,” a site-specific installation that plays with the dynamics of interiors and exteriors and examines spatial relationships. The show also addresses themes like materialism, fictional utopias, and city planning, which feature heavily in Givler’s research. 4th Ward Project Space, 5338 S. Kimbark Ave. Through December 21. Saturday and Sunday, 1pm-5pm. Free. 4wps.org (Julie Wu)
Mana Miami
When you go big, why not go colossal? That much seems to be the goal of Mana Contemporary with its most recent endeavor for Miami’s Art Basel gallery. During this special time of year for visual arts, Mana Contem- porary will host three exhibitions: “Mana Monumental,” “Dirty Geometry,” and “GLE,” all in the Wynwood arts neighborhood of Miami. “Mana Monumental” focuses on the sheer size and spectacle of the work of twenty-one different artists. The large-scale art is an effort to relate to viewers in a quick yet truly impactful way, rather than through sheer shock value. Meanwhile, “Dirty Geometry” focuses on contrasting unkempt abstract art with the rigidity conveyed in theoretical geometry. If you’re unable to hitch a ride to the sultry and sandy Miami Arts Week this December, then just visit your local Mana Contemporary arts center in Pilsen, which will feature locally known artists in residency and public education activities. Mana Chicago, 2233 S. Throop St. Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. (310)850-0555. manacontemporarychicago. com. See also Mana Miami, 318 NW 23rd St. Miami, FL. December 2-7. (305)305-5474 (Sammie Spector)
MUSIC
Respect the Mic at the Shrine
Come say goodbye to Chicago hip-hop series Respect the Mic at its final show next Friday at the Shrine. One of Chicago’s longest-running event series, Respect the Mic is dedicated to showcasing both new and old hip-hop talent. This final installment will feature local up-and-coming talents including RnR, Prafase, Beware, and Hanibl Phee, and is also on the lookout for more per- formers. According to the description on the Facebook event, the organization is “dedicated to the advancement of local artistry and Respect in the Hip hop culture” and is also the only concert series where artists and producers keep the profits of the show. The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Friday, November 21, doors open at 9pm. $25, advance tickets available online. 21+. (312)753-5681. theshrinechicago.com (Clyde Schwab)
Dads at Reggies
When November winds start whipping and just stepping outside chills you to the bone, there’s nothing quite like sensitive lyrics backed by angsty guitar riffs to keep you warm. New Jerseyites-turned-Michiganders John Bradley and Scott Scharinger started indie-rock band Dads as a side project, but years of dedication and nonstop touring have produced a loyal following. Fresh off the release of their sophomore LP I’ll Be the Tornado, the earnest auburn-haired duo will grace the stage at Reggies to moan sincerely into the microphone and remind you that adulthood can be filled with just as much soul-searching emotionality as adolescence. Though neither Bradley nor Scharinger have actually fathered any children, lyrics like “A permanent bee sting in my throat / I can’t ever catch my breath / It’s not fair to tell me to cheer up” leave no doubt that if they ever do, they’ll have plenty of wisdom to impart. Reggies, 2105 S. State St. November 21, 2pm. Free, all ages. (312)949-0120. reggieslive.com (Olivia Myszkowski)
A Roaring 1920s Costume Concert
When the cold snap hits, there are only two kinds of people: those who only want to curl up somewhere warm with a hot drink and wait the winter out, and those who would rather forget the present altogether and travel far away to a glitzier era such as the Roaring Twenties. Or at least, that’s what “Charles Heath Presents” is banking on with its upcoming 1920s gala at the Promontory. This will be no mere Gatsby throwback: jazz singer Dee Alex- ander will provide vocals, and the proceeds will go to the Ken Chaney Scholarship Fund, which supports young musicians. If you’re not done dancing the jitterbug after the gala and would like to keep going with some Chica- go-based swing-inspired dance, stay for the Stepper’s Set afterward. Twenties attire is encouraged, hors d’ouevres will be served: general elegance should be the result. The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Friday, November 21, 7pm. $50/$65. (312)801-2100. promontorychicago.com (Julia Aizuss)
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet
It’s sometimes hard to evaluate the children of famous musicians, given that a life of music-making has been presented to them like a silver spoon. But Jason Marsalis, of the infamous New Orleans jazz family that produced Wynston, does no dishonor to the family name. Having played professionally as a sideman since the age of twelve and trained in classical percussion in the Big Easy’s Loyola University, Marsalis has made the transition to bandleader with the grace one might expect from a musician of his pedigree. His Vibes Quartet (he is on the vibes, in this case) has recently followed up their critically acclaimed 2013 release In A World of Mallets with an effort entitled The 21st Century Trad Band. Backed by Will Goble on bass, Austin Johnson on piano, and David Potter on drums, the group grounds itself in more traditional, swinging bop and takes hints from Dixieland but isn’t afraid to dig into complex polyrhythmic ideas and forge ahead into the more melodically nebulous elements of post-bop. Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct. November 21, 8pm-10pm. $25, $35 VIP. (312)360-0234. Jazzshowcase.com ( James Kogan)
VixenFridays at The Shrine
Hit the Shrine on Friday for #VixenFridays “to experience the evolution of nightlife.” For a $20 cover you can #groove to the very best in hip-hop, trap, and top-forty sounds, including a set from Chicago’s own #DJWildboy. The #party starts early at 10pm, but it’ll keep on #keepingon ‘til 2am. If you miss this one, #don’t #worry: Vixen Fridays isn’t a one-time event, but a weekly staple at #TheShrine. Word to the wise: don’t Google “Vixen Chicago” unless you’re looking for something altogether different from details on this event. The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. November 21, 10pm-2am. $20. 21+. 312-753- 5700. theshrinechicago.com (Elizabeth Bynum)
BULLETIN
The Weekly will now use this new space to highlight political and civic events happening across the South Side.
Visions Blu Youth Town Hall Meeting
How is media changing and how can young people alter it? Vision Blu, a nonprofit that works to develop news literacy, technological skill, and general artistic expression among adolescents in the Chicago area, seeks to answer this question and others at its inaugural Youth Town Hall Meeting, The Power of Media, Becoming a Decision Maker. The conference features speakers involved in all aspects of the media, including journalists, television producers, and researchers. They’ll present on topics ranging from current social media platforms and the future of the press to the role in media that youth themselves can play. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Saturday, November 22, 10am-1pm. Free. (773)702- 2787. visionsblu.com (Sonia Schlesinger)
Chicago’s Case for Reparations
During the middle of the last century, Clyde Ross moved from Mississippi to Chicago, where, like many other African Americans, he was pushed into an exploitative home loan. In his much-discussed article “The Case for Reparations,” senior editor for The Atlantic and social commentator Ta-Nehisi Coates led with Ross’s story in order to argue that injustices extending through and beyond slavery and the Jim Crow era oblige America to consider reparations for African Americans. In the course of his argument, Coates returns to Chicago’s fraught history of race and real estate several times. Now Coates has come to Chicago to make his case in person. Institute of Politics, 5707 S. Woodlawn Ave. Thursday, November 20, 7:30pm. politics.uchicago.edu (Adam Thorp)
“Know You’re Right”
From the events surrounding the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson to Chicago’s own police shootings, the issue of police brutality has been foregrounded in public dialogue locally and nationwide as of late. On Friday, First Defense Legal-Aid, an organization that provides twenty-four-hour emergency legal representation to those taken custody by the CPD, and L.Y.R.I.C., a performance-centered youth organizing program, will present a know-your-rights workshop and an open mic. The event will focus on encounters with the police, highlighting the work of organizations in combating police brutality, including We Charge Genocide, which recently sent a delegation to the UN charging the CPD with torture of black youth. Kusanya Café, 825 W. 69th St. Friday, November 21, 6pm. (312)404-0314 (Kathryn Seidewitz)