Night Coming Tenderly, Black

By The Art Institute Of Chicago

Through April 14, the Art Institute of Chicago presents the newest work of esteemed photographer Dawoud Bey (American, born 1953).
In this captivating exhibition, the veteran photographer shifts his focus from the portrait and the human subject to a landscape that holds the memory of fugitive pathways.
The series of 25 large-scale photographs depicts a reimagining of homes and grassy or wooded grounds along the Underground Railroad – the invisible network of routes and safe houses through which perhaps 100,000 or more enslaved African Americans found passage to freedom.
Bey made these photographs around Hudson and Cleveland, Ohio, a final way station for those escaping to Canada. This is the first museum showing of Night Coming Tenderly, Black; most works from the series will be on view.

Posted on March 31, 2019

The Clown School Coming To Chicago

By Jeremy Aluma/The Clown School

The Clown School, the Los Angeles-based studio devoted to teaching and promoting the art of clowning and related physical theater disciplines, is expanding its offerings nationwide.
Beginning now and running through 2019 and beyond, The Clown School is thrilled to announce the official opening of new branches in Chicago, Annapolis, Maryland and Lorton, Virginia. The classes in Chicago will be taught by Jeremy Aluma.
The School is launching an Online Certificate Training in Clown – the first of its kind in the world.

Posted on March 22, 2019

Cook County Land Bank To Demolish Structurally Sound 1924 Washington Park Bank Building Despite Promises, Community Input & Options To Save It

By Woodlawn Works

The Cook County Land Bank Authority selected a development partner Wednesday to demolish the historic 1924 Washington Park National Bank Building at the corner of 63rd Street and Cottage Grove.

Posted on March 20, 2019

10 Ways Chicago Muslims Are Reacting To The Tragedy In New Zealand

By Sabeel Ahmed/GainPeace

The Chicago Muslim community is visibly shocked at the news of the terrorist attack in two mosques in New Zealand.
Here’s how the Muslims of Chicago are reacting to the attacks:
1. Many Muslims kept wake watching their social media feeds, especially Whatsapp to get updates on the shooting.

Posted on March 16, 2019

I Called 911 About A Stray Muffler On The Ohio Street Off-Ramp. It Was . . . Weird?

By Mike Luce

A true story.
Me: There’s a huge muffler in the middle of the Ohio Street off-ramp of the Kennedy. Like it fell of a truck or something.
911 operator: OK, has there been an accident?
Me: No, but it looks super dangerous.
911: Is it in the street or on the shoulder?
Me: In the middle of the right lane.
911: Is it on the street or the ramp?
Me:

Posted on March 14, 2019

Sanación De Generaciones: Esperanza Del Mañana/Healing Generations: Hope Of Tomorrow

By Sheerine Alemzadeh/Healing to Action

Healing to Action, a non-profit, Chicago-based grassroots organization whose mission is to build a worker-led movement to end gender-based violence. is proud to open a community-designed art exhibit, Sanación De Generaciones: Esperanza Del Mañana/Healing Generations: Hope of Tomorrow.
This bilingual art show features ofrendas, or personal altars, designed by eight of Healing to Action’s worker leaders, who are using the exhibit to launch a broader campaign to address the root causes of gender-based violence in Chicago’s low-income communities of color.
Each ofrenda honors the leaders’ past, present and future journeys, and represents their personal truths that have been silenced across generations, cultures, and gender lines.

Posted on March 12, 2019

Melted Cheese Tops Wisconsin Championship

The nation’s largest cheese, butter and yogurt competition started Tuesday in Green Bay, with more entrants than ever. AP on the call:

Posted on March 7, 2019

The Illinois Clone

By Charles Pignon/The Conversation

Climate change is an urgent threat to societies around the world, driven by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels such as oil. One of the most effective ways to curb emissions is to replace these energy sources with others that are carbon neutral or even carbon negative – that is, technologies that remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they put in.
Bioenergy, or energy derived from organic matter, usually plants, is an attractive option. The U.S. already derives 5 percent of transportation fuel from bioenergy, mostly corn. Even jet fuel could be produced from specially engineered crops, potentially balancing out 3 percent of the world’s human-made emissions.

Posted on March 5, 2019

Chicagoetry: Like A Rembrandt In Candlelight

By J.J. Tindall

Like A Rembrandt In Candlelight
She moves
Like a Rembrandt
In candlelight:
There’s a glimmer,
A flicker, that is signature.
The others lack dimension,
Somehow, in comparison,
Like the difference
Between the Great Plains
And the Kettle Moraine.

Posted on March 4, 2019