Beer & Art

Low Dive is about to jump into our 20th beer brewed. We've made some great beers and learned quite a bit in the last year and a half. We're about to take the next step in doubling our normal batch sizes from five to 10 gallons. It's been fun learning, experimenting, and of course drinking these beers, so I'm excited for our next 20. Yesterday in fact, we bottled our oak-aged barleywine ale, Malevolence, clocking in at a hefty 17.75% abv. We brewed it on Halloween, so it was nice finally getting that in bottles. I suspect we'll try a bottle in a couple months, but the rest will likely be resting in the cellar to allow the alcohol to mellow and the flavors to balance out. But it did taste quite well I must say. Here's to hoping I get to drink our beer with each and every one of you in the near future!



I'm getting back to painting which feels good. More on that later.




Shawn Smith has a show opening at Oh No! Doom this Friday titled Monster March. Shawn's been doing big things lately, so I'm curious to see what he brings. Oh No! Doom moved into a new spot this year also, and if you haven't been yet, you should go based on that alone. Good people and a dope space.



Won is a good friend, and he along with Jarrett Spiegel have been working on this show for the last several months (when he wasn't cooking, Painting signage at your local watering hole/big-ass Whole Foods or DJing). I've personally not been to the Beer Run Gallery yet. I know a couple of the artists that run it, so I'm excited to see them along with Won's work. Pay it a visit. I'll be there. What more could you want??



It's Midwest Craft Beer Month at all Binny's locations in August. Find your favorite libations or better yet, use this sale as an opportunity to try something new. ALWAYS SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERIES, but more importantly, please support the entire craft/micro beer movement. It's certainly growing in popularity, but it could still use your help.



Half Acre announced the release of a highly anticipated collaboration between them, Short's Brewing and Jonathon Cutler from Piece. I cannot wait to try this. Freedom of '78 (Pure Guava IPA) will be released Friday, August 6!



Jason Brammer teamed up with sculptor Jason Hawk for a collaborative exhibition titled "Finding the Future" as part of the Pop-Up Art Loop at 240 S. State tonight from 5-8. I think it's safe to say that their work will surely entertain.

CHEERS!

So...it's been a minute.

I've been dealing with a number of issues in the last few months, most notably, I was in a bike accident in early August. August 9th to be exact. Broke my left elbow and right wrist as well as busted my chin. The bike, well the bike is out of commission. The fork is definitely bent, but I've since then bought a new bike (new to me that is) since I can ride now albeit a bit uncomfortably. It's an SE Premium Brew frame, and still needs some work, but if I had to, it is ride-able. Shortly after getting my second cast removed, I came down with the flu, and still to this day am fighting this nagging cough that is driving me crazy. During that whole time, I basically had no energy or will to do much more than veg out on the couch or drink with the homies. But enough about me! It's gloomy outside, but it's not gonna bring me down as there are a few nice art-related events going down this weekend.

However, First things first. Chicago Police Detective Joseph Frugoli, after being involved in several DUI cases already, once again got behind the wheel of his Lexus with a blood-alcohol level 3x the legal limit, and plowed into a broken-down car that was parked on the side of the Dan Ryan. That car immediately went into flames and killed both Andrew Cazares and Fausto Manzera ages 23 and 21 respectively who were sitting in the pulled-over vehicle. To make matters worse, Frugoli was found by police fleeing the scene. He was arrested, and later released on a $500,000 bond. The reason I bring this story up again is because Frugoli's police pals have organized a fundraiser for him to be held this evening at the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters at 1412 W. Washington Blvd. It infuriates me that a piece of shit like this can not only get released from jail, but that his police pals are hosting a fundraiser in his honor. Care to support a shameful cause and slap the faces of every family member and friend of the two young men he killed, then by all means hurry your slimey self to this event, but I assure you there will also be a protest by those seeking actual justice.


Now, back to happy thoughts. FACT is one of Chicago's profound graffiti writers and now he's inviting you all to see what he does on a fine art tip. It's tonight at the Novem Store on Ashland. It should be interesting.

Who doesn't like documentaries? Mark Rosengren is presenting I Write on Stuff tonight at the Silver Room in Wicker Park. The documentary covers some of Chicago's graffiti writers which can always make for good entertainment. The list includes some stand-out names, so I'm expecting a good show here.

Saturday at Oh No! Doom will be the last show at their current location before they move into Bucktown. Curated by Phoneticontrol, this show includes an impressive list of Chicago artists who are all interpreting the same 3D model designed by Phoneticontrol. I love the concept. I've seen Artillery's piece already, and let me tell ya, this is gonna be a good show, and there'll be a lot of good people in attendance. Come out and send the Oh No! Doom collective on to their new digs with style.

Finally, another favorite Chicago artist of mine, Mr. Jason Brammer is opening up a solo show Fragments From the Future Saturday evening at April 7s in Ukranian Village. He never disappoints me. He and his wife, Erin are super people, so please support them and see what he's been up to as of late.

PEACE

Things to do this Friday, 2.20.09

Some good stuff going on this Friday to tickle your fancy. Art and music!


Having familiarized myself with both MORGAN's and The Viking's work on the streets, I'm very interested to see what they offer in a "gallery" setting. Hosted by The Novem Store in Wicker Park makes it a little more interesting for me personally since I haven't stopped by to check it out yet. It serves as both a retail store and gallery. The Novem Store co-owner Adrian Vidaurre was quoted saying in the Columbia Chronicle, "Sometimes I kind of get lost staring at [the exhibit]. I’ve been staring at it for a while; it’s a pretty interesting piece to look at.”


As I mentioned last week, Jason Brammer's opening his first solo exhibition for 2009 at Eyeporium Gallery in Wicker Park which is located in Eye Want at 1543 N. Milwaukee. I promise this will be a cool show. His work is rather surreal, and can be quite large in size, especially his installations. He'll be painting live throughout the evening, and offering 3 rooms filled with his art and his new site-specific "eye"-themed installation.


Lastly, Yea Big & Kid Static are performing at the Darkroom. There hasn't been a YBKS performance I didn't enjoy. They really get into their music and the crowd, literally. It's not your everyday hip hop, hell it may actually have a different genre labeled to it altogether. Darkrooom actually has some decent beers available too if it matters any.

Don't let the weather stop you!!

Things to do this Friday, 2.13.09

It's time for A.Okay's 2nd annual custom train art show. Last year's show turned out a huge response from attendees filling the quaint space. In fact, if it's even possible to have too big of a crowd, I'd say they hit it. And I don't anticipate it being anything short of last year's outcome. Be prepared to get cozy with the crowd, but more importantly, to see work you don't see very often. A few examples from last year's show below to see exactly what I mean:

Yoink x Get Up

Peabe x The Grocer
photos courtesy of Formula Werks/Scumbag Nation

There's some great names listed on the lineup, and they're all very likely to be in attendance. So don't bail out on this unique gathering. It's one you don't want to miss - I promise you that.

Also, on my itinerary, is stopping by Revolution Tattoo on Western for the Valentine's Day Art Show. Again, some great names on this lineup as well, and it's sponsored by Three Floyd's Brewing Co.! Can't get much better than that.

Jason Brammer, an Indianapolis native like myself (although he was born in Ohio), has established himself as a highly-respected artist internationally. Airbrush is one of his main weapons of choice, but it isn't all he uses. His installations are incredible; You can see one now at 4Art Inc. in Pilsen, and he'll have work displayed at Friday's custom train art show at A.Okay Official. He'll be painting live at the Hyde Park Art Center as part of their Cocktails and Clay event this Friday, however. Jason and his wife Erin are super cool people, and Jason's art is worth your attention. If you can't catch this live performance, again, you can catch some of his work at A.Okay, or you can wait til next week when he opens his first solo exhibition for 2009 next Friday in Wicker Park. I'll mention that last part again next week.

SEE YA FRIDAY!