TONIGHT: Bits + Pieces

Peep this cartel show. It's not being advertised as one, but everyone listed is part of cartel, a group I have a lot of respect for (which is why their linked from this blog!). It's at New Wave Coffee in Logan Square. For a coffee house, this place looks huge. They have two entrances, the one mentioned on this flyer, and an entrance on Logan Blvd. where the farmers market sets up in the summer time. The weather's beautiful today, so stop by, and support these dudes.

José Parla!!!

Ron English

20 Minutes With Ron English from Art and Design Films on Vimeo.

Officially Unofficial

Officially Unofficial - Inspired Art for Obama Exhibition from rebexa on Vimeo.

I'm a little late on this one. It opened April 1, but luckily it's up through the month of May. If you haven't seen enough Obama art during the presidential campaign or if you want to see work up close by artists such as Shepard Fairey, The Date Farmers, Ron English, and many many others, then I would advise you to visit the Chicago Tourism Center at 72 E. Randolph to take in the Officially Unofficial exhibition. The President's campaign brought out the best design and art I've seen to date for any political campaign. Here's your chance to really appreciate it.

Things to do this Weekend, 4.3-4.09

Nicole Gordon opens her exhibition at the Linda Warren Gallery Friday called SALIGIA. I love the colors in the above piece. The idea behind this show is interesting too. From the gallery's web site: Her exhibition depicts the ways in which the seven deadly sins have driven mankind to forsake the environment. Each piece explores consumer demand for excess and industry’s willingness to supply it, often despite negative consequences on the natural world.


The title of this next show ought to get some peoples' attention. Sandra Bermudez opens her exhibition at the Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery Friday titled The Happy Pussy and Other Endings. They call Sandra's style feminist pop art, and yes, she's referring to that pussy. By the descriptions of her works for this exhibit, it's gonna be an orgy of sculptures, prints, etchings and more!

Also at Kaisa Kay Art Projects Gallery, will be Daniel Bruttig debuting some new paintings in The Project Room.


Saturday night brings Cut & Paste back to Chicago at the Congress Theatre. This is a design competition that tours through several cities finding the best graphic and motion designers and illustrators. Because it's based on a time-limit, I'm told not to expect anything mind-blowing, but it should be fun to watch. I don't know exactly what to expect with this event, as I've never attended one before, but I understand there's a DJ and drinks to accompany the competition at hand. Also a good place to meet like-minded people if you're into this sorta thing.

TONIGHT: Pieces (Encore Showing)

If, like me, you didn't get a chance to make it to the opening Saturday night, they're presenting an encore opening tonight. So glad they're doing this, as I was not in top shape Saturday, plus the weather was just plain miserable. So head over to Oh No! Doom at 2955 W. Lyndale in Palmer Square between 7p-10p.

Things to do this Weekend, 3.26-29.09

Another Meat Number 5 show Thursday for the Tronic grand opening at Red Kiva with DJ Uncle El. Photos by Allison Glenn and live painting by REVISE CMW will provide something for the eyes while our ears are bumping as proven in Meat Number 5's new video:



As a part of the 2009 Southern Graphics Council Conference, hosted by Columbia College Chicago, came a nice collective effort from several local artists blessing skate decks as the theme. They've been displayed for about a month, and they're having a reception Friday to wrap things up as the exhibit closes this Sunday. The venue's at 1006 S. Michigan, 1st Floor.


Cody Hudson is opening a solo show Friday at the Andrew Rafacz Gallery in the West Loop. This is a guy who rocks both art and design very well. His skills and hard work have gotten him a lot of attention and credibility, and it's nice that he resides and works out of our fine city. I always enjoy the shows in this area, so I'm excited to see what he's been working on. Also at the Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Gallery B is a show featuring Corey Arnold's FISH-WORK, and was recently featured in Juxtapoz.


Okay people. Jason Brammer's Eye of the Future exhibition is wrapping up Saturday at the Eyeporium Gallery from 5p - 8p. I can't stress enough how dope this show was. The image above should be enough to convince you to stop by and see this guy's work. SERIOUSLY.


REVISE CMW opens his next solo show at Oh No! Doom in Palmer Square. This is a cool little spot sort of hidden in Logan Square. It almost doesn't need a show for you to still see good art as the walls are painted with some great eye candy, and they also have some shirts and toys on sale, but I'm excited for this show based on the concept alone. REVISE is good. Support him.


Last, but not least, something I'm looking forward to on Sunday evening at The Whistler is this bi-monthly design event named The Show 'n Tell Show that I'm just now learning about. I've mentioned this venue recently when Meat Number 5 played there, but this is entirely different. It invites local graphic designers and artists to display their work in front of an audience for critiques from local designers Mike Renaud and Zach Dodson in addition to Seth Dodson strangely dressed in drag as Spokes Mom? It promises to be funny, but also interesting to hear the artists chat on stage about the struggles and successes of a project from beginning to end. Great topics! Good drinks and laughs! Sign. me. up!