March
in Chicago is so much more than just St. Patrick's Day! This month,
Chicago turns 176 and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special
Events offers a new art exhibit opening at the Chicago Cultural Center, an international desert rock band concert, a series of dance performances and much more.
or like us on Facebook to receive daily updates about DCASE events and activities.
Exhibit Of Hale Woodruff Murals, Paintings & Prints Opens In March |
 |
Opening March 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center and running
through June 16, "Rising Up: Hale Woodruff's Murals at Talladega
College" features six monumentally-scaled murals painted in 1939-42 by
African American artist Hale Woodruff. Never before seen outside of
Alabama's Talladega College, the murals depict the 1839 mutiny by slaves
on the Spanish ship La Amistad and its aftermath. Newly restored to
their original, vibrant colors, the murals are accompanied by 30
paintings and prints that document Woodruff's work from the 1920s to the
1940s, making this exhibition a rare opportunity to see this important
Harlem Renaissance artist's work in depth. "Rising Up" is organized
by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, in collaboration with Talladega
College, Talladega, Alabama. This exhibition is made possible through
support from the Terra Foundation for American Art.
DON'T MISS: "They Seek a City: Chicago and the Art of Migration,
1910-1950," on view at The Art Institute of Chicago March 3 through
June 2, which includes many of the same themes and issues explored by
Hale Woodruff in "Rising Up."
|
30th Annual Chicago Blues Festival Celebrates The Next Generation |
 |
"Hey, Hey, the Blues is Alright!" We are celebrating the next
generation of blues artists at the 30th Annual Chicago Blues Festival
with a special opening night concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in
Millennium Park the evening of Thursday, June 6.
Shemekia Copeland,
crowned the "new" Queen of the Blues in 2011 by Cookie Taylor, daughter
of the late Koko Taylor, will headline the evening with special guest
and Buddy Guy collaborator, Quinn Sullivan. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with opening act Blues Kids of America followed by Jamiah on Fire & The Red Machine.
The Chicago Blues Festival will move to Grant Park Friday, June 7
through Sunday, June 9. Highlights of the festival in Grant Park will
include music on five stages: The Petrillo Music Shell, Bud Light
Crossroads Stage, Pepsi Front Porch, Mississippi Juke Joint and Windy
City Blues Society Stage. The full line-up will be announced later this
spring - stay tuned. For festival details visit www.chicagobluesfestival.us
.
|
Save The Date: Chicago Music Summit, September 20 |
 |
The very first Chicago Music Summit will take place September 20
at the Chicago Cultural Center. Featuring panels, workshops, concerts
and networking opportunities, this new conference will shine a spotlight
on Chicago's innovative and thriving music scene and connect music
professionals with local and national industry leaders. Admission is
free. Advance registration is required, opening June 17. Visit the
website for updates: www.chicagomusicsummit.org
.
|
Happy 176th Birthday, Chicago! |
 |
Our beautiful city doesn't look a day over 175. Come celebrate
on March 4 at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark Street). Special
activities are from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. with a brief program at 11
a.m. And Illinois residents will enjoy free Museum admission all day.
Eli's Cheesecake will provide the birthday cake and a free slice
for everyone is available while supplies last. If you share the same
birthday as Chicago, you will receive a special commemorative
certificate.
For more information, click the birthday icon at www.cityofchicago.org/dcase
.
|
Make Space In April For Flyspace |
 |
FLYSPACE is part of a strategic partnership of four
female-led contemporary dance companies working collaboratively to
enrich support for their works and audience building. The companies
taking part in the series include: Hedwig Dances, Same Planet Different World, the Dance COLEctive and Zephyr.
Make time in April to attend one or both of the two-weekend performance
series that includes six performances presented by DCASE. The
performances feature all four companies (two companies each weekend)
with five World Premieres by six choreographers. All performances take
place behind the glass curtain on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
in Millennium Park.
Friday and Saturday, April 5-6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 5 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, April 12-13 at 7 p.m. and Sunday April 14 at 5 p.m.
The first weekend, Hedwig Dances and Same Planet Different World
Dance Theatre share the stage. The second weekend, the Dance COLEctive
and Zephyr Dance perform together. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased
by visiting the Same Planet Different World website at www.spdwdance.org
.
|
North African Desert Rock Group Terakaft Debuts March 12 |
 |
The North African desert rock group, Terakaft, will make their Chicago debut as part of their first U.S. tour on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St. For a preview, check out the video link below.
Terakaft Video
|
Eva Pazola Fashion Show and Pop-Up Boutique |
 |
We are celebrating 25 years of an iconic designer in an iconic
city, Eva Pazola. The show is presented by DCASE and the Mayor's Fashion
Council in Preston Bradley Hall on April 10 at 7 p.m. Pazola's twist
on classic design allows women to express their identity in a
fashion-forward way.
The show will present pieces from her former collections, current
collection, and a preview for Fall/Winter 2013!
Come see the progression of Pazola's vision for fashion, and
experience her designs first-hand at the pop-up boutique following the
show.
|
A Sound Decision: Off The Record Listening Parties |
 |
Choose vinyl. Off the Record listening parties continue this
month, when musical artists debut their vinyl records. This month, saki
(3717 W. Fullerton Ave.) hosts Low with their new record The Invisible Way, on March 7, 7-9 p.m.
Then on March 9, 8-11 p.m., see the band Ono and hear the debut of their latest release on vinyl, Albino, at the Washington Park Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield Blvd.)
|
Calling All Chicago Creatives |
 |
Don't miss the Creative Chicago Expo this weekend, March 1 and 2
at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Expo is absolutely free and offers workshops, keynote addresses and
more than 100 vendors providing resources and information to Chicago's
creative community in a one-stop shopping experience.
|
DCASE 2013 Cultural Grants Program - Applications Available Online March 1 |
 |
The DCASE Cultural Grants Program is designed to assist
Chicago's individual artists and its not-for-profit arts and cultural
community. Updated guidelines for 2013 will be available this Friday,
March 1, on our website: www.ChicagoCulturalGrants.org
.
The application deadline will be Friday, April 19. There will be an
opportunity to learn more and ask questions of the Cultural Grants Team
at the Creative Chicago Expo on Friday, March 1, 12-1 p.m. at the Meet
DCASE workshop in room 5W.
|
|
A Permanent Image by Samuel D. Hunter LiveWire Chicago Theatre Storefront Theater April 4-May 5 Previews: April 4 & 5 Opening: April 6 Performance Schedule: Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission: $15
Music In And Around The Chicago Cultural Center

JuiceboxMarch 1 (Due to the Creative Chicago Expo, the performance will be held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.)
|