JANUARY 2014 
We at DCASE have so many
terrific things in store for 2014. From our FREE annual festivals on
the lakefront to a brand NEW festival on the Chicago River and citywide;
from special events downtown to farmers markets in the neighborhoods -
and from concerts, films and workouts at Millennium Park to exhibitions,
theater and dance at the Chicago Cultural Center - there is so much to
do and see. Happy New Year!
Follow us on:
|
| Save the dates for 2014 festival/event highlights |
 Chicago Farmers Markets
May-October
Daley Plaza and citywide
May 3
Montrose Harbor
May 29-August 28
Millennium Park
June 13-15
Grant Park
June 13-20
Citywide
June 27-29
Chicago Cultural Center and Ellis Park
June 27-September 14
Grant Park
July 9-13
Grant Park
August 16-17
North Avenue Beach
August 28-31
Millennium Park
September 11-21
Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center and citywide
October 3-4
in partnership with City of Chicago
Chicago River and citywide
|
|
|
 Chicago WinterDance
is the winter version of the popular dancing series, Chicago
SummerDance, bringing people of all ages and skill levels together with
introductory one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors followed
by music and dancing. The FREE event is January 3-5 at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.)
in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery located on the fourth floor. The weekend
series includes a diverse musical lineup showcasing popular dance
styles.
Friday, January 3
6-7pm - Dawud Shareef & Lura Shareef (Chicago Steppin')
7:10-9pm - DJ Mellow Khris (Chicago Steppin')
Saturday, January 4
6-7pm - May I Have This Dance (Salsa)
7:10-9pm - Rica Obsesion (Salsa)
Sunday, January 5
Noon-1pm - Tango 21 (Argentine Tango)
1:10-3pm - Tangata Ensemble (Milonga)
For details, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.
|
|
|
 On Saturday, January 4
at 4-7pm, Chicago-based performance art duo ROOMS will present a FREE
exhibit-related event: three performance installations, one in each of
the light and video installations that comprise SHIFT - A New Media Exhibit by Luftwerk, open through January 5 in the Chicago Rooms on the second floor of the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.). Don't miss it! For event and exhibition details, visit chicagoculturalcenter.org.
|
|
|
OnEdge is
a new performance series that will examine deeply personal themes of
identity, heartbreak, family and philosophy through in-your-face
samplings of contemporary performances that include emerging and
mid-career artists such as Keith Hennessy (San Francisco), Miguel Gutierrez (New York), Peter Trosztmer (VIDEO)(Montreal), George Lewis Jr. and Lewis Forever (Los Angeles and Berlin) and Jeremy Xido
(New York). The FREE series will spotlight experimental dance, theater
and genre-defying performances and workshops from national and
international artists and companies and will include several Chicago and world premieres.
OnEdge will take place January 11-February 1 at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) and the Storefront Theater (66 E. Randolph St.). Show times vary; visit cityofchicago.org/dcase for complete details. **Some performances include sexual themes and adult content. Not recommended for children under the age of 15.**
|
|
|
Join us for a FREE exhibit-related open mic event featuring the artists of the Paint Paste Sticker: Chicago Street Art
exhibit, open through January 12 at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E.
Washington St.). Hear their stories and see their work on Saturday, January 11, 1-4 pm, in the Claudia Cassidy Theater (2nd Floor North).
|
|
|
Coinciding with a number of Sunday Salon dates in 2014, the International Contemporary Ensemble's initiative, OpenICE, will present free contemporary music concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) and the Edgewater Public Library (1210 W. Elmdale Ave.). The Cultural Center will host OpenICE in Preston Bradley Hall at 3pm on Sunday, January 12, February 9 and March 2. On the Saturday prior to each of these dates, the Edgewater Public Library will host OpenICE performances.
On Sunday, January 12, don't miss the first OpenICE for 2014 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Two
extraordinary performers of unwieldy instruments (Dan Peck, tuba and
Nathan Davis, percussion) are creating a body of new music written by
them and for them. For the complete schedule, click here. |
|
|
|
 This
winter, the popular midday DJ dance series will continue to showcase
House Music and Juke/Footwork, both of which originated in Chicago.
DJs will spin their tunes featuring House Music on the first Friday of
the month and Juke/Footwork on the third Friday of the month at noon to 1pm in Randolph Square on the first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.).
|
| Don't miss FREE exhibitions this winter/spring throughout the Chicago Cultural Center |
 The Chicago Cultural Center (78
E. Washington St.), known and loved by many as the "People's Palace,"
will host four exhibitions this winter and spring with an emphasis on
Chicago artists and history - and the entire building will serve as a
canvas.
When Jan Tichy: aroundcenter opens on February 1,
the artist's work will not be limited to just the traditional
exhibition space in the Chicago Rooms on the second floor. Tichy builds
on the already prominent artistry of the landmark Chicago Cultural
Center with displays that merge its historic features with his gift of
light and photography as he invites the public to reconsider the
building.
It's been more than 60 years since the Mecca Flats building stood at
34th and State Street, yet it remains a prominent story in both
architectural and sociological discussions. Mecca Flat Blues, which opens February 15 in
the Sidney R. Yates Gallery on the fourth floor, is an exhibition that
clearly demonstrates the two distinct identities of that building.
And opening February 22 in the Exhibit Hall on the fourth floor is Thirty-Five Years of Public Art, which includes a selection of artwork from libraries, police stations and other public buildings.
Currently on display in the Landmark Chicago Gallery on the first floor is Wright Before the "Lloyd",
which highlights a different side of Frank Lloyd Wright: work created
when the noted architect called himself Frank L. Wright. Those who
missed "Wright's Roots" when presented at Expo 72 in 2012 will see many
elements from that exhibit.
|
|
|
The world premiere of Vision, Faith & Desire II: Dancemakers Inspired by Martha Graham presents Chicago
artists who have performed with or have been influenced by modern dance
icon Martha Graham. The program includes new work by Winifred Haun
& Dancers, Leopold Group, Deeply Rooted Productions, Jeff Hancock,
Randy Duncan and Paul Sansardo - all inspired by Graham's
ground-breaking solo work, Lamentations.
Performances will take place February 6-8 at 7:30pm on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) . Tickets are $15 and can be reserved at winifredhaun.org.
LiveWire Chicago Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of Leslye Headland's Assistance,
a 21st century workplace comedy examining the heavy cost of success and
posing the question, if your job is so mind-numbing why do you keep
coming back? Executing hilariously pointless tasks every day can drive
you to tears or make you laugh at the absurdity of your actions.
Preview performances are February 9 at 2pm and February 10, 12 and 13 at 7:30pm. Performance dates and times are February 14-March 16, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Storefront Theater (66 E. Randolph St.). Tickets are $15 and can be reserved at livewirechicago.com. **Special post-show talkbacks will be presented as part of Chicago Theatre Week on February 15 and 16.**
|
|
|
Juicebox will return in
February, offering some of Chicago's best music, dance and theater in a
kid-friendly setting. The FREE series of cutting-edge performances is
geared at toddlers but is engaging for the whole family. Kids can sit on
the floor, walk around, meet the artists and sometimes even play with
the instruments and puppets.
Juicebox takes place at 11am in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) on the first and third Friday of each month and at the Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.) on the first and third Saturday of each month. For a schedule of upcoming performances, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.
|
|
|
 Are you an artist or do you know someone who could benefit from the DCASE Cultural Grants Program? The deadline to submit online grant applications for the DCASE Individual Artists Program is Monday, January 13 at 5pm and the CityArts application process for non-profit arts and culture organizations opens January 24 at 12:01am!
|
|
|
|
elaborate
and refined Japanese tea ceremony is meant to demonstrate respect
through grace and good etiquette. Experience an abbreviated authentic
tea ceremony at Bello Tea to learn and expand your knowledge of Matcha.
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called chanoyu or sadō, chadō. The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called otemae .
This interactive demonstration and tasting gets you involved. Bello Tea
explains how to prepare Matcha and you'll do it yourself. Matcha
classes are $6 per person and available 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Saturday. Bello Teat at the Chicago French Market has seating for three
people at a time. Reservations are recommended.
