RECOMMENDED Husband and wife team Jennifer Friedrich and Damien Hinojosa founded the Incurable Theater in 2000 as a vehicle for their exploration of puppet and mask theater. Having had their work performed at Millennium Park, The PAC/Edge Festival, Links Hall and The Chicago Historical Society, Friedrich and Hinojosa continually strive to make their artwork accessible to the Chicago community. This exhibition, which includes two free workshops taught by the theater’s two co-founders, affords the audience the opportunity to peruse the impressive career of the Incurable Theater in snapshot displays of puppets, masks and sets from past and upcoming performances. This unique exhibit offers a glimpse into the intricacies of an age-old medium and the curious minds of two artists who have built their career therein. The Edward Gorey-esque marionette children of The Incurable’s performances of E.T.A. Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker” and “The Sandman” are particularly striking and reveal a dark take on typical childhood wonder. From the wrinkles on the face of a dazed Faust to the minimalist musings of a lethal shadow puppet turtle, the Art of the Incurable Theater contains a sense of humanity mingled with playfulness that is as gripping as it is inviting. (Paul Karner)
The Incurable Theater shows at Reversible Eye, 1103 North California, (773)635 0135, through October 14.
The Whole Package: Looking at the Art Matchmaking of “Not Just Another Pretty Face” at the Hyde Park Art Center Expect an especially exciting moment when the bell rings on the evening of September 14. White cloth that covers up all the artworks shall be pulled from the gallery walls inside the Hyde Park Art Center, unveiling some eighty commissioned works culminating from the latest two iterations—2021 and 2023—of the famed Chicago art matchmaker program.
Art For Life’s Sake: Sub-Saharan Art Reassessed The Art Institute's sub-Saharan holdings make it one of the preeminent collections in the United States. The museum presents traditional sub-Saharan art—with a through line to contemporary practices—focused on West and Central Africa. “One of the most striking aspects of this community’s visual culture is its use of colors."
