Various artists, “Withinsight,” photography. In the best exhibit yet at this venue, fourteen young photographers show their gifts for abstraction, composition and emotional evocation. Nearly every set of images is well worth a good look, but Kat O’Connor’s send-up of bondage-and-domination photography blows the rest of the show away. “Slightly Wicked” tells the tale; we see O’Connor’s double—her model—standing with one of her black-booted legs resting on a chair, leaning forward in her shiny plastic black shift, staring with wide bedroom eyes through her glasses, beckoning her prey with the most devilishly silly smile. The mirth of playing on the surface of deep play explodes in “Serious Business,” where the mistress, in a dog collar, makes out in bed with a male partner; both of them are heartily laughing without a hint of sado-masochistic kicks. Next time O’Connor should take the plunge and enjoy the fun herself. (Michael Weinstein) Through January 31 at Chicago Photography Center
Celebrating the Portrait: A Review of "Face to Face" at WithInSight Gallery Curators Denise Orlin and Federica Ghidelli brought in the master to jury their portrait show. From 242 entries hailing from countries as far flung as Taiwan, Sweden and Chile, Sandro Miller chose just fifty-four. The range is vast.
For Us: A Review of "Something from Something" at Engage Projects Kushala Vora and Adia Sykes’ collaboration "Something from Something" tells us as viewers that knowledge, art, creation, inspiration, love—really anything you can think of—has a place of origin.
Looking Down: A Review of Bob Tanner at Perspective After the loss of his wife, Bob Tanner made two photography series, “At Ocean’s Edge” and “At Winter’s Edge,” that are shown in this meditative show filled with graceful visual poetry.
Microcosm: A Review of “Dialogues” at Patron Through each artist-relationship, "Dialogues" offers the viewer a rare opportunity to witness the direct connections that flow through the electric nervous system that both infiltrates and generates Chicago's art world.
Women Behind the Lens: A Review of "From Her to Eternity" Courtney Love curates on the street. Just west of Wabash on the corner of Eighth Street, there is a wall of stellar rock star images that includes a special collection made by women photographers over the years.
