Crave a whiff of celebrities but didn’t get invited to the frou-frou Art Basel Miami Beach after-parties? Head to “Celebrity and the Peculiar,” an exhibition of tents “infused with celebrity scents” at the Chicago Cultural Center, part of Industry of the Ordinary’s retrospective exhibition. Not going on the annual Miami art exodus this weekend? Me neither. There are a ton of events happening the same weekend, December 6-9, right here in Chicago to keep our eyes and minds inspired.
ART AND DESIGN FAIRS
One of a Kind Show and Sale
One of a Kind Show and Sale. The twelfth annual functional and fine art fair is like Etsy live. Over 600 national artists will be showcased, with many objects priced below $100. December 6-9. The Merchandise Mart. oneofakindshowchicago.com
The Market. Support local artists and artisans at Shop Columbia, Columbia College’s annual marketplace for students and alumni. Proceeds also go to fund scholarships at the school. December 6-8. 623 South Wabash. colum.edu/shopcolumbia
ODLCO open house. Designers Caroline Linder and Lisa Smith opened ODLCO to support the work of other designers. Their factory store debuts this month with a sale and open house. Want to store your butter in a U.S. Capitol-shaped dish? Need to locate the golden mean with a view-finder? These and other odd products available December 7, 6-9pm. 1136 West Randolph. odlco.com
Middle Coast Zine Fest. A showcase of local zines, street art, photo, and small editions, and raffles from Saki and Quimby’s. December 8-9. Galerie F, 2381 North Milwaukee. galerief.com
PARTIES, FESTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND AUCTIONS
ARTBAR. Cándida Alvarez’s solo exhibition opens with music, drinks, a Michael Jackson glove-making workshop, as well as screenprinting, ceramics, and photography demos. December 7, 5:30pm-8pm. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell. hydeparkart.org
CloudBash. Design Cloud is a design studio and art gallery. Along with providing start-up advice to new design businesses, they realize that there’s strength in numbers. Their first-year fundraiser (tickets $50) features food and booze, interactive art, music, and more. December 7, 6pm-10pm. 118 North Peoria. designcloudchicago.com
AREA’s Wants & Needs Auction. This sixth annual auction supports AREA, a free newspaper that reports on Chicago urban and political activism. Bid on a Spudnik Press printmaking class, a curator-led tour of the Jeanne Gang exhibition, home-cooked Korean food, and more. December 8, 8pm–midnight. Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 South Morgan. areachicago.org
Schlong Night. Twenty-four hours of penis-themed art, food and performance. December 6, 10pm–December 7, 10pm. New Capital, 3114 West Carroll. floorlengthandtux.com/schlong
GLI.TC/H. The third annual festival of new-media and “dirty” art is free to experience December 6-9, by day at High Concept Laboratories, 1401 West Wabansia, and by night at TriTriangle, 1550 North Milwaukee, and The Gallery FKA Happy Dog, 1542 North Milwaukee. gli.tc/h/2112/schedule.html
OPENINGS AND EVENTS
Los Manos Gallery reopens
Dropshift dance. A mini-festival of dance, dance films and flat artwork. Opening reception is December 6, 6-9pm. I Am Logan Square, 2644 North Milwaukee.
Las Manos Gallery reopens. “At first it seemed that the business had to close for good,” writes Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, whose Las Manos Gallery was forced from its Andersonville home a month ago. But a gallery open for fifteen years, and the last in this neighborhood, Las Manos was poised to rise again. They’ve found a new location just a block away at 1515 West Foster. Celebrate the reopening December 7, 6pm-10pm.
Sam Jaffe. The artist’s much-anticipated second solo exhibition features sculptures made from yarn, tinsel, and other oddball materials. Opening reception is December 7, 6pm-9pm. 65Grand, 1369 West Grand. 65grand.com
National Exposure Revisited. A juried group exhibition of forty-eight photographers selected by photojournalist Charles Osgood, in celebration of the gallery’s fortieth anniversary. Opening reception is December 7, 6pm-9pm. ARC Gallery, 2156 North Damen. arcgallery.org
The Cabaret Cabaret Retrospective. Anatomy Gift Association and Alcatraz Chicago collaborate to feature a mini-festival of performances by Chicago-based artists for a $3 entrance fee. Included are Grayson Bagwell, Poy Born, Jackie Friedberg, Alec Hatcher, Kiam Marcelo Junio, Collin Pressler, Joshua Roginsky, Cassidy Stock, and Chelsey Sprengeler. December 8, 8pm–midnight. Alcatraz Chicago, 1000 North Halsted. alcatrazchicago.wordpress.com
SMALL Ordinary Shop symposium. The Chicago Cultural Center’s revamped gift shop, spearheaded by the Public Media Institute on the occasion of Industry of the Ordinary’s retrospective exhibition, showcases wares from local designers and artists. This one-day symposium and tasting event features a dozen or more of the local artisans. Hear them speak, touch their objects and taste their creations December 8, 12:30pm-3:30pm. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington. explorechicago.org
Goshka Macuga artist talk. Macuga is showing simultaneously at the MCA and the Smart Museum of Art on the topic of East vs. West, protest, and the art world. Her artist talk is a conversation with MCA curator Dieter Roelstraete, followed by a hot chocolate reception. Rescheduled date: December 13, 4pm. Smart Museum of Art, 5550 South Greenwood.
