WBEZ | Chicago Urban Art Society

Vocalo Presents: Music & Stories Live! Race Edition

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:04:00 -0500

This month’s “Music & Stories” aims to move the subject of race from just being a black and white issue to something more expansive. We’ll connect with each other regardless of race, ethnicity or social economic status through storytelling and music to foster authentic dialogue about the subject. Come down, hear people's stories and add your own.

Hosted by Luis & Shantell of the Vocalo Overdrive with music by special guest DJ & Host of Vocalo’s Reclaimed Soul Ayana Contreras. Featuring stories from: Ytasha Womack, Sandra Jamison and more.

This Race Edition of "Music & Stories" is a part of Vocalo and WBEZ's Race: Out Loud series. For the entire summer, we've been discussing race—out loud, and on the air, in frank conversations, through sharing stories, and lively events.

Slow + Low: A Lowrider Art & Culture Community Event in Chicago

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:52:00 -0500

Chicago Urban Arts Society is presenting a benefit exhibition/event in Pilsen on August 14th, 2011. Co-presented by Old School Members Only Car Club of Chicago along with Tinta Roja Projects. This special exhibition showcases the real street culture of Lowriding with all it's elements; Art, customized rides, Lowrider Bicycles, Car & Truck Hopping, tattoo art, airbrushing, pin-stripping, custom paint ,imagery, style, 13" wire spoke rims and much more.

In words: Tradition....Pride....Honor.....Family....Crusing...

Update: Sweet + Savory Pairings from 1PM - 7PM!
Gaztro-Wagon, The Slide Ride, and Empanadas 5411 will all be on-site to provide you with culinary delights.

And don't miss the photos of Edward Calderon, freelance photographer with Lowrider Magazine and Street Low Magazine, will have photos on display as part of the event. Click here for some teasers...

Click here to download the event flyer.

CHICAGO STREET ART Opening Reception

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:54:28 -0500

Chicago Urban Art Society presents an overview of the bold, subversive and passionate form of expression that is Chicago Street Art. The practice of this medium involves working completely outside the normal expectations of what art is, what it can provide for a viewer AND, not so incidentally, working outside of the law. Chicago Street Artists offer unique unassuming (and often ephemeral) public artworks that: challenge ideas, define politics, and add a beautiful character to these city walls.

This exhibition of a 3,700 sq. ft. collaborative mural, installation projects, and hundreds of photographs spanning 10 years of Street Art features: Artillery, Billy Smith, Bonus Saves, Brooks Golden, Chris Silva, Senor Codo, Cody Hudson, CRO, Cyro, Chris Diers, Don’t Fret, Emen, 80 legs, Tom Fennell IV, “Its yours, Take it”, Goons, The Grocer, Juan Angel Chavez, Klepto Salem, Melt, Nick Adams, Oscar Arriola, Poor Kid, Safety First, Saro, Sighn, Solve, Tewz, Tiny, Tiptoe, The Viking, You Are Beautiful, and others…

Join all for the CHICAGO STREET ART Opening Reception Friday, May 13, 2011 6PM – 11PM.

CHICAGO STREET ART will remain on display through June 4 and is open to the public & available for viewing during regular gallery hours: Thursday and Friday 6pm-9pm and Saturday 1pm – 5pm.

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Chicago Urban Art Society is one of 10 Chicago Art Centers participating in the June 4 "What's Your Art?" Off-Air Series event. While you're there be sure to pick up the "What's Your Art?" validation card, then see how many Centers you can visit between now and June 4. Prizes for those who visit 2, 4, 6, 8, or all 10! Be sure to join us on June 4 for a culminating celebration involving all ten Centers, their art & artists, to learn more about the Art Centers of Chicago and how you can get involved.

Warehouse Junkies: Vinyl Swap [Vol.2]

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:14:00 -0600

The depth of Chicagoland’s musical heritage may often be unfathomable –labels like Cadet, Delmark, Dust Traxx, and dozens more all call Chicago ‘home’– but the global cultural impact of our city’s music scene is anything but deniable. With Chicago Urban Art Society and Ground Lift Media’s new bi-monthly Record Show “Warehouse Junkies,” we whole-heartedly celebrate and embrace Chicago’s rich musical lineage, and bring together a group of individuals in a pursuit of music and buying, selling and trading.

“Warehouse Junkies” isn’t your typical Record Show.

Using their gallery to its fullest, Chicago Urban Art Society will repurpose their space as the official “Warehouse Junkies” venue. In this non-traditional environment, vendors will consist of Chicago-based music retailers as well as local independent dealers, collectors, and DJs. Customers are invited to shop – buy/trade – rare, valuable and classic merchandise while local DJs talents provide the soundtrack.

Confirmed Vendors Include: KSTARKE, RECORD BREAKERS, DJ TREW, JOSE ESTRADA, DUSTY GROOVE, AND MORE!

Whether you’re looking for a dusty copy of Muddy Water’s “Electric Mud” or a CD repress of Felix Da Housecat’s debut 12inch single, “Warehouse Junkies” will features all genres and forms of music. From LPs, to 45s, to 12inchs, to CDs, and maybe even some cassette tapes!

“Warehouse Junkies” is Chicago’s ONLY bi-monthly Record Show that occurs within city limits. Just a quick CTA ride away (CUAS is accessible by all major bus and train lines) or stroll over after brunch in Pilsen. Doors open at 1pm, close at 5pm, early bird at 11am. A far cry from a typical 8am Record Show start time. So feel free to take that extra Jamo shot Friday night and we’ll see you at the crack of Noon!!

About CUAS:
Peter Kepha and Lauren Pacheco were one-half of the 32nd & Urban gallery/spacefounding team in November 2005. Opening it’s doors on Chicago’s Southside community of Bridgeport, 32nd & Urban joined the emerging art scene along with Zhou Brothers, Co-Prosperity Sphere (CPS), Artists of East Bank, MN gallery, and others. The Gallery focused on contemporary art exhibitions featuring local emerging & established talent. After closing its doors in 2008, Lauren and Peter Kepha decided to re-group and form the Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS), a not-for-profit organization focusing on the artist and the preservation of the Chicago art movement.

About GLM:
Founded in 2006, Ground Lift Media (http://www.groundliftmedia.com) is an event production, PR/marketing, a&r company which targets and works within the many progressive, tastemaker niche demographics of urban culture. This is achieved by crafting sponsor-specific events, heavily marketed, conceptualized, and branded towards tastemakers, featuring an immersive A/V experience tailored for the desired niche demographics.

Art of the Vote: Mayoral Candidate Meet & Greet

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:07:27 -0600

Are you trying to figure out who to vote for in the upcoming Chicago mayoral election? The is another chance for you to meet and mingle with the mayoral candidates at the FREE Mayoral Engagement on Friday Feb. 11, 2011, a free meeting/greeting session at the Chicago Urban Art Society. This is a Mayoral Meet and Greet for the Arts! Be a part of an exciting gathering of like-minded organizations and people on Friday, February 11th. Let’s do this Chicago!

What to expect?
· Deejays Pickel, Intel and Trew spinning!
· Interactive public participation by YOU!
· Meet other Chicago-based arts organizations!
· Catch live performances!
· Check out WBEZ's "Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip Hop Arts” exhibit!
· Liquids will be served!
· Photobooth and Videobooth brought to you by Sixty Inches From Center!

For more information, visit: http://chicagourbanartsociety.tumblr.com/

Community Café: Healing Planet Rock

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:39:40 -0600

Featuring: Baraka Blue, DJ Anas Canon, Yuna, Seasunz + J.Bless and Zzaje
With Live Recycled Art by eL Seed and Savera Iftikhar

IMAN teams up with Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, author of “Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet” for a night dedicated to healing the planet through our art and music.

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin
Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is author of the acclaimed book, “Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet.” For the past ten years, Ibrahim has been a passionate voice for transforming our pollution-based way of life to one that prioritizes our planet and its people. Ibrahim’s dedication to the environment is rooted in his religion of Islam. Ibrahim is an environmental policy consultant and has worked with a number of organizations committed to environmental health.

Baraka Blue
Deep into hip-hop at an early age, Baraka Blue’s journey through life and music greatly intertwined and balanced each other. His poetry has migrated from the matters of the world to the matters of the heart, resulting in an intensely spiritual vibe. The depth of his voice beautifully compliments the depth of his words, allowing a listener to simply simmer in the transcending music. Click here to see more...

DJ Anas Canon
Anas Canon, a.k.a. DJ Anas Canon, is currently artistic director and executive producer for the independent record label Remarkable Current, which he founded in 2001. His body of work, as well as his knowledge and expertise in sound, production and engineering have taken him around the globe and have been his professional and creative outlet for many years. Currently he focuses his creative energy on fusing several different genres of music in an attempt to bring awareness and diversity back to art. In a 2009 publication out of Georgetown University and the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Canon was named among the “500 Most Influential Muslims Worldwide” in the American Media category. Click here to see more...

Yuna
In 2008, via Indie-Pop Music, Yuna released her self-titled EP in her home country of Malaysia and instantly began turning heads. The single “Deeper Conversation” became a massive success and went on to win the title of Best English Song at the 2009 AIM Awards, Malaysia’s national music awards. Yuna swept the ceremony, garnering Best Pop Song and Song of the Year for her Malay song, “Dan Severnarya.” Growing up in a Muslim household in Malaysia, Yuna was first inspired by the universal appeal of acts like No Doubt, The Cranberries, and Fiona Apple. At the age of 19, while in law school, she picked up a guitar and began to fervently write. She joined various art groups and recognized her love and natural talents for sketching, photography, web design and graphic design. Today, further attesting to her creative ability, Yuna is part owner of the clothing shop I Am Jet Fuel, a successful couture boutique in Malaysia. Click here to see more...

Seasunz + J.Bless
Brooklyn-based Producer & MC J.Bless and Oakland and California-based front-man MC & singer Seasunz combine production and vocal talents to create a unique brand of jazz, soul and reggae influenced hip-hop in their first collaborative album, ‘Earth Amplified.’ This Green Hip-Hop album features lyrics that touch on many of the environmental and socio-political issues of the day. Click here to see more...

Zzaje
Showcasing a cross section of soul, funk, jazz, hiphop, rock and classical music, this group of young passionate men has consistently proven that music has no limitations. As a group, ZZAJÉ has been together for more than five years and their musical track record in the industry continues to climb new heights. Click here to see more...

eL Seed
eL Seed’s art is a mixture of street art and Arabic Calligraphy. It is the product of a double marginality, that of an oriental art seeking a voice in the occidental world, and that of street art struggling to legitimize its presence on the contemporary art scene. This duality enables the reconciling of two supposedly opposing worlds and two supposedly clashing cultures.

Savera Iftikhar
Savera is someone who tries to see beauty in the everyday. Using her Creator, the greatest artist of all, as inspiration, she closely views every passing subject and image to the most minute detail always left in awe of His neverending combinations of color, composition and concept. She is an aspiring painter/drawer and photographer and hopes that she will be able to capture with justice the unique beauty that The One has spread all over His land. And it is with this in mind, body and heart that she hopes to bring that same connection to all that view her work.

Winter Block Party Extended Exhibition

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:28:39 -0600

One day just wasn't enough!

This year, The 3rd Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts continues until the end of February with an amazing visual exhibition on display and a series of planned events (see schedule below).

Exhibition Hours:
Thursday + Friday 6pm-9pm (1/20-21,1/27-28)
Saturday 1pm-6pm (1/22) (1/29)

Thursday + Friday 6pm-9pm (2/3-4, 2/10-11, 2/17-18, 2/24-25)
Saturday 1pm-6pm (2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26)

Participating Visual Artists include: Aron Hanson, Rodrigo Solo Mireles, Chris Silva, Nick Deter Adam, Ruben Like Agurrie, Revise CMW, Kane One, Ray Cro Noland, Lili Blis, Christophe Roberts, Johnny Sampson, Stephen Flemister, Krista Franklin, Roy Afeks, Peter Kepha, Molly Butterfoss, Jonathan Mills, Carlos Dominguez (Vintage House Flier Collector), Tonika "TONI" Johnson, Jose Estrada, Billy Craven, Lauren Feece, Raul V Diaz (Vintage Hip Hop Flier and Tape Collector), Carlos Dominguez (Vintage House Flier Collector), Kevin Starke, Emily Anne Evans, Dyen NSH (Vintage Spray Can Collector), and the personal boombox collection of legendary contemporary artist, DZINE. With a marketplace featuring AKIN Chicago, CZR PRZ, Novem, UPSKI, Kevin Coval and more! A complete Catalog of works-for-sale is available at the door.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Tuesday, January 25:
Roving Café Society: Why we still dream

Thursday, January 27:
Urban Gateways 50th Anniversary Launch Party

Friday, February 11:
Art of the Vote: Mayoral Candidate Meet & Greet

Saturday, February 12:
Warehouse Junkies: Vinyl Swap [Vol.2]

Saturday, February 19:
Democracy Remixed, Black Youth and the Future of American Politics with Cathy Cohen

Friday, February 25:
Community Café: Healing Planet Rock

Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics with Cathy Cohen

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:18:43 -0600

What are the intersections of opportunity and discrimination in the lives of Black youth? What steps are necessary to help reshape the future of young Black Americans and American democracy?

Join us for this important conversation with award-winning scholar Cathy Cohen about her timely new book, Democracy Remixed. Plus, hear from a panel of local and national leaders working with Black youth in Chicago and nationwide.

This intergenerational conversation will launch a series of programs commemorating The Public Square's 10 year anniversary. A reception and book-signing will follow the program.

Panelists include:
Cathy Cohen, author of Democracy Remixed and The Boundaries of Blackness
Bakari Kitwana, author of The Hip Hop Generation and Why
Biko Baker, Executive Director of the League of Young Voters
Rosa Clemente, community organizer, radio journalist, hip hop activist and a 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate with the Green Party
Dara Cooper (moderator), Chicago activist with Ella's Daughters, Rising In Solidarity with Ayiti, and Healthy Food Hub
Kenyon Farrow, former Executive Director of Queers for Economic Justice, writer, organizer, speaker
Angie Fresco, youth organizer for Southside Together Organized for Power (STOP) and poetry coordinator for Southwest Youth Collaborative
FM Supreme, hip hop artist, educator, and talent manager for Young Chicago Authors

More about Democracy Remixed:
Utilizing the results from the Black Youth Project, a groundbreaking national survey, Cathy Cohen focuses on what young black Americans actually experience and think -- and underscores the political repercussions. Featuring their stories, she reveals that black youth largely want what most Americans want -- a good job, a fulfilling life, safety, respect, and equality. Through their own words, these young people provide a complex and balanced picture of the intersection of opportunity and discrimination in their lives.

More about Cathy Cohen:
Cathy Cohen is the David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago. She is also the Deputy Provost for Graduate Education and the former Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago. In addition to Democracy Remixed, she is the author of The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics and the co-editor of Women Transforming Politics: An Alternative Reader. She is also the principal investigator of the Black Youth Project and the Mobilization, Change and Political and Civic Engagement Project.

Sponsored by the Black Youth Project; The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council; Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago; Gender and Women's Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and WBEZ 91.5FM.

Co-sponsored by Affinity, Chicago Freedom School, Chicago Hip Hop Civic Engagement Project, Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, Chicago Votes, Southwest Youth Collaborative, and Teachers for Social Justice.

Free and open to the public. Reservations are required. For more information, call 312.422.5580. If you need a sign interpreter or require other arrangements to fully participate, please call 312.422.5580.

Click here to RSVP for this event.

Urban Gateways 50th Anniversary Launch Party

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:32:28 -0600

In commemoration of the last 50 years of bringing arts education to Chicago youth, Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education invites the arts community to join in and celebrate the momentous anniversary at an interactive launch party.

The launch party will debut a new interactive website, an “I Am Urban Gateways” video- a montage of the most impactful testimonials from UG alumni, student art exhibitions, live performances by UG artists, and much more. Guests will be able to record video testimonials, send tweets that will appear on a video wall, mingle with UG 50th Anniversary honorees, and enjoy tasty appetizers and drinks.

Click here to RSVP for this event.

Roving Café Society: Why we still dream

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:26:25 -0600

Young activists with the Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL) continue to dream, in spite of the DREAM Act's recent defeat. Short for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, this bill would have given undocumented students who arrived in the US as children a chance to earn permanent residency in the country.

Join us for an intimate conversation with members of (IYJL), whose efforts have brought national attention to the plight of undocumented students.

Free and open to the public. Reservations are required. For more information, call 312.422.5580.

Café Society is a series of conversations where families, friends, neighbors, and citizens come together to discuss current events and other important political and social issues. By engaging in the meaningful exchange of ideas and perspectives, these conversations enliven the core of democracy and empower the public.

Through discussion, we seek to foster a robust civil society, cohesive nteractive communities, and a critical examination of our media. We invite people to engage one another in discussion from all points of view, dig deeper into a given subject, and help create a stronger democratic society. A program of The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council.

If you need a sign interpreter or require other arrangements to fully participate, please call 312.422.5580. For parking locations near the facility, please visit ChicagoParkingMap.com.

Click here to RSVP for this event.