The National Veterans Art Museum needs your help to keep its doors open

Chicago is fortunate to be home for the world’s only museum that contains a permanent collection focusing on the subject of war from the artistic perspective of the people who experienced all of the suffering, horrors, and realities of war - the veterans themselves.  The museum contains paintings, photography, sculpture, and poetry, all created by veterans as a chronicle of their personal experiences in war.  To view war through the eyes of those who were intimately involved in it offers a very different experience from much of the traditional military art.

Unfortunately, the space the museum currently occupies will no longer be available, so the museum needs to find a new home.  It also needs to raise nearly $3 million to pay for the relocation and ongoing operating expenses.  Otherwise, the museum will have to close.

I have been to the National Veterans Art Museum, and I can tell you that it is a very moving experience.  It provides a perspective on war through art that one cannot find anywhere else.   Knowing that all of the artwork was created by the people who lived through the experiences depicted allows for an understanding of and connection with the veterans’ war experiences on a level seldom reached.

The National Veterans Art Museum also provides valuable education resources to Chicago.  The museum works with the Chicago Public Schools to bring students to the museum and to provide artist/veteran speakers in classrooms who talk to the students about their experiences in war, coming home, and art therapy.  The museum has also hosted students from various Chicago universities.

If the National Veterans Art Museum is forced to close, this city and this country will lose a unique and valuable resource.  All of the artwork will be placed in storage, and everyone – both now and future generations - will lose the opportunity to understand what war is really like through the eyes of those who know it best. 

You can help ensure that this doesn’t happen with a donation.  It’s easy to do.  Just click here to donate anywhere from $10 to $1,000.  If, for some reason, this link doesn’t work, then go to the National Veterans Art Museum website at http://www.nvvam.org/ and scroll down to the “Help Us Save NVAM” article.

My articles can be found by clicking on the “Entertainment/Arts & Exhibits” link on the Chicago home page of examiner.com.  If you want to be notified when upcoming cultural events are published, click on “Subscribe” above.  You can also follow me on Facebook at the “Chicago Cultural Events” community page. 

Visit Chicago in the summertime for free (almost)

As with most large cities, Chicago can quickly eat up your vacation dollars.  What many people don’t realize, though, is that it’s possible to have a memorable summertime vacation in this city without spending any money beyond what you pay for your hotel and food - if you know where to go.  So, whether you’re a Chicagoan staying home this summer or a visitor to the city, keep reading to find out how to enjoy much of what this great city has to offer for very little money.

Millennium Park  

Whether your musical tastes lean toward classical, jazz, world, or alternative music, http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium/Music_in_Millennium_Park.html you can find it here almost every day of the week during the summer.  Bring a picnic lunch with you, or buy food at the Park to enjoy on the Great Lawn before or during the concert.

Want to get in some exercise?  Meet up with like-minded people on Saturday mornings for Yoga, Pilates, and dance aerobics. http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/events/dca_tourism/millennium_park_weekly.html

Kids will enjoy the crafts, science, and music activities at the Target Family Festival http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/dca_tourism/family_fun_festival.html every day.  They’ll also love the Crown Fountain http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/attractions/dca_tourism/Crown_Fountain.html where they can play in the shallow reflecting pool or get soaked by the water spraying out of the 50 foot towers.

There is more to enjoy at Millennium Park, including Cloud Gate (“the Bean” to locals), the Lurie Garden, http://www.luriegarden.org/ and art in the Boeing Galleries, and, other than food, everything is free.

Museums

Most of Chicago’s museums have some free days throughout the summer: 

Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/aic/ – free the first and second Wednesday of every month

Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/ – free from 5-8pm on Thursdays

Chicago History Museum http://www.chicagohs.org/ – free on Mondays

DuSable Museum of African American History http://www.dusablemuseum.org/ - free on Sundays

International Museum of Surgical Science https://www.imss.org/ - free on Tuesdays

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/hull_house.html - free every day ($5 suggested donation)

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago http://www.mcachicago.org/ – free on Tuesdays (with a free outdoor jazz concert from 5:30-8:00 pm)

Museum of Contemporary Photography http://www.mocp.org/ – free every day

National Museum of Mexican Art http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/ – free every day

Smart Museum of Art http://www.smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/ – free every day

Free days at the Museum of Science & Industry, http://www.msichicago.org/ Field Museum, http://www.msichicago.org/ Shedd Aquarium, http://www.sheddaquarium.org/ and Adler Planetarium http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/ vary, so check their websites for information.

Beaches

Oak Street beach, located in the Gold Coast area and steps from the Magnificent Mile’s shopping and restaurants, is the one for people watching.  It also has a unique concession stand shaped like a boat.  There’s no parking at this beach, but parking garages are located nearby, and public transportation http://www.transitchicago.com/ is available.

North Avenue Beach has an outdoor mini-gym and biking and running path.  This is a great beach for volleyball (professional volleyball tournaments are held here).  In August, this is the location of the Air & Water Show.  http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_air___water.html Public transportation http://www.transitchicago.com/ is recommended due to limited parking.

12th Street Beach is located on Northerly Island, http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/object_id/5235d96e-2f1c-4c63-80b7-c9e7c589e0ba.cfm which also contains a 30 acre prairie where you can stroll and view the birds.  While the beach is small, the location is great: adjacent to the Museum Campus (where the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium are located).  There is a small parking lot next to the beach and a larger one between the Field Museum and Solider Field.  Public transportation http://www.transitchicago.com/ is also available.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo http://www.lpzoo.org/ is one of the nation’s few remaining free zoos.  Here you’ll find 1,200 animals, a children’s zoo, and a recently opened Nature Boardwalk.  One block north is the Lincoln Park Conservatory http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/object_id/45aa3ed2-7c6f-4461-83b2-29cb991637e6.cfm with plants and flowers from around the world.  You can often find parking for free along Stockton (if you don’t mind driving up and down the street a few times), or use the zoo’s paid parking lot.  Public transportation http://www.transitchicago.com/ is also available.

Festivals & Fairs

Taste of Chicago http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/special_events/park_district/Taste_of_Chicago.html is the most popular lakefront festival with food from Chicago’s favorite restaurants along with musical entertainment and activities for the entire family.  Free admission.

Some of the more popular music festivals are Chicago Blues Festival, http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_blues_festival.html Grant Park Music Festival, http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/the-music/2011-season Chicago Jazz Festival, http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_jazz_festival.html and Hyde Park Jazz Festival.  http://hydeparkjazzfestival.org/ All have free admission.

Chicago is also known for its quality art fairs.  Among the favorites are the Gold Coast Art Fair, http://amdurproductions.com/f-goldcoast-public.html Old Town Art Fair, http://www.oldtowntriangle.com/fair/general_information/index.html and 57^th Street Art Fair.  http://www.57thstreetartfair.org/ All have free admission.

Another don’t miss festival is the Printers Row Lit Fest, http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/chi-printers-row-lit-fest-faq-112910,0,448509.htmlstory the Midwest’s largest literary event.  Free admission.

Films

The Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Park http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/events.results/object_id/b85d63cb-6aec-45f0-8cdb-9c38d0a57e19.cfm allows you to enjoy free outdoor movies in several of the city’s parks during June and July.

There are also free films at the Chicago Cultural Center http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/attractions/dca_tourism/Chicago_Cultural_Center.html downtown (as well as music and dance performances and art exhibits).

Dance

If you like to dance, or want to learn how, you can do so during Summerdance in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park.  http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/dca_tourism/Chicago_SummerDance.html There, you can take free dance lessons and then practice what you learned at the dance afterward.  It all takes place outdoors every Thursday through Sunday for 11 weeks July to September.

Ravinia Festival 2011 ticket sales begin April 27

At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, tickets will go on sale to the general public for all concerts at Ravinia this summer, and the only place you’ll be able to get them is on the Ravinia website. 

Ravinia’s season line-up offers a variety of musical styles, so there will likely be something to suit almost everyone’s musical tastes.  Those interested in classical music can join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as it celebrates its 75^th year at Ravinia and see such favorite soloists as Lang Lang, Izthak Perlman, Andre Watts, and Yo Yo May perform with the CSO, enjoy the music of one of America’s favorite composers in an all-Gershwin evening, or watch Lord of the Rings while the CSO performs the film’s entire score.

If you want to hear some great jazz, take in a concert with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Dave Brubeck & Sons, or Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

If pop/rock/country is more your style, Ravinia will have some major headliners this summer, including Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.
Also appearing will be Mandy Patinkin, the Moody Blues, the Doobie Brothers, and Tony Bennett in an 85^th birthday celebration, among others.

If you want to enjoy a day at Ravinia with the entire family, there will be a number of kids concerts:  Ko-Thi Dance Company, Dirty Sock Funtime Band, Tom Chapin & Friends, Ralph’s World, Justin Roberts, The Mariachi Divas, the Highland Park Strings, and Momix.

To view the entire Ravinia schedule, click here. 

There are several options for getting to Ravinia:  Metra train (which stops right at the Festival grounds), driving (get directions), and Park ‘N Ride, which offers free remote parking with shuttle service.  If you’re going to a concert that is sold out, plan on arriving early if you want to park in the main parking lot (opens one hour prior to published park opening time).  Click here for complete information on parking prices.

If you’re not familiar with the park, this map will familiarize you with the layout. 

Ravinia Festival is located in Highland Park on Green Bay Road just north of Lake Cook Road.

The Madness of George III is Chicago theater at its best

Alan Bennett’s The Madness of George III has opened at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and this is one play that should be seen by everyone interested in the best that Chicago theater has to offer.

The story centers on King George III, the King of England at the time of the American war of independence against England.  Five years after that war ended, the king became afflicted with an undiagnosed illness that tormented him both physically and mentally and rendered him incapable of ruling for a time.  This play takes place during the time of the king’s illness and his son’s subsequent attempt to ascend to the throne.

At its core, this is a very human story of one man’s battle against the revolt of his own body and mind and the pain that suffering causes those who love and depend on him.  Through the king’s illness, the play also looks at the struggles most of the characters face over the loss of control, whether political or emotional. 

Harry Groener is superb as King George III.  Watching his painful descent into madness, his helplessness in the face of physical indignities forced upon him, and his heart wrenching attempts to overcome his illness, it’s easy to become so immersed in what’s unfolding before your eyes that you forget you’re watching a play –one of the best measures of the quality of a performance and a play.

Ora Jones brings a quiet and regal dignity to the role of Queen Charlotte while also poignantly conveying the emotions of a woman helplessly watching the man she loves suffer.  Her understanding and compassion during the king’s worst moments underscore her character’s dignity and capacity for love.

Richard Baird as the Prince of Wales and Alex Weisman as the Duke of York provide many of the comedic moments in the play with their frequent displays of ineptitude and foolishness.   They are great fun to watch and offer momentary releases from the play’s intensity.

 Nathan Hosner as William Pitt, the Prime Minister, Erik Hellman as Captain Greville, and Kevin Gudahl as Captain Fitzroy turn in fine performances in their steadfast support of the king during his illness.

Penny Metropulos’s direction creates such full characterization in many of the roles that the audience is drawn into the story and really cares about what happens with the characters.

The set design provides the perfect backdrop to the storyline; the palatial beauty serves as a contrast to the undignified and tortured nature of the king’s illness.

The Madness of George III runs for 2 hours 45 minutes (including intermission), but you won’t feel like you’ve been there that long, because it’s so easy to get completely immersed in the story.

The Madness of George III runs through June 12, 2011 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which is located at Navy Pier.

Galley News Launch Party and Third Fridays at Zhou B. Art Center

Here’s an event that art enthusiasts won’t want to miss.  A launch party to celebrate the new issue of Chicago Gallery News will take place on Friday, April 15 at the Zhou B Art Center and coincide with the Zhou B Art Center's monthly Third Fridays Bridgeport Art Walk.

The public is invited to attend and celebrate the Zhou Brothers, Chicago Gallery News, and the dozens of studios and independent artists at the Center.  Under a single roof, guests will enjoy special musical and artistic performances on multiple floors, drinks and refreshments will be served, affordable art will be for sale, guests can interact with working artists, and Afro-Futurism, an exhibition of work by Hebru Brantley, will be on view.

The 87,000 square foot Zhou B Art Center is Chicago's newest art destination, presenting a vibrant mix of art galleries, studios, shops, and the Zhou B. Café.  Founded in 2004 by the brothers Shan Zuo & DaHuang Zhou and designed to facilitate the exchange of contemporary art between Chicago and the international art community, the Zhou B Art Center is located in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago.

When:

Friday, April 15, 2011

6-10 pm

Zhou B Art Center 3^rd Friday Event - April CGN Launch Party

Free and open to the public.

For more information visit: chicagogallerynews.com or zbcenter.org 

Where:

The Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609

Tel: 773-523-0200      

Travel: Street & lot parking available.  Transit: CTA Red Line 35th-Sox stop; #35 Westbound CTA bus. 

The Zhou B Art Center was recently honored with a visit by President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao when Hu visited the U.S. in January.

In addition to the launch party on April 15, The Zhou B Art Center will open an exhibition of new work by the Zhou Brothers on Friday, April 22, Time - Portrait of History, running through June 12. 

Chicago Gallery News is featuring the Zhou B Art Center on the cover of its new issue covering April-August 2011, the magazine's longest issue of the year. The issue covers three art fairs at the Merchandise Mart, highlights a range of new museum exhibitions, and spotlights several of Chicago's most prominent artists, dealers, and art collectors in its interview series.

In the Works theater season ends this week at Millennium Park

The season for In the Works theater comes to an end at Millennium Park this week with a production of Eastland by Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Eastland recounts a tragic event in Chicago’s history.  On the morning of July 24, 1915, a ship named The Eastland was docked at the Chicago River downtown before heading out to Lake Michigan for a cruise.  Shortly after 2,500 people boarded the ship, and while it was still moored to the dock, the boat tipped over.  While some people were spilled into the river, many others were trapped underwater in interior cabins.  In just a matter of minutes, 844 men, women, and children were dead.

Lookingglass Theater Company’s Eastland uses a musical tapestry to focus on the day’s events through the eyes of three characters by weaving moments form the past with their life-and-death struggles aboard the ship.

In the Works offers audiences the chance to experience works in development by local theater artists and offers audience members an intimate theater experience by placing the audience on stage with the performers. 

You can learn more about The Eastland tragedy by visiting the Eastland Memorial Society’s website. 

Eastland can be seen at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park this week, Thursday through Saturday.  Tickets are only $10, and you can order by phone at 312-742-TIXS (8497) or online by clicking on one of the dates below:

Thursday, April 14, 7:30pm

Friday, April 15, 7:30pm 

Saturday, April 16, 7:30pm  

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is located on the Great Lawn in Millennium Park.  Click here for driving directions, public transportation options, and information about car and bicycle parking.

Bring out your inner artist with hands-on workshops in Chicago

The second full weekend of every month offers multiple opportunities for you and your friends and family to let the creative person within come out to play.

 Cocktails and Clay, Hyde Park Art Center

Second Friday of every month

If you’ve ever thought about trying to create a masterpiece – or just a functional dish – from clay - here’s a great way to do it with a little flair and minimal expense. The second Friday of each month, Hyde Park Art Center hosts Cocktails and Clay from 7-11pm.  In a 45 minute session, you can practice shaping a lump of clay on a potter’s wheel into anything of your choosing and enjoy some music with a DJ while doing so.  The remainder of the evening can be spent sipping drink specials, dancing, and browsing the artwork throughout the Center’s galleries.

There is no set price, but donations are suggested and much appreciated.  Hyde Park Art Center is located at 5020 S. Cornell Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.  Click here for directions and information about parking and public transportation.

Family Day at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Second Saturday of every month

On the second Saturday of every month from 11am-3pm, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago invites families to learn about art through a variety of hands-on activities, such as Look ‘n’ Learn stations where families can view artwork and then create some of their own, scavenger hunts, and Creation Stations.  Families can also enjoy live musical and dance performances.

Admission to both the museum and the Family Day activities is FREE for families with children 12 and under.  The activities are appropriate for all ages.

You can get information for each month’s activities on the MCA’s website in the Programs & Events link.  

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago.  Get directions and parking information here.

Fun for All at Hyde Park Art Center

Second Sunday of every month

The second Sunday of each month, The Hyde Park Art Center opens its doors from Noon-4pm for everyone to enjoy a FREE day of art.  There are workshops, special guests, and live performances.  While the workshops are typically suited for children, many of the demonstrations by special guests and the live performances can be enjoyed by everyone.

To find out what’s happening at Fun for All each month, go to the Hyde Park Art Center’s website and click on the second Sunday in the calendar. 

Hyde Park Art Center is located at 5020 S. Cornell Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.  Click here for directions and information about parking and public transportation.