Do not insult the fifty or so works hanging on the walls at the 4th floor exhibit hall of the Cultural Center by calling them "movie posters." These vivid oils, painted on the back of opened up and stretched-out flour sacks, hand-painted rather than mass-produced and thus free from the crippling dilution of corporate marketing and the homogenized pseudo-perfection of the photoshop era, do more than advertise a product. With images so urgent that they seem to vibrate on the wall, these pieces demand your attention and threaten not to give it back. more ›

We don't spend enough time inside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. We go fairly often, especially during the winter, since it's the site of the Green City Winter Market, but it's rare that we bother to look at the exhibits. Which is a darn shame, because there are some pretty amazing things to see. Take in the butterflies, see the beautiful nature dioramas, marvel at the wonderful pictures of the Chicago River, and after you're done, sit down for a snack. Why? Because the lunchroom at Notebaert hosts "Nature's Lunchbox," an exhibit on healthy and sustainable eating. more ›

Unfortunately as the summer has progressed the violence that has taken place across Chicago has changed our preconceptions and thoughts about many beautiful and beloved places in our city. Though it is sometimes difficult to imagine now, some of the hot spots where this violence occured, these are also some of the city's most picturesque places; like the sprawling green, tree covered landscapes in Humboldt Park. more ›

Like the rest of America, Chicago photographer Jane Fulton Alt watched the events, the destruction, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on television. But unlike many people, she found herself in a position to do something. Within weeks of Katrina's landfall, Jane found herself in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, the hardest hit part of the city, block after block wiped out by flood waters as the levees gave way. Jane was part of a program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that assisted residents in returning briefly to their homes to see what they could find but who also had to immediately turn around and leave. And in this time in New Orleans - as well as several subsequent visits - Jane found herself taking photos of the destruction. more ›

Looking to support a good cause and good art? Consider The Arts of Life, a community group which provides developmentally disabled adults an outlet for expression in the form of creating art. Now they're in a new space at 2010 W. Carroll Avenue and are ready to hold their ninth annual summer exhibit with a special showcase and auction Saturday night, June 20th. Besides the art exhibit, there will be a raffle and a silent auction as well as a performance by the Arts of Life band. Wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres are included in the price of the tickets and all proceeds benefit the Arts of Life Gallery+Studio. more ›

In 1984, underwater explorer Barry Clifford made one whale of a discovery off the coast of Cape Cod: the remains of the Whydah, the first fully-authenticated pirate ship discovered in American waters. Now, 25 years later, Clifford, along with National Geographic and AEG Live, is bringing his discovery to the Field Museum in their newest exhibition, Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship. more ›

You still have time to catch the 38th annual Black Creativity exhibit, which runs until March 1 at the Museum of Science and Industry. This year's theme is "Green Revolution," and highlights the lives and accomplishments of 30 African American architects, designers, engineers and business leaders in the green movement. Learn about innovators such as Johari Cole, who owns Iyabo Organic Farms, organic chef Bryant Terry, and George Washington Carver, an early 20th century botanist and inventor whose studies and teaching revolutionized agriculture in the United States. In addition to the exhibition are workshops, a juried art exhibition and a Keep Chicago Beautiful certification for parents, educators and college students on Feb. 28. more ›

Since May 8, thousands of visitors have been amazed by the style, innovation and comfort of the Museum of Science and Industry's Smart Home: Green and Wired. The Museum, in partnership with Wired Magazine and architect Michelle Kaufmann, built an entire house, complete with landscaping, on the lawn outside the Henry Crown Space Center. Visitors can tour the entire house (including the utilities spaces, the roof and the grounds) with a guide for a small additional fee. We had the opportunity to visit the Smart Home a few weeks ago, and our recommendation is simple: If you haven't been, go right now. more ›

Exhibit A: Pilgrim Baptist Church Location: 3301 S. Indiana Avenue Built: 1890-91 Notable facts: Originally built by Louis Sullivan and his partner, Dankmar Adler, as the Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv synagogue. Became the Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1922. Often called the birthplace of gospel music, due to musical director Thomas Dorsey. Designated as a Chicago landmark: Dec. 18, 1981 Fate: Destroyed by fire, Jan. 6, 2006. Caused by workers doing roof restoration. Future: Possible rebuilding. Exterior... more ›

Too Much Civic Duty? more ›

Chicagoist has been called plenty of not so nice things. Some of these adjectives are spot on, some baseless accusations. We’ll admit we sometimes get things wrong and can stand to improve. So in the spirit of springtime renewal, we turn to the galleries and museums to help us right our wrongs. Chicagoist has been hard on the Amish, too hard perhaps. Sure, they’re different. Sure, we’ve laughed at their expense. But they want the... more ›

An exhibit that makes you laugh sounds good enough. But we grew skeptical about the Chicago Cultural Center’s Situation Comedy: Humor in Recent Art, after reading this description from Cultural Affairs’ monthly e-newsletter: These works employ various strategies involving text and image using parody, satire, slapstick and practical jokes to inject humor into the normally staid art environment. We dreaded the prospect of seeing mildly funny work paired with belabored explanations draining what little humor... more ›

The student paper at NIU has jumped into the controversy by running the cartoons this week. more ›

We've talked more about Chicago's endangered buildings than those sparkling new ones. Consider the sturdy construction, fine craftsmanship, and sentimental value, it’s not hard to see why. But don’t believe today’s architects lack imagination. They’re working around rising material and labor costs, risk-averse patrons and mounting pressure to deliver on time and under budget. more ›

The budget is a drag. more ›

For all the talk about how Version Two of The Ballpark Formerly Known As Comiskey completely changed the landscape of the Bridgeport neighborhood, the truth is that outside of the late, lamented McCuddy’s (the bar most long-suffering Sox fans bring up as Exhibit A of the old Bridgeport nightlife: “Babe Ruth drank beers between innings there when the Yankees came to town!”) Comiskey Park/The Cell has always been a victim of its surroundings. Where... more ›

Do you love love songs? Sure, we all do (except for you Mr. Drinking Jack Daniels In The Dark). So does the Sun-Times. Just in time for your Valentine’s Day mix tape, they’ve published a list of great and not-so-great love songs. How’d they do? Well…the whole idea of lists like this is to spur discussion right? Then spur we will! It’s their Best of the Best list that we have the biggest quibbles over.... more ›

Chicagoist often gazes through Brown Line windows at the ever-so-dismal remains of the Cabrini Green community, and has wondered time and time again just what went wrong with some of the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) most ambitious, and notorious, housing projects. For that reason, Roosevelt University's The Promise of Public Housing, 1936-1983 is situated firmly atop our “Damn, This Exhibit Looks Cool” file. Compiling more than 80 photographs culled from the archives of the CHA... more ›