Weekend Arts Roundup

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 9, 2007 2:47PM

The Trib’s Blair Kamen looks behind the facades. Specifically, those salvaged historic facades slapped onto newer buildings in and around the city core. Sadly, it might be the best compromise available to preservationists in a development-hungry city. The accompanying slide show reveals some smart, respectful conversions at the Reliance Building, Hotel Burnham, and the Oriental Theater.

WBEZ’s Secret Radio Project will be renamed :Vocalo. Yes, the colon is included, likely as unpronouncable as India.Arie’s dot. The Reader reports the launch has been delayed and that a similar, not-so-secret project was launched last year in San Francisco.

Thirty of the Sun Times’ 50 Greatest Chicago moments, published last week, involve art & architecture (Part 2), theater (Part 4) and classical music (Part 5). Few surprises behind those links, but they’re still worth a look.

Next weekend, Detroit’s Museum of New Art opens "Changing Cities: Chicago," an exhibit featuring eight Chicago artists and the first phase of a regional cultural exchange. Later this year, a showcase of eight Detroiters will open here.

From across the pond, here’s another reason to dread the prospect of Chicago 2016. The ballooning cost of planning for London 2012 will be largely absorbed by National Lottery funds, which means Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts will be cut 35%. Small British theaters (or theatres) and individual artists are likely the biggest losers.

Reliance Building image via CAF.