Pencil This In
By Lauri Apple in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 13, 2009 5:30PM
The Block Museum of Art hosts an opening today of 90 Polaroids taken by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe between 1970 and 1975. Through April 5. Open until 5 p.m. today. Northwestern University. 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston.
65Grand presents the group exhibition beautiful form, featuring current work investigating modes of geometric abstraction. Curated by ArtSlant.com Chicago Editor Abraham Ritchie, the show features artists Titus Dawson Polo, Peter Shear, Steven Husby, Todd Chilton, and Zachary Buchner. Wow -- lots of dudes! Friday, January 16. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Through February 14.
Roots & Culture presents Suspend: new paintings by Michelle Bolinger, Clare Grill, Stacie Johnson, Aliza Morell, and Kimberly Trowbridge. The exhibition presents five painters who investigate painting in a variety of ways including memory, observation, arrangement, surface, gesture and desire. Opening Friday, January 16 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Through Feb. 14. 1034 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Effe Leven Gallery holds a wine and cheese reception for its 2009 Mixed Media Exhibit. One lucky guest will win a painting worth $1,500. Saturday, January 17 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 750 N. Franklin St.
Second Bedroom Projects closes up its exhibit for Galactic Ping-Pong, which combines the equipment of ping pong, the balls off the walls-bouncing of raquetball, and a basketball hoop-like black hole in the middle of the pong table, making it out to be like three games in one. Christmas lights, silver mountains and translucent doohickeys are also involved. This is a rare opportunity to see wan artsy gallery patron-types do something athletic besides lift cigarettes and PBRs to their faces, so don't miss your chance (you might even catch them smiling!). Friday, January 16. 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. 3216 S. Morgan St.
Film
Need a reminder of how stupid and destructive the Drug War is? Go see Tulia, Texas, a documentary providing one perspective on the 1999 Tulia drug sting. Undercover narcotics agent Thomas Coleman executed one of the biggest drug stings in Texas history. Coleman and his drug task force arrested 46 Tulia residents--of which 39 were African American--on charges of suspected drug dealing. In 2003, the defendants were pardoned by Gov. Rick Perry (whose hair rivals Blago's, but despite its Texan-ness still isn't as large). Representatives of the Center On Wrongful Convictions, WVON and Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy will be on-hand for a panel discussion. Presented by Roosevelt University's Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, WTTW Channel 11 and ITVS. Saturday, January 17. 2 p.m. Claudia Cassidy Theatre. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Parties Involving Map
Join AREA Chicago in Wicker Park Thursday, January 15 for two events related to the Notes for a People's Atlas of Chicago project. The first is a collaboration with Around the Coyote Festival, funded by the Wicker Park SSA #33, which involves an exhibition of all People's Atlas of Chicago maps. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wicker Park Field House, 1425 N. Damen Ave. Chicago.
After the Area party, head down the street for Melville House Publishing's presentation and release party for the book Experimental Geography: Radical Approaches to Landscape, Cartography, and Urbanism, edited by Nato Thompson and Independent Curators International. Featuring contributions by Chicago-based artists and organizers: Ellen Rothenberg, Deborah Stratman, Daniel Tucker and AREA Chicago.Thursday, January 15. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Stop Smiling storefront. 1371 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Photo: Robert Mapplethorpe, Untitled (self-portrait), 1970/73, Polaroid.