September Artist News
published: Aug. 27, 2024
Diana Solís, Dia de Los Muertos Parade in Pilsen, circa 1984. Courtesy Diana Solís.
News:
NICOLE MITCHELL (2011 3Arts Awardee) and JOVIA ARMSTRONG (2011 3Arts/Siragusa Foundation Awardee)
Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko recently released Bamako*Chicago Sound System, an album embodying “the African griot traditions of call and response, rooted in the Black Amerikan blues/jazz lineage.” The album includes Nicole’s “sweetly haunting” flute and Jovia’s “splashing” percussion. “Each instrument, from vocals to strings to wind to the percussive, merges into the other, while retaining distinction. It feels like a celebratory dance between new lovers, whose connection spans lifetimes—bridging romantic ties while affirming ancient ones.” The album is available for purchase on Bandcamp.
Events:
MEAGAN MCNEAL (2020 3Arts/Walder Foundation Awardee)
On September 1, Meagan performs in Back Alley Jazz, a summer series curated by the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. “Back Alley Jazz is inspired by the original jazz alley jams that took place in various locations on the South Side in the 1960s and 70s, and which still continue today in different forms…” A powerhouse singer and recording artist known for her wide range of musicality, Meagan will perform a soulful set at 4pm on 7200 block of S. Luella.
RIVA LEHRER (2008 3Arts/Chandler Family Artist)
Opening September 6 (and remaining on view through October 12), Riva presents new work in a solo show at Zolla Lieberman Gallery.
NICOLE MARROQUIN (2017 Make a Wave Awardee) and DIANA SOLIS (2021 Make a Wave Awardee)
From September 5 through December 14, Gallery 400 presents Learning Together: Art Education and Community. The exhibition highlights Chicago’s leadership in progressive arts education for K-12 students from the mid-1960s through the 2010s. “Artworks co-created by students and educators, sketchbooks, ephemera, and images of public artworks in situ in and around K-12 schools are paired with teaching artists’ artwork inspired by their work with Chicago’s youth.”
Opening September 20 (and continuing through October 27), Steep Theatre will present the world premiere of Abbas’ play, Happy Days Are Here (Again), directed by Azar Kazemi. The play “examines man-made “divine” power, who wields it, and if they should be trusted.” This is a new commission by Steep Theatre that will be presented at Steppenwolf Theatre’s 1700 space.
STEPHANIE MARTINEZ (2015 3Arts/Restoration Hardware Awardee)
On September 20 and 21, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, where Stephanie is the founder and director, will present a 2-night-only performance series at the restored Studebaker Theatre at the Fine Arts Building. The series, entitled v. anthology, celebrates the company's fifth season and features a capsule collection of the company’s favorite and exclusive works by award-winning, nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Xavier Nuñez, Hélène Simoneau, Yin Yue, and Stephanie.
KIA SMITH (2021 Make a Wave Awardee), LADONNA FREIDHEIM (2021 Make a Wave Awardee), REVECA TORRES (2022 Next Level Awardee and 2020 3Arts/Chandler Family Awardee), ROBBY LEE WILLIAMS (2021 Bodies of Work Artist), GINGER LANE (2017 3Arts Awardee), KRIS LENZO (2015 3Arts/David Pinkerton Awardee), TOMMY CARROLL (2021 Make a Wave Awardee), TEKKI LOMNICKI (2008 3Arts Awardee), and more
On September 21 and 22, Navy Pier hosts Chicago Live and DisFest. The two-day event features a performance by Kia’s South Chicago Dance Theatre among other Chicago dance companies, and a celebration of artists and performers with disabilities during DisFest.
DANIEL KYRI (2017 Make a Wave Awardee)
Debuting on September 25, Daniel stars as Darren Ritter in Chicago P.D. season 12. In the new season, “the Intelligence Unit continues to protect the city—and each other— at all costs. Led by the tough but fair Sergeant Hank Voight, the team is committed to seeking justice and cracking down on crime to make Chicago a safer place.”
ROBBY LEE WILLIAMS (2021 Bodies of Work Artist), and LADONNA FRIEDHEIM (2021 Make a Wave Awardee)
On September 27, Robby and Ladonna perform with MOMENTA Dance Academy for TEDx Chicago: Lighting the Way at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. TEDx Chicago “celebrates the city’s unique spirit and its history of fostering groundbreaking ideas and movements.” The day’s events include 9 TEDxChicago talks, 3 live performances, immersive pop-up galleries, and food and drinks.
BELLA BAHHS (2021 Make a Wave Awardee)
Debuting on September 27, Bella stars in The Lost Holliday, a film starring Jussie Smollett, Vivica A. Fox, and Cynthia Bailey. “When Cassandra Marshall learns that her estranged son, Damien Holliday has died, she heads to L.A. to handle his arrangements. She arrives to find that they’re being handled by her son’s husband, Jason Holliday, who she knows nothing about.” The movie will be available to watch at AMC theatres.
AVERY R. YOUNG (2012 3Arts/Merrill Lynch Awardee)
On September 28, celebrating the hundredth anniversary of American writer James Baldwin’s birthday, avery performs at the Hyde Park Art Center in collaboration with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
NORMAN LONG (2011 3Arts Awardee)
Through September 29, Norman W. Long: Calumet in Dub is on view at Illinois State University Galleries at Uptown Station. “Calumet in Dub bridges Long’s backgrounds in art, landscape architecture, and experimental audio with his interests in memory, environmental justice, and American history.”
CAT MAHARI (2021 3Arts/Walder Foundation Awardee)
On September 28 and 29, cat performs blk ark: the impossible manifestation for Chicago Performs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. “blk ark: the impossible manifestation is an interactive performance and installation, with live, semi-improvisational sound, hip-hop, and film. By exploring improvisational and Black cultural strategies of play, learned from joanin’ and the soul clap, mahari presents modes of survival and liberation, revealing questions about what it will take to find freedom and map the road ahead for our collective futures.” Performances will take place on September 28 at 7:30pm and September 29 at 2:00pm in the Edlis Neeson Theater.