ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time.

To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations of what to do at home and why you love them to Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

Indigenous Experience!

Bitter Sweet Love

"Sweet Bitter Love: An Initiative of Toward Common Cause" presents Jeffrey Gibson’s reflections on representations of Indigenous people in cultural institutions. Responding to a series of 19th-century portraits by Eldridge Ayer Burbank, Gibson (a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and of Cherokee descent) refutes the stereotypical imagery that, for centuries, has helped create and reinforce pernicious myths about Indigenous people. As they enter into critical dialogue with the collections of the Newberry Library and the Field Museum, Gibson’s works deconstruct these narratives while attesting to Native resilience. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago and the Newberry Library. It is an initiative of Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40, which is organized by the Smart Museum of Art in collaboration with exhibition, programmatic, and research partners across Chicago. Toward Common Cause is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and curated by Abigail Winograd, MacArthur Fellows Program Fortieth Anniversary Exhibition Curator, Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago. The exhibit runs through

September 18 at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., Tuesdays - Fridays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Saturdays noon - 4 p.m. FREE.

Free Music!

Millennium Park Summer Music Series

Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Millennium Park Foundation, this series highlights local Chicago artists from a wide variety of genres. The outdoor concerts take place every Monday from 6 - 8:30 p.m. and include some debuts as well as new works, commissions, and collaborations from established artists. This week on August 16, Andrew Sa (pictured) will be performing his debut show "Andrew in Anotherland." With 10 total shows at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) audiences are sure to find an event to match their interests, and FREE admission and lawn seating make this a great summer activity for the whole family. To see the show schedules with details about each performance, visit millenniumpark.org under events.

Puerto Rican Sounds!

San Juan to Chicago: Un Puente Musical

This virtual concert is a collaboration between the Chicago Philharmonic orchestra and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance to showcase traditional music played on traditional instruments. The show spotlights Puerto Rican musicians Jesús Román Figueroa (trovador), Fabiola M. Méndez (cuatrista) (pictured), Laura María Pabón (soprano), and José L. Rodríguez (guitar, vocals) performing traditional music from la isla del encanto (the island of enchantment). This lively and vibrant show is free to stream, but registration for the virtual stage is required. This is the first of two Chicago Philharmonic concerts to be streamed through the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater Virtual Stage. To register or learn more about the show, visit chicagophilharmonic.org.

Ships Ahoy!

2021 LifeSaver Cruise

This annual fundraiser benefiting The Well of Mercy is back this year setting sail on the Chicago River! The Well of Mercy is a nonprofit organization that aids women and children who have escaped from situations of domestic abuse. With the purchase of a ticket ($75 for one, $125 for a pair), guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers and beverages and an up-close view of the sights along the Chicago River. The boat boards near Navy Pier beginning at 6:45 p.m. August 19 and the ship sets sail at 7 p.m. Guests can register through givecentral.org. For more information, call (773) 274-4227.

Vintage Finds!

Andersonville Vintage Market

If you like antiquing and thrift finds, this is the event for you! The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) presents this outdoor market experience that popped up in the 1500 West block of Catalpa for the first time this summer. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. shop for vintage furniture, accessories, home goods, clothing, and more from local businesses. With food vendors and music, this event is a wonderful opportunity to shop for odds and ends while you connect with the Andersonville community. A $5 donation to benefit the ACC’s year-round programming is recommended for admission. To learn more about the event and see a list of businesses and vendors, visit andersonville.org/events

Iconic Architects!

Romanticism to Ruin: Lost Works of Sullivan and Wright

Presented at Wrightwood 659, this exhibit will give architecture fanatics the opportunity to explore two of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis H. Sullivan’s long-demolished buildings. The showcase includes mixed-media elements from Wright’s Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York and Sullivan’s Garrick Theater here in Chicago through digital recreations, salvaged pieces and artifacts, and documentation of original designs. The show gives insight into architectural themes and inspiration of the era, and runs September 24 through November 27, though tickets go on sale August 16. Reserve them for $15 at tickets.wrightwood659.org/events. Admission is available by advance ticket purchase only.

A Reading Rainbow!

Burst into Books Fundraiser

Burst Into Books is hosting its inaugural fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. August 21 at 2025 S. Laflin St. to further its mission of giving families valuable educational skills and building a sense of community – from Hyde Park to Roseland and Gresham. The 501 (c)(3) nonprofit accomplishes its work through monthly book club sessions that support the entire spectrum of development for children 6 months through 18. There are also author talks, family events and workshops. At the event itself, guests can look forward to food, dessert and three drink tickets as they learn more about the organization’s history and aspirations. Officials hope to make it an annual benefit for education and literacy. Tickets can be purchased through eventbite.com. Learn more at burstintobooks.org.

Season Finale!

Rush Hour Concerts Series Finale: Russell / Mendelssohn

It’s the last chance to see and celebrate Chicago-based classical music through the 2021 Rush Hour Concert Series. The International Music Foundation has presented a variety of virtual concerts throughout the summer streamed for free from the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James. In this season finale, the musicians of the Grant Park Music Festival orchestra will perform Bruce A. Russell’s Linea Nigra and Felix Mendelssohn’s String Octet, Op. 20. The 45-minute concert begins at 5:45 p.m. and more information is available at imfchicago.org/programs/rush-hour-concerts. RSVP is not required, so take a break from your busy schedule to participate in this slice of Chicago’s local music scene!

Free Indie Film!

Chicago International Film Festival Free Summer Screening: 'Baseball Girl'

The Chicago International Film festival is back with another virtual movie showing. This week, the film is Baseball Girl, the story of Korea’s top female baseball player, Soo-in. Directed by Yun Tae Choi, the story follows Soo-in as she hires a personal trainer in the hope of becoming good enough to play professionally until, after a series of challenges, she becomes the first woman to join a professional club in Korea. The film is in Korean and the free screening includes translated subtitles. Viewers can claim their free online tickets at chicagofilmfestival.com/film/baseball-girl to gain streaming access. Tickets to view the film will be available for 24 hours starting at 6:30 p.m. on August 18.