Chicago Cultural Alliance

Asian Night Market
2023-05-12 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Oakton College, 1600 Golf Rd, Des Plaines, IL, 60016, United States
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Asian Night Market ft. Chicago’s up and coming AAPI owned small businesses

Arnošt Lustig & projekt Mladí HUMAN-isté
2023-05-11 13:00 - 14:00 | IL, United States
Nadační fond Arnošta Lustiga a Česká škola T. G. Masaryka srdečně zvou na online seminář ARNOŠT LUSTIG & PROJEKT MLADÍ HUMAN-ISTÉ.
V rámci mezinárodní literární soutěže Mladí HUMAN-isté připravil Nadační fond Arnošta Lustiga metodiku a pracovní listy pro pedagogy s tematikou tvorby a osobnosti spisovatele, novináře a přeživšího holocaustu Arnošta Lustiga. Představíme vám osobnost Arnošta Lustiga v souvislostech významných okamžiků československých dějin (1938, 1948, 1968 a 1989). Následně se budeme věnovat literární tvorbě na téma „Válka a děti“ v souvislostech s odvahou a humanismem, jejichž poselství nacházíme v textech i v současném kontextu.
Seminář uvede:
Eva Lustigová – spoluzakladatelka a ředitelka Nadačního fondu Arnošta Lustiga
Lektorka:
Mgr. Andrea Wendlíková
Doba trvání:
60-90 minut
PŘIHLÁŠKY: https://forms.gle/5by6RZ7a5258iNcj8 nebo na kristyna@czechschoolchicago.org
Registrace účastníků je nutná, seminář je zdarma.
ČTVRTEK 11. května 2023, 13:00 – 14:00 (CST)

Tragedy, Comedy, and Democracy at Ancient Athens
2023-05-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
Location:

The theater, both comedy and tragedy, began in Ancient Athens as part of the festival in honor of the god Dionysus. But theater also played an important role within Athenian democracy, a place where the city’s troubles and conflicts could be played out at a safe distance. Learn more about the connection between theater and democracy in Ancient Athens in this NHM Discussion.

Demotic, Kathourevousa, and the Making of Greek Nation
2023-05-10 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
The debate as to whether Demotic (the spoken language of ordinary people) or Katharevousa (a cultivated recreation of Ancient Greek) should be the official language of Greece was a major political and cultural issue throughout the 19th and 20th century. A question of identity, class, and history, the language question has much to tell us about Greece, the Greek people, and the weight of history. This NHM Discussion explores what the debate over the official language of Greece tells us about the past and future of Greece.

On-Site Film & Discussion: “Stranger At The Gate”
2023-05-09 18:00 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
After 25 years of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Richard “Mac” McKinney returned home to Muncie, Indiana, with an all-consuming hatred toward the people he had been fighting overseas. McKinney decided to bomb the local mosque, but when he came face-to-face with a welcoming community, his plans – and his life – took an unexpected turn.
Gather at the Museum for a screening of the 2023 Academy Award-nominated documentary Stranger at the Gate, which follows the story of Mac McKinney and the community he encountered. The film will be followed by a discussion between the film’s leading subjects, Richard “Mac” McKinney, and Bibi Bahrami, as well as the film’s director, Josh Seftel. The panel will be moderated by Michael Gray, Partner at Jones Day, and Member of Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Board of Directors.
This powerful true story of humanity, forgiveness, and redemption is not to be missed.
Part of the Jones Day Foundation Community Series, a special series of events focused on confronting antisemitism and hatred in all its forms.

ReFramed and ReCovered: A Conversation with the Curators
2023-05-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
This intimate event brings co-curators for ReFramed and ReCovered into conversation around the many benefits that trees impart to cities. Learn about the vision and themes of these complementary exhibits and join the curators for a gallery tour.
This program is $15 for admission and $7 for CAC Members.
In “ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy” we consider the many benefits of lining our streets with trees. This immersive exhibit connects people to an element of nature we are inherently drawn to but often ignore as integral to the livability of cities and resilience of neighborhoods. Through the exhibit’s interactivity, we can sense how trees serve to soften the hard edges of our built surroundings.
The companion exhibit, “ReFramed: The Future of Cities in Wood,” transitions from horizontal, protective cover to a soaring vertical space, introducing visitors to a very different function for trees in the city: buildings constructed from mass timber, a new structural material which holds great promise for sustainable development and breathtaking design.
Hear from Ryan Gann and Ian Spula, co-curators on ReCovered and ReFramed, respectively. The conversation will be moderated by CAC’s Director of Exhibitions, Eve Fineman.
At the conclusion of the program, attendees are invited to tour both exhibitions with the curators.

Freestyle Art
2023-05-09 13:00 - 15:00 | The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W Division Street, Chicago, IL, 60622, United States
Join us for Mental Health Awareness Month to doodle, color, and re-create your interpretation of our artworks. We welcome you to come and express yourself through art.

Police Accountability
2023-05-08 16:30 - 18:30 | HANA Center, 4300 N. California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States

Lenka Lichtenberg - Thieves of Dreams: Songs of Theresienstadt's Secret Poetess
2023-05-08 16:30 | Classics 110, 1010 E 59th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States

Workshop: Introduction to the making of Neolithic Period ceramic ware
2023-05-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Using the work of the Neolithic pottery in the collection as a starting point and following the instruction from the ceramic artist, learn ceramic-making skills and gain an insight into the world of Ancient Chinese Ceramics. Throughout this workshop, you will build basic ceramic-making skills and techniques to start making your artwork.

Session Breakdown:

Introduction, 10 minutes: A brief introduction to the Heritage Museum of Asian Art and a brief introduction to the workshop and what it will entail.

Part one, 10 minutes: In this part of the workshop, you will be given a presentation about Chinese Neolithic pottery. The Museum staff and artist will lead the presentation.

Tea break, 10 minutes

Part two, 15 minutes: The invited artist will lead this part of the workshop. You will learn ceramic-making techniques following examples through a hands-on exercise. Examples include kneading, pitching, sponging, drawing, and carving.

Part three, 60 minutes: Use learned techniques and knowledge to make an inspired finished piece. Individual tips and questions will be answered by the artist and museum staff.

The exhibition, 15 minutes: View final works, discuss the making process, and how group members used similar techniques differently. Fill feedback form.

Kreasi: Chicago Balinese Gamelan's Sixth Annual Concert
2023-05-07 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-05-07 08:00 - 17:00 | UIC School of Theater and Music, 1040 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Recognized as one of the top gamelan orchestras outside of Indonesia, Chicago Balinese Gamelan presents “Kreasi”, a dynamic must-see performance juxtaposing new compositions and choreography with traditional ceremonial dances. Kreasi means “creation”, and featured are several world premier performances, including Rejang Suarangin (“sound of the windy city”), composed and performed by Balinese artistic trailblazers and guest artists Dewa Ayu Eka Putri and I Putu Tangkas Adi Hiranmayena. Putu and Ayu are most notably known for their collaboration project ghOst MiSt, which integrates traditional Balinese customs and spirituality with modern influences. The performance also features compositions by Lydia Martin and Ross Lafleur.
Chicago Balinese Gamelan delivers exhilarating and world-class traditional and contemporary Balinese music and dance performances and workshops, using instruments from Bali, Indonesia. Directed by Claire Fassnacht, the ensemble was formed in 2017 by Claire Fassnacht and I Nyoman Mahartayasa, with guidance from I Ketut Gdé Asnawa. The ensemble has performed at noteworthy Chicago spaces including the Old Town School of Folk Music, Navy Pier, Garfield Park Conservatory, and the Morton Arboretum, as well as the Illinois Music Educators Conference. CBG is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Learn more or make a donation at: www.chicagobalinesegamelan.org.

Young Ukrainian Talent Concert
2023-05-07 14:00 | Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622, United States

On-Site Program: Violins of Hope Civic Orchestra Performance
2023-05-07 14:00 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
Join us on-site at Illinois Holocaust Museum for a special performance with Civic Orchestra of Chicago in partnership with JCC Chicago and Violins of Hope. A string quartet made up of musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, this prestigious training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform on select instruments from the Violins of Hope collection. Each instrument has a unique story and, like the pieces featured, is connected to the Holocaust. The quartet will play these instruments and share their inspirational stories.
Reservations required. For questions, please call: 844.452.2244

ЧАЛГА
2023-05-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Magura Cultural Center, 415 W Golf Rd #7, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
„Това е историята на едно приятелство между две момичета, изгубени в съвременното културно общество на България, което ние наричаме „чалга“. С екипа се опитахме да разкажем тази нежна и изкривена история на обърканите мечти и изгубените млади хора в България“, Мариан Вълев.

BLACK SPACE: Architectural Historiographies & Spatial Landscapes
2023-05-06 14:00 - 16:00 | South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60653, United States
Artists and spacial griots Andres L. Hernandez, Tonika Lewis Johnson and Roland Knowlden invite you to consider how socio-economic and geographic oppressions impact the way we see (or don’t see) our environments, in a conversation with SSCAC Exhibitions Manager and Curator Lola Ayisha Ogbara.
Hernandez uncovers embedded histories and systems of power within built and speculative landscapes to imagine these spaces otherwise. Social justice artist Lewis Johnson advocates for urban communities by documenting the disparities among Chicago residents who live on opposite ends of the same streets across the city’s racial and economic divides. Knowlden critically deconstructs the elements of our urban fabric and its architectural histories to reassemble them as cartographic abstractions and imagined landscapes. Gwendolyn Brooks, a brilliant author, poet, and life-long resident of the historic neighborhood of Bronzeville, becomes the Mecca of these stories as this exhibition interrogates dilapidation, buried histories, and what it could mean to be Black in space.
Themes in the exhibition reference and/or explore the following: Urban planning, socio-economics, equity, Mecca Flats, Psycho-geography: The impact that our physical space has on us, segregation, Gwendolyn Brooks, June Jordan, Chicago architecture, poetics of black spaces/environments, artists David Hammons and Jack Whitten.
This exhibition was organized and curated by SSCAC Exhibitions Manager Lola Ayisha Ogbara.
*Complimentary coffee and cake will be provided during the program.

Letter Writing Workshop
2023-05-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
While certainly not as immediate as sending a text, a handwritten letter or note will always be an enduring, thoughtful method of communication to share news, tidbits, aspirations and personal stories with the people in your life. As part of the exhibit, “Letters From Home” the Swedish American Museum will host a Letter Writing workshop. Letter writing enthusiast Bonnie Tawse will share tips on getting started, some tools to keep you going after the workshop and provide all of the supplies needed to write and send a letter or two, including vintage papers, envelopes and a plethora of beautiful stamps.

Bonnie Tawse is a writer, educator and organizer of public programs, exploring the connections between community, culture, nature and art. She is a long time resident of Chicago, where she lives with her husband and two sons.
The workshop is $10 per person and includes all the materials you will need.

Workshop: Chinese Calligraphy
2023-05-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Chinese Calligraphy Workshop at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art is a way to explore Chinese Culture. Chinese calligraphy is an ancient and revered art form practiced for over 3,000 years. It is a unique blend of writing, painting, and poetry deeply rooted in Chinese culture.
During this workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn about the history and techniques of Chinese calligraphy, and to create your own works of art. Our experienced calligraphy instructor will guide you through the basics of brush and ink technique, and introduce you to the different styles of calligraphy.
You will also learn about the symbolism and meaning behind Chinese characters, and how calligraphy has been used throughout history for communication, art, and self-expression. By the end of the workshop, you will have a deeper understanding and appreciation for this timeless art form, and a unique piece of calligraphy to take home with you.
We hope you enjoy this immersive and educational experience, and we look forward to sharing the beauty and richness of Chinese calligraphy with you.
Chinese calligraphy is one of the oldest and most respected art forms in China, with a history that stretches back more than 3,000 years. It is the art of writing Chinese characters with a brush and ink on paper or silk, and it has been used throughout Chinese history for a variety of purposes, including communication, art, and self-expression.
The earliest examples of Chinese calligraphy date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), when characters were written on oracle bones for divination purposes. During the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE), calligraphy began to be used for other purposes as well, including literature and art. Calligraphers during this time developed a variety of styles, including the seal script and the clerical script. In the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), calligraphy became more standardized, with the development of the regular script. This style of calligraphy was used for official documents and inscriptions, and it was characterized by its even and balanced strokes. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), calligraphy reached its peak as an art form, with the development of the cursive script and the running script. These styles were more fluid and expressive than the regular script, and they allowed calligraphers to express their personalities and emotions more freely. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), calligraphy continued to evolve, with the development of the semi-cursive script and the elegant and refined style known as the “scholarly style.” Calligraphers during this time focused on precision and subtlety, and they often used calligraphy as a way to express their philosophical and literary ideas. During the Ming (1368-1644 CE) and Qing (1644-1912 CE) Dynasties, calligraphy continued to be an important art form, with many famous calligraphers creating works that are still admired today. In modern times, calligraphy has continued to be an important part of Chinese culture, with many people practicing it as a hobby or profession.
Today, Chinese calligraphy remains an important cultural tradition in China and is admired around the world for its beauty and complexity.

Windows on Design Workshop
2023-05-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Stained glass has been enhancing buildings around the world for thousands of years. Discover how these windows are designed and then make your own acrylic stained-glass window.
This hands-on session will begin with a tour of one of Chicago’s most iconic stained glass windows, the Preston Bradley Hall’s Tiffany Dome at the Chicago Cultural Center. Workshop participants will learn about the significance of this and other windows around the city. Back at the CAC, participants will take what they learned and make their own acrylic stained window project to take home.
This workshop costs $25 for general admission and $17 for CAC Members. Price includes cost of materials.
All supplies for this workshop are provided.
Please note that this program will involve a short walk outside between the CAC and the Chicago Cultural Center (about 1 mile).

Chicago's Annual Polish Constitution Day Parade
2023-05-06 11:30 | IL, United States
Join us and show your Polish pride by marching with the Polish Museum of America to celebrate the 232nd anniversary of the Polish Constitution, the first democratic constitution in Europe.
The Parade begins at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 6, 2023. The PMA is Unit #12. We are meeting at the corner of Columbus Dr. and Balbo St. The official route runs along Columbus, from Balbo to Monroe. We recommend wearing your most comfortable walking shoes, and something white and red, if possible.
Following the parade, all are invited to attend the Great Constitutional Concert at the Chopin Garden in Grant Park (11th & Michigan Ave) at 2 pm.

K-experience: Celebrate Korean Children's Day! 2023
2023-05-06 11:00 - 15:30 | Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, 9925 Capitol Dr, Wheeling, IL, United States
Korean Cultural Center of Chicago program

*Korean Games and Crafts
*Korean Book Storytelling
*Museum Tour
*Hanbok Doll Exhibition
*Tote bag Decoration

Associates Class Experience
*Art Classes
*Korean Traditional Dance (Event 2 only)
*Korean Traditional Music (Event 2 only)

Date: Sat. May 6, 2023

Pre-registration is required
Register for Event 1 (11am-1pm) or Event 2 (1:30pm-3:30pm)
(Events 1 and 2 are basically the same program, and only one event can be selected)

Fee: $10 / Child

*accompanying parents are free

* Parents wishing to participate in the program must register

Registration: https://bit.ly/2023KoreanChildrenDay

Music of Cambodia
2023-05-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Chicago Public Library – Rogers Park Branch, 6907 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60626, United States

Raging Film
2023-05-04 18:30 | American Indian Center, 3401 West Ainslie Street, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Join us for an evening of film clips and discussion. Raging Film will feature up to 10 clips (see theme/topic below) from various films of your choosing. Participants providing clips will share a story behind their selection (e.g. Why did you select that clip to share?).
PLEASE send your clip/link (max 5 min) by Wednesday, May 3rd to dave at spencer@aicchicago.org

THEME: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

See y’all on the 4th @ AIC @ 6:30pm!

On-Site Commemoration: Light Among Darkness: 80th Anniversary of the Rescue of Bulgarian Jews
2023-05-04 18:30 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
During World War II, none of Bulgaria’s approximately 50,000 Jews were deported to Nazi death camps. This incredible feat was possible thanks to Bulgarian politicians, administrators, officers, clergymen, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens who refused to yield to Nazi pressure. The Bulgarian state also facilitated transportation for Jewish refugees from Central and Eastern Europe, and Bulgaria’s embassies and consulates issued around 15,000 transit visas to Jews fleeing other countries.
Learn more about the extraordinary acts by Bulgarians to save their Jewish community during World War II with Professor Michael Bar-Zohar, winner of the Skolov Award for his achievements as a journalist and author of several books, including biographies recounting the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from Nazis in World War II; and Svetoslav Stankov, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Chicago. Their conversation will reflect upon the significance of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews and how we must continue to resist antisemitism and hatred today.
Reservations required. Free to the public.

Virtual Artist Discussion with Valaria Tatera
2023-05-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
Join us for our artist discussion about their work and who they are as artists. There will be a live Q&A at the end of each discussion.
Valaria Tatera is a Wisconsin based installation artist, activist and lecturer whose work investigates the intersection of ethnicity, gender, commerce, and the environment. An enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Valaria explores self identity and contemporary Indigenous issues such as the impact of colonization on Indigenous Erasure, Visibility and Resilience. Her intention is “for the work to hold visual and personal space for statistics that often erase the individual”. Valaria earned an MFA in 3-D from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.A. and B.F.A. in Ceramics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a recipient of the 2021 Foundation for Contemporary Art micro grant and the 2022 Mary Nohl fellowship for the established artist category. She has exhibited regionally and nationally in galleries and Museums. Recently, her work was featured at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, Trout Museum of Contemporary Art, RAHR Museum, All My Relations Gallery, Sweet Briar College, Truax Gallery and the Wisconsin Biennial. Currently, her work is at Charles Allis Museum, Madeline Island Museum, Mitchell Museum of Indian of the American Indian and will be at the Haggerty Museum.

Artecito Virtual Insectos
2023-05-04 18:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
Enlace sera annunciado pronto!

¡Hay 1,5 millones de organismos en el mundo, y dos tercios de ellos son insectos!
¡Únase a nosotros mientras exploramos más sobre los insectos con nuestros amigos en Lincoln Park Zoo!

There are 1.5 Million organisms in the world, and two thirds of them are insects!
Join us as we explore more about Insects with our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo!

Link to be announces soon!

What is Virtual Artecito?
Artecito is a free online workshop in Spanish developed by OPEN Center for the Arts and Lincoln Park Zoo that uses the arts to engage families with nature in ways that resonate with local holidays, culture, and wildlife. With a related art activity, workshops highlight wildlife and nature to encourage children and families to think about nature and their relationship to it in creative ways.

¿Qué es Artecito Virtual?
Artecito es un taller gratuito en español bimensual gratuito en linea desarrollado por OPEN Center for the Arts y Lincoln Park Zoo que utiliza las artes para involucrar a las familias con la naturaleza de maneras que resuenan con las festividades locales, la cultura y la vida silvestre. Con una actividad artística relacionada, los talleres destacan la vida silvestre y la naturaleza para alentar a los niños y las familias a pensar sobre la naturaleza y su relación con ella de manera creativa
Enlace sera annunciado pronto!

Greek Americans and the American Labour Movement
2023-05-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
In this NHM Discussion we will explore the often forgotten role of Greek Americans in the formation and success of the American Labor Movement. From the coal mines of the Rocky Mountains to the factories of the Rust Belt, Greek Americans were at the frontline of the fight for a fair and safe workplace. In the story of the American Labor Movement, we see one of the first moments where the Greek American story intersected with the broader American story.

MMIW Awareness
2023-05-04 - 2023-05-05 | Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 central street, Evanston, IL, 60201, United States
Visit the Mitchell Museum for FREE on May 4th and 5th for guided public tours and family red dress crafts by St. Kateri Center of Chicago.
Friday, May 5th, is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In observance of this occasion, the Mitchell Museum invites you to visit us free of charge on Thursday, May 4th, and Friday, May 5th to experience our temporary exhibit, No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2Spirits.
In partnership with the museum, the St. Kateri Center will be facilitating a craft activity from 12pm-4:30pm to help raise awareness of the MMIWG crisis. During your visit, you will also be able to enjoy public tours of our permanent exhibit galleries, which will step off at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM on both days. Funding in support of these free days has been generously provided by Mitchell Museum Board President April Chancellor.
For more information, please call us at (847) 475-5871 or email info@mitchellmuseum.org

MMIW Week
2023-05-01 - 2023-05-06 | American Indian Center, 3401 West Ainslie Street, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Join us May 1-6 as we support and honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

We’re planning a week of activities starting May 1 with a Red Sand event outside the AIC beginning at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday and Thursday, we will be offering MMIW-focused beading classes throughout the day, beginning at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, we are offering a MMIW T-Dress making class, beginning at 10 a.m.

Friday we are screening an MMIW related film, beginning at 7 p.m. at the AIC.

Saturday features an MMIW Water Walk and Powwow, beginning at 11 a.m.

Невероятен обрат
2023-04-30 15:30 | Magura Cultural Center, 415 W Golf Rd #7, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
ПРЕМИЕРА на поредния шести роман на писателя Добри Карабонев в Споделена библиотека Магура.
“Уважаеми приятели и мои почитатели, каня Ви на премиерата на новия си роман “Невероятен обрат”. Драма с криминален оттенък. На 400 страници, в познатия Ви вече мой стил, ще се докоснете отново до места и събития в българската ни общост тук зад океана. Вплетени са и темите за любовта, която е водеща сила към успеха и американската мечта; за рисковете и цената, която трябва да платим понякога.
📍Ще Ви очаквам в “Културен център Магура”
415 W. Golf Rd. #7, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
☎️ 1.224.800.1538 🗓️ Неделя, 30- ти април от 15:30ч.
Добри Карабонев”
