i am logan square blog

Happy Monday! Some of you may be off for a three day weekend, but some of us are back to work--and in the spirit of working hard and making things happen, today we bring you a fun little post dedicated to workshops, conferences,  artists' opportunities and a couple of exciting events on the horizon.   First up (since it is this upcoming weekend), is the 12th Annual SEA (Self-Employment in the

Ok, just to clear up the air, right away, there ARE other places in Logan Square to take your Valentines date other than McDonalds. Unless you you have a cruel sense of humor. But if your sense of humor is that similar to mine, then your Valentines will probably shaping up to look a lot like my xmas... Best. Christmas. Ever. ©W. Tanner Young 2011 But, if you want to get all sappy and mushy,

Uncharted Books owner, Tanner McSwain. © W. Tanner Young 2012 In 2011 we witnessed the demise of big-box behemoth, Borders. The economy remained cautious, and unemployment numbers didn't fall nearly as fast as everyone had hoped they would. Yet in this unstable world, one Chicago resident saw opportunity. After plenty of research, many hours spent doing physical labor, and some help from

If you've been to the Boiler Room, then you're probably familiar with their PB&J special. But what about their PB&A? sure you are! Pizza, Beer & Art! I refuse to say PBArt...except for right there. Anywho, theres no way you could miss the giant Wall o' Art in the back (not to be confused with the Wall o' Butts in the mens bathroom...). If you havent noticed it, then you've probably never been to

It is the dead of winter-- movies in the parks stopped months ago, the Logan Theatre is undergoing renovations and Netflix on the couch is starting to get a bit old. Well fret not, film-loving folks, because starting next week we are all about film.  First and foremost, we are quite excited to announce our February exhibition, Film Is Dead: Edges of The Digital Frame.  Film is Dead is a video

Many Logan Square residents who take the blue line know that familiar building off the California stop with the paint palette and brush sign. Inside is the live/work space for painter Julie Sulzen and photographer Dan Zamudio. They often hold art shows displaying their work and also host exhibits during the annual Milwaukee Ave Arts Festival. Currently called the Sulzen Fine Art Studio, they will

In just two years, the little-language-school-that-could is making headway in the neighborhood that houses and nurtures it. Opened in October 2009 with a staff of four, Multilingual Chicago now employs fifteen people and offers classes in fourteen different languages. For Hilary Hodge, director of operations at Multilingual Chicago, Logan Square is the perfect location for their school. “It’s

We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood with no shortage of artistic talent and innovation, replete with visual, musical, performing and literary arts and as a supporter of the arts, you understand the meaningful impact they make on our community. To further that impact, IALS provides vital assistance to artists and arts organizations that add so much value to our neighborhood and we depend

So much New Years, so little time. wait, that doesnt sound right. So much new year ahead, so little time...left...in this one. Well, poetics aside, technically, I'm correct. So what are your plans to bring in 2012? I mean, aside from champagne(let's be honest, it's just generic sparkling wine) and an awkward kiss with that guy/

Christopher Shy, "Origami Ballerina" Gallery Provocateur 2125 N. Rockwell St. When viewing art in a gallery, it is traditional for the gallery to provide a neutral, blank space that will not detract from the art on display. This setting is ideal for clean, crisp works but for exhibitions focusing on more alternative fair, a sterile, sparse gallery would contradict the work to its core.

In the mood for blues? Forget the trek downtown and soak in live tunes and all-round good vibes at Rosa’s Lounge. Living up to its claim as Chicago’s friendliest blues lounge, owner Tony Mangiulla greets the crowd and frequents the stage on drums, while mother, “Mama” Rosa tends behind the bar. The duo recently celebrated their 27th year in Logan Square and shows no signs of slowing down. For

Within the history of photography, it seems that snapshots have existed as an amateurish sub-genre of fine art photography. This aesthetic has been associated with the commonplace, the language of the everyday. Today, in the age of sophisticated camera phones and social media, when families and friends gather around a computer rather than a photo album, some are reconsidering the snapshot’s

photo © Jacquelyn Peterman A variety event comes to Logan Square at 8 p.m. on December 12th at the brand new Arts Center Logan Square-Avondale. A unique night of performances from a diverse group of Chicago artists, the Night Roars Cabaret is brought to us by Voice of the City and Striding Lion performance group and features 9 different performances. Striding Lion, an 11-year-old company, works

Did you shop Small Business Saturday? Good for you! Or maybe you're like me and didn't have a chance to do your due diligence. It's okay. The best neighborhood in town is hosting its first annual Holidays on the Square this Saturday, December 3, where you can not only support small business but feed some dollars into neighborhood shops. Poster by Lily Red Studio So how is this different from a

DJ Lady D teaches the girls how to synchronize beats © Brooke Herbert Hayes Unless you have a teenage or pre-teen girl who is an aspiring DJ, you may not have heard about the Girls Rock! event at  local record store saki last weekend. But last Sunday, girls ages 7-17 could go and get up close and personal DJ lessons from Girls Rock!, a local non-profit organization "dedicated to fostering

© OTK Photography Looking for a collaborative environment or somewhere to work on projects with the kids? Every week at the AnySquared's Studio Day at their space on Milwaukee Ave, artists and families gather to work on a variety of projects in the unique studio space. Starting two years ago after amassing a collection of various supplies, they started to invite people over to work and it

At the opening reception for Dealing with New Demands, Jennifer Mills and her art consultant trio engaged in a one-night only performance that encouraged the audience to participate by purchasing art on the spot. The exhibition is part of a larger project called The Happiness Project which is taking place in a variety of art spaces throughout the month of November. Below is a brief interview*

Something about this time of year makes the sweet tooth hyperactive, right? I mean, come on, it’s one thing after the other: the trick-or-treat grab bag, Thanksgiving’s creamy pumpkin pie, holiday cookies covered with sprinkles, figgy pudding. Well, you can satisfy that sweet tooth and so much more during this brief break between holiday engorgements by attending Logan Square Kitchen’s Pastry

Art you an artist? Art patron? Are you happy? Wondering if the quality of your life is good? Dealing With New Demands explores these very questions. Curated by Jennifer Mills, this group exhibition is currently on display at The Comfort Station, a gallery and community space located in Logan Square. It is just one component of a much lager program entitled, The Happiness Project curated by Tricia