Custom Placements: Culture Lead
The Blueprint of a Jeen-Yuhs
South Side native Coodie Simmons and his collaborator give the lowdown on 21 years of footage that became the buzzy new Kanye West documentary.
The Reeducation of a Mom in Jessamine Chan’s Debut Novel
The Oak Park native’s dystopian novel about the repercussions of stepping outside parenting norms echoes our own unforgiving times.
The MCA Gets a Fresh Set of Eyes
René Morales and a new team of curators hope to deepen the MCA’s ties with local artists.
Q&A: Christopher Benson on Women of the Movement, Writing With Mamie Till-Mobley
The Northwestern University professor consulted on the new show, which explored Emmett Till’s death through his mother’s eyes.
Nnedi Okorafor’s Books Focus on Future Tense
The author journeys into postapocalyptic unknowns through science fiction fantasy with an African backdrop.
Illinois Is a Musical Melting Pot
A exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield shows how music genres coexist in our state.
Neal Francis Was Saved by the Bell
The singer-songwriter found sanctuary — and his new album — in a Northwest Side house of worship.
Riding Down Historic Route 66 in Illinois
The highway was officially decommissioned in 1985, but there are still some great old attractions that make the road worth traveling.
What Virgil Abloh Meant to Me
To the world, he was a fashion icon. But to me, he was a mentor, fierce champion for young creatives, and master educator with street cred.