An untitled photograph by Vivian Maier
VIVIAN MAIER An untitled photograph taken by the late vérité photographer Vivian
Maier.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 9.5.12 through Tue 9.11.12:

1

art Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows
Ever since her photographs debuted at the Chicago Cultural Center in early 2011 (and appeared in our 2011 story), the late Vivian Maier has been one of Chicago’s favorite mystery women. This week, the authors Richard Cahan and Michael Williams release their new book Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows, which chronicles Maier’s work from 1950s–1970s. Thomas Masters Gallery opens a show featuring Maier’s photographs from the same two decades.
GO: 9/7; free. Thomas Masters Gallery, 245 W North. thomasmastersgallery.com
2

theatre Iphigenia 2.0
Mid-air acrobatics, a Greek warrior headed to battle, and a top 40 soundtrack? We’re in. David Kersner, the Lookingglass Theatre director, retells the Greek tragedy with a kinetic flare in this latest iteration of the story of King Agamemnon and his ill-fated daughter.
GO: 9/6–10/14 at 7:30; $25. Next Theatre Company, Noyes Culture Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Suite 108. nexttheatre.org
3

classical Beethoven Festival
With a Promethean theme, the second annual Beethoven celebration spans nine days with over sixty events. Highlights include the Canadian violinist James Ehnes playing Beethoven’s violin concerto on the opening night and the Chicago first (ever!) performance of Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus.
GO: 9/8–16; Prices, times, locations: internationalbeethovenproject.com
4

literature The Newberry 125
History nerds hold your breath: The venerable Newberry Library celebrates its quasquicentennial anniversary with an exhibit of 125 historic and rarely-seen gems from their permanent collection. Among the selected items are an original printing of Voltaire’s Candide, letters between an American slave husband and his free wife, and a postcard written by Jack Kerouac.
GO: 9/6 at 9; free. 60 W Walton. newberry.org
5

crafts Renegade Craft Fair
With fall creeping around the corner, this artisan fair featuring local, regional, and national craftsy folk, makes for a great weekend afternoon. The temporary marketplace includes everything from leather bracelets to recycled textile quilts.
GO: 9/8–9/9; 11–7. Division and Damen. renegadecraft.com/chicago
 

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Cauleen Smith
Cauleen Smith

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Cauleen Smith, the Chicago filmmaker and artist who’s spent the past two years researching the life and beliefs of the Afro-futurist musician Sun Ra. Her new show The Journeyman opens at Threewalls 9/7 at 6.

“Friday, I’ll probably get a sandwich at J.P. Graziano in the afternoon. I really love the Italian sandwich and I always splurge on the Marcona almonds. I like that the cashier is behind glass and the butchers are very no-nonsense. If I have time after the show opens at Threewalls, I want to head to the Robert Lostutter opening at Corbett vs. Dempsey. Afterward, I’ll probably get a snack at Rodan. The best night to go is Tuesday because of the free jazz with Jeff Parker and Josh Abrams. But, I always like it there.

“Saturday mornings, I usually get up and go to the farmers market at the Experimental Station. Then I volunteer at the Blackstone bike shop. I also really want to bike to Three Floyds Brewery. I really like their IPAs and their milk stout is one of the weird things you can get there.

“Sunday, I really like the antique bookstore O’Gara & Wilson on 57th Street. They have a great occult books section and these really early Jet magazines that I buy for my parents. After I might visit the animatronic Harold Washington at the DuSable Museum. No one knows that it’s there! It’s an amazing secret. I’ll just hang and listen to Harold talk. Then, I’ll probably get a coffee at the Z & H on 47th Street and pop into Little Black Pearl to see what they have going on. If I can, I’ll end the weekend at SHoP (South Side Hub of Production), they generally have great films and live events—not to mention Red Flag, the bar created by artist John Preus.” –As told to Elly Fishman

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

art Chris Ware: Building Stories
Chris Ware, the comic writer and Chicagoan, has spent over ten years working on his comic about residents living within a three-story apartment building in Chicago. This month, he publishes the series in its entirety. Carl Hammer Gallery opens an exhibit of Ware’s work in conjunction with the book’s release.
GO: 9/7 at 6. Carl Hammer Gallery, 740 N Wells. hammergallery.com

 

Photography: (MAIER) Courtesy of the Jeffrey Goldstein Collection; (SMITH) Courtesy of Cauleen Smith