Logan Square

I love living in Logan Square. There are so many things to do.  There are community gardens, great farmer’s markets all year and even a soup night.  What I recently went to was Studio Days at Anywhere Space (2328 North Milwaukee, 2nd floor Chicago, IL 60647) hosted by artist and art advocate Tracy Kostenbader. The event is an open studio where you can come and create art. The event is open to anyone. There are supplies or you can bring your own.  All supplies, ideas, music and conversation are shared every Wednesday from 3-8pm.   Studio Days is presented by NE²; an artists’ collaborative that organizes creative events.  I’ve gone twice now and I worked on my business cards and I made a stamp with my name, which may have been the best part of my night.  Another wonderful thing about my neighborhood is that there are many talented artists in the neighborhood. You can buy art directly from the artist very easily. Looking for art?  Here are 3 artist studios in Logan Square that you can book appointments for and get a private showing of the resident artists work.

Anywhere Space

Sulzen Fine Art Studio

Oktober Studio

SHOWS

I am very excited to announce I have three art shows right now:

February 14-March 31, 2011
Downers Grove Park District
4500 Belmont Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
M-F 8-8pm
S-S 8-3pm

March 1-31, 2011
Lenny & Me
1459 North Milwaukee Chicago, IL 60622
M-F 12-7pm
S-S 11-7pm

March 1-May 31,2011
Bell Studio
3428 North Southport
Chicago, Illinois 60657
M-F 12-6pm
S-S 11-5pm

  

As I mentioned before I need music in my life and I wanted to share my recent experience at the Bottom Lounge.  As many times as I have been there I always leave thinking; I love that joint.  I wish nothing but, more success for the owners.  Actually I wish they’d open another one just like it in my neighborhood. To pin point a spot the old Max Gerber building would be perfect. I went to the Chicago SXSW send off shows last weekend.  I heard Elephant Stone, California Wives and Scott Lucas & The Married Men.

Elephant Stone – Nice effort, but only one song stood out for me.  The rest was noise. Prove me wrong!

California Wives – CRYSTAL! They reminded me of the techno in the 80s; very upbeat polished sound. I enjoyed people watching as a group danced very willy nilly to their song Twenty Three. Their new single Tokyo was just a taste of what this young group has to offer in the near future.  I look forward to hearing more from them.

Scott Lucas & The Married Men – Soulful, stirring, I want to hear more NOW!

Sam Roberts Band

You know that bad luck will eat you up
When’s it gonna end?
I twisted everything I could
Out of words
In real life my colours never blend
When I was a boy I said to myself
That I’d never lean on anyone else
Oh, but I was wrong
Yeah I was wrong
And my mother took me by the hands and then
Oh, oh how I prayed
That the good Lord would come and take me away
From this mess of a life that I’m in
And I fell to my knees oh and I cried
As the lightning rose up from the earth to the sky
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
In this mess of a life that I’m in
Come on you got a lot to give
A lot to live for
And hope it all gets better
You twisted everything you can out of anything
I know it’s gonna get better
And I’m so sick and tired of lying around
We’re all waiting for someone to light up this town
Oh, it won’t be long
It won’t be long
And I know I should have left town but I stayed
Oh how I prayed
That the good Lord would come and take me away
From this mess of a life that I’m in
And I fell to my knees oh and I cried
As the lightning rose up from the earth to the sky
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
In this mess of a life that I’m in
Oh and it feels like I’m writing a book and I can’t get inspired
Sometimes
It seems that I’m breathing in smoke and my lungs are so tired
Oh well
I’ll just sleep it all off and then hope that it don’t get me fired
And I’m asking you please
Oh oh how I prayed
That the good Lord would come and take me away
From this mess of a life that I’m in
And I fell to my knees oh and I cried
As the lightning rose up from the earth to the sky
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
And oh how I prayed
That the good Lord would come and take me away
From this mess of a life that I’m in
And I fell to my knees oh and I cried
As the lightning rose up from the earth to the sky
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
In this mess of a life that I’m in
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
In this wreck of a life that I’m in
In this mess of a life that I’m in
In this mess of a life that I’m in…

-Sam Roberts Band

I almost always paint while listening to music. I feel that it is part of my soul and without hearing it, without having it in my life I am a little bit empty. On the one occasion that I didn’t play music I ended up just singing (inception) to myself this song by Sam Roberts Band. Their music has such a great spirit; its lyrics commanding. These paintings have resulted from listening to their tunes.

I am excited for the new album, Collider coming out in May. I just heard the first single I Feel You. It’s hot. I love it! The guitar & base were on fire. The song had a groove that makes you want to blast out the car speakers. The drums were pounding like my heartbeat racing. This first song is fueling and bloody potent. Can’t wait to hear the rest!