From a studio on Western Avenue, an artist creates work that reflects [both] the beauty of nature and the grit of the city. And though he may be one of Chicago’s most prominent artists, Tony Fitzpatrick grew up in Lombard. Now he’s back in DuPage County for what he says will be his final museum show.
Stories by marc vitali
Chicago Children’s Choir Celebrates 65 Years of Music With New Collaboration
Since it was founded back in 1956, The Chicago Children’s Choir has grown from a single choir to a vast network of singers across the city. Their latest recording speaks to the resilience of young people working together to raise each other’s voices.
Chicago History Museum Remembers Great Fire of 1871
A new show at the Chicago History Museum features artwork and animation that bring the Great Chicago Fire to life on its 150th anniversary.
Chicago Born Film Scholar Awarded MacArthur Fellowship
Jacqueline Stewart is a film scholar, archivist and curator who has been honored by the MacArthur Foundation for “ensuring that the contributions of overlooked Black filmmakers and communities of spectators have a place in the public imagination.”
Dual Exhibition Highlights Lost Works by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright
Rescued ruins and a virtual tour of a lost masterpiece of Chicago architecture — we speak with the city’s cultural historian and a noted artist who were part of a team exploring a long-lost theater and more.
New Documentary Explores Life, Legend of Muhammad Ali
At an early age he identified himself as “The Greatest” and backed up his words inside and out of the boxing ring. Filmmaker Ken Burns joins “Black Voices” to discuss the sweeping new four-part documentary “Muhammad Ali.”
Ken Burns Talks About His New Documentary ‘Muhammad Ali’
He was bigger than boxing and larger than life — a true icon of the 20th century. Filmmaker Ken Burns and Donald Lassere of the Chicago History Museum join us to discuss the sweeping new four-part documentary on the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali.
New Pop-Up Gallery and Museum Electrifies Audiences With Neon, Light
Neon combines craftsmanship with design and a bit of science. We visit the Neon and Light Museum in River North to find out if it’s truly lit.
Pitchfork Returns, Chicago Artists Prepare to Hit the Stage
After a one-year hiatus, Chicago’s homegrown music festival returns this weekend with a typically eclectic lineup of new music and some legendary artists. We meet a few performers with local ties as they prepare for a moment in the spotlight.
Jeff Tweedy on Wilco, Oversharing and the Creative Process
Grammy-winning rock band Wilco hit the road this month for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. We caught up with Tweedy from the Wilco tour bus before the sound check for Tuesday’s show in Boston, and ahead of the band’s return to Chicago for a show at Millennium Park on Saturday.
Meet the Cartoonist Who Now Creates Mad Magazine’s Signature Fold-Ins
Since 1964, a signature feature of Mad Magazine has been the “fold-in” – a cartoon riddle that is solved when the picture is folded. These days, the fold-in is conceived, written, sketched and painted by cartoonist Johnny Sampson.
Photographer Explores Abandoned Places and Finds Beauty in Decay
Some photographers explore cities through their neglected places. At personal risk and sometimes legal jeopardy, they look for beauty in forgotten and faded locales. Meet Jerry Olejniczak, one such photographer in search of “Abandoned Chicagoland.”
Chicago’s Original ‘Hamilton’ Returns for Rare Solo Show
Miguel Cervantes joins us in conversation ahead of a performance this week at The Metropolitan Club and the reopening of “Hamilton” on Broadway next month.
Chris Ware Explores the Place ‘Where Comics Came to Life’ in New Exhibit
We check out a new show at the Chicago Cultural Center that makes the case that the comic strip was born and raised in Chicago. Our tour guides? Artist Chris Ware and cultural historian Tim Samuelson.
Chicago Painter Captures Beauty in Gritty Parts of the City
The tradition of artists painting outdoors brings to mind pretty landscapes of lakes and gardens. We meet a Chicago artist who paints on location and finds beauty in unexpected places.
Hedy Weiss Returns to ‘Chicago Tonight’
From Grant Park to Ravinia, music and dance are returning in a big way this summer. Theater critic Hedy Weiss is returning, too, to talk about some recent live shows.
Peruvian Percussionist Makes Modern Music with Traditional Drum
Juan Pastor plays a traditional instrument in a modern jazz setting. How many drummers do you see who actually play the seat they’re sitting on? We meet the Chicago-based musician to learn how he imports South American rhythms to the Northern Hemisphere.
Multimedia Company in Chicago Connects Audiences, Artists During Pandemic
When theaters across the city shut down last year, a local multimedia company took the performing arts from stage to screen. With the help of some celebrated collaborators, they kept audiences in touch with artists.
Theater Critic Chris Jones Moves to Editorial Page at Chicago Tribune
Broadway shows are planning their long-awaited return to Chicago. Theater critic Chris Jones has the latest, plus an update on his new role on the editorial pages of the Chicago Tribune.
Renowned Sculptor Richard Hunt Creates Monument to Ida B. Wells
His works have been exported around the world from his studio in Chicago. We catch up with sculptor Richard Hunt before the unveiling of a monument in Bronzeville that was years in the making.
MCA Show Highlights Chicago’s Contributions to the History of Cartooning
Artists who used to be on the comics page have now earned a place in museums. A new exhibition makes the case that Chicago has long been a magnet for creative cartooning. We visit “Chicago Comics: 1960s to Now” at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Obama Portraits Launch 5-City Tour at Chicago’s Art Institute
A portrait is a traditional way of commemorating a presidency. But the former president and first lady made a statement by choosing distinctive contemporary artists. This week, Chicago becomes the first city to host The Obama Portraits. Here’s a preview.
Historic Hall in Chicago Cultural Center Gets Restoration
The historic Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall is currently undergoing a vigorous restoration. We toured the site and caught up with the city’s cultural historian to learn more.
Landscape Made of Light and Glass Joins Permanent Collection at Art Institute
It is a heavenly depiction of a beautiful place on earth. It’s also a fine work of art and one of the newest acquisitions at the Art Institute of Chicago. We explore an illuminating landscape made from light and glass.
Military Museum Remembers the Master Cartoonist Who Was ‘Drawn to Combat’
By the age of 23 he had fought in World War II, tangled with Gen. Patton, and won his first Pulitzer Prize. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin created artwork for magazines, books and newspapers from the 1940s into the ‘90s. We explore a new exhibition of his work.
New Film ‘I Am the Bear’ Explores Racial Profiling Through Puppetry
When a member of Chicago’s theater community was racially profiled, he turned the experience into a short film with the help of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Here’s a look at a one-man, one-puppet show about the consequences of “walking while Black.”
