Loom Chicago knits friendships in a refuge from grief and fear
By Jenny Lee Heaps of fabrics and colorful quilts surround a small group of women who are engrossed in discussion – a discussion so fervent that it could last for days. Some wear hijabs while others have indigo dyed silk scarves draped around their necks. The women bring different cultural backgrounds and distinct ideas and […]
Fashion illustration: walking the line between art and craft
By Alexandra Whittaker A recent resurgence of fashion illustrators at New York Fashion Week shows like Prabal Gurung and Gucci has forced fashion illustration back into the spotlight. With illustration jobs at retail stores like Macy’s and more robust programs for fashion illustration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the city’s fashion […]
“The Flick” is a rich portrait of interpersonal drama
By Carlos D. Williamson Annie Baker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama will continue to draw in audiences for the next few months at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Baker, who has a number of other awards for her work, won the Pulitzer in 2014 for “The Flick,” which will be featured at Steppenwolf through May 8. […]
“The Force Awakens” vs. “Avatar”: box office record may not be sign of longevity
By Tim Rosenberger What makes one film popular and memorable and another movie not may be open for new debate. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is approaching the end of its theatrical run with a new all-time domestic box office record and mostly positive feedback from viewers and critics. This was not the case for most […]
NBC 5’s Peggy Kusinski says female sports reporters have come a long way
By Lena Blietz For Peggy Kusinski, being a woman shouldn’t be a defining characteristic in a career as a sports reporter. “We’re all here now, we’re all doing the job. Let’s move past that, it’s been almost 50 years,” Kusinski said. [vimeo 159113465 w=474]
27-Year-Old Show Still Attracts New Audience Members
By Carlos D. Williamson For the Neo-Futurists, elaborate performances and quirky narratives are nothing new. Founded in Chicago by performer and playwright Greg Allen, the experimental theater troupe has been putting on shows since 1988. While the ensemble has changed over the years, the performers still find ways to keep audiences coming back.
China clamps down on homosexual content on TV and online
By Jenny Lee and Ya Zhou Vulgar, immoral and unhealthy. That is how the Chinese government views homosexuality, and that stance became more apparent after the release of a new set of guidelines by one of the main media censorship bodies last December. Reflecting that homosexuality impairs public morality and social stability, the eight-page document […]
Moving kinetic sculptures make a stop in Chicago during first major U.S. tour
By Katina Beniaris Video By Qingwei Vivian Chen Inside the Chicago Cultural Center’s newest exhibit, the Strandbeest comes alive with its bone-yellow pipes hitting the floor as it walks toward the visitors. Dutch artist Theo Jansen, the creator of Strandbeests, describes these new life-forms as “beach creatures.” “Hopefully in 20 years, mark my words, these […]
Police and colleges assess the the emoji threat
By Colin Mo When it comes to the concept of “emoji” – ideograms and smileys used in electronic messaging and internet web pages – courts and law enforcement tend to take it very seriously. Recently, a 12-year-old girl was arrested for using emojis on a public Instagram post, prompting her school to call in law […]
Retail sales sag for second straight month
By Sony Kassam Retail sales in the United States showed a softer than expected decline in February, but a downward revision for sales in January could signal concerns about the economy’s growth. The U.S. Department of Commerce said Tuesday that retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent last month – a decline for the […]
