Cuentos is pleased to host free participatory events for our community. All events are at Cuentos, 6321 North Clark Street, unless otherwise noted. Click here if you would like to receive e-mails to remind you of our upcoming events.

Cuentos Foundation is proud to present new video documentary tryphon: three sounds to accompany the retrospective exhibition opening December 4 at the Brauer Museum of Art. tryphon is available for purchase from Cuentos. A catalogue of the exhibition is available from the Brauer Museum of Art and the Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery

[ buy it now ]

Thomas H. Kapsalis: Artist's House
Paintings and Sculpture, 1947 - 2008
December 4, 2009 - March 21, 2010
Opening reception - Friday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
Brauer Museum of Art
Center for the Arts, Valparaiso University
1709 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383-6493
ghertzli@valpo.edu
Phone (219) 464-5365
Fax (219) 464-5244

http://www.valpo.edu/artmuseum

Curated by John Corbett and Jim Dempsey, the exhibit is accompanied by a biographical video produced by Michele Feder-Nadoff, artistic director of Chicago’s Cuentos Foundation. The video documentary entitled, tryphon: three sounds - the art of thomas h. kapsalis - will be on display in the museum. Cuentos Foundation is a nonprofit community organization that promotes intercultural understanding and exchange through the arts.

A full-color catalog also will be available for purchase at the exhibition, and features an introduction by Hertzlieb and scholarly essays by John Corbett and Michele Feder-Nadoff. Brauer Museum Director, Gregg Hertzlieb says original research by Corbett and Feder-Nadoff led to the catalog and video, which together provide the most complete profile of the artist to date.

Kapsalis also will speak at two events that accompany the exhibition: a coffee hour at the museum Jan. 13 at 7 p.m., and a gallery talk Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Hertzlieb also will present a coffee hour program Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. to further explore the exhibition and biographical video.

tryphon: three sounds is a candid portrait of the artist Thomas H. Kapsalis (b. 1925) that also provides an intimate glimpse into the history of the Chicago art scene. Drawing upon personal conversations with Kapsalis, the documentary incorporates extensive images spanning his sixty year career, including paintings, sculptures, ephemera, family photos, and archival footage. Kapsalis contributed to the Chicago artist milieu through over fifty years as a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and continues to contribute through his abstract paintings of impeccable resolution and presence. These modernist-inspired works emanate a sensibility that combines the Bauhaus aesthetic with a dadaist irony and humor, presented with the modesty and directness of the Midwest. Kapsalis’s art and character exude a hard-won calm tempered through his life experiences, such as his survival as a prisoner of war during World War II.

tryphon was produced by the Cuentos Foundation to accompany the retrospective exhibition “Thomas H. Kapsalis: Artist’s House, Paintings and Sculpture, 1947-2008,” December 4, 2009 - March 21, 2010.This major exhibition celebrating the life and art of this leading abstract Chicago artist was curated by John Corbett & Jim Dempsey and was organized by the Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University. The video’s music includes unique recordings - a sound-work by artist, Lou Mallozi; traditional Greek and Turkish music by Eric Ederer and Andrea Fishman; and flute improvisations by Corky Siegal and tryphon’s video editor Sharon Karp/ Media Monster.

nwi.com article - Chicago artist brings 'House' to VU

mosaic: diverse interpretations of artistic expression

at La Casa de Arte y Cultura Calles y Sueños
Opening reception Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 6-9pm
1901 S. Carpenter, Chicago, IL 60608

enter mosaic

 

Codices of Michoacán - Ancient Illuminated Manuscripts

Cuentos Foundation & Gallery Colibri
Invite you to attend a Lecture and Discussion
On the Codices of Michoacán - Ancient Illuminated Manuscripts

presented by visiting scholar/ historian
from Morelia, Michoacán
DR. CARLOS PAREDES MARTÍNEZ

followed by a cena/ dinner reception
Tuesday September 15, 2009 6:30 - 9:30 PM
at

Colibri Studio/Gallery
2032 W 18th St
Chicago, IL

suggested donation $5.00

 

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION OF CODICES

The towns of Pre-Hispanic Mexico developed a complex system of communication through pictograms and phonetic signs that allowed them to pass on the specialized knowledge through the generations. These systems of writing nowadays are called codices and linen clothes. In the case of Michoacán the Tarascos and Nahuas towns knew about these pictographic expressions; however we have never seen any codex of the pre-Hispanic time. Despite the fact after 1522 at the colonial time, these same towns continued making their codices, with new techniques, subjects and forms of expression through images. This presentation will focus upon these codices and linen clothes known in Michoacán, as a way to see the past and culture of the indigenous towns of West Mexico.

Dr. Carlos Paredes Martínez holds a Ph.D. in history from the Unicersidad Autónoma de México. He is a researcher at the Center for Research and Studies in Social Anthropology and guest researcher at the Universidad de Michoacán de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. He is a member of the National System of Researchers and the mexican Academy of Sciences. He specializes in Colonial history, ethnohistory, and ancient history, particularly from Puebla and Michoacán. He has published articles, books, and has coordinated an edition of six anthologies on the colonial history of Michoacán.

 

Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival
August 21-23, 2009
Friday night kickoff party 6pm
Street Fest Sat & Sun Noon-8pm
Annual street festival and artists’ market along the cobblestone streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District in Rogers Park.

Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival
July 18 & 19, 2009
Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 7pm
Dawes Park, Sheridan Rd at Church in Evanston
Free admission

Thousands of people converge on Evanston’s lake-front on the third weekend of July for the
annual Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival. The festival site offers all the beauty and amenities of a natural, outdoor lakefront setting. The festival is a celebration of cultural diversity featuring art from every continent, continuous world music and dance, a wide assortment of ethnic cuisines and join-in art activities for all ages. Last year, participants brought art and culture from over 80 regions of the world, from Alaska to Zimbabwe.

 

Shop Cuentos! at our 6321 N Clark Street Studio/Gallery

This Sunday December 21, 2008, 12-3PM Fair Trade Reception and exhibition new and wondrous copper art $2.00 - $2,000 from Santa Clara. Or call us to visit anytime! 773.761.4165

In 2008 we were proud to present, support, and initiate:

- Pregonando: Voicing Community - A multidisciplinary exhibition project organized by Giselle Mercier - transporting participants to the exemplary community-based work done in Chicago, Panama and Mexico. http://www.cuentosfoundation.org/pdf/PREGO.pdf

- “Outside the Indigenous Lens” - Video Presentation, organized by Aasia Mohammad Castañeda, US Coordinator, Chiapas Media Project/ Promedios

- AL SON QUE ME TOQUES, LORCA, a Mexican musical based on Garcia Lorca's BLOOD WEDDING, Directed by Laura Crotte / La molecula artistica at Goodman Theatre and Raven Theatre. www.moleculartistica.org/promo.html; http://www.cuentosfoundation.org/pdf/Press-Release.pdf

- Santa Clara Fair Trade Art at Ethnic Arts Festival, Evanston and “One World Under One Roof” at the World Music Festival, Chicago Cultural Center

- Inside, Outside, & Across exhibit of work by Cuentos Creative Founder, Feder-Nadoff w/ PANEL DISCUSSION- ARTISTS WORKING (WITH) IN COMMUNITY, and performance by YVES FRONCOIS ET ROCAMBU JAZZ and Cuentos in-house DJ LEYVA spins Afro-Cuban Music

- New Ethnographic Video Documentary Project- Aquí y Allá / that traces the circle of exchange between the local and the global through the intimate story about here and there, focusing upon Santa Clara (im)migration within the context and perspective of Chicago-Michoacán immigrants and globalization.

- Thomas Kapsalis- An Artist's Journey - A New Documentary Video Project to accompany his Retrospective opening at Brauer Museum of Art, December 2009.

- Artisan Union Forum in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan, Mexico at the Museo Nacional del Cobre about urgent concerns facing this unique artisan community.

- University presentations with screenings of Huele de Noche/ Night-blooming Jasmine Video at locations including: The School of the Art Institute, Kishwaukee Community College, and University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.

Cuentos Foundation Holiday Ice-Cream Social and Fair Trade Art Sale

This event partially sponsored by Joe & Ross Ice Cream

Afro-Cuban Spins with DJ Leyva

Cuentos Foundation invites you to attend a performance, panel discussion, and closing reception accompanying the exhibition  "inside, outside & across", selected works 1997-2008 by Michele Feder-Nadoff

SATURDAY MAY 17TH 6-10pm- PRESS RELEASE 
Exhibition Runs April 5- June 5 - Call 773 761-4165
or e-mail info@cuentosfoundation.org to visit!
Catalogue Available w/Essay by Lanny Silverman,
FULL CIRCLE: The Work of Michele Feder-Nadoff 
UN CÍRCULO COMPLETO: El Trabajo de Michele Feder-Nadoff
Curator Chicago Cultural Center

6PM SIDEWALK PERFORMANCE COLLABORATION -- by JayVe
Montgomery, Michele Feder-Nadoff, and Mariko Ventura.
During the performance community Cuentos/stories will be gathered, taped, and included into the street performance!
COME BRING YOUR CUENTOS/STORIES TO SHARE!

7PM PANEL DISCUSSION- ARTISTS WORKING (WITH) IN COMMUNITY
Moderator Gonzalo Escobar with artists/ panelists: JayVe Montgomery,  Chicago Park District's Inferno Mobile Recording Studio; Michele Feder-Nadoff, Cuentos; Giselle Mercier, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and Laura Crotte, Molecula Artistica; Mariko Ventura, arts educator and performance artist.

8:30 - 9:30 ROCAMBU JAZZ

9:30 - DJ LEYVA spins Afro-Cuban Music

YVES FRONCOIS ET ROCAMBU JAZZ  was formed in 2001 by jazz trumpeter Yves Francois Smierciak and several other like minded musicians. The mission of Rocambu Jazz is to explore the rhythms of African and Afro Diaspora musics. We are finding the common bonds between music from West Africa (highlife and the Guinean and Malinky music of Senegal and Mali), Congo (old school rumba, soukous), Martinique (biguine), Haiti (compas), Cuba (son, conga ), Jamaica (ska), Trinidad (calypso), Brazil (choro, samba, bossa nova) and New Orleans (early jazz/dixie land). Rocambu Jazz exploits the common bonds of the musics in our unique interpretations of the various forms. Essentially we are speaking of the various creoles all these nations provided when the African rhythms and phraseology met the melodies of Europe (France and Spain). The African musicians reshaped the great popular music vocabulary of the 20th century musics. These musical forms have many names, but they are all a musical creole broadly known as jazz.

DJ LEYVA says that his goal is to play music that is the roots of Salsa music.  This is the Cuban music that no longer gets the recognition it deserves - from the sophisticated Danzon, to the horn driven Mambo, to the percussive Rumba, to the heart of Salsa, the Cuban Son, as well as classic 70's salsa and Latin Jazz.

LAURA CROTTE, actriz, vocalista, educadora y directora de escena mexicana, miembro de Teatrovista y fundadora de La Moleculartistica Nido de Mar,  ha actuado en numerosas producciones con Goodman, Steppenwolf, Teatrovista en diversas escenarios de Chicago como Hot House, Old Town, Mexican Fine Arts, e infinidad de escuelas, bibliotecas y centros comunitarios con sus personajes de mascara y mitologias. En Mexico fundo la compania Publik Teatrocontemporaneo con Boris Schoemann que giro nacional e internacionalmente. Ahora dirige AL SON QUE ME TOQUES, LORCA una alegoria veracruzana de las Bodas de Sangre con la MoleculARTistica a presentarse en el Goodman Latino Theatre Festival en Agosto 2008.

GONZALO ESCOBAR is an Extension Educator in prevention at the Countryside Extension Center. Escobar works with organizations and agencies to develop educational programs for youth, teachers, parents, youth service personnel, and other community members. In a joint effort between University of Illinois Extension and independent community radio station WLUW, Escobar produces and hosts a weekly Spanish language radio program, Si Se Puede (Yes, It Can Be Done). The program provides a forum for Extension Educators and others, including young people, to present topics pertinent to the needs and interests of the audience. Currently, he serves as co-chair of the Latino Coalition for Prevention. He is a community representative on the Local School Council of Philip Rogers School, and a board member of the Alliance of Latinos and Jews. He is a member of the National Association of Extension 4H Agents and the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education. Gonzalo Escobar earned a Licenciado degree and a secondary school teaching certificate at the Department of Psychology, Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala. He completed an MA degree in sociocultural anthropology at the University of Illinois, Urbana.

MICHELE FEDER-NADOFF's installation and time-based works incorporate an unrestricted range of simple to complex materials and processes, from embroidery to lost-wax casting, examining the raw and the cooked, the transforming of matter into meaning.  She has been creating sculptural installations in-doors and out, temporary and permanent, collaborative and solo, since the mid-eighties, often utilizing water as a tangible physical element and to produce sound. She is a member of Piece process, a national collective of Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, and Jewish artists, and has been collaborating with artist Kanaan Kanaan since 2001 on installation/performance works.  She has been deeply involved with the Santa Clara del Cobre community in Mexico since 1997— through her work at Cuentos where she is the Artistic Director and Creative Founder.

GISELLE MERCIER is an Instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She received her degrees in Art Education (2002). BFA, 1986, and MFA, 1989, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Concurrent Position: Administrative Director, Departments of Arts Administration, Art Education and Art Therapy, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions: The Art Center, Highland Park, Illinois, Huellas, Panama Rep. of Panama,  Polvo Art Studio, Chicago; C33 Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago; Humboldt Park Stables, Chicago; Collage de las Americas, Chicago; Prospectus Art Gallery, Chicago. Publications: Co-author, Metropolitan Universities Journal: Trust Building: The Secret to Highly Collaborative Partnerships; Author, New Art Examiner, Speak Easy: 'Reality' Beyond Labels: blind faith in the power of words. Bibliography: La Raza, El Panamá América, ¡Exito!, Chicago Journal. Awards: Governor's International Arts Exchange Program, Illinois Arts Council Grants; Department of Cultural Affairs Grants.

JAYVE MONTGOMERY is a sound artist.  Currently he is Program Facilitator for the Chicago Park District's Inferno Mobile Recording Studio.  He is also a member of the collective that runs Brown Rice, a performance space in Albany Park

MARIKO VENTURA: Mariko Ventura's work has been in ceramic sculpture as well as performance.  In the past her sculptural work was exhibited at Evanston Art Center and The Block Gallery, Northwestern University. Performance work has been shown in venues such as the Guild Complex and Chicago Cultural Center as well as internationally. Her work is featured in the book, PERFORMANCE ON THE EDGE, TRANSFORMATIONS OF CULTURE, by Johannes Birringer.
 

 

 

READ about some of our past events.

ALL GATHERING SEASONS EVENTS ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZED AND ENVISIONED.

CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CREATE YOUR OWN ”HAPPENING” AT CUENTOS — FOR YOUR COMMUNITY — ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY!
SHARE YOUR STORY!

 

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