With the [mostly] beautiful autumn Chicago’s been having and the approaching holiday season, we have a lot to celebrate, including an abundance of art around town. Here are nine awesome art events to look forward to in November.
Day of the Dead in the City of Chicago: The National Museum of Mexican Art and its surrounding area will turn into an elaborate work of art, featuring visual displays revealing the story of the Day of the Dead. Harrison Park will be transformed into a festive cemetery, complete with ofrendas created by community members and local artists. The evening will be rounded out with Pan de Muerto, altar demonstrations, live performances, face painting and art activities. (National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St, November 1, 4-9pm. Free)
Hubbard Street Lofts Open Studios: Fulton Street Collective, Spudnik Press, Latitude, Filter Space, Post Family, Platform Studios Chicago and other artistic venues open their doors and invite the public to get behind-the-scenes looks of more than 40 working artists’ studios and explore the art-based businesses housed within Hubbard Street Lofts. (Hubbard Street Lofts, 1821 W Hubbard St, November 6, 6-10pm. Free)
Timeless: Galerie F, Boundless Brooklyn, JC Rivera and Ali 6 have commissioned a group of highly regarded street artists to get creative and decorate model water towers for this dual exhibition. (Galerie F, 2381 N Milwaukee Ave, November 6, 6-10pm. Free)
The Great Good Place: This artist project by Brandon Alvendia is a set of collaborative exhibitions considering the poetic, political and aesthetic potential of curatorial practice within the setting of everyday life, taking inspiration from Chicago’s make-do and artist-run culture. (Threewalls. 119 N. Peoria St., Suite 2C, November 7, 6-9pm. Free)
Curioddities: In this annual exhibition, over 20 artists explore the beauty in the dark. There will also be burlesque performances by Kiss Kiss Cabaret. Costumes are encouraged. (Gallery Provocateur, 1621 N. Kedzie, 3rd Floor, November 7, 8pm-12am. $5 suggested donation)
The Power of Paint: The Chicago Culture Couple have selected a wide range of artists from around the world to showcase in “The Power of Paint,” focusing on the theme of using art to help others. A portion of each artist’s sale will be donated to a charity of their choice. (Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave, November 7, 6-10pm. Free)
Onyx Odyssey and Timekeeper: Hyde Park Art Center builds on the larger cultural discussion of race with Jefferson Pinder’s mixed media exhibition “Onyx Odyssey,” an extensive meditation on black identity, and interdisciplinary artist Daniel Bruttig explores the grey area between sculpture and painting in “Timekeeper.” (Hyde Part Art Center, 5020 S Cornell Ave, November 8, 3-5pm. Free)
The Power and Politics of Anger: Anger is typically stigmatized as an inarticulate, childish, excessive and undesirable emotion, yet it also has the power to mobilize people and spur them into taking action to influence situations that may otherwise seem beyond their control. This group show investigates the role anger plays in art, culture, politics and everyday life. (Woman Made Gallery, 685 N Milwaukee Ave, November 13, 6-8pm. Free)
Cage Unrequited: In association with the exhibition “The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music 1965 to Now,” “Cage Unrequited” is a 25-hour marathon reading of experimental composer John Cage’s influential book Silence: Lectures and Writings, organized by visual artist Pope.L. The performance reimagines the book for contemporary audiences by filtering the past through the voices and attitudes of a diverse community of more than 100 invited readers from Chicago. (Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, November 21, 3pm-November 22, 4pm. Free with museum admission)