#dusable museum

I was a transportation, prop, and set PA for this production

For the United States Colored Troops (USCT) serving during the Civil War emancipation and military service were entwined. The USCT made up over 10 percent of the Union Army at a time when only one percent of the Northern population was African American. Facing the inherent racism festering in the psyche of the nation, the enlisted troops were met with segregated units and discriminatory practices. Despite the circumstances, these men fought on participating in every major campaign and battle during the last two years of the war earning twenty-five Medals of Honor in the process. Join us at the DuSable Museum to engage directly with their stories. On February 16th the DuSable Museum will be joined by the African American Civil War Soldiers, an online crowd-sourcing project that is transcribing the complete military service records of the United States Colored Troops. The goals of this database-building project are to improve our knowledge of the estimated 200,000 African Americans (United States Colored Troops) who fought for freedom in the American Civil War, to provide descendants of the soldiers with access to information on their ancestors, and to present students of history with primary documents from a pivotal moment in African American history. Celebrate the legacy of the soldiers through lectures, performances and activities featuring: • John Clegg-Director of African American Civil War Soldiers • Dr. Christopher Reed- Professor Emeritus of Roosevelt University • Cheryl Wills-Journalist, Author, and TV Personality • Julius Jones-Graduate Student Department of History, University of Chicago • Cynthia Maddox-Performer Lady Moses: The Story of Harriet Tubman • Primary Source exploration featuring objects from the DuSable Museum’s collection and much more

The other day, I visited the DuSable Museum of African American History in Hyde Park, Chicago.  It’s a charming place and it’s a Smithsonian affiliate but it needs funding.  When I was there, 1/2 the museum was closed and nobody knew what and if there was going to be another exhibit.  Please go visit and/or make a donation.  

Most of the museum has a focus on African American historical artifacts and a special exhibition of Harold Washington (1922-87, 41st Mayor of Chicago) that I think has not been updated since 2009 when it opened.  They had a moving mechanical replica of him.  Poor Harold, having to give the same three speeches for almost 10 years, he’s really looking like he needs a coffee break. 😑 

So as you can imagine, I was quite surprised when I turned the corner and saw that there was a Fabiola Jean-Louis contemporary art exhibit.  Now, I’m not sure if the above form is suppose to have a dress.  Maybe they were lent out for another exhibition or conservation?  OR maybe they were left bare to illustrate some deeper meaning.  I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter because, I turned the corner and saw this...evocative paper gown.

Rewriting History: paper gowns and photographs is a series created by Brooklyn based Hatian multi media artist Fabiola Jean-Louis where she meticulously crafts Victorian and Edwardian style dresses of European nobility out of papier mâché and collage technique.  

And as if making these paper dresses weren’t hard enough, she sets up these elaborate photo shoots with women actually wearing these dresses.  In the exhibition, the photographs are framed reminiscent of old oil paintings and juxtaposed against the paper gowns.  

It was intriguing to look at the photographs and try to find the details in the actual paper sculptures.

Fabiola Jean-Louis takes the viewer on a journey to reimagine a time using white European period fashion on the black female body with layers of images and text dealing with social injustice though a contemporary photo lens.  And note that she is doing this all on paper, a medium that is both fragile and strong and the medium in which the words of history is literally written. 

Here’s an interview with Fabiola Jean-Louis’ website about this expansive series.

AMFM Founder Opens Pilsen Gallery

The city's creative side has certainly come alive over the last five years or so, perpetuating what we've come to call the 'Chicago Renaissance' and one local creative is further stepping up to the plate with the opening of a new gallery space in Pilsen. AMFM Founder Ciera McKissick will run the space at 2151 W 21st St which will also serve as an artistic incubator for locals. 

“Ultimately, this is for the art community," Mckissick told DNAInfo. "The biggest thing I have found, being a young and emerging creative in Chicago, is the need for space. Space to work, to exhibit, to grow, and to believe, and I owe a large part of this grand opening to those spaces and people who allowed me to do just that throughout Chicago."

Among the locally-sourced brands available in the space include Chicago Playground, Sam Kirk's Provoke Culture, Michelle Janayea, Hella Vintage Chi, Must Be Nice, ONLi, Amara Black, Oh & Also, Calid B's Afrobang, Drea Smith The Vibe Dealer, Create The New World Brand, Calez and Ivan Vazquez. 

Chance The Rapper Named DuSable Museum Board Member

Chancelor Bennett spent his 2016 further shoving the boundaries of the roles a 'rapper' can play in modern society and it appears that isn't stopping in the new year as it was announced this week that the Grammy nominee has been added to as a Board Member of the DuSable Museum. 

First reported by Crain's Chicago, the announcement apparently comes amidst  shakeup among the Museum's brass. The move adds some star-power to the board which also includes veteran member Theaster Gates and Eric Whitaker, a close friend of President Obama's who was also added alongside Chano.

According to Crain's: "Plans for DuSable Museum include an app-based mobile museum for students, funded in part by the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation. In 2015, DuSable had about 100,000 visitors, according to Museums in the Park data. Its operating budget is about $4.1 million, according to its 2014 tax form posted on GuideStar, the nonprofit information website." 

Former Lane Tech Student Receives Journalism Scholarship

Walker Post, a local aspiring journalist at the University of Illinois and graduate of Lane Tech will have an easier time getting his tuition paid this semester thanks to the memory of a fellow Illini writer who passed away too soon.

Just over a year and a half ago, 20-year-old U of I Journalism student Brett Lerner lost his life in a car accident. The standout student and native of Buffalo Grove had his legacy live on through the establishment of the Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship, of which Post was the first recipient. The $1,500 will go towards the Irving Park native's tuition payments.

"Whenever I'm doing my journalism work, it's very humbling to know that there are people out there who are supporting me," Post, 20, said. "Receiving the scholarship just fuels my passion for journalism, and it makes me certain that I'm going down the right path. ... Words can't sum up how grateful I am to be the first recipient." (DNAInfo)

Want to keep up with Post's progress? Check out his latest endeavor, The Rapport, created alongside a pair of fellow Chicago natives, Taylor Dugas and Lincoln Wang. Shout out to the next generation of local reporters.

Greg Landfair Featured in Ludwig Drums Video