Blog Archives

Nelson Algren-Inspired Arts Workshop at Mozart Park

3/28/2014

You are invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, March 31 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

During this workshop, inspired by the great Chicago writer Nelson Algren, participants will:

Learn more about Algren's work and legacy;
Read passages from Algren's poetry and prose, and several letters from Simone de Beauvoir to Algren;
Watch and discuss several video clips: part of Studs Terkel's 1975 interview with Algren; a clip from The Road Is Nothing, the End Is All; and Willem DeFoe reading "The Lightless Room," a short story by Algren; and
Creatively explore Algren's work through creative writing and visual art.

Location: Mozart Park is on Armitage Avenue in Logan Square -- several blocks east of Pulaski Road, just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. There is street parking by Mozart Park, and a parking lot is on the east side of Avers.

Please contact us by clicking here -- if you have questions about this workshop and/or if you would like to RSVP. Thanks!

Links:

Volunteering Opportunities

3/28/2014

Borderbend is looking for volunteers to help out with our upcoming performances and arts workshops. Please contact us if you'd like to volunteer for Borderbend.

Borderbend Internship Position

3/28/2014

The Borderbend Arts Collective has a new internship position available. The internship position entails:

assisting with administrative work, including marketing and fundraising.
helping with upcoming events, including workshops and performances.
other responsibilities that could involve the intern's skill sets.

This is an unpaid intership. Please contact us to find out more.

April Programming at Mozart Park

3/27/2014

Borderbend's programming at Mozart Park in April includes the following events --

Wednesday, April 2: jam session

Monday, April 7 (6 p.m.): Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop about Carlos Cortez

Monday, April 14 (6 p.m.): Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop about Lisel Mueller, Penelope Rosemont & Franklin Rosemont.

Monday, April 21 (6 p.m.): Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop about Katherine Dunham & Jean Baptiste Point du Sable

Monday, April 28 (6 p.m.): Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop ab0ut Carl Sandburg

All of these events are free and open to the public. See you at Mozart Park! Contact us to find out more.

Tonight at Noon: Celebrating Charles Mingus' Life & Legacy at the Logan Center for the Arts

3/17/2014

You're invited to come to this special performance event -- when we celebrate the life and legacy of Charles Mingus with music, poetry & visual art!

Friday, April 4 (8 p.m.)

Logan Center for the Arts
Performance Penthouse 901 (9th floor)
915 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
phone: (773) 702-2787

$7 suggested donation

The great bassist and composer Charles Mingus was born 92 years ago, and we present this unique program of music and poetry in celebration of that great American genius' work & legacy. This program includes music composed by Mingus, songs by composers who worked with Mingus or were inspired by Mingus, poetry inspired by Mingus, and visual art inspired by Mingus!

Above: Mingus Awareness Project painting by Alpha Bruton, "After Better Get Hit in Your Soul" by Deborah Meadows, and Mingus Awareness Project concert poster image by Josh Josue

poster image designed by Josh Josue

1st set:
David Boykin -- reeds

2nd set:
poetry inspired by Charles Mingus

3rd set:
performance by the Míngtiāns
Jon Hey -- piano
Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
Jon Griffith -- saxophones
Dan Godston -- trumpet
Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Damon Short -- drums

More about "Tonight at Noon":

The set list will include "Jelly Roll," "Better Get Hit in Your Soul," "Ecclusiastics," "Peggy's Blue Skylight," "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Haitian Fight Song," and other songs.
"portrait" by Steven Schroeder, "Into This Time" (for Charles Mingus) by Jayne Cortez, "Context of Champions" by Andrew Choate and "tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)" by Steve Dalachinsky will be performed during the second set.
Artworks by Alpha Bruton, Deborah Meadows, and Josh Josue will be projected during the event.

Borderbend's Project Passenger Pigeon Programs

3/15/2014

This year the Borderbend Arts Collective presents several programs that resonate with Project Passenger Pigeon. When a passenger pigeon named Martha died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914, the passenger pigeon became an extinct species. Centenary projects marking the extinction of the passenger pigeon are being coordinated around the world, and we're glad that Borderbend is participating in this yearlong commemoration.

Join us at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore during Earth Week --

Talking with Extinct & Endangered Species:
An Arts Workshop

Saturday, April 26 (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Green Gary Celebration
Douglas Center for Environmental Education
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
100 N. Lake St.
Gary, IN

free and open to the public

Click here to find out more about this workshop.

Passenger Pigeon by John James Audubon

Over the past several years, Borderbend has presented several arts programs that connect with nature. Those programs include:

Temperatures & Shapes :: Arctic Live/Chicago (Fifth Annual Chicago Calling Arts Festival event)
Silent Spring at 50
WTF2013

During the upcoming months Borderbend will be developing programs that resonate with our continuing commitment to exploring meaningful connections between the arts, nature, and community engagement. We will be presenting another Project Passenger Pigeon event, during the Ninth Annual Chicago Calling Arts Festival. Click here for more info.

Please contact us if you would like to find out more about the programs we are planning this year, as part of Project Passenger Pigeon.

Links:

Our Next Arts Workshop: Jimmy Yancey & Albert Ammons

3/10/2014

You are invited to join us at our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, March 10 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

Join us as we explore the music and lives of Jimmy Yancey and Albert Ammons -- two great Chicago boogie woogie pianists. We will learn about Yancey and Ammons' work and listen to several recordings of their music. Then we will create music and poetry inspired by those great boogie woogie pianists' work.

Location: Mozart Park is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's on the north side of Armitage Ave. -- several blocks east of Pulaski Rd., just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. Our workshop series happens in the room to the left of fieldhouse lobby; some workshop sessions may happen outside in the park, weather permitting.

Transportation & parking: Mozart Park can be reached by public transportation (such as the #73 Armitage Ave. bus, and not far from the Logan Square and Western Ave. stations on the CTA's blue line. Mozart Park has a parking lot on Armitage, east of Avers.

Registering for Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys: You can register for this workshop series at the Chicago Park District website.

Additional info: You can contact us by clicking here (if you have questions about this workshop or to RSVP). Click here to find out more about the Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop series.

Links:

Jane Addams-Inspired Arts Workshop

3/3/2014

You are invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, March 3 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

You are invited to join us during our next arts workshop inspired by Jane Addams -- facilitated by Chicago poet and educator Elizabeth Marino. During this workshop participants will:

Learn more about Jane Addams' work and legacy
Creatively explore Jane Addams' life through creative writing and drama

Links: