Design Roundup: Happenings, Harvests, H4ckz0rs, Hale

Design Harvest, September 20-21

By Brook Rosini

September is a big month for art, architecture and design in Chicago. Like, really big. And the theme of this month’s events is apparently ALL CAPS. I’m exhausted just writing about it all.

ART!
EXPO ART WEEK enthusiastically—or at least loudly—reminds us in all caps that ART! IT’S HAPPENING. FOR A WEEK! Of course, we know the art never stops in this town, but during EXPO ART WEEK (sorry to keep shouting about it), Chicago’s venerable, volatile, and in vogue art venues band together to create a critical mass of see-art-and-be-seen-seeing-art events all over the city. From September 15-21, art hop between forty-five of the city’s most prestigious cultural institutions to see museum exhibitions, gallery openings, installations, public art projects, music, theater and dance performances, and special dining experiences. Hit up the website for deets.

MORE ART!
Speaking of shouting about art, EXPO CHICAGO and its lengthy explanatory subtitular description—the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art—returns to Navy Pier this month from September 18-21. For this, the third iteration of the exposition, more than 140 galleries from around the world will join local and national nonprofits and institutions to fill the pier’s hall with visual art. This year’s expo will once again include /Dialogues panel discussions in partnership with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, EXPO VIDEO, a selection of dynamic and cutting-edge film, video and new media works, and IN/SITU, a curated selection of site-specific projects. Get to know exhibitors and featured artists on the website.

BYO thresher. J/k, leave it at home.
The Grand Avenue Design District opens the fourth annual Design Harvest the weekend of September 20-21, where local makers and collectors of designed objects will open house and pop-up shop in an aesthetic marketplace. The curated event features vignettes created by vendors that are hand-selected by Design Harvest’s producers. This year, expect vintage and antique objects, home and garden design, adult beverages and food from local restaurants, live music programmed by The Hideout, and a tent packed with consultations, design seminars and demonstrations. Plus, bring the fam and get down with kid-friendly activities and hayrides.

Hackz0rz!
If you’ve ever wanted to use your hacking skills for good, not evil, head to the Gene Siskel Film Center on September 24. At the Hackathon for Social Good, join forces with other like-minded programmers, designers and strategists to build programs and applications that benefit nonprofits. After short presentations by educators and NPOs, participate in informational sessions on building sites and web applications. The Hackathon is lead by WebVisions, a national series that explores the future of Web and mobile design, technology, user experience and business strategy. A $10 entry fee covers refreshments, with the difference going to local nonprofit orgs. Find out more here.

What’s your story?
For a sneak peak into October, also known as Chicago Artists Month, get your creative prep on at STORY on October 2-3. The purpose of STORY is to “fuel the creative class” with two days of keynotes, performances and opportunities to connect with other designers, creative directors, writers, filmmakers, performers, photographers, and entrepreneurs. With the theme of “Creators, Dreamers & Storytellers,” and an impressive lineup of presenters, including the Director of Creation at Cirque Du Soleil? and Tony Hale, the Emmy-winning actor perhaps best known for his role as Buster in Arrested Development, STORY sounds like it could provide you with some good ones. Learn more at StoryChicago.com.