David Hartt, still from “in the forest,” 2017. 4K Digital Video File, color, sound; 20 min. Courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey and commissioned by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.
1 Chicago Architecture Biennial (Chicago Cultural Center and throughout the city) The second edition of Chicago’s biggest architecture celebration—also the largest architecture and design exhibition in North America—ends this month. Go now. (Through January 7)
2 David Hartt: in the forest (Graham Foundation) Last chance to see the mixed-media installation that negotiates the relationships between ideology, architecture and the environment through film, photographs, sculpture, tropical plants, ambient sound and ceramic objects, as artist David Hartt revisits architect Moshe Safdie’s unfinished 1968 Habitat Puerto Rico project. (Through January 6)
3 Second Annual Allure Fashion Show (Drinker Biddle) January is human-trafficking-awareness month and Traffick Free raises awareness with a benefit fashion show celebrating some of the city’s best. Proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking in Chicago. (January 19, 6pm-9pm)
4 Brendan Fernandes: The Master and Form (Graham Foundation) A nod to his past as a dancer, the Kenyan-Indian-Canadian artist explores notions of mastery and discipline in an installation-performance series that brings together ballet dancers and design objects. (Opening reception, January 25, 6pm-8pm)
5 Randolph Street Market (Plumbers Hall) The first market of the new year features vintage and antique furniture, fashion, jewelry, indie designer accessories and everything in between. (January 27-28, 10am-5pm)
Greek-born Vasia Rigou is a seasoned journalist, editor and multimedia content producer largely on the subjects of visual art, culture, architecture and design. She currently serves as an Editor at Newcity, Chicago’s leading culture publication, as Writer and Copy Editor at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) HQ, and regularly contributes to international architecture and design magazines OnOffice and ICON. She has experience creating content for brands and building conference speeches and influential TEDx talks. Simply put: she’s fascinated by finding out the great stories behind the people, places and objects that surround us, and by sharing those stories with the world. When she’s not writing about art or looking at art—wine in hand—she makes lists for pretty much everything, drinks immense amounts of coffee and takes cross-country road trips every chance she gets.
