BRIGHT IDEA: The artist Olafur Eliasson, who often plays with light in his work, gives a talk at the MCA in advance of his upcoming exhibition.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss events for Wed 04.22.09 through Tue 04.28.09

1

musuems  Olafur Eliasson*
Last year the artist Olafur Eliasson melted the hearts of New Yorkers with his breathtaking project Waterfalls. While Chicago didn’t score its own site-specific installation, we did snag the survey Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson, opening May 1. Anyone jonesing for the MCA’s recent Jenny Holzer illuminations can get their fix with Eliasson’s delightful, light-filled installations. Hear the artist discuss his work in this preview chat.
GO: Apr 28 at 6. $6-$10. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave. mcachicago.org
2

theatre  The History Boys
In a mighty coup, Timeline will be the first theatre in Chicago to stage Alan Bennett’s tale of English school days, a play that garnered a hallway trophy case’s worth of awards in London and on Broadway. Think Dead Poets—or Lord of the Flies, without the tragically bad manners.
GO: Previews Apr 22-24; $15. Regular run $25-$35. Timeline Theatre, 615 W Wellington Ave. timelinetheatre.com.
3

classical  Edgar Meyer
The virtuosic bassist, MacArthur fellow, and crossover artist (he has recorded with everyone from Lyle Lovett to Yo-Yo Ma, and if you’ve seen Ken Burns’s The War, you’ve heard Meyer, too) plays classical bigwigs as well as his own compositions in an intimate setting.
GO: Apr 24 at 7:30. $5-$32. Mandel Hall, U of Chicago, 1131 E 57th St. chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
4

galleries  Flatfile’s final bow
The School of the Art Institute’s reliably outstanding fashion show by graduating students is this week, but a smaller satellite event is also worth a mention. After nine years of exhibiting contemporary works by established and emerging artists, Flatfile Galleries closed its doors in March. The space reopens this week for a final show, a collection of “advanced sculptural headwear”—i.e., stunningly stylish hats, by SAIC students—which seems like a fitting tip of the cap to an institution that will be missed.
GO: SAIC at Flatfile: Apr 22-24 from 11 to 6; Apr 25 from 11 to 7, with a reception at 5. Free. Flatfile Galleries, 217 N Carpenter St. flatfilegalleries.com. SAIC Fashion Show 2009: Apr 23 at 5:30; $500; 312-899-7404. Apr 24 at 2 and 7; $75; 312-629-6710. Sullivan Galleries, 36 S Wabash Ave. saic.edu.
5

farrago  Chicago Latino Film Fest*
Singling out only one flick does a major disservice to this top-notch lineup, so let’s just say we encourage you—strongly—to check out the fest’s full schedule. But if you’re looking for a film that’s part West Side Story, part John Hughes, and part Hairspray, you can’t go wrong with Puerto Rico’s Party Time: The Movie, about two high schoolers from rival cliques who compete together on a TV dance show.
GO: Apr 23 at 8:30; Apr 25 at 10. $9-$10. Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N Clark St. landmarktheatres.com

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

concerts  Azita*
The longtime Chicagoan-by-way-of-Tehran art rocker plays songs from her new album, How Will You? Grab a seat and see if the critics’ comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith ring true.
GO: Apr 28 at 6:30. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave. mcachicago.org

*ET CETERA

Take a two-minute relaxation break, courtesy of Eliasson . . .  Watch the trailer for Party Time: The Movie and just try to sit still (click the Trapper Keeper, then “trailers y fotos,” then “videos,” then “web trailer”) . . . Read up on Azita’s new album, How Will You?, in the March issue of Chicago

 

PHOTOGRAPH: Olafur Eliasson, 360° room for all colours, 2002. Installation view at Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris; private collection, courtesy Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York; © 2009 Olafur Eliasson.