Welcome to the first edition of Chicago's Tuesday culture roundup, a quick and dirty guide to what's opening, closing, and buzzing in local arts each week. Note that this isn't a curated event list like Chicago's in-print Go Listings or weekly Chicago Guide—just a roundup of what's coming, going, and breaking throughout the city each week. Got a tip, quibble, or sweet nothing? Let us know in the comment section.
Opening
Open Now: Three Routines, the first-ever museum survey of American photographer John Gossage. Art Institute (111 S. Michigan).
January 29: Red Bud, a cringeworthy dramedy about a group of 40-somethings trying to salvage their friendship on a motocross getaway. Signal Ensemble Theatre (1802 W. Berenice).
January 29: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, the Other Theatre Company's first show, which focuses on the 1992 LA race riots. Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division).
January 29: Fur Elites, a parlor musical about a boy surrounded by nutters in the fur shop where he works. Annoyance Theatre & Bar (851 W. Belmont).
January 30: Barely Committed to Three Dimensions, abstract paintings by Rebecca Shore. Corbett vs. Dempsey (1120 N. Ashland, 3rd Floor).
January 30: Expressionist Portraits, historic works by 1940s printmaker Eleanor Coen. Corbett vs. Dempsey, West Wing (1120 N. Ashland, 3rd Floor).
Closing
January 30: Morland, Matt Beard's penned-in-24-hours play about a wife and her husband's mistress who bond over mutual hatred of their shared lover. Public House Theatre (3914 N. Clark).
January 30: Life and Land Series #2, a photography show by fiction writer and essayist Michał Paweł Markowski. Dreambox Gallery (2415 W. North).
January 31: Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich, Sandro Miller's supremely weird photography exhibit that places John Malkovich in all manner of iconic photographs. Catherine Edelman Gallery (300 W. Superior).
January 31: Drawings II, featuring contemporary and self-taught work by Carroll Dunham, Nicolas Africano, Thomas Nozkowski, Ed Paschke, Kiki Smith, and many, many more. Russell Bowman Art Advisory (311 W. Superior).
News
The BGA is suing Rosemont for withholding Garth Brooks concert financials
The Better Government Association last week filed suit against the village of Rosemont for redacting financial details from FOIAs regarding Garth Brooks's 11-show comeback run at Allstate Arena. Financial documents provided by the village show Brooks's promoter receiving a "rebate" in exchange for giving Allstate Arena the $12 million-grossing shows, but the amount is redacted. The Attorney General's office has ruled Rosemont in violation of state FOIA laws (Allstate Arena, unlike, say, the United Center, relies on taxpayer-backed loans), which leaves the village to either fess up or seek a judicial review. More to come on this mess as it develops. [Tribune.]
Theaster Gates won a £40,000 prize and split it with his competitors
Local artists Theater Gates last week won a £40,000 Artes Mundi 6 award, the UK's largest financial art prize. That's more than $60,000, by the way, and he split it with the nine other artists shortlisted for the prize. D'aw! [BBC.]
The Art Institute gets a 400-piece Asian art gift
In other acts of art-world benevolence, the AIC yesterday announced a gift of 400 Buddhist ritual objects and pieces of Asian jewelry from collector Barbara Levy Kipper. Expect those on display and yours for the gawking by summer 2016. [Broadway World.]
Zro Fox's debut EP is streaming
Zro Fox, a collaboration by emcees ProbCause and Psalm One (née Hologram Kizzie), premiered its self-titled debut EP last week, and the thing is ferocious. Check out the previously released single featuring Sasha Go Hard below, and stream the whole EP via Consequence of Sound.
Common will play the Grammys
Last Wednesday the Recording Academy announced that Common and John Legend will perform their Golden Globe-winning/Grammy-nominated track "Glory," from Selma, at the Grammys on February 8. Common's also up for two Grammys himself—fingers crossed.
The CSO announces its 2015–16 season
The orchestra's 125th season and first with new boss Jeff Alexander will run September 17 through June 26 and draw heavily on scores from the orchestra's past, including pieces by Prokofiev and Stravinsky. [Tribune.]
Lili K goes solo
Neosoul singer Lili K, who's appeared on cuts by Chance the Rapper, Tree, and the O'My's, has shared a solo track with a charmer of a video ahead of her April 21 debut Ruby. [Saint Heron.]
Sean Graney has rejoined the Hypocrites
After three years away from the storefront theater company he founded 18 years ago, Sean Graney has resumed his role as the Hypocrites' Artistic Director. Halena Kays, who served in his absence, will step down but stay active with the company, most immediately by directing its upcoming production of Endgame. [Tribune.]
Pitchfork Fest tickets are now on sale
And the first wave of three-day passes with a subscription to the Pitchfork Review have already sold out. There's no lineup yet, but if you're ready to plunge blindly into festival season, that can be taken care of here.