Stories by chloe riley

Afro-Cuba Art Exhibit Coming to DuSable Museum

A hugely popular exhibit exploring an underground Cuban art movement comes to the DuSable Museum this week.

For Polish Artist, Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Hits Close to Home

In 1986, Karolina Kowalczyk’s mother was pregnant and living in Poland when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded. Kowalczyk's intricate paper art is now part of an exhibition at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art commemorating the 30-year anniversary of the disaster.

New Feminist Film Festival Comes to Chicago

The inaugural two-day festival coming April 21 showcases films that address issues of gender, race, sexuality and other topics related to social injustice and inequality.

Documentary on Police-Involved Shootings to Screen at Cultural Center

The 2015 documentary “Peace Officer,” from Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber, airs on the PBS series Independent Lens on May 9, with a free screening on Saturday at the Chicago Cultural Center. We speak with Christopherson about the impact his film has had to date.

Field Museum’s Emily Graslie Nominated for Webby Award

The museum's "chief curiosity correspondent" is one of five online personalities nominated for the 20th annual award, a kind of people's choice of the internet. 

Broadway Influencers Dominate Joffrey Ballet’s Reimagined ‘Nutcracker’

A Tony-award winning team will craft a new $4 million “Nutcracker” which dramatically switches gears from Robert Joffrey’s vision, one which has been performed for nearly three decades.

MCA Appoints New Associate Curator José Esparza Chong Cuy

Writer and curator José Esparza Chong Cuy, who was previously associate curator at the Museo Jumex in Mexico City, replaces Julie Rodrigues Widholm.

Use Your Phone During a Performance? There's an App For That

A University of Illinois dance professor created an app which encourages audience members to get interactive during performances by using their smartphones. 

‘Bag Lady,’ Selfie Pioneer Lee Godie Gets Chicago Exhibition

Self-portraits by the late outsider artist, taken in photo booths which used to accompany Chicago's bus stations, are at the center of a new exhibition opening Friday at the Intuit Art Center in Noble Square.

Classifying Candy? Field Museum's Got You Covered

Field Museum curators break down the taxonomy of candy in a new "Brain Scoop" video. 

Lincoln’s Deathbed, Family Carriage Back on Display at History Museum

The Chicago History Museum has a whole slew of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. But until now, at least one item – Lincoln’s family carriage – had not been on display since 1986. See it and the president’s deathbed starting Saturday.

Empty Bottle Book Revisits 21-Plus Years of Underground Chicago Music

The Ukrainian Village music venue first opened the night before Halloween 1993. During its first decade, Empty Bottle would become a magnet for underground rock, post-punk and experimental music. A soon-to-be released book chronicles of some of its 23-year history and shares testimonies from the artists and fans who love it.

Anonymously Leaking Documents to Journalists in Chicago Just Got Easier

The nonprofit Lucy Parsons Labs has launched a secure platform for those looking to share sensitive documents with the media. 

Vintage Chicago Political Cartoons Depict Voter Concerns Across the Centuries

A political cartoon from the Newberry Library’s John T. McCutcheon collection depicts interviews with various voters about their thoughts concerning the 1936 election. Sentiments expressed then mirror opinions of today’s political landscape. Peruse the political cartoons.

Moby Dick: One Chicago Puppeteer’s Quest for the White Whale

Blair Thomas has chased Melville’s story for over 25 years. His efforts manifest this weekend in a performance at the MCA.  

Q&A with Chicago History Museum President Gary Johnson

The head of the Chicago History Museum talks about the ups and downs facing museums today, plus his school days with Hillary Clinton  and why he "binge listens" to Studs Terkel.

Ann Goldstein

Art Institute Names New Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

Ann Goldstein, the former director of Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum, will take over the position previously held by James Rondeau, who is now the museum's president.

DuSable Museum Granted Smithsonian Affiliation Status

The DuSable Museum of African-American History has been granted a special status by the Smithsonian Institution – a move the museum says marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two institutions.

Mayor Emanuel Makes Push for Improving Chicago Parks

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday announced plans to improve Chicago's lakefront and add recreational amenities at select parks across the city. 

"White Crucifixion," Mark Chagall. 1938. (Sharon Mollerus / Flickr)

Chagall's 'White Crucifixion' Back in Chicago After Visit with Pope

The famous painting had been on loan to Florence's Palazzo Strozzi since September. In November, the painting moved briefly to the Vatican for a visit with Pope Francis, who had declared it to be one of his favorites. 

International Museum of Surgical Science Gets ‘Haunted’

This month marks the 85th anniversary of a Chicago socialite's death in the very house that now serves as the International Museum of Surgical Science. In honor of the event, the museum opens its "Haunted House" exhibit.

Illinois ‘Monster’ Mystery Solved in Part by Field Museum Scientists

The Field Museum's extensive collection of fossils helped answer a scientific question about a bizarre, ancient creature.

Jay Shefsky of "Chicago Tonight" surveys the Thornton Quarry in May 2015 with engineer Kevin Fitzpatrick of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Primary Coverage: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Race

By late Tuesday night, incumbent commissioners Mariyana Spyropoulos and Barbara McGowan were ahead for the six-year term positions along with newcomer Josina Morita. 

Dorothy Brown

Dorothy Brown Declares Victory in Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Race

Incumbent Dorothy Brown declared victory on Tuesday night, winning 47 percent of the vote with 95 percent of precincts reporting.

Exterior of the University of Chicago's Logan Center for the Arts, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. (Flickr / Chris Smith)

Obama Library Finalists Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Speak at MCA

The New York-based architects were in town last week to talk about their design style and projects. Inevitably, their plans for the Obama library came up.

Chicago History Museum Hikes Admission by $2

The Chicago Park District board unanimously approved an admission hike for the Lincoln Park museum on Wednesday, citing the museum’s lack of admission increases over the past 10 years.