Friday 4
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“In my work, you always have to do something to the object to get something more out of it. You know, push a button, move a lever–something,” says Jim McManus, who was trained at the Art Institute and is now a maintenance man for a retail chain. One of his pieces, which is now placed outside a window at Artemisia Gallery, is a podium with video-game handles that manipulate a white surrender flag. The podium faces the Loop. McManus, whose work is among the new pieces being shown at the gallery through August 26, will be at tonight’s free opening reception, from 5 to 8 at 700 N. Carpenter. Viewing hours are 11 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday. For more call 226-7323.
Manfio Castilla, a native of Colombia, won first place in last year’s Artist’s Sidewalk Chalk-Coloring Content with a powerful political piece titled Please Free Us. Guy Atchinson came in second with his portrait of a sewer demon. Dreamerz, 1516 N. Milwaukee, will be sponsoring the sidewalk-art competition for the third year in a row between 1 and 5 today, There’s no entry fee. Prizes in the adult division are $300 for first place, $150 for second, and a $100 bar tab for third; winners will be announced at 6. There are prizes for kids, too. Call 252-1155.
Monday 7
Artist Arnulf Rainer got his first critical recognition in the 1950s with his “overpainting,” a method of defacing art by adding monochrome layers of oil paint to existing works. Recently, he has overpainted photographs of death masks, parts of his own body, and friends. In addition to overpaintings, the current retrospective of Rainer’s work at the Museum of Contemporary Art (running through October 15) features body paintings and a crucifixion series. The museum (at 237 E. Ontario) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. Admission is $4, $2 for students and seniors; free on Tuesday. Call 280-5161.
