Jun 30th 2022

Art on theMART Summer 2022 Program Premiere

@ theMART

222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654

Opening Thursday, June 30th, from 8:40PM - 9:30PM

On view through Wednesday, September 7th

Come down to the riverwalk on June 30 at 8:40 p.m. for Art on theMart’s debut of Billiken: a large-scale work composed of video footage and animated imagery that celebrates the talented youth dance groups and marching bands in Chicago’s annual Bud Billiken Parade, the largest and longest-running African American parade in the U.S.!

Billiken is directed by fourth generation youth dance troupe leader Shkunna Stewart and Time Out Best in the City Award-winner Wills Glasspiegel. The display also features animations by Brandon K. Calhoun with music from DJ RP Boo, a legendary trailblazer in Chicago’s house music and footwork dance scenes. RP Boo’s music includes samples from Rich Township Marching Machine, a youth marching band from Rich Township High School in the south suburbs.

Bridging local and international arts communities, summer 2022 will also see explore, a work by international artist Jonas Denzel. The two new pieces will premiere on June 30 after a brief speaking program at 8:40 p.m. and will play twice nightly at 9 p.m. through September 7, 2022 alongside Nick Cave’s Ba Boom Boom Pa Pop Pop in the 9:30 p.m. slot.

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