Tuesday Evenings in the Cafe

Tuesday Evenings in the Cafe October 4, 2011 - April 24, 2012 From doodling at Doodleganza: The Drawing Extravaganza, to chatting it up with Culture Catalysts, to crossing wires between art and technology with Internet Superheroes: Art and Tech, and jamming to Face the Strange: New Music from Chicago and Beyond, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago is activating audiences with engaging activities at Tuesday Evenings in the Café. Appropriate for a broad range of ages, these events are designed around familiar themes which introduce the audience to artists and other thought leaders and the ideas which inspire them in an entertaining and informal setting. The events take place on Tuesdays from October 4, 2011 to April 24, 2012, and begin at 6 pm. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase. The MCA is free to Illinois residents on Tuesdays and open until 8 pm.  Doodleganza: The Drawing Extravaganza First Tuesdays of the month Artists from around Chicago lead the audience in whimsical, off-beat drawing related games. The MCA provides the materials and the artists provide the inspiration. These hands-on art-making activities are appropriate for all ages and skill levels.  Oct 4: Paul Hornschemeier Nov 1: Ellamonique Baccus Dec 6: Scott Reeder Jan 3: Kelly Kaczynski Feb 7: Paul Nudd Mar 6: Tyson Reeder Apr 3: Simon Anderson  Culture Catalysts Second Tuesdays of the month This new series lets visitors interact with Chicago innovators who influence local arts and culture, including artists featured in the Chicago Works exhibition. Nov 8: Scott Reeder Dec 13: Hamza Walker Jan 10: Stephanie Izard Feb 14: Laura Letinsky Mar 13: TBA Apr 10: TBA Internet Superheroes: Art and Tech Third Tuesdays of the month Visitors can explore the intersection between art and technology along with the brilliant minds who make the virtual world worth living. This series includes one-hour talks, virtual presentations highlighting the most interesting aspects of the internet, and participatory events which celebrate the creativity of the MCA audience.  Oct 18: BYOB (Bring Your Own Beamer) Nov 15: L.A.S.E.R Tag with Hebru Brantley Dec 20: No event Jan 17: Jon Rafman Feb 21: Hennessy Youngman Mar 20: Animated GIF Night with Jason Lazarus and Eric Fleischauer Apr 17: No event  Face the Strange: New Music from Chicago and Beyond Fourth Tuesdays of the month Musicians perform one-hour experimental sets programmed in collaboration with local musicians and multimedia artists.  Oct 25: The Eternals Nov 22: Ken Camden Dec 27: Wrekmeister Harmonies: featuring J.R. Robinson, Jef Whitehead, Blake Judd, Sanford Parker and Jamie Fennelly Jan 24: Aleks and the Drummer Feb 28: Spectralina Mar 27: The Spires that in the Sunset Rise Apr 24: The Plastic Crimewave Vision Celestial Guitarkestra Image: Doodleganza. Photo © Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Photo by Nathan Keay.