Ferron Malek I performing "No Woman No Cry"

Just recently had the pleasure of working with reggae artist Ferron Malek I. It was a great performance at the Wild Hare from a great artist. Look forward to working with him in the future.

Koku Gonza at Close Up2

Koku Gonza performing "Love of a Star" and "Malaika at Close Up2 in Chicago.

To Art & Profit trailer

Spread over three weekends from March through May 2011, To Art & Profit is an interdisciplinary performance series augmented with arts-focused dialogues and Carnival-inspired street theatre spectacle throughout the city of Chicago.

The festival pairs Chicago-based artists across discipline and genre, asking them to create performances around select themes and questions:

What is the value of creative labor?

How can we practice a more conscientious capitalism, one that allows art makers to make a living while still nourishing the human spirit?

How can we democratize art production, widening the scope of creative voices and expressions brought to public spaces and stages?

Each performance weekend will be linked to different Chicago neighborhoods (Logan Square, Pilsen, Bronzeville).

To Art and Profit aims to connect and engage different neighborhoods around Chicago around the value of art and artists to their immediate and global community.

Finding various ways to invite community participation, this series explores how art can be profitable, accountable and accessible. In addition to the Links performances, there will be street theater spectacles and public discussions on the following themes:

March 18-20: What Is It Good For? Defining Art’s Purpose Now
April 15-17: Quit Bullshittin’: Recognizing Division and Building Solidarity
in the Arts
May 20-22: Come As You Are: Re-Imagining Art with a Conscience

For more information, visit LinksHall.org.

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