This Wednesday at Martyrs’ in Chicago, I’ll be talking about new work, sexy elves, and other Damien James’s in Chicago and elsewhere for Volume 51 of PechaKucha. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. I’ll be sharing my story alongside architects, comedians, environmentalists, writers, House of Representatives candidates, and mad scientists. Sounds fun, right?
You can now see my previous PechaKucha on the PK website.
UPDATE 9/18:
Read more and see photos from the show here.
Join me Friday, September 20th, from 6 to 8pm at Woman Made Gallery, where my drawing, cunt, will be on display as part of WMG’s works on paper group exhibition. I am always happy to support this important Chicago organization, which has been operating as a not-for-profit, woman-run gallery for over 25 years. Woman Made has supported the careers of some of my local favorites, including Beatrice Fisher and Naomi Powers.
At the end of May, I will be exhibiting four pieces with the Rockwell Artists Collective in Chicago’s beautiful Avondale neighborhood at 3065 North Rockwell, on the 3rd floor. Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st from 6 to 10pm, and Sunday the 2nd from 10am to noon. Joining me will be one of my favorite local artists, Deva Suckerman, a brilliant human that I’ve been exhibiting with since I began arting. Come fill up your eyes with beauty and your gullet with booze.
Come see new drawings from my Facing the Music body of work on May 18th – from 3 to 10pm – at Second Story Studios, right above Cary’s Lounge on Devon. Specifically, 2251 West Devon Avenue in sweet home Chicago.
For two decades, Second Story Studios has been home to Chuck Mertz and his radio show This is Hell, where he has interviewed Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky, among many others. May 18th is also the 47th anniversary of Cary’s, an excellent neighborhood dive, so have a drink, play a little pool, and come upstairs to see art and engage in heady and/or drunken conversation with some creative individuals.
I was honored to be included in Woman Made Gallery‘s recent show, Refreshing Feminism, curated by Dorit Jordan Dotan. It was the first public viewing of my Cyntoia Brown portrait, and I couldn’t have asked for a better environment to share in. Woman Made is a not-for-profit gallery founded in 1992, and an important cultural institution for the city of Chicago. Since they opened their doors, they have exhibited the work of over 8,000 women artists. Go to their website for more information on getting involved and supporting this organization and the dedicated humans who make it possible.
A look at some of the detail in my current piece, you can see more progress shots in the WIP gallery. This drawing (22×30 inches, Sharpie and brush tip marker on watercolor paper) will eventually be shown along side my Cyntoia Brown portrait as part of the developing Facing the Music body of work, which looks at significant humans and how they have been maligned, underappreciated, and misunderstood.
Also: happy new year, fellow humans.
If you weren’t able to catch my PechaKucha live back in March, you can now watch the performance on my sparsely furnished and relatively fresh YouTube channel. In the immortal words of the Beastie Boys, ch-ch-ch-check it out.
I’ll be exhibiting two drawings from The Collector project at the new home of ARC Gallery in Chicago’s history-filled West Town neighborhood from October 31st to November 24th, with the opening reception on Friday, November 2, from 6 to 9pm. I will be there and I would love to see you there as well. As usual, free booze, my friends.
ARC Gallery has been women owned and operated for 45 years, and it is my pleasure to have work in their new exhibition space.
The podcast of my CHIRP Radio performance is now live on CHIRP’s site. Give it a listen. It won’t be the most unpleasant 15 minutes of your life, I can nearly promise you that. Gratitude to Julie Mueller for bringing me into the First Time Series.
Also, not terrible to be on the bill with Steve Frisbie and the rest of the gents from The First Time Four band. Read more about the show on the Randomness page.
D A M I E N J A M E S 