Where to be and what to see this week: ‘Victoria Sambunaris: Taxonomy of a Landscape’, Lynne Jordan: The Music of Nina Simone, ‘Strike a Pose’ celebrity fashion show, ‘Irving Penn: Underfoot’, Mummenschanz and Double Edge Theatre.
‘Victoria Sambunaris: Taxonomy of a Landscape’
Through March 31: From “On the Road” to “Easy Rider,” artists have long looked to the roadways to grasp the meaning of America. More than a decade ago, photographer Victoria Sambunaris gassed up and set out to document natural landscapes and the world we’ve built upon them, taking aim at trains, trucks, national parks and pipelines. Her pictures may not be pretty, but each is worth far more than a thousand words. Free. Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan. (312) 663-5554; Mocp.org.
Lynne Jordan: The Music of Nina Simone
Jan. 16: Veteran Chicago singer Lynne Jordan (right) is known for her versatility: One minute she’s settling into “At Last” and the next she’s striding powerfully through “I Will Survive.” This week she exercises her distinctive musical muscle at City Winery, interpreting the work of the inimitable Nina Simone, whose captivating contralto and narrative skill commanded complete attention. Tickets: $10. 1200 W. Randolph. Call (312) 733-9463 or visit Citywinery.com/chicago.
Lynne Jordan
‘Strike a Pose’ celebrity fashion show
Jan. 17: Looking good is the furthest thing from his mind when he’s reaching for a fly ball, but Chicago Cubs outfielder David DeJesus is more than willing to put fashion first when it comes to raising money for the David DeJesus Family Foundation. He and fellow players Kerry Wood, Darwin Barney and Travis Wood — along with their wives — will strut their stuff in duds from Peach Carr Designs and the 900 North Michigan Shops to help support the fight against ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Tickets: $250 and $2,500. River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois. For tickets and information, call (773) 404-2827 or visit Cubs.com/fashion.
David DeJesus
‘Irving Penn: Underfoot’
Jan. 17-May 12: Best known for his fashion photos and portraits of notables such as Alfred Hitchcock and Truman Capote, Irving Penn also produced richly hued still lifes, ranging from the contents of a woman’s handbag to frozen veggies. In the Art Institute of Chicago’s new exhibit, you’ll also find the compelling black-and-white images he created when he cast his eye downward, exploring the landscape of the sidewalk and creating artful abstractions. Admission: $18; children 14 and older, students and seniors $12; children younger than 14 free. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan; Artic.edu.
Mummenschanz
Jan. 18: For 40 years, this Swiss-based troupe has toured the world with its mime-generated performance pieces, delighting audiences with works whose simple structure can make an astounding impact. Using only masks, their bodies and objects, company members tell stories of all sorts — from comedic numbers to thoughtful narratives — with a universal magic. Tickets: $25-$55; $10 for a one-hour Saturday matinee. Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. For tickets, call (312) 334-7777 or visit Harristheaterchicago.org.
Mummenschanz
Double Edge Theatre
Jan. 18-19: This Massachusetts-based company, known for works rooted in European experimentalism, comes to town to perform “The Grand Parade (of the Twentieth Century).” Commissioned by Columbia College Chicago’s Theatre Department and The Dance Center (1306 S. Michigan), the multidisciplinary piece — the first in a five-part musing on the life and work of visual artist Marc Chagall — combines music, dance, circus arts and projections for a spectacle that mirrors the lively canvases for which the Russian-born master was famous. Tickets: $30, seniors $24, children free. Call (312) 369-8330 or visit Colum.edu/dancecenter.
