A black bag with sleek leather handles and a detailed, colorful illustration of a radiant peacock. Beautiful pink lines grace the surface, tendril-like, weaving their way visually through magnificent paisley patterns. This bag is held by a healthy looking young woman named Yali, the creator of CARRY ON©, a special series of bags that are all created with the intention of charitable donations.

Currently Yali is a 20-year-old student of the University of Pennsylvania, on track to pursue a degree in nursing as an advanced-practice pediatric oncology nurse. Yali herself has been a survivor of a life threatening cancer at a young age. During her battle, as a hobby, she began creating a series of handbags; by age 17, Yali was given the opportunity to partner with Kate Spade, by the Make-A-Wish foundation to create a beautiful black and paisley bag, which raised 50,000 for the foundation. The two also earned “donor of the year” honors.

From beginning as a hobbyist, to becoming a fundraiser for charitable organizations, Yali has continued to make handbags for a cause. She has helped raise over $92,000 dollars to assist children and cancer patients.

Yali has recently teamed up with the Children's Memorial Hospital and the MCA to feature her handbags to continue to assist in raising money.  The museum will host a special event entitled Celebrate The Art of Healing: Special Event with Yali. The social occasion will take place on Tuesday August 23, 5 pm, located in the MCA atrium. Her tote bags, Yali’s CARRY ON© will be available at the MCA store through September. The proceeds will benefit K.I.D.S.S for Kids (Kindness is Doing Something Special for Kids.

http://www.yaliscarryon.com/

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

220 East Chicago Avenue

Chicago, Il 60611

312.280.2660 (main)

312.397.4010 (box office)

You don’t have to be a seasoned Vexillologist in order to appreciate the intricate history of flags. Nor do you have to be a professional flag stitcher to create one of your own. As humans we have long utilized these textile-based objects as a means of communication, from sailing on the open seas, to national emblems seen outside of embassies, as well as homes, around the world.

The origin of the flag began with field signs, which were apparent during the roman times of antiquity, and continue to be utilized in the present day for the representation of symbolic imagery.

In honor of this rich history, the Lillstreet Art Center brings us a unique presentation of flags created by local Chicago artists. From May through December there will be a call for artists to show their creations on a rotating basis.

If I was able to partake, I’d definitely go raiding the laundry room for silly materials to fly on the pole. But anyway this is a great opportunity for all artists to create an innovative and surprising piece to fly where traditional flags are usually placed. The flag flying space includes four 9ft flagpoles and great visibility from the CTA and Metra trains.

There will be two awards that will go to the best flag installations

• 1^st place will receive $500
• 2^nd place will receive $150

To submit a proposal to Lillstreet include:

• Sketches of each flag
• Materials you plan to use
• Size of Flag
• Title for series
• Preferred month to display
• Artist statement
• Resume or CV
• Examples of recent work

Mailed proposals should be sent to:

4401 N Ravenswood Ave

Chicago IL 60640

C/0 Camille Canales

Emailed proposals should be sent to

Camille@lilstreet.com

You can also visit http://www.lillstreet.com/ for more information!

Food Truck mania has hit Chicago, as you have likely seen and experienced. Restaurants and food companies have been jumping on the bandwagon, so to speak, hitting the streets, and offering mobile menus to the pedestrian customer on their lunch break.

Today, August 3^rd Mars Gallery ups the ante and spices things up before we’re tired of foodtrucks.  The gallery will be hosting an arty event on West Fulton Market that includes a large gathering of food trucks from 6-9pm. What a great opportunity to grab some eats, treats and a sneak preview of the new show at Mars titled Lift.

Also, I would like to add, Pets are welcome as there will be a pet food truck on the scene for the pups! If your pup gets hot and hungry in the heat with, right next door to Mars the Chicago Party Animals will be hosting a great event benefiting a Bull Mastiff rescue.

If you are around in the West Loop/Fulton Market area Wednesday evening and looking for something to do or eat, make sure to stop by and see what is happening.

Mars Gallery

1139 W. Fulton Market

Chicago IL, 60607

312.226.7807

marsgallery@aol.com

Hours:

T/Su: by appt

W/F/Sa: 12-6pm

Th: 12-7pm

Below is a list of Food Trucks from the Chicago Food Truck Website:

http://chicagofoodtrucks.com/Chicago_Food_Trucks/Home.html

The annual Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival takes place July 29-31 in Logan Square. Explore curated art and pop-up gallery spaces in storefronts along Milwaukee Ave. between California + Kimball streets, and enjoy film screenings, multiple energetic musical line-ups, family activities, and food and drinks from area vendors. The festival starts Friday July 29, 4-11pm, and continues Saturday and Sunday from noon-11pm.

The festival shows off many sides of Logan Square, and you’ll want wristband access to the gallery spaces, music stages, performances, art activities and trolley rides, as well as special promotions and discounts at local establishments. For a detailed list of participants please visit the festival website (link),

3-day wristbands will be sold online (link- http://www.milwaukeeavenueartsfestival.org/wristband.php).

I actually have a close friend who is involved with festival. Drew Noble my previous studio mate, is curating a show for the Nicole Villeneuve Gallery titled, Histories/Memories: a show about three artists’ ideas of homes.

(Drew Noble, Curator at Nicole Villeneuve Gallery)

The unusual show includes work by Kunyoung Chang, a Korean artist attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for her BFA. Her work is composed of a complex process of physical labor using household objects such as, fabric sheets, toilet paper, and coffee filters. Her conceptual practice delves into the question of cultural identity, displacement, longing, and how our senses, when exposed to familiar objects, set off neural impulses of memory.  I highly recommend stopping by, Kunyoung Chang’s work is really something to experience in person. Other participants of the show include Flounder Lee and Nora Nieves.

(Kunyoung Chang)

Flounder Lee, a photo professor from the Herron School of Art in Indiana, will be showcasing photographs dealing with maps and landscapes of populated areas.  Lee reconfigures them through splicing and re-assemblage to create his own vision of landscape.

(Flounder Lee)

Nora Nieves, a Puerto Rican artist, and MFA graduate from the Fiber and Material Studies program at SAIC, will present a piece that explores memories of her homeland in Puerto Rico, and her documentation process of her home through the creation of art pieces, which will address the topics of emotional attachment or repulsion to the living spaces she has once inhabited.

(Nora Nieves, Beyond Cinderella, 2009)

This display of artists will be located indoors at 2515 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival

July 29-31 2011

Friday 4-11pm

Sa & Su 12-11pm

Contact for more information:

(773)278-4257

info@iamlogansquare.com

milwaukeeavenueartsfestival.org