TribNation: CHC & ART

ChicagoForward: Do Chicagoans Embrace the Arts Scene?

Chicago Forward is a program hosted by the Chicago Tribune & serves as a forum to tackle & discuss issues that effect the city. This particular program addressed the question of what it takes to succeed as an artist in Chicago. The event was hosted by The Tribune's Bruce Dold [editorial page editor] & Chris Jones [theatre critic]. Jocelyn Winnecke [Tribune VP & associate editor] & Kevin Brookins [senior VP @ ComEd] served as the opening speakers. The panel was made up of: Rick Bayless: nationally acclaimed chef & restauranteur, Michelle Boone: Commisioner of Chicago's Dept. of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Tony Fitzpatrick: Chicago-based playwright, poet, & visual artist, & Jeanne Gang: award-winning architect & MacArthur Fellow. 

A FEW THEMATIC HIGHLIGHTS:

+ The Livable City: It was the general consensus than Chicago holds a strong appeal for young artists starting out because it is an affordable, livable city. I would agree with this idea considering I used to live in NYC & moved to Chicago specifically due to the affordability of theatre tickets/life as a whole. The flip-side of that coin is Chicago’s notoriously frigid winters, which was generally acknowledged as a difficulty in both the production of art & its’ accessibility to the public. 

+ Crime & The Arts: The problem of crime in Chicago could not be ignored in this conversation & was discussed with a hopeful, though frustrated, attitude. Michelle T. Boone cited Steppenwolf’s production of How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence as an example of art attacking violence. Each production also offers a talk-back session as an avenue for conversation. The ambitious (though slightly idealistic) goal is that kids will put down the weapons & pick up a pen; if any company has the smarts to have such a strong effect, it is Steppenwolf. 

+ Greenery: The issue of applying environmental innovations to the arts was a topic that held a particular emphasis in the architecture & culinary aspects of the talk. Jeanne Gang cited the main architecture trends as going more green, material research to cut out waste, tactical urban design through community gardens, & reclaiming the vast paved areas for pedestrians rather than cars (an idea which has been implemented in Times Square & is one of my favorite places to hang out in New York). She also emphasized the importance of one’s knowledge of their materials (using concrete as an example: we think of concrete as impenetrable but it’s actually a very fluid, malleable substance). Rick Bayless conveyed a similar mentality regarding agricultural excellence & it's being application chefs. His reasoning was based on the idea that quality ingredients allow the food to shine in a more simple presentation. On a completely unrelated note,  Rick Bayless & I were at the same performance of ATC’s awesome production of RENT last year. So, I respect his opinion on both food AND theatre.  
+ Education: Tony Fitzpatrick was especially passionate about the impact that education has & will continue to have on the arts. My favorite moment during the panel's conversation was his statement: “my biggest worry is the poverty of imagination.” To apply his passion for education in a tangible way, Fitzpatrick enlists interns to educate & enrich [all of whom have gone on to arts-related employment]. He implored his fellow leaders of the artistic community to give back by becoming mentors, which I think is a great & accessible way to invest in the future of one’s particular art.