Andrew (A to Z) by issue #2 contributor K.B. Dixon is out in the world now and available online

at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Powell’s, etc.  

For more info visit http://www.kbdixonbooks.com/

mini dutch gallery presents…
Stacie Johnson- Mise-en-scène

Opening reception: Saturday, October 25, from 7-10pm. Show runs until, Sunday, November 23, 2008

Closing reception: Saturday, November 22, 7-10pm. Open Sundays 11am-3pm or call/email for appointment

“In mini dutch’s new show, Mise-en-scène, Johnson will be responding directly to mini dutch making site-specific paintings. She has taken on the themes of the gallery, named after a breed of rabbit, and acquired information such as the birth date of the space and of its occupants to find out astrological signs. Based on this information, Johnson will set up a series of maquettes in the gallery. She will be working from this installation of props during the course of the show, and for the closing reception the installation will be replaced with paintings. This is an opportunity to view Johnson’s complete process: from maquette to painting that would otherwise only be available during a studio visit.”

Stacie Johnson is an active participate in the Chicago alternative scene, having had solo shows at Old Gold and threewalls. She currently teaches a painting class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has appeared in NY Arts Magazine, New American Paintings and she was named one of Newcity’s one to watch in 2008. She is the Visual Art Editor for MAKE.

“The Chicago Publishers Gallery is a true display of the city’s diversity, enthusiasm, and determination. From the largest university publisher in the U.S. to experimental ‘micropresses’ to authors of every stripe, Chicago’s literary entrepreneurs are motivated by a do-it-yourself spirit and a fierce independence. Visitors are invited to explore the gallery in order to get a sense of the many exciting publications that are being written and published in Chicago today.

 1500 Books from over 125 Publishers  The Gallery showcases approximately 1500 books from 50 area book publishers and 75 periodical publishers. It includes selections from university presses, trade publishers, small presses, and art publishers, as well as zines, pamphlets, comic books, and book arts items. It also includes a selection of Chicago’s proliferating periodicals. The city’s newspapers and magazines are as various as the concerns of its citizens, and they prove the intellectual and artistic depths that one can plumb from a perch in the Windy City.”

Congrats to Issue #5 and #4 contributor Reginald Gibbons for the nomination of his book of poems Creatures of a Day (Louisiana State University Press)

And to Issue #4 interviewee Aleksandar Hemon for the nomination of his novel The Lazarus Project (Riverhead)

Chicago. 

Veteran MAKE Book Reviewer Robert Duffer is now THE Chicago Literary Scene Reporter for online journal and current events knower, examiner.com.  He recently interviewed fellow John McNally about his new book, Ghosts of Chicago.

Visit the site to sign-up for daily lit -related emails and quizzes.

Online magazine Is Greater Than celebrates its first year with a major relaunch.

“In only a year, the independent culture and progressive politics magazine Is Greater Than has earned a impressive readership that spans the nation. Based out of Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, Is Greater Than’s staff of over 20 writers are committed to compelling and provocative content that explores the intersections of politics and culture, art and the free market, and technology and science.

Formed from the ashes of the independent publishing meltdown of 2007, Is Greater Than’s staff of contributors boasts editors and contributors from *Punk Planet*, Pitchfork Media, *Love, Chicago*,* MAKE: A Chicago Literary Magazine*, the *Metro Silicon Valley*, the *San Francisco Chronicle*, *Alternative Press*, and a slew of new and emerging reporters, essayists and fiction writers.”

Performance artists Tyler Myers and Stephen Feihn are Cupola Bobber.  

“After it’s debut in New York at the CUE Art Foundation, and subsequent 2007 engagements in Chicago and at the UK’s Nuffield Theatre as part of a year-long international fellowship, Cupola Bobber is remounting their work, The Man Who Pictured Space From His Apartment, in Chicago before embarking on a 7 city UK tour. In Chicago, the show will be re-mounted in the intimate confines of their studio in Humboldt Park.

Fiehn and Myers made the piece asking the following question: “what comes to mind when gazing at the stars?” The answers range from the voyager spacecraft to the North American transcontinental railroad, to the secret thoughts taking place in a strange bedroom late at night.”

“a coup de theatre of rare sublimity” – The Chicago Reader

Cupola Bobber’s The Man Who Pictured Space From His Apartment
Fridays and Saturdays, October 17 – 25, 8pm
$10, Suggested donation
1359 N Maplewood
Seating is very limited, reservations are strongly recommended
Make a reservation by emailing or calling: info@cupolabobber.com, 312.560.3799
Website: http://www.cupolabobber.com

This is good.  He does the slamming.

WIndy City Story Slam

Brought to you by issue 1 contributor Bill Hillman.

from issue 3 - truthiness

Issue 3 visual art contributor Siebren Versteeg’s show “Zero if the Center” recently opened at the Max Protech gallery in NYC.  

While the piece he contributed is great, his recent work is another bird entirely.  If you live in NYC, we highly recommend you not miss this one.

Issue 5 featured the five-story feature “Five Dead Guys: A History of Chicago” by John McNally.  The many-more-than-five-guys version is now complete and being published by Jefferson Press.  You can now purchase Ghosts of Chicago via Amazon.  Head directly to his website to purchase. www.bookofralph.com

He will also begin a grueling book tour. Check the dates.

Many will be in Chicago, including October 10th (thanks Nicolette) at Chinaski’s as part of Windy City Story Slam.