Friday 1/3 – Thursday 1/9
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4 SATURDAY In 1956 President Eisenhower signed legislation to create the interstate highway system; modeled on Germany’s autobahn, the 41,000 miles of road were designed for efficient military transport and civilian evacuation in case of nuclear attack. In addition, one mile in every five is straight, so that–if necessary–portions can be used as airstrips. The national highway system–particularly the stretch of I-55 between Chicago and downstate Bloomington–is the focus of John Wanzel’s multimedia installation The National Defense and Interstate Highway System in Miniature, which opens tonight and runs through February 1 at Dogmatic Gallery, 1822 S. Desplaines. Also opening tonight is Melissa Schubeck’s Sad Dogs and Silly Cats, an installation of video, photographs, and vibrating kinetic sculptures bearing pictures of kittens. The free opening reception is from 6 to 10 at the gallery; for more information call 312-492-6698 or see www.dogmaticchicago.com.
Since he got laid off from his job four months ago, Tim Bolger’s spent much of his time thinking about economics and reading folks like Karl Marx and Jeremy Rifkin. “Our country and most of western Europe are set up in ways that make access to money and credit easy,” he says. “We buy a home and it’s ours–we have clear title to it….But in most third world countries [legal ownership] is only for a privileged few.” Bolger, who’s also a member of a local Toastmasters club, holds that governmental systems put in place after the Depression–such as the FDIC–will prevent another catastrophic economic collapse in the U.S. He’ll give a talk called How to Make Poor Nations Rich, or the Economy Isn’t As Bad as You Think tonight at 8 at the College of Complexes at the Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 N. Lincoln. Admission is $3, and a purchase of food or drink is required. For more call 312-353-0446 or go to www.collegeofcomplexes.homestead.com.
8 WEDNESDAY English country dancing is more sedate than its American counterpart, square dancing, but some of the figures the dancers create are similar, and neither form is difficult to execute. “You don’t have to have any physical aptitude for it–if you can walk, you can get through this type of dancing,” says high school physics teacher and ECD enthusiast Tom Senior, who will call tonight’s dance at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1509 Ridge in Evanston. Admission to the bimonthly event, which starts at 8, is $5, and beginners and singles are welcome. For more call 847-329-9173 or see www.chicagobarndance.com.
