Friday 6/29 – Thursday 7/5
Artist H.C. Westermann, who died in 1981, was profoundly influenced by the four years he spent as a marine in World War II, when as a gunner on the carrier Enterprise he witnessed kamikaze attacks and many other horrors. After a tour of duty in Korea, he studied at the Art Institute and refined his method–combining traditional sculpting techniques with assemblage, design, and woodworking. An exhibit of some 90 prints and drawings, “See America First,” opens tonight at the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood, with a free reception from 5 to 7:30 (773-702-0200), and runs through September 9. Tomorrow the Museum of Contemporary Art will unveil an exhibit of 130 of Westermann’s sculptures; tonight at 8 the museum hosts a related event with musician and multimedia artist Terry Allen and his Panhandle Mystery Band. Allen and Westermann corresponded for 11 years, and between songs Allen will read excerpts from Westermann’s letters. It’s $15 and takes place at the MCA theater, 220 E. Chicago (312-397-4010).
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The annual Ravenswood Manor Garden Walk was recently named one of the city’s best by Chicago magazine. The free walk, sponsored by the 41-year-old Manor Garden Club, takes place today from 2 to 6 and starts at Manor Park, 4650 N. Manor. Call 773-588-5675 or visit www.manorgardenclub.org.
A recent study by the Environmental Law & Policy Center found that by 2020 the midwest could obtain over 20 percent of its electricity from local, renewable energy sources. The operative word, of course, is “could,” and tonight at 6:30 ELPC policy advocate Hans Detweiler will discuss findings from the report, called Repowering the Midwest: The Clean Energy Development Plan for the Heartland. The free event takes place at the Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 Paddock in Crystal Lake. Call 815-338-0393 for more.
