March 28 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
L1 Retail Store Grand Re-Opening Reception
Arts + Public Life is proud to announce the grand reopening of the L1 Retail Store and to welcome Peter Gaona’s Reformed School back to the Arts Block as the 2025 Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
March 29 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
Committed Knitters
Committed Knitters welcomes you to our bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space!
April 4 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
April 5 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe Screening and Discussion
We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe: Film screening and conversation with director Fred Kudjo Kuwornu
April 11 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
Committed Knitters
Committed Knitters welcomes you to our bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space!
April 18 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition Opening
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton
April 19 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. The exhibition explores the complexities of contemporary Black life through Carlton’s distinct approach to stylized figuration. Drawing influence from Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Jordan Casteel, his work engages with portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, presence, and longing.
Carlton’s paintings consider the undercommons as a site of fugitive sociality—an ungovernable space where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. His figures occupy liminal environments, neither fully contained nor entirely free, reflecting a continuous negotiation of belonging, agency, and historical memory. Inspired by Casteel’s attention to everyday Black life and the layered surfaces of Katz and Hockney, Carlton’s work reimagines the aesthetics of presence, using gesture, color, and space to suggest ways of seeing and being that resist fixed narratives.
April 25 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. The exhibition explores the complexities of contemporary Black life through Carlton’s distinct approach to stylized figuration. Drawing influence from Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Jordan Casteel, his work engages with portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, presence, and longing.
Carlton’s paintings consider the undercommons as a site of fugitive sociality—an ungovernable space where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. His figures occupy liminal environments, neither fully contained nor entirely free, reflecting a continuous negotiation of belonging, agency, and historical memory. Inspired by Casteel’s attention to everyday Black life and the layered surfaces of Katz and Hockney, Carlton’s work reimagines the aesthetics of presence, using gesture, color, and space to suggest ways of seeing and being that resist fixed narratives.
April 26 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. The exhibition explores the complexities of contemporary Black life through Carlton’s distinct approach to stylized figuration. Drawing influence from Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Jordan Casteel, his work engages with portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, presence, and longing.
Carlton’s paintings consider the undercommons as a site of fugitive sociality—an ungovernable space where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. His figures occupy liminal environments, neither fully contained nor entirely free, reflecting a continuous negotiation of belonging, agency, and historical memory. Inspired by Casteel’s attention to everyday Black life and the layered surfaces of Katz and Hockney, Carlton’s work reimagines the aesthetics of presence, using gesture, color, and space to suggest ways of seeing and being that resist fixed narratives.
Committed Knitters
Committed Knitters welcomes you to our bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space!
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. The exhibition explores the complexities of contemporary Black life through Carlton’s distinct approach to stylized figuration. Drawing influence from Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Jordan Casteel, his work engages with portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, presence, and longing.
Carlton’s paintings consider the undercommons as a site of fugitive sociality—an ungovernable space where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. His figures occupy liminal environments, neither fully contained nor entirely free, reflecting a continuous negotiation of belonging, agency, and historical memory. Inspired by Casteel’s attention to everyday Black life and the layered surfaces of Katz and Hockney, Carlton’s work reimagines the aesthetics of presence, using gesture, color, and space to suggest ways of seeing and being that resist fixed narratives.
the undercommons : New Work by Brandon Carlton Exhibition
Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. The exhibition explores the complexities of contemporary Black life through Carlton’s distinct approach to stylized figuration. Drawing influence from Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Jordan Casteel, his work engages with portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, presence, and longing.
Carlton’s paintings consider the undercommons as a site of fugitive sociality—an ungovernable space where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. His figures occupy liminal environments, neither fully contained nor entirely free, reflecting a continuous negotiation of belonging, agency, and historical memory. Inspired by Casteel’s attention to everyday Black life and the layered surfaces of Katz and Hockney, Carlton’s work reimagines the aesthetics of presence, using gesture, color, and space to suggest ways of seeing and being that resist fixed narratives.
Shifting Perspectives: Spring 2025 Teen Arts Showcase
Shifting Perspectives is more than a showcase; it’s a glimpse into the young creative minds shaping the future of the arts.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
March 22 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
March 21 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Committed Knitters
Join Committed Knitters for bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space, where all skill levels—from beginners to pros—are welcome to share ideas, work on projects, and have fun together. Supplies are provided, and no registration is needed—just drop in!
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
March 15 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
March 14 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
March 8 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
March 7 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Committed Knitters
Join Committed Knitters for bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space, where all skill levels—from beginners to pros—are welcome to share ideas, work on projects, and have fun together. Supplies are provided, and no registration is needed—just drop in!
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
March 1 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
February 28 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Dreaming Home: Cultural Imagination and Racial Realities of Home Ownership
The American Dream often begins with owning a home. But for many, that dream is built on unequal foundations. How can we better understand the reality of home ownership in America—its economic, sociological, and racial histories, as well as the cultural productions that shape our imagination of what it means to own a home?
Join us at the Green Line Performing Arts Center for the Winter Dean's Salon by the UChicago Division of the Humanities! Our very own faculty director and cultural theorist, Adrienne Brown, will join Deborah L. Nelson, dean of the Division of the Humanities, and sociologist Robin Bartram to explore the complexity and inequalities of American home ownership, with the aim of generating clarity and new perspectives on re-imagining more equitable, holistic, and sustainable housing solutions for Chicago and other American cities.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block
February 22 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
February 21 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Committed Knitters
Join Committed Knitters for bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space, where all skill levels—from beginners to pros—are welcome to share ideas, work on projects, and have fun together. Supplies are provided, and no registration is needed—just drop in!
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
February 15 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Rhythm & Love: A Valentine’s Day Pop-Up featuring Reginald Robinson
Celebrate South Side love with the premiere of the re-mixed Spinning Home Movies episode “Rhythm & Love” on the big screen!
Gather for an afternoon dedicated to Black love in all its forms with activities for all ages, including:
Personalized Love Notes - collaging with visual artist Candace Hunter
DIY Bouquet Bar - build a unique floral arrangement for someone special
Holiday Refreshments - hot chocolate and cookies
Reginald R. Robinson and South Side Home Movie Project director Jacqueline Stewart in person
This event is perfect for couples, families, and friends of all ages!
February 14 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
South Side Fireflies
South Side Fireflies is a free early childhood music program that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to sound and play through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. Led by teaching artists Shanta Nurullah, Zahra Baker, Angel Bat Dawid and Julian Otis, Fireflies is a place for families to gather on Saturday mornings for music and fun on the Arts Block.
February 8 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
February 7 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
Committed Knitters
Join Committed Knitters for bi-weekly gatherings at the Arts Incubator Flex Space, where all skill levels—from beginners to pros—are welcome to share ideas, work on projects, and have fun together. Supplies are provided, and no registration is needed—just drop in!
February 1 | Community Yoga
Join Arts + Public Life for free yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! These 1-hour sessions include poses, stretching, breathing, and meditation—perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
December 14 | Community Yoga
Grab your mat and join Arts + Public Life's free weekly yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! This 1-hr class focuses on standing and seated poses, stretching, and healthy alignment. We'll also incorporate yogic breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques. All are great for stress relief and relaxation.
December 13 | Community Yoga
Grab your mat and join Arts + Public Life's free weekly yoga classes every Friday and Saturday on the Arts Block! This 1-hr class focuses on standing and seated poses, stretching, and healthy alignment. We'll also incorporate yogic breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques. All are great for stress relief and relaxation.